Dangerously Devoted

Ombra

The horn nearly stopped her heart.

Lucia shot up in bed, heart pounding, already reaching for the knife under her pillow because this was it, this was the attack she'd been waiting for her whole life—

Sebastian stood at the foot of her bed. Blow horn in hand. Smirk firmly in place.

"Chop chop, Princess. You don't want to be late for school."

Lucia stared at him. Then she lay back down and pulled the covers over her head.

The horn blasted again. Louder this time. Right next to her ear.

She threw the covers off and launched herself at him, hand raised to slap that arrogant look off his face. He caught her wrist mid-air and yanked her closer.

"Wrong decision there, Princess."

His breath fanned her face. Warm. Steady. Way too close.

She shoved him in the chest.

"It's six in the f*****g morning! School doesn't start until eight!"

"Oh, your father didn't tell you?" Sebastian tilted his head, enjoying this far too much. "I'm your bodyguard. And your personal trainer."

Lucia crossed her arms. "You're kidding."

He gave her a blank look.

"Meet me in the training room. I believe you know where it is."

He walked out, leaving her standing there.

Lucia sank to the floor, stared up at the ceiling, and closed her eyes.

"Day one of hell."

THE MOB GROUND

"It's so early. Why are we here?"

Sin stretched lazily, his singlet clinging to the excessive tattoos covering every inch of his body. He was the youngest. The second deadliest. And right now, he looked like he wanted to go back to sleep.

"Ask Falcon why he rang the emergency alarm when I see no emergency," Vivian said, examining her nails.

Vivian. Second in command. The brains of the operation. Also Sebastian's occasional bedmate — a detail everyone knew and no one mentioned.

Russo sat in the corner, silent as always. No one had ever heard him speak. Rumors said he couldn't. Others said he simply chose not to. Either way, he communicated through written notes and pointed stares.

Marino sat on the ground, back against the wall, eyes closed. She was the deadliest female in the group. Anger was her closest friend. The slightest thing could set her off, and everyone knew to stay out of her path when she was quiet.

Falcon, the commander, walked in with a grin so wide it could have been mistaken for sunshine. He was the goofy one. The light. You'd never guess he was third deadliest after Sin.

"Tell us why you called us here before I blow your brains out," Marino said without opening her eyes. "My patience is already a thin thread."

Falcon's smile faded.

"Okay... we're waiting, bruh," Sin said, taking a seat.

Falcon looked around the room.

"Cane Nero was last seen in Italy."

Silence.

Cane Nero. Top three most dangerous drug lords in the world. He'd committed a grave offense, faked his death, and disappeared. Now there was a bounty on his head — one that came with a cash prize generous enough that no one cared who was offering it.

The first clan to find him and present his head at the upcoming Mafia Party would win.

Sin's smirk returned. His eyes lit up with something hungry.

"What are we waiting for? Let's go get this guy," Vivian said.

"We need orders from the boss," Falcon replied.

Vivian walked toward him, close enough that their shoulders almost touched.

"I got it. Trust me."

She walked out. Marino stood and followed, silent as a shadow.

Russo watched Marino go. His eyes stayed on her back longer than they should have.

"You might poke a hole in her back if you stare that hard," Sin said, clapping a hand on Russo's shoulder.

Russo looked at the hand. Then at Sin. Then he walked away without a word.

"Trust me, I'll be the one to make you talk," Sin called after him.

Falcon watched the exchange, shook his head slowly, and walked out.

"Now I'm all alone," Sin muttered, heading for the Mob Bar. "Guess I'll have a drink before going back to sleep."

He grabbed a fresh bottle and drank straight from it.

6:30 AM. TRAINING ROOM.

Lucia was on the floor.

Her chest heaved. Sweat soaked through her clothes. They had only been training for twenty minutes, but it felt like twenty hours.

"Stand up, Princess. We're not done."

Sebastian nudged her side with his foot. If she weren't Matteo's daughter, he would have killed her by now — of that, she could be certain. Since she was, he'd settle for torture.

"You're supposed to go easy on me! I'm a beginner!" she shouted.

Sebastian scoffed.

"Oh, I'm sorry. Would you like a foot massage too?"

Lucia glared at him.

"Life isn't for the weak. When life throws you lemonade—"

"Make lemonade," she said, proud.

"Wrong."

Her smile faded.

"Life won't throw you lemonade unless it's rotten or rigged to explode. So you bury it."

He walked to a punching bag and threw a punch. Then another. His movements were so fast, so smooth, that his hands seemed to vanish. The bag rattled like it was being beaten by a ghost.

"How do you do that?" she asked, sitting up.

He stopped and grabbed a water bottle.

"Practice, darling. Practice."

"How long did you practice for?"

"Ten years."

Her eyes widened. "That means you were fifteen when you started?"

"Nah. I was ten."

She opened her mouth to respond, but before she could, he shoved a cloth into it.

"Less talking. More punching."

She spat it out immediately, gagging.

"Ugh — what the hell was that?!"

Sebastian smirked. He leaned in close.

"My singlet."

Lucia's eyes went wide. She noticed for the first time that he was shirtless — and drenched in sweat. The realization hit her like a truck.

Her eyes rolled to the back of her head and she collapsed onto the floor.

"She didn't even wait for me to tell her I was joking," Sebastian said, hovering over her unconscious body.

He shrugged.

"Oh well."

And walked out.

7:45 AM. MATTEO'S OFFICE.

"My back hurts. My hands hurt. I can't feel my legs. Dad, I'm dying."

Lucia stood in front of her father's desk, listing every complaint in one breath.

"And guess the worst part? He shoved his sweaty singlet into my mouth!"

Matteo chuckled.

"Ombra would never do that."

He glanced at Sebastian, who stood in the corner with an expression of absolute innocence.

"I never did such a thing," Sebastian said. "You can check the security cameras in the training room."

Lucia's mouth fell open. He had wiped them. She knew he had wiped them.

"See? He's innocent," Matteo said, smiling at his daughter.

"Seriously, Dad? You'll believe him over me? Have I ever lied to you?"

Matteo raised an eyebrow.

"Should I start counting? Maybe from your recent bodyguard incident? The one where you faked getting lost?"

Lucia froze.

He knew.

"Dad, that was—"

"Time to go to school, bambolina."

He went back to his papers.

"But Dad—"

"Ombra."

Before Lucia could get another word out, Sebastian scooped her off the ground and threw her over his shoulder.

"Put me down, you piece of s**t!"

He dropped her. She stumbled, caught herself, spun around, and slapped him across the face.

The sound echoed through the hallway.

Sebastian's head turned with the impact. When he looked back at her, his eyes had gone dark. Empty. Something primal.

Lucia didn't even get a breath out before his hand closed around her throat.

He lifted her off the floor and slammed her against the wall. Her vision blurred. Her hands clawed at his wrist.

"S-stop... you're choking me..."

"I'm not one of those maids who grovel at your feet." His voice was ice. "Watch your words and your actions, Princess. I don't mind being killed for killing you."

He let go.

She hit the ground hard. Her ankle twisted beneath her. Tears spilled down her cheeks — not from the pain, but from the look in his eyes. The dead look. The look that said he meant every word.

Sebastian turned and walked a few steps.

"Meet me in the car in five minutes. Take longer and you'll walk to school."

He left.

Lucia clenched her fists as the tears kept falling. She tried to stand, but her leg gave out. She started hopping on one foot, each step agony, and was about to fall when a pair of arms swept her off her feet.

"Don't worry, Barbie. I got you."

Sin. Of course it was Sin.

He carried her toward the car where Sebastian was already sitting in the driver's seat. Sebastian didn't even spare them a glance.

"Put her in the front seat. I'm not her driver."

Sin placed Lucia in the passenger seat carefully.

"See ya, Barbie."

He pecked her cheek and left.

The ride was silent. No words. No music. Just the hum of the engine and Lucia's tears drying on her face. She stared out the window the whole time.

They reached the school. Lucia opened the door and limped out, each step making her wince. Sebastian watched her in the rearview mirror. His jaw tightened. He did nothing.

As soon as she was clear, he drove off without a word.

Lucia looked at the car disappearing down the road and scoffed.

Even while injured, the spoiled side of her never disappeared.

UNDERGROUND

"Please... I didn't mean to blow up the ship... it was a mistake..."

The man was tied to a chair, blindfolded, trembling. He couldn't see the figures standing around him, but he could feel them. Something in the air. Something cold.

"Mistake?"

Matteo's voice cut through the darkness like a blade.

"You blew up my entire ship. Millions in product. And you're saying it was a mistake?"

Matteo stepped back into the shadows.

"Ombra."

The man wet himself. He couldn't see anything, but he knew that name. Everyone knew that name.

"No... please... please, Boss..."

The words died in his throat.

No one saw Sebastian move. One moment, the man was begging. The next, his head was on the floor.

Blood splattered across the concrete.

Sebastian stepped into the light, a katana in his hand, blood dripping from the blade. He lifted a finger to his lips — tasted the blood — and smiled.

His eyes were psychopathic. His lips curled upward.

"I like something sweet."

He looked at Matteo, who nodded with pride.

Sebastian turned and walked out.

"Mission accomplished."