*Bruno*
I was walking forward when I heard Lucia’s scream. I was now certain that she was in this room somewhere. Maybe she was trapped inside. With the flames at the side spreading, I couldn’t help but think that she might be engulfed in it if I were to go a bit later. When I pushed open a door after minutes of trying to find her. The room was stuffy and filled with smoke. I saved Lucia and brought her back. Rave and my men tied up the two fools who had tried to kidnap her.
I took Lucia to my room.
I laid her on my bed. There was a blood stain on my hand. She had been hit with a stick on her head and had lost consciousness. I clenched my fist. I was going to deal with those two fools. I called for the doctor who treated us as I didn’t want to take her to the hospital or involve the police. She was treated in my room. The doctor said she would be alright as she didn’t get anything damaged. I was relieved to hear the news. After changing her clothes and cleaning the dirt away from her body, I tucked her into the bed.
I stayed close to her on the bed. Her chest heaved up and down slowly. I couldn’t help but stare at her cute face. Why was she so beautiful? I had been a little angry at her for running away and had vowed to punish her when I saw her, but I couldn’t bring myself to punish her, especially in her condition. I brushed some hair strands off her face, but they came immediately, and my hands left them. I moved my hands to her face. Her body was securely tucked inside the duvet. I don’t know if I would be able to keep myself from touching her if she had laid bare in front of me. Her cheeks had traces of fingers like she had been slapped.
My hands stopped on her plum lips-those lips which I kissed sometime ago. I could still vividly remember how they tasted. Soft and sweet, very sweet. I could kiss them all day and not get tired. I didn’t know when I bent down and took a quick kiss. I sucked on it gently and quickly. I moved my head away.
I didn’t want to wake her up.
After a while, I stood up, walked to the door, and opened it. I took one last look at her before stepping out of the room. I assigned two men to my room. I knew there was no danger in the bar. I felt it was better to be safe than sorry. I walked to my chamber in the bar. The door was slightly open, and I stepped closer; I could see a bit through the gap between the door.
I pushed the door open and stepped inside. My eyes were fixed on the frame at the front. I looked down to finally take in what was happening inside. Rave was at the side, and with him were two men who asked to know. “I thought you may want to deal with him here,” Rave said. The two fools were tied by the side. They already had brushed on their body with their shirts shredded into pieces.
I walked towards them, a small smile never leaving my face. To think that they both hurt Lucia and thought they could go scot-free was amusing. They shuddered in fear when they saw me, and I couldn’t help but think that they were more scared at the thought of being beaten than at the sight of me, and I loved the latter.
I stood in front of them. The dim bulb moved forward and backward. I stared at the two men. Their eyes held my every move. I was pleased that they were at least conscious of me.
“So who’s speaking first?” I asked. I had no time beating around the hush as I already felt like skinning them alive. They shook themselves. None wanted to speak. I walked around them. The chamber was suddenly hot. “Until then,” I commanded Rave, who wasted no time in walking towards them and untiring them. “Maybe you need a little comfort to speak,” I said. They rubbed their hands where the rope had been.
“I hate repeating myself, so save me the stress and start speaking,” I said. I walked to my table, which was directly opposite the door, and picked up a dagger. The last thing I wanted was to waste a moment with these fools.
“We have nothing to say. It’s not like you can do more than just end our lives,” one of the men sneered. One side of my lips pulled to the side. I walked back towards them with a small smile tugging my lips. “I like your bravery,” I said, complimenting his stupidity. “Did you just say you have nothing to say?” I asked. I wanted to be sure.
He looked me directly in the eyes. The other man looked uncomfortable, as if he was ready to confess, but was stopped by the stupid one. He nodded to confirm what he just said.
“We have nothing to say to you,” he repeated.
“I like guys like you,” I said to see him raise a brow, “guys who are stupid and take it for boldness,” I played with the dagger in my hands. I wanted to rip his mouth out, but no, maybe cutting his tongue and feeding it to him would be better. I glanced at Rave, who stood by the side. He walked towards him and slapped him hard on the cheek. His face fell to the side.
“It won’t be just a slap,” I said, emphasizing the need for him to start speaking before I unleashed all my anger, which was already at its brim.
“I’ll speak, I’ll speak,” the other said. He looked more timid. This was the first time he had done something like this and unfortunately for him, he couldn’t get away with it. “Don’t you dare speak; I’ll rip your head off,” the other threatened and moved to stop him from speaking, but he was quickly held back by Rave. “tie him up,” I said to Rave. He didn’t deserve to be left untied. Rave did as he was told.
“Speak,” I commanded the other. He cleaned the side of his mouth, which had a little blood on it.
“You won’t get away from her if you speak. She will kill you first,” the other continued to speak, “tsk tsk, you make too much noise. Rave, shut him up,” I said. I turned to the other, who glanced at the stupid one as he screamed in pain while Rave dealt with him. “Now speak,” I commanded, wondering why he thought he would be spared if he spoke.
“I don’t know her name,” he paused to hold my gaze before he looked behind me and then back at me, “but she seems to know the girl you saved,” he said quietly as if he didn’t want the other to hear him.
“Wait, that’s all?”
I asked, not sure if that was all he wanted me to hear. He nodded. I closed my eyes with one hand on my waist and massaged my temples.
Was it just me, or was he just plain stupid? I might as well have asked Lucia, “What was her order?” I asked. He took in a deep breath as if trying to calm his nerves, but he refused to stay calm. He fidgeted with his hands. His words seemed to be stuck in the back of his throat. “The cat caught your tongue?” I half yelled at him.
“We were asked to kill her,” he said.
“Then why was the entire house on fire?” I want to know. The plan was to have them twice as much pain as they had made Lucia pass through, and that was only possible by knowing what Lucia had passed through. “Don’t make me ask you again,” I said coldly.
“We were asked to rape her first before killing her.” He said. My eyes widened. They even dared to want to do something to Lucia. I turned to the other, who had blood all over his mouth. I understood their plan perfectly. Rape her and set her body aflame. I clutched the dagger in my hands tightly. I would indeed find whoever was behind all this, and they would surely pay.
“I am sorry, I didn’t do anything to her. I swear I wasn’t the one who hit her or slapped her,” he bent down and apologized, but I was sure he knew that wasn’t going to help at all.
“Bring him,” I told Rave, and he dragged the other over the ground as if he was an animal.
I raised the dagger to my face, turning it as I stared at its sharp edge. “Which hand did you use?” I asked. He remained silent. I turned to see him arch a brow and stared at me as if he didn’t know what I was talking about. “I don’t mind making you lose both hands,” I said calmly. Fear flashed through his eyes, although he tried to mask it.
“Who is she to you?” I heard him ask. I titled my head to the side. “Who the fuck do you think you are to ask. I do all the asking here. It is better you know your place,” I said in a cold and authoritative voice. I hated having to repeat myself. He didn’t speak, but I knew he understood my question perfectly.
He stared briefly at his left hand.
I caught on. That means that was the hand he used in touching Lucia.
Bring the table,” I said to Rave, who had brought a small stool. “The left hand,” he placed both hands, which were tied, and straightened the left hand. The man struggled. He knew what was to come. “Nooo,” he yelled. I raised my hands and cut off his hands with my dagger. Blood splattered on my face and around the table. He screamed painfully. Rave left him to fall on the ground. He groaned in pain.
“Now, I ask again,” I paused to look at him. At the rate he was losing blood, he may die anytime soon.
“Who sent you?”
“And I told you I don’t fucking know.” He replied too loud for someone in pain.
I felt my anger boil. I hated being disobedient. “I’d rather die than say a word,” he said through gritted teeth as he tried to subdue the pain that came from his hands.
“Then it will be granted to you,” before he could say another word, I ran the dagger into his chest. He groaned and fell to the ground with a thud. He shook on the ground. He wasn’t dead yet. The other man had his eyes wide open. I knew it wasn’t because this was the first time he had seen someone die but because he knew he might be next. “You better start speaking, or yours will be worse.”
“Bring two men to take his body away,” I turned and said to Rave. My eyes caught sight of a figure standing in the doorway. What was Lucia doing here?” I was a bit surprised to see her. She looked pale. She had one hand over her mouth.
“Take this fool to the dungeon. I’ll see him in a while,” I said and walked to Lucia.
“What are you doing here?” I asked her. She had her eyes glued behind me. “You should be resting,” her eyes moved to look at me. “I,.. I.,” She paused and took a deep breath. “You, did you just,” I knew what she was about to ask.
“You shouldn’t be here,” I said, lifting her a bridal style. “What do you think you are doing?” She asked.
“Taking you back to your room. It seems like you are strong enough to get punished.”