Chapter 3

School had ended three hours ago, and Lucia stood fuming by the main gate. Three hours. Not a sign of Sebastian. She was certain he was deliberately making her wait; wasn't choking her that morning enough?

A red Ferrari sped towards her, so fast she thought the driver wouldn't turn. But it kept coming, straight for where she stood. In a rush of panic, she leaped backward, tumbling to the ground as the car screeched to a halt right in front of her. The window rolled down, revealing the devil himself, completely undisguised: Sebastian.

He looked down at her, a wicked grin spreading across his face.

"Sorry, Princess, did I hurt you?" Sebastian asked, that same infuriating smirk playing on his lips. Lucia glared up at him, tears welling in her eyes. It was only day one, and she already felt like jumping off a bridge.

"Are you gonna get in, or do you want to walk home?" Sebastian prodded, though he was already itching to drive off and leave her there. The thought brought him a strange satisfaction.

Lucia struggled to her feet, her twisted ankle forcing her to hop. She opened the door and slid inside, then turned to him, a deep scowl on her face.

"I hate you," she spat, loathing evident in her voice. Sebastian's smirk only widened.

"Really? Trust me, the feeling is mutual," Sebastian retorted, bringing the car to life and driving off

Lucia bit her lip, staring at him before looking away. She tried to shift her injured leg, wincing as her swollen ankle bumped against the car door.

Sebastian glanced at her leg, then refocused on the road.

The Mansion

They arrived, driving into the sprawling compound where countless cars were parked

One might mistake it for a peaceful, ordinary home, but beneath the mansion lay a hidden underground where all mafia activities took place.

Lucia was about to step out when Sebastian stopped her. She looked back at him, puzzled.

"Your leg" he stated, his gaze fixed on her injured ankle. Lucia looked at her leg, then back at him.

"What about it?" she asked rudely. Sebastian rolled his eyes. He released her arm, then pulled her to him by the waist

Lucia gasped at the sudden intimacy, their faces mere inches apart. Sebastian's eyes scanned her face, lingering on her lips before returning to her eyes.

"I don't want to be punished for causing that injury, so stop being a pompous brat for a second and let me help you treat the fucking leg," Sebastian growled, then pulled away

He gently took her leg, settling it on his lap. Lucia's head instinctively flew back, hitting the car door. She shot him a venomous glare.

"Sorry, Princess" he said, his tone dripping with sarcasm.

"My name is Lucia, not Princess" she retorted, wincing as he began to massage her swollen ankle with a healing balm.

"Well, you are a Mafia princess, after all, so the name fits, Princess," he stressed the word, making her roll her eyes

She winced again. Sebastian looked up at her, smirked, and pressed harder.

"Yahh!" Lucia shrieked, swatting the back of his head. Sebastian slapped her exposed thigh

His eyes darkened at the feel of her skin against his hand. Lucia wondered why he looked stiff when she was the one in pain. Sebastian released her leg and stared out the window.

"Get out," he said coldly. Lucia wondered at the sudden change in his demeanor but got out of the car anyway

Sebastian sped out of the gate without a backward glance.

"Here I was thinking we were getting along," Lucia muttered, but shrugged and began walking towards the door

Her leg already felt much better.

Sebastian was speeding down the streets of Italy, his mind racing. Why had he felt aroused after touching her?

He was supposed to hate her, loathe her, feel disgusted by her. Yet, here he was, turned on by her presence. It infuriated him, filling him with a cold rage.

He pushed the car faster, swerving through traffic.

Mob Ground

Russo sat alone at the Mob Ground Bar, nursing a bottle of alcohol, his eyes vacant, lost in thought

Marino entered, and upon seeing Russo, she turned to leave. Her phone pinged. It was a message from Russo.

"You can stay. I was just leaving," she read silently. She turned to find him already behind her; she hadn't heard his footsteps at all

Russo stared at her for a moment before walking past. Marino reached out, grasping the hem of his shirt.

"Wanna drink together?" she asked. Russo simply stared at her blankly before yanking his shirt free and walking out. Marino bit her lip hard

"So cold," she sighed, watching him go. She then heard a slow clap behind her

"Coldie's gone soft," Vivian teased. She and Marino were mortal enemies, their mutual hatred inexplicable from the moment they met

"Does our Coldie have a crush on our Mute?" Vivian continued, her voice laced with mockery. Marino's anger flared

She drew her gun, and at the same instant, Vivian drew hers. The muzzles of their guns pressed against each other's heads, identical glares fixed on their faces

"Woah… Woah… Woah, I can't believe you guys almost made me miss the action," Sin exclaimed as he entered, witnessing the standoff

He walked to them, deftly grabbing both guns and disarming them. The weapons landed in his hands.

"You're lucky Ombra wasn't the one who walked in on you, or else both your heads would be removed," Sin stated, his face unusually blank

It was rare to see such coldness from him. Marino snatched her gun and stormed out. Vivian chuckled, retrieved her gun from Sin, and headed to the bar

"Stay off Marino's lane, Viv," Sin advised, joining her.

"I was only teasing her… She's cute," Vivian mused.

"Wait, don't tell me you're bi now," Sin said, a disgusted look on his face, which made Vivian laugh

Her laughter was cut short as a blare of red light flooded the room, accompanied by the wail of a siren.

"His location has been found," Vivian declared, already knowing the reason for the alarm. A psychotic smile crept onto Sin's lips.

"Time to get our toy," he said, and they both walked out.

A Bar

Two figures sat on bar stools, their faces obscured by caps. The boy removed his cap, revealing Sin

The girl did the same, and Marino's face came into view. Her hand went to her earbud.

"Target found," she whispered, her eyes fixed on a visibly drunk Cane Nero. Here he was, enjoying himself with scantily clad women, despite having committed a grave sin. Marino glared at him.

Vivian, disguised as a stripper, approached Cane Nero and began to grind against him. Cane Nero grinned, his hands gripping her waist. Vivian continued her seductive act.

"Don't lose focus, Viv," Sin's voice buzzed through her earbud as he subtly watched them. Vivian rolled her eyes.

"I was just starting to enjoy it," she whispered. Cane Nero looked at her.

"What did you say?" he slurred. Vivian forced a smile.

"I said, why don't we go somewhere private?" she purred. Cane Nero smiled drunkenly and nodded.

They walked towards one of the private rooms in the bar. Vivian entered first, then pushed Cane onto the bed, climbing on top of him.

"I like to take control," she purred. Cane grinned, then spanked her wiggling backside. Vivian giggled.

"Want a drink?" she asked, walking to a small table where a wine bottle sat. She opened it, took a sip, then added something from a small vial before offering it to him. Cane Nero shook his head, but Vivian insisted. He shook his head again.

"I don't want wine… I want you," he mumbled. Vivian began to get annoyed.

"Okay, he's starting to piss me off," she muttered into her earbud. Moments later, Sin barged in, a wide, Joker-like smile stretching across his face.

"Who are you guys?" Cane Nero slurred, the alcohol starting to clear from his eyes.

"Your worst nightmare," Sin said, pulling a gun from his back pocket.

"Slow or fast?" he asked Cane, who looked confused.

"What?" Cane Nero stammered, backing away in fear. He shouldn't have come to such an open place with a bounty on his head. Sin leaned closer, his eyes wide, his smile broader.

"How do you want your death?"

Unknown Place

A lone figure sat on a chair, a box on the table before him. Slowly, he opened the box, a smirk spreading across his face at its contents: Cane Nero's head, eyes still wide with fear. The figure lifted the head from the box, revealing a letter underneath.

"YOUR NIGHTMARE" was boldly scrawled in blood at the bottom of the box. Only one clan had that signature: Matteo's clan.

"Well done, Matteo. I really underestimated you," an unknown voice echoed, followed by a psychotic laughter that filled the room.

Night Time

Lucia prepared for bed, walking to her bed and laying down. She sighed, staring at the ceiling, when someone crawled through her window. Her eyes widened in fear, and she quickly rose, attempting to use the meager skills Sebastian had taught her on the unknown intruder.

She tried a flying kick, but it was blocked. Her hand shot forward with a punch, also blocked. The person seemed skilled. Yet, she found an opening and kicked him squarely in the stomach, sending him crouching. She moved to knock the person out when she heard

"Nice one, Princess." Her eyes widened. The person stood up, revealing Sin, Then Sebastian's voice boomed from a speaker in her room.

"Yeahh… maybe too nice, Princess," Sin said, clutching his stomach. Lucia gasped.

"Are you alright?" she asked, realizing what was happening. It was a test. She glared at Sin, attempting to hit him again, but he caught her hand.

"Don't blame me… he made me do it," Sin pouted. Lucia turned to the camera in her room, glaring, then raised her hand in a defiant middle finger. Sin walked out the same way he came.

"Sorry, Lucia," Sin called out, though his voice didn't sound apologetic at all, before he jumped out the window

Lucia gasped, knowing how high her room was. When she rushed to the window, he had vanished.

"Why the fuck would you do that?!" Lucia demanded, knowing Sebastian could hear her.

"Fun," he simply replied. Lucia gave another defiant middle finger to the camera before returning to her bed

Sebastian watched her through his laptop, connected to the ant-sized camera. He smiled before shutting down the laptop.

"She's a fast learner," he mused. He then lay on his bed, waiting for sleep to claim him, but it never did. Insomnia plagued him, the cause of it haunting him daily. He only managed to sleep for one or two hours in the early morning.

6:00 AM: Training Room

Sebastian had decided it was normal to wake Lucia up before 6 AM. Here she was now, punching a punching bag that barely moved under the force of her blows.

"Weak," Sebastian commented for the twentieth time in the last thirty minutes.

"Wow! I feel so encouraged," Lucia retorted sarcastically.

"Watch your tone, Princess," Sebastian said, munching on an apple. Apples were practically the only thing he ate daily; he had no idea why he was so obsessed with them.

"Your posture is weak," he added, walking towards her. He gripped one of her legs, drawing it closer to the other. Lucia gasped, startled by his sudden proximity.

"Your legs are too far apart; it leaves you prone to falling," he explained, moving to stand in front of her.

"One hand back and the other in front, not too wide apart, either," he instructed, adjusting her hands. Lucia held her breath, acutely aware of how close they were.

"What do you mean I have the tendency to fall if my legs are far apart?" she asked. Sebastian looked her directly in the eyes.

"Widen your legs," he commanded. Lucia complied. Before she could say anything, Sebastian tripped her with his leg

Lucia closed her eyes, bracing for impact, but it never came. Slowly, she opened her eyes, locking gazes with Sebastian. They stared at each other for a few long moments before Sebastian finally spoke.

"I will never let you fall," he murmured, pulling her upright. His hand remained on her waist, hers on his shoulder. Her lips were parted, his eyes lingering on them.

"You're safe with me," he whispered, and Lucia gasped silently.

"Princess," he murmured, and finally closed the space between them.

Lucia's eyes widened