Behind the Monster's Mask
1187 Words
The drive through Rome was silent.
Serena sat in the passenger seat of Damian's black Bentley, watching the city disappear behind them. Rain tapped softly against the windows while Damian kept both hands on the steering wheel.
He had not spoken since they left the estate.
She glanced at him.
His face remained unreadable.
It irritated her.
Most people filled silence with unnecessary words.
Damian seemed comfortable living inside it.
Finally, Serena broke it.
Where are we going?
His eyes never left the road.
To question someone.
You mean torture someone.
His jaw tightened.
I only use violence when I have no other choice.
She laughed softly.
That's hard to believe.
For the first time since they left, he looked at her.
I don't expect you to believe me.
His voice was calm, but there was something hidden beneath it.
Weariness.
She looked away again.
The stories she had heard about Damian Moretti painted him as a ruthless monster.
But the man sitting beside her didn't enjoy intimidating people.
He simply accepted that fear followed him everywhere.
An hour later the car stopped in front of an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of the city.
Several black SUVs were already parked outside.
Men in dark suits stood guard.
The moment Damian stepped out of the car, every man lowered his head respectfully.
Nobody spoke.
Nobody questioned him.
Serena noticed something.
It wasn't fear.
It was loyalty.
That confused her.
People stayed loyal to leaders they respected.
Not monsters.
Damian opened her door.
Stay beside me.
I can walk by myself.
I know.
Then stop treating me like I'm fragile.
He looked at her for several seconds.
I don't think you're fragile.
Then why?
Because whoever followed you wasn't working alone.
Her confidence faded slightly.
She followed him inside.
The warehouse smelled of dust and rust.
In the center of the room a man sat tied to a chair.
His face was bruised.
Blood stained the corner of his mouth.
When he saw Damian, his entire body shook.
Please.
Damian stopped a few feet away.
Who hired you?
The man remained silent.
Damian sighed.
I'll ask one more time.
I can't tell you.
Why?
They'll kill my family.
Damian nodded slowly.
And if you don't answer me?
The man's breathing became uneven.
Serena expected Damian to hit him.
Instead, Damian pulled up another chair and sat down.
His voice became almost gentle.
What's your daughter's name?
The man blinked.
W. what?
Your daughter.
Emma.
How old is she?
Seven.
Damian nodded.
I know where she goes to school.
The man turned pale.
You wouldn't.
I wouldn't hurt a child.
Damian leaned forward.
"But the people who hired you would."
The man's eyes filled with tears.
They said if I failed.
They'd kill your family.
He nodded desperately.
Damian remained quiet.
Then he reached into his pocket and placed a photograph on the table.
It showed the man's wife and daughter walking out of a supermarket.
They're safe.
The man stared at the picture.
My people moved them an hour ago.
You protected them?
I protect innocent people.
Serena's heart skipped.
Nothing she had heard about Damian matched the man she was watching.
The tied man's shoulders collapsed.
They paid me to watch the girl.
Who?
I never saw his face.
Damian's expression darkened.
Describe his voice.
It was distorted.
What did he want?
The man swallowed.
He said the Valenti girl would lead him to something that belonged to him.
Serena frowned.
What does that mean?
The man looked at her.
I don't know.
Damian stood.
Take him somewhere safe.
His men immediately untied the prisoner.
Serena watched in disbelief.
You're letting him go?
He isn't the enemy.
He followed me.
He was desperate.
She folded her arms.
You're impossible to understand.
He looked at her.
I've heard that before.
Outside the warehouse, Serena couldn't stop thinking about what she had witnessed.
She had expected cruelty.
Instead she had seen compassion hidden beneath control.
It unsettled her.
As they reached the car, a black motorcycle sped toward them.
Everything happened in seconds.
A gunshot echoed across the empty road.
Damian reacted instantly.
He pulled Serena against him.
The bullet shattered the car window behind where she had been standing.
More shots followed.
His men drew their weapons.
The attackers disappeared as quickly as they had arrived.
Silence returned.
Serena realized she was shaking.
Damian's arm was still around her.
Are you hurt?
She looked up.
For the first time since meeting him, she saw fear in his eyes.
Not fear for himself.
Fear for her.
I'm. I'm fine.
He slowly released her.
Only then did Serena notice blood running down his sleeve.
Her eyes widened.
You're bleeding.
He looked down briefly.
It's nothing.
It doesn't look like nothing.
It's a scratch.
She grabbed his wrist before he could pull away.
The sleeve was soaked in blood.
You were shot.
The bullet only grazed me.
You need a doctor.
I have one.
He started walking.
She didn't move.
Damian.
He stopped.
You almost got killed.
He turned back.
I've almost been killed many times.
That doesn't make it normal.
A faint smile crossed his face.
In my world, it does.
She stared at him.
Why did you shield me?
He answered without hesitation.
Because I promised you'd stay alive.
She shook her head.
No.
His expression hardened.
That's the truth.
It's not the whole truth.
For several long seconds they stood staring at each other.
The rain began falling again.
Neither moved.
Neither spoke.
Finally Damian looked away.
Let's go home.
The word escaped before Serena could think.
Home?
He looked at her.
The estate."l
She realized what she had said.
Home.
Somehow she had already started thinking of it that way.
The realization frightened her.
As the convoy drove back toward Rome, Damian closed his eyes against the pain in his shoulder.
Across from him, Serena watched silently.
She told herself she was only concerned because anyone would help an injured person.
But deep inside, another feeling had begun to grow.
A dangerous feeling.
One she had promised herself she would never allow.
She was beginning to care about Damian Moretti.
And if the stories about him were true...
Caring about the Devil of Rome might become the biggest mistake of her life.
When they arrived at the estate, Luca rushed toward them.
His expression changed the moment he saw Damian's bloodstained sleeve.
What happened?
An ambush.
Luca looked at Serena.
They found her.
Damian nodded once.
They're moving faster than I expected.
Luca lowered his voice.
If they're already making a move, then he knows.
Damian's eyes darkened.
He can't.
He can if the journal survived.
Serena stepped closer.
What journal?
Neither man answered.
She looked from one to the other.
What journal?
Damian finally spoke.
The one your father died trying to protect.
Serena's heart pounded.
My father left something behind?
Damian nodded slowly.
And if our enemies find it before we do.
He paused.
His expression turned colder than she had ever seen.
this won't just become a mafia war.
It will become a m******e.
- Writer
