The Devil's Inferno

12| Understood?

ALMA

He took me to his room. It was very large, designed with a black and grey theme. There was a king-sized bed, and hung above it was the Ak-47. I couldn’t tell if it was real or a dummy.

The room carried a dark and warm energy that I didn’t even know how to explain.

“I’ll be right back,” Lazzaro said as he disappeared into the closet. He returned with a small box, which I assumed was the first aid box. Then he led us to the couch in a corner of the room and sunk on it.

I drew the coffee table between both couches closer and placed the first aid box on it. Opening it, I checked to confirm if it had everything I needed in it—gauze, forceps, suture thread and needle, needle holder, antiseptic, and most importantly, surgical gloves. All checked.

Slipping in the gloves, I crouched beside him. I grabbed the hem of his shirt and slowly folded it up. He took it from me and pulled it over his head. I could feel his intense gaze on me, and it burned my skin.

“Let’s see what you got,” his voice rasped, going straight to my core and making it throb.

I held my breath and blew it out. f**k. I hated how he made me feel. I f*****g hated him.

Pinning my eyes on the bloody stab wound, I traced my finger along it.

“Are you just going to stare at it or get to work?” he groaned.

“What happened?” I asked curiously as I continued tracing my finger along it.

“I slipped and fell into a knife. It was an accident,” he said smugly.

“I am not stupid,” I hissed, snapping my gaze up to look at him. My eyes met his and my heart skipped a bit.

His eyes darkened. “Then you should know never to ask questions,” he groaned.

“Whatever,” I rolled my eyes before reaching for the antiseptic and started cleaning the area.

After I was done cleaning, making sure the area had been disinfected, I proceeded to stitch him up. Low groans escaped him as he winced in pain. The men in the Mafia world had a high tolerance for pain because it was something they had to deal with every time. A regular man wouldn’t get stitched without an anesthetic and not cry out loudly in pain. He wouldn’t even be able to stay still for the procedure.

This was something Lazzaro was used to and had probably done on himself a few times.

“Where have you been?” I suddenly asked him as I continued stitching him.

“I can see that you are deaf,” he groaned.

“I am only asking because I had been waiting for you to come back,” I retorted.

He leaned closer, his hot breath against my neck making my p***y throb. “Why? Missed me?”

Fuck.

This man was making me feel things I shouldn’t be feeling. My body and my mind weren’t in sync. My mind hated him, but my body didn’t.

I swallowed hard, my breath hitching.

“No,” I finally responded. “I wanted to talk to you about something.”

He was quiet for a few seconds before sighing, “What, Principessa?”

“I haven’t seen my family ever since my sister died. I don’t even know if a funeral has been held for her. I know nothing about what is going on. I need closure. I am going out of my mind,” I flicked my gaze up to look at him. “I need closure, at least have a little heart, and—”

“That’s why I returned today,” he cut me in.

My eyes narrowed. “What?”

“Her funeral is tomorrow and we are attending together,” he told me.

Suddenly, he leaned closer and wrapped his large palm around my neck, his dark eyes burrowing into mine. “And I must warn you, principessa. Try anything stupid like the last time and you’ll regret your entire existence. You have nowhere to go. You’ll remain here with me, until I decide otherwise. Understood?” he groaned.

I remained silent, just staring at him dumbfounded.

“Understood?” he repeated with a groan.

As much as I wanted to protest, I knew he was right. I had nowhere to go. He f*****g owned me. And my hand was literally in his hands right now. Just a crush and he could end me in seconds.

I closed my eyes and inhaled sharply. “Understood.”

“Good,” he groaned as he promptly released his grip from my neck and leaned back on the chair. f*****g devil.

“I’m still going to punish you for what you did the last time. Know that,” he said, his gaze never leaving mine.

“How do you intend to punish me?” I asked with a small voice.

He suddenly leaned forward again and grabbed my chin between his fingers. “How do you want to be punished?”

His eyes pinned on me made my heart rate accelerate.

I shook my head and swallowed against my dry throat. His hand on me was supposed to irritate me. His piercing gaze was supposed to infuriate me. His voice was supposed to disturb me. But instead, all they did was make my heart beat really fast with desire.

Fuck, this was not supposed to be happening. I was not supposed to be attracted to this devil.

He suddenly leapt to his feet, making me almost tumble to the floor, but he quickly caught me. And then he did the most unexpected thing. He leaned closer and carried me in his arms bridal style, trudging to the king-size bed with me in his hands.

What was he doing? Did he want to r**e me? Was that the punishment he wanted to give me? My heart was thundering in my chest, and I was sure he could hear it with how deafening it was.

He tossed me on the bed, and before I knew what was happening, he was already climbing on top of me, his eyes dark and feral.

As much as I was attracted to him, fear coursed through my entire being. I wasn’t ready for this. I didn’t want this to happen.

“Please!” I pleaded, tears welling up in my eyes. “Please don’t do it.”

He didn’t stop. He leaned closer and planted a soft kiss to my cheek, making guttural sounds.

“Would doing it make you feel more powerful?” I choked, tears streaming down my face. “Please, Lazzaro. Please!”

He suddenly froze and his jaw tightened. He remained like that for a few seconds before abruptly leaping off me.

“I am not going to do anything with you until you give me the permission,” he groaned as he started trudging to the bathroom with the needle still hanging off his abdomen. “Get lost to your room. I don’t want to see you here when I return. We are leaving early tomorrow for your sister’s funeral,” he said harshly before disappearing into the bathroom.