Kill Me Love Me

4. The revealed identity

Light rain fell as the black sedan stopped in front of the old warehouse. The headlights pierced the low fog and reflected off the rusty metal walls. Then the engine was turned off.

Zalea slowly opened her eyes. She had been fully awake since the car slowed down.

Her breathing was steady as her gaze fell on four men standing in a row in front of the iron door.

When the car door opened, cold air seeped into Zalea's skin, before the voice followed.

"Get out." Lucien's voice was low.

"Lucien... Why are we in a place like this?"

Zalea slowly lifted her face, trying to show the anxiety on her face.

"Are you afraid?" asked Lucien. He finally turned his head and stared at Zalea for a long time with an expression that was difficult to interpret.

Zalea nodded slightly. Her hands clasped her arms. "This place seems dangerous." Zalea's voice trembled, her eyes blinking innocently like a helpless girl. "Can we just go home?"

"Go home?" he repeated softly. His fingers suddenly gripped Zalea's wrist. "You're so naive."

The iron warehouse door creaked loudly as it opened. When Zalea followed Lucien inside, the smell of rusty metal and the scent of blood greeted them.

In the middle of the room, under the dim neon light, a man was tied to a chair. His face was bruised, his lips cracked, blood trickling from his temples and several other parts of his body.

If it had been Alea, her gentle and innocent younger sister, standing where Zalea was now, she would have screamed. Alea would have turned her face away, closed her eyes, cried, and begged for it all to stop.

But the one standing there now was Zalea. Zalea had long since made peace with blood.

She knew exactly what the sound of breaking bones was like. She was so familiar with the smell of blood.

But to perfect her mask, she acted flawlessly... showing a look of fear and slumping her shoulders to appear completely fragile.

"Sir," said one of the guards. "This man refuses to admit his guilt."

Lucien stepped forward. He stopped right in front of the man. The rain that wet his coat dripped slowly onto the cement floor, forming small spots.

His gaze fell on the face of the bound man.

"He must have an interesting reason for wasting my time."

Lucien reached behind his coat, pulled out a pistol, then twirled it between his fingers before crouching in front of the man.

His other hand grabbed the man's jaw and lifted it roughly.

"I don't like beating around the bush," he said. "Who sent you?"

“I-I don’t—”

A single shot suddenly exploded, hitting the man’s leg.

A sharp scream immediately filled the room. Blood spurted, splattering the floor, the air… and a little bit on Lucien’s shoes. Zalea jumped slightly, covering her mouth with her hand, playing the fear perfectly.

Lucien glanced briefly at the red stain, then back at the man's face as he screamed in pain.

"Last chance."

The man cried, tears mixing with blood. "I-I can't tell you...! I—"

Lucien stood up slowly.

The movement was so calm, so quiet... that everyone knew, in the next second, someone would die.

He raised his gun.

Aimed it at the man's head. And fired. Blood spattered the floor, the chair, and Lucien's cheek. The man's body fell, motionless.

Lucien stared at him for a moment, unresponsive.

Then he wiped some of the blood from his cheek with his thumb. He turned around. His gaze locked directly on Zalea.

“I hate traitors,” he said flatly. “They waste my time.”

Lucien stepped closer. His shoes stopped right in front of Zalea, so close that the hem of his coat almost touched her dress. He raised his hand, which still bore traces of blood, then with two fingers, he grabbed Zalea's chin and forced her to look up.

"What about you, my wife?"

His thumb pressed harder on Zalea's jaw. "What do you think... what kind of punishment would I prepare if you betrayed me?"

Zalea replied with an innocent blink. She raised her hand slowly. Her fingers touched Lucien's chest. Right above the man's heartbeat.

"I-I wouldn't do that..." she whispered. "I would never betray you."

Zalea lifted her face slightly, looking at Lucien with wet eyes and perfect feigned resignation.

"I love you, Lucien."

For a moment, something almost imperceptible flashed across his face, a fleeting glimpse too quick for anyone but Zalea to read. He released her chin. His hand dropped and caught Zalea's wrist, which was still pressed against his chest.

"Tired?" Lucien asked softly.

Zalea nodded slightly, "Yes... I'm tired." Her voice grew even softer. "Can we go home now?"

Lucien tilted his head slightly.

"What I mean..." he said softly, "is are you tired of pretending to be Alea?"

Zalea froze instantly.

Damn it! This man knew...

How long? Since when?

She forced her breathing to remain steady.

The barrel of the gun Lucien was still holding was pressed against Zalea's forehead in a matter of seconds. The cold metal touched her skin. The slight pressure between her eyebrows made Zalea's breathing slow down a little.

Zalea stared into those eyes. And at that moment...

Zalea tilted her head, looking at the gun lazily.

"Ah..." she muttered lightly, her lips forming a sly, seductive smile. "What a pity. I thought I was more convincing," she continued softly, in a spoiled tone.

Lucien's jaw muscles tightened. The pressure of the gun increased slightly.

"Zalea Ardane," he said in a cold, deadly voice. "Or... the leader of Black Opium." The corners of his lips moved slightly. "What is so important that the leader of a criminal organization has to go undercover and enter my life? What does your organization want from me?"

Zalea raised her eyebrows slowly. Her gaze was clear, no longer pretending to be innocent.

"I didn't come on behalf of my organization," Zalea replied calmly.

Lucien stared at her without blinking.

"Then?" he asked briefly.

Zalea blinked slowly. She held back the smile that wanted to appear.

"I want you, Lucien," she said softly. "That's all."

Lucien was silent for a moment.

He stepped closer, so close that his breath touched Zalea's skin. His lips moved close to her ear.

"In that case..." A smirk appeared on his lips. "Will you bear my child?"

Zalea was silent.

For the first time, her tongue was lost for words.

Lucien pulled away, looking at her face with a thin smile that never quite became a smile.

"Silent?" he said lightly. "You're always good at choosing when your mouth needs to work."

Lucien turned away, his black coat falling with the movement of his body.

He gave a small nod to his two bodyguards.

"Take her to the north villa."

The bodyguards immediately grabbed Zalea's arms. The woman tilted her face, letting her hair fall onto her cheek as she looked at Lucien.

"So, you're not going to kill me?" said Zalea with a defiant smile.

Lucien stopped in his tracks. He tilted his shoulder slightly as he turned his head.

"I want you to have time to reflect on your lies."

He stepped closer until his breath touched Zalea's cold skin.

"You think I'll let you die quickly? A woman like you should know I don't get rid of things... until I'm satisfied."

His fingers lifted Zalea's chin once more, followed by a cold smile on his lips. "Until that time comes... don't die."