Scarred Seductress

The Devil's Game

Selene’s eyes opened weakly, settling on the soft ambience of the unfamiliar room. She swallowed hard and pushed herself up quickly, her gaze snapping around in breathless confusion.

“Where the hell am I?” she shook, hopping out of the bed as she looked around—only to freeze in terror when her eyes settled on the striking portrait on the wall.

Matteo.

“s**t…” Selene growled, panic spiking within her, her feet already ready to bolt for the door when it creaked open and a guard walked in.

Selene stepped back slowly.

“You’re up,” he mouthed.

Selene said nothing.

“He demands your presence… come with me,” he said, sparing Selene no other glance before turning and proceeding out of the room.

Selene forced down a deep breath to calm herself, trailed her eyes over the room one last time, and followed behind him.

The guard said nothing else to her, simply leading the way—first out of the suite, then out of the building, and into the open courtyard. Matteo sat alone in a corner, his expression cold as ever, smoking.

Selene looked at the guard desperately, as though searching his eyes for hope—hope that she would be fine.

“Go on…” he urged.

Selene stepped forward and soon stood before Matteo, her head bowed.

“You… you called for me…” Selene said, her voice shaking with obvious fear.

Matteo scoffed and signalled the guard behind him. The man placed a gun into Matteo’s hand.

“Let’s play a game.”

Selene’s heart fell.

“What… what are you doing? If this is about your sister’s memorial… it—it was a mistake,” Selene stuttered, stumbling back, already breathless.

Matteo smiled, his eyes glinting with mischief as he lifted the gun toward her.

“I’m doing exactly what devils do… relax, it’s just a game,” he sneered.

Selene swallowed hard, silence striking her as she recalled the other day he had carried her home himself—when she had called him a devil.

“I… I didn’t mean any—”

“Your chance of survival… depends on how well you dodge my bullet.”

Selene’s eyes snapped wide. “What—”

“And just to be clear… I’m a really good shooter, Selene.”

Selene tore her gaze toward the man stationed behind her desperately, silently pleading for him to talk Matteo out of this.

The guard looked away.

“The game starts in three, little w***e,” Matteo sneered, his face giving off the impression he was enjoying it a little too much already.

“In one—”

Selene turned and bolted, her heart slamming violently against her ribs with more fear than she had felt in a long time.

She heard Matteo count to three and screamed, almost stumbling to the ground as gunshots ripped through the air.

“Boss—” his bodyguard tried to step in.

Matteo shot him a hard glare, and he stepped back slowly.

“Just stop… please!” Selene screamed, clutching her ears as she continued to run.

Matteo chuckled, amused.

“I’ll do anything… I’ll do anything, I beg you!” Selene cried as her legs tangled beneath her. She lost her balance and crumpled to the ground weakly.

Matteo laughed and closed in on her with an evil smile.

“This is no fun, I beg you… stop!” Selene whimpered, clasping her eyes shut.

Matteo scoffed.

“Get up and run, Selene…” he said, the smile on his face fading instantly.

Selene shook her head and steadied her gaze against his, determined to snap him out of this madness herself. She had done nothing wrong—Marina had spiked her drink and led her there on purpose. Why was he taking it out on her?

“I didn’t do anything wrong…”

“I said run!” Matteo barked, startling her.

Selene scoffed bitterly, suddenly defiant and unyielding.

“You can go ahead and shoot me if it makes you happy. I’m done playing your stupid game,” she spat.

The guard gasped, his eyes wide.

Matteo bit down on his lip, anger surging violently within him.

“What are you doing? You think he won’t shoot you?” the guard croaked, terrified for her.

Selene scoffed.

And that was it for Matteo.

His finger pressed the trigger, and the shot fired—piercing straight into Selene’s arm.

She screamed in pain and crumpled to the ground, blood pooling quickly around her.

Matteo tore his eyes away, and for the first time since he’d learned to use a gun, regret hit him like a tidal wave.

“f**k,” the guard growled, scurrying to Selene’s side and dropping to her level as Selene’s eyes slipped shut, silence stretching in that instant.

Marina scoffed from the balcony, a proud smile curling on her lips as she turned away.

“She… she—”

Matteo’s heart sank.

For the first time in a long time, panic tore violently through his spine.