Chapter 14: Crimson Boundaries

The next night, he took me out. Not far. Just down to his private club beneath the city.

It was underground. Illegal. Dirty. Everything that matched the man beside me.

His hand never left my waist. He introduced me as Bianca Lorenzo now. And I played the part with painted lips and dead eyes.

There were whispers around us. Of the girl Nico brought home from Germany. Of the ring. Of the screams they heard last week.

"You enjoy this?" I asked him in the dim light as we sat in the leather booth.

He didn't answer immediately. He dragged the blade of his attention across the room instead, eyes scanning for threats or traitors.

Finally, he leaned in, mouth brushing my ear. "I enjoy owning what others want."

His words didn't cut. They seared.

Later, a man approached me. Too close. His hand grazed my shoulder.

And just like that, the club went silent.

Nico stood, gun drawn, finger steady.

"You touch what's mine," he said, calm. "You don't get another hand."

A shot rang out.

Screams. Blood. Chaos.

And through it all, I sat there.

Still.

Because deep down, I wasn't afraid.

I was alive.

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