Beg!

|| Author Pov ||

The Sinclair residence was quiet. Kevin was out, and Rosa had already left for the academy. Carolina took a seat on the couch. Her one leg crossed over the other and phone pressed to her ear as she spoke with a friend.

“Oh, she’ll be leaving this mansion soon enough.” Carolina said smoothly into the phone. “I won’t tolerate any burden in this house any longer.”

She twirled the large diamond ring on her finger as she spoke, “The entire Sinclair property was in her name. She has no idea about it anyway. Even if I throw her out, she’ll never breathe a word of complaint. I know her too well.” Carolina paused, listening to the voice on the other end. A faint, satisfied smile played on her lips.

“I’ve looked after her all these years for my sister’s sake. That’s more than enough generosity on my part.”

She continued the conversation for another fifteen minutes. “She’s nothing but a burden.” Carolina hissed at last.

————

The classroom was deathly silent beneath the devil's commanding presence. While the rest of the students remained focused on the lesson, Rosa’s gaze stayed glued to him from the very last row. Her eyes were distant and unfocused.

Her thoughts were clouded with depression.

She couldn’t shake last night’s nightmare. Those unwanted touches still burned on her skin like a stain.

What if he tries again?

The possibility kept her brain restless and anxious. She stared straight ahead at nothing in particular, unable to forget the sickening sensation of Kevin’s hands on her body.

To make matters worse, Killian hadn’t looked at her even once since entering the room. That coldness only deepened the ache in her chest and fed her growing anxiety. The painful memories weighed heavily on her heart. She glanced down at her open notebook. The page was completely blank, mirroring the emptiness she felt inside.

Aria sat beside her, quietly scribbling notes, while Rosa remained trapped in her own world, no matter how hard she tried to push the horror away.

“Rosaliee?” She startled when Aria whispered her name in a long drag. Her head snapped toward her friend. “Y-yes?” she answered shakily. Aria’s brows furrowed with worry. “The professor is calling your name. Why aren’t you answering?” Aria whispered.

Rosa blinked and slowly lifted her eyes. Killian was staring directly at her. His sharp blue eyes piercing through her soul.

“I’m sorry.” she murmured.

Killian shoved his hands into his pockets. His sharp blue eyes narrowed slightly as he regarded her with clear displeasure.

“Save your apologies.” he countered coldly, “If you can’t pay attention in my class, at least pretend you’re here to learn. Eyes on the board, or leave.”

Rosa stared back at him with pale eyes and naturally downturned mouth. The sadness in her expression pronounced more than ever. Slowly, her eyes lowered, and she gave the faintest nod. A heavy shadow clouded her delicate features. Killian's eyes blackened at that expression on her face. The girl whose face shines brighter with each passing day now looks hollow. The light in her lavender eyes had faded and was replaced by a sorrow so evident that it didn't need words. He had noticed it the moment he stepped into the classroom. She looked different today. Lost.

His teeth clenched ever so slightly at her gloomy reaction. He swept his gaze across the class and caught Max staring at her with blatant interest. Killian’s pupils dilated in irritation before he looked away.

“We will resume the rest next week.”

Rosa peeked through her eyelashes when he turned. Her fingers twisted tightly into her skirt. His rudeness echoed painfully in her mind. She watched Killian pick up the coat hanging on the back of his chair, slipped it on, and walked out of the classroom without sparing her even a single glance. Slowly, her gaze dropped back to the desk. The classroom filled with noise and chatter around her, but Rosa remained silent.

The haunting thought refused to leave her. What if Kevin touches her that way again?

————

Killian leaned back against the leather seat in his office. A cigarette burned between his lips, clenched lightly between his index and middle finger. Smoke curled lazily into the air around him.

His eyes were hooded, nearly lifeless. That innocent face of hers replayed in his mind on an endless loop. Those pale, empty eyes and the way her lips had pressed into a sad line. He exhaled a thick plume of smoke.

“Tch.” Killian clicked his tongue irritatedly and stared at the glowing tip of the cigarette before crushing it into the ashtray with more force than necessary.

Who the fuck dared to break what was his to ruin?

A sharp knock echoed through the door of his cabin. “Enter.” Killian ordered.

Two of his men stepped in, dragging a severely wounded man between them. The prisoner groaned in pain. Blood dripped onto the marble floor as they forced him forward.

“Boss,” one of the men said, kicking the man down onto his knees. “We caught this traitor. He’s been stealing your secrets, the locations of your underground warehouses and the list of your contacts. We found out he’s been working with your rival crews. They even tried to set up an ambush on your next shipment.”

Killian took another drag from his cigarette while his hooded eyes fixed on the trembling man with glacial indifference. As the hidden don of a ruthless mafia empire, Killian had zero tolerance for disloyalty.

“Make him beg.” Killian prompted with a smirk.

“Yes, boss.”

The four walls soon echoed with screams as the men unleashed their brutality on the wounded traitor. Killian watched the scene with a wicked smirk playing on his handsome face and eyes gleaming with cold excitement. He savored every grunt and plea while lazily smoking his cigarette. When the man was barely clinging to consciousness, Killian rose from his chair with the cigarette still between his lips. He took graceful strides toward the broken figure.

The traitor was thrown at his feet. Coughing and wheezing, he desperately begged for mercy.

“On your filthy knees.” Killian commanded heartlessly, despite the man’s miserable bloodied state. The traitor knew better than to disobey. He had worked for Killian long enough to know exactly how terrifying he could be.

The man staggered onto his knees and clasped his hands together desperately. “I swear I’ll never do it again.” he pleaded. “Please, boss–”

Killian detached the cigarette from his lips.

“Open your dirty mouth.”

The man’s eyes widened in terror as he saw the glowing red tip of the cigarette. He shook his head frantically. “No, my lord! Please pardon me! Spare my life, please!”

Killian clenched his teeth and shot a glare at his two men. They moved instantly. One grabbed the traitor’s hair, yanking his head back, while the other pinned his arms. The sudden force made the man’s mouth fall open. Killian flicked the burning cigarette straight into his throat.

The man let out a blood-curdling scream as the lit cigarette slid down, burning his flesh from the inside. His body convulsed violently. Killian pulled out his gun, pressed the barrel under the man’s chin and pulled the trigger. A single shot rang out.

The traitor collapsed lifelessly onto the marble floor. Killian scrunched his nose in disgust.

“Clean this mess. Now.”

He ruffled his hair with one hand and turned back toward his chair while his men immediately got to work removing the body. Killian returned to his seat and leaned back into the leather chair. A thought kept circling in his mind.

Someone was trying to expose his true identity. He was working behind his back and digging into his secrets. Killian had already found multiple traces of an unknown presence. The cunning figure was hell-bent on unmasking him as the hidden mafia lord. Killian was sure this person didn’t know his true identity yet, but they were desperately trying to find connections. Killian already killed multiple suspects. But none of them had confessed who was truly behind it.

His fingers drummed slowly on the armrest. He was starting to enjoy this game a little too much.