Page 84 of Ruthless Desire

Yanking the knife free from Luca’s body, his blood splatters across the pristine floor. He’s on the brink now, teetering on the edge of oblivion, and I can see the fear in his eyes, the desperate hope that I’ll end it quickly. But there’s no mercy in me, not tonight.

I turn to Natalie, holding the knife out to her, the blade slick with Luca’s blood. “Take it,” I command, my voice leaving no room for argument. “Finish him.”

Her eyes widen in shock, her gaze shifting from the knife to my face, searching for any sign of softness, any hint that this is a test. But it’s not. This is who we are now, and she needs to understand that.

“Dante, I—” she starts, her voice trembling.

Natalie hesitates for a moment longer, and I see the struggle in her eyes—the last vestiges of the girl she used to be, fighting against the darkness that’s taking hold.

With a trembling hand, she reaches for the knife, her fingers brushing against mine as she takes it. Her grip is tentative, unsure, but I know she’ll do it. She has to.

“Do it,” I urge, my voice a low, seductive whisper. “End him, Natalie. Show me that you’re mine.”

The blade rests heavy in Natalie’s trembling hand, her eyes wide with fear and uncertainty. I watch her, every muscle in her body taut with tension, as she looks down at Luca, his blood pooling beneath him, his life ebbing away with every shallow breath.

She’s frozen, paralyzed by the weight of what I’ve asked of her.

It’s clear in the way her hand shakes, the way her breath hitches in her throat. Natalie’s not ready to cross this line, not ready to fully embrace the monster I’m shaping her into.

I take the knife from her, my grip firm as I pull her close, her back pressed against my chest.

“It’s okay, solnyshko,” I murmur, my lips brushing her ear. “You’re not ready, and that’s fine. But watch closely. This is what happens to those who dare challenge me. You’ll learn, in time.”

Her breath is shallow, her heart pounding against my chest as she watches, wide-eyed, as I turn my attention back to our guest of honor.

Luca’s screams have faded to pathetic whimpers, his strength draining with each passing second, but I’m not finished with him. Not yet. I want to draw this out, make him suffer until he’s nothing more than a broken shell. He’s close to passing out, and that won’t do. The fun would end too soon.

I move swiftly, setting up an IV drip, my hands steady as I mix a cocktail designed to keep Luca right on the edge. A blend of saline and adrenaline—just enough to keep his heart pounding, his senses razor-sharp, ensuring he feels every ounce of pain I’m about to inflict.

Natalie watches with wide eyes as I insert the needle into Luca’s arm. Her gaze follows the line from the bag to Luca’s trembling body. There’s something different in her expression now—an intensity that wasn’t there before.

“This will be fun, solnyshko,” I murmur, not looking away from Luca as I adjust the flow of the drip. “He can feel everything. Every cut, every burn, every moment of agony. He’ll feel it all.”

Her breath quickens, her body tensing as she absorbs my words. I glance at her, seeing the conflict in her eyes—the war between the fear that grips her and the dark curiosity that pulls her closer. She’s starting to understand, starting to see me in all my glory, and it sends a thrill through me.

“Watch closely,” I say, turning my attention back to Luca. “This is where it gets interesting.”

Luca’s eyes widen in terror as the adrenaline courses through his veins, his body jerking as the full force of the pain hits him. He tries to scream, but it’s a strangled, pitiful sound. I smile, a slow, cruel smile, and pull a small, vicious-looking device from my pocket.

“This,” I say, holding it up for Natalie to see, “is going to make him wish he was dead.”

I see the way Natalie’s eyes widen, the way her breath hitches as she stares at the device, not knowing what it is but understanding that it’s something terrible. Something that will push Luca beyond the brink.

But first, I want her to feel it. I want her to understand the power it holds.

I step closer to her, pressing the device against her skin, just below her collarbone. She gasps, her body tensing as it comes to life, sending a shiver of sensation through her. It’s not pain—it’s something else, something that makes her breath quicken, her pupils dilate with a mixture of fear and something darker.

“Do you feel that, solnyshko?” I whisper, my voice a dark caress as I trail the device down her arm, watching the way she shudders, her lips parting in a silent moan. “Imagine how much it’s going to hurt him.”

Natalie moans softly, her body leaning into mine as the sensation washes over her, her breath coming in short, sharp gasps. The fear is still there, but it’s mingled with something else now—something darker, more primal.

She’s teetering between who she was and who she’s becoming, and I’m going to push her over.

I pull the device away, watching the way she trembles, her eyes fluttering closed as she chases the sensation. Luca’s presence is almost forgotten, his pain a backdrop to the twisted game we’re playing together. But I’m not done with him yet.

“Now,” I say, my tone light, almost playful, as I turn back to Luca, who is watching with wide, terrified eyes. “Let’s see how much you can take.”

I press the device to his chest, watching with satisfaction as his body convulses violently, his scream tearing through the room. It’s a sound that sends a thrill through me, a reminder of the power I hold, not just over Luca, but over Natalie as well. She’s watching, enraptured by the violence, by the control I exert over this man’s life.

---