Chapter 41: Cruel Claim
Janet turned her face away as Dmitri approached. Her body trembled, the ropes biting into her skin. The dim light flickered above, casting Dmitri's shadow monstrously long across the floor.
"Don't cry, beautiful," he whispered, brushing his fingers along her jaw. "You were meant to be mine from the beginning. Look at you... so perfect."
"Don't you dare touch her!" Luca roared, the veins on his neck throbbing.
But Dmitri didn't flinch. He circled Janet slowly, placing his hands on her shoulders. "You always got what you wanted, didn't you, Luca? The business, the power… even her."
Janet looked away, tears falling freely.
"But now it's my turn."
He leaned down and pressed his lips against her neck slowly, tauntingly—his eyes locked with Luca's the entire time.
"STOP IT!" Luca bellowed, straining against the chains.
Janet flinched. "Please… don't."
"Shhh," Dmitri whispered, trailing his fingers down her arm. "I have all the time in the world. And this, my darling, is just the beginning."
Janet sobbed quietly, caught between fear and shame. Luca's eyes burned with fury and helplessness.
Inside his chest, the fire of vengeance had begun to blaze uncontrollably.