로그인長年の恋人に裏切られ、夢も居場所も一瞬で失った大学生の寧々。 絶望のどん底にいた彼女の前に現れたのは……幼なじみで人気モデルの神崎律だった。 「もし良かったら、一緒に住むか?」 律の突然の提案とともに、寧々は都心の超高級マンションへ。そこで始まったのは、誰にも秘密の同居生活。 完璧な優しさ、独占するような視線、触れたら戻れなくなる距離感……。 けれど、律の瞳の奥に隠されていたのは、昔から寧々にだけ向けられた、甘く危険な執着だった。 「大丈夫だ、寧々。これからは、俺がいるから」 二人の幼なじみが織りなす、甘く切ない再会の物語──。
더 보기Isadora's eyes bared open as she took in a short sharp breath. She had accidentally knocked herself out... by hitting her head on the wall to avoid being forcefully fed spoils of unknown origins.
Heavy chains hung her wrists above her head, arms stretched to the side weighed over her dirty body spotted with dried blood. The cold hard floor made the entirety of her lower body ache, being in the W-sitting position for so long.
She mapped out her surroundings in foreign darkness, looking relieved to be devoid of company at the moment.
Isadora has been kept captive in this room for days now… about two weeks, if her Intuition was correct. Only checked on once a day to be fed.
No matter how she screamed, cursed, or struggled for a release, she never got a single word from her ever-changing attendants, only looks engulfed with disgust and hate… a lot of it. As though only a thin thread stopped her visitors from snapping her neck as soon as they set eyes on her.
She wasn't surprised by this. There were many reasons a woman like herself would be kidnapped… reasons she had tried so hard to disassociate from COMPLETELY but from her present situation it was evident her methods had not worked.
Who had ordered her kidnap? The man who had cut her off with the coldest gaze whilst she resisted in the very moment of being caught, chained, and placed on an animal metal choker, clung tightly to her neck. His eyes piercing through hers as he spoke in a deep baritone voice.
You are mine now. Don't think of escaping.
Remembering that scene made a shiver run down Isadora's spine. The same thoughts spiraled in her mind for the thousandth time.
Who was he? What did she have to do with him? She had been kept in this dark ruin for many days, just what was he preparing to do with her?
She was at the brink of going feral crazy being treated as such for some unknown reason. Besides being kept in dark solitude for days, ignored when she spoke, and being feed and injected some substances from time to time, there was no torture, interrogations, reciprocated dialogue... NOTHING.
Unfortunately, she did not have much time to ruminate over these thoughts. From a distance, she could faintly hear heavy steps approaching, growing louder by the moment. Soon, it came to a stop and the sound of opening metal bars took over.
Unwilling to go through the process of being fed again, Isadora feigned unconsciousness. Hopefully whoever was coming in would see her state and go back to the pits of hell they had come from.
One second bled onto a minute and there had been no movements, the area was pin-drop silent, her own breaths being an anomaly in its midst.
She peeked subtly.
Although Isadora couldn't see clearly in the dark room, she could feel a stifling presence with her. It felt so incompatible that it made her skin crawl in terror. She had experienced this feeling once before. It was him!
The masked figure approached her, each step awakening an uneasy feeling in Isadora. It stopped right in front of her pathetic state, and the room resumed silence once more. One second, three passed and nothing happened.
Daring to be a bit relieved, Isadora felt a sharp pain transcend through her mouth cavity and down her neck forcing her eyes open from the ache. The bastard had grabbed her roughly by the chin.
"There is no need to pretend to be unconscious. I had seen you awake already. Besides that, your acting is terrible" He groaned.
He nudged his head to his side letting a small hidden camera leak into Isadora's view.
Isadora cursed inwardly, she had only played herself just now. She struggled her best to keep her eyes on the crimson gaze of her captor, trying her best to imitate a fearless look.
This was a game of confrontation, she must not show weakness.
"Heh" Her new company let out a grunt of displeasure.
He hated this look she had. A look like she had everything under control, a look like everything was playing out how she wanted. A look her father perfected.
He squeezed her jaw tightly in his iron-like arms, "I heard you've been uncooperative. Did you forget the kind of situation you are in?!"
Isadora lets out a toothy grin, her eyes watered from the sides failing to drop, her body trembling with bitterness, "Who are you? What the fuck do you want from me, you bastard?!"
As soon as these words escaped her mouth a current of electricity possessed her body.
It felt like her brains were melting, her limbs were melting, every part of her body stung simultaneously.
"Arggh!" Isadora yelled in pain as her body went limp, owing her straight posture to her assaulter who still held her up firmly by the chin.
"No one who had spoken to me in such a way had seen the light of a new day. You won't be the first." He asserted with darkened eyes, suddenly Isadora shivered as though the room temperature had dropped many degrees.
She tried to speak but her vocal cords had given up at that moment a squeak rolled out pitifully making her skin crawl. She hated being in a helpless position. She hated this person in the room and she hated herself the most for being so weak.
The man did not look satisfied seeing Isadora already this low at the moment, this was not enough. It would never be enough, not now, not in the future, even if she is crushed to dust. But for now, he will make good use of what he's got.
"Be obedient" He growled, a command more than an advice.
He lets go of her and her face instantly meets the cold floor. Unable to have a good view of the man, Isadora's breath quickens in apprehension.
"Flavia Isadora Pedro," He called out, Isadora's body went stiff in reaction.
Flavia… it's been many years since she's been addressed by that name and it was for a good reason. Just who was this man?
He circled round her like a vulture able to see the dead-end of its prey, after much struggle.
"To think that geezer had a carbon copy of a child stashed up somewhere..." His tone rolled off more depreciating than sentimental.
"W-what?" Isadora found herself muttering seconds after barely being able to kneel upright.
A hand gripped the tangly locks of Isadora's head drawing her gaze upward.
"Never fucking interrupt me bitch!"
Isadora unconsciously clamped her mouth shut on his command.
He felt for her trembling face with a finger, unsmiling, "Wanna know what's happening this much? You, Flavia, are going to pay a lifetime debt on your name to the Black Saints. "
Isadora stifled a gasp. The Black Saints were currently the number one, of the three most notorious mafia famiglia empires in all of Italy.
If that was right… she trembles… then does that mean she has crossed paths with Vincent Antonio Fernandez the Mafia boss of the Black Saint Empire.
Dubbed 'The bloodthirsty Don', Vincent, the first son of the Fernandez, had climbed up the ranks of the Mafia underworld overwhelmingly fast in the span of five months. Having a vast amount of territory to himself upon his sudden comeback after being missing for many years. The road to his success was saturated in red and the screams of his victims.
He was a name forbidden to be spoken, a monster never to be encountered and an emotionless killer never to be angered.
A harsh mist of dread crawled up Isadora's back - Fear.
She was afraid of this man.
"Heh, of all of 'them' it had to be you."Isadora soliloquized, used to her rotten luck.
"Funny I'm quite sure my tabs are in check," She croaked, her tone taking a plangent route. "I have no business with the Black Saints. More importantly, I absolutely have no business with the Mafia!"
"Daughter of Lance Martinez Pedro…"
Isadora flinched on the mention of this name, Vincent noticed. His face whipped up a disturbing smile.
"You have absolutely everything to do with the Mafia, Flavia and your sins runneth over the heavens."
Her jaw tightened but she managed to force words out of it, repeating the same question but this time with less vigor, "What do you want from me?"
"The Boss of the Red Crescent died… much to my dismay" Vincent ran a finger through the sharp side of a small dagger, which seemed to have appeared from nowhere.
He glanced at the pathetic female on the ground, she held no reaction to his words, after a second the news seemed to have sunk into her.
Isadora's blood-stained lips tilt to form a small smile, "Why should it matter to me if he is dead?"
Vincent grimaced, as expected, like father-like daughter. A daughter who enjoys hearing news about the death of her own father, He had predicted what kind of woman Isadora was.
Deceitful.
"An interesting reaction, I wonder how I, a TS child of his, should take it," Vincent said, his tone had gone dangerously low and his gaze zeroed on her.
Chills.
This was the perfect word to describe what Isadora was feeling right now.
"No!"
She gasped in realization. Her family name, the debt, a TS sibling. They should all be dead, It couldn't be, it should not be like this!…
"No, fuck no!" She cried out, her arms rattling in its chains.
"That has nothing to do with me! I am washed clean from the Mafia!"
"Seeing you like this is a bit pleasing to the eye," Vincent said in all honesty,
He drew the dagger to her cheeks, its silvery shine reflected in her eyes, "Do you now understand your situation?"
Isadora fails to speak.
Slowly he drags the dagger to her neck, applying a bit more pressure, an atom more would surely break through her skin.
"Why are you so quiet, a moment ago weren't you so energized where did all that go?"
"You are a psycho." Isadora managed to whisper.
"Wrong choice of words."
With a swift move, he slits her left cheek at a calculated angle. Blood drips down the open wound staining the immaculate silver weapon. Simultaneously, Vincent' strong arms tore through Isadora's worn-out clothing grabbing onto the left of her large bust.
"Hnnng~" Isadora winces from the sudden move, a new channel of pain courses through her body.
Vincent squeezed harder his dagger scaling through Isadora's collarbone, taking on this act, the entirety of his eyes filled with malice, doused in hatred.
"Please stop…" She squeaks in a hoarse tone, failing to reach the ears of Vincent.
"To repay your debts, you belong to me, your body belongs to me. If I say breath, you breathe, If I say cease breathing you do just that. Fucking eat dog shit and you obey!"
"You're mine, all mine. Mine to use and discard! - Tu sei mio, tutto mio. Il mio da usare e scartare!" Vincent breathed into her ears.
"I'd rather die than be subjected to the Mafia again." Isadora asserted through gnashed teeth.
Vincent slashed the other side of Isadora's face at the same angle. "Foolish people beget foolish desires. Born into the Mafia, die in the Mafia, no one can ever get clean from it. It's a birth essence. It's life force. And you aren't an exception."
He lets go of her boob taking hold of her chin once more, "You are mine. Your life and death are in my hands what makes you think you can die so easily. This is even a worse possibility as opposed to leaving the Mafia."
"Anyways."
Vincent snaked his hands to her neck and grabbed it, lifting her entire body off the floor several inches high.
"If you love to tango with death I shall help with that."
Isadora's face turned pale, her legs kicked in vain, and her arms were caused to rattle in their chains as she choked for air. The merciless glint in Vincent' eyes didn't seem like he was going to stop soon.
He slammed her in full length against the adjacent wall.
Vincent cocked his head to the side, holding a full smile, "Perhaps I should send you and the one in the elderly home on the same path today."
Isadora's eyes widened, this time she looked more pissed than afraid. In seconds a ball of warm spittle landed on Vincent's face, "Don't drag Giana into this. This is between you and I!"
Faced with the expression she wore, Vincent felt the need to scratch her face off. He had released her neck earlier to wipe his face.
"How foolish of you to reveal a weakness impulsively. Now I want her life even more."
"You….!" Isadora found herself screaming.
Giana is Isadora's number 1, the only thing she cares about in the world.
Giana was Isadora's acknowledged mother.
Giana always does her best to protect Isadora.
Giana was a weakness.
Giana loves Isadora.
Giana would stake her life for Isadora.
Giana has met many near-death situations for It Isadora's sake.
Giana was a weakness.
Giana is all Isadora has.
Giana is a good person.
Isadora isn't a good person.
Giana does not deserve a daughter like Isadora.
Giana was a weakness.
Isadora can't afford Giana.
Isadora can't afford having weaknesses.
All weaknesses had to go.
Giana needs to go.
Isadora looked up to this man with a bitter mind, bitter heart, and all five senses had turned sour. She smiled, alas she couldn't do it, "What a pathetic attempt at a threat? Who cares if an old woman dies?"
"I'd be glad to send you off with her once I'm done with you, since that's the case. Don't you think that's a good idea, hmm? That honor you hold so dearly as the daughter of a Pedro shall be shredded." He arched an eyebrow in sardonic inquiry.
Isadora found it difficult breathing, "Let her go. I'm the one you wanted, I won't resist anymore."
"And there is your mistake. You've forgotten that you are in no position to bargain here. Willing or not, I was never asking for your permission."
He took a thoughtful look at her and let out a sick smile, "I'd. Enjoy. Breaking. You. Inside. Out"
Isadora almost screamed in need to take her words back… he didn't mean that… no… no… anything but that
Vincent snapped his fingers and the metal doors opened. Not sparing the occupant another glance he left the room, orders rolled off his tongue immediately.
"Get her ready."
"Yes, Master." A lucid reply came through, from a person Isadora never noticed his presence.
"Bastard!" Isadora yelled, as it dawned on her that she had very well failed in this confrontation.
Just now, what was his goal by fishing up scenarios to rile her up?
Giana! What's going to happen to her?! This wasn't how she pictured this ending up.
"Ugh," Isadora let out an aggrieved sigh. She really hated her name Pedro.
It was a curse she couldn't get rid of. The name of the most powerful mafia empire was a burden she was forced to carry, now, she was solo bearing it all.
Father… the empire...
Bastards! They were all bastards!
入社から1年が過ぎた春のある土曜日、律が突然「出かけよう」と言い出した。「どこに行くの?」「秘密」律がいつものように微笑む。でも、今日の笑顔には、いつもと違う特別な輝きがあった。連れて行かれたのは、私たちが幼い頃によく遊んだ公園だった。桜が満開に咲き誇り、まるで天然のドームのように美しく頭上を覆っている。花の香りが春風に乗って、懐かしい記憶を呼び覚ます。「覚えてる?この場所」律が振り返る。「もちろん。懐かしいね」ブランコも、滑り台も、砂場も、あの頃と何一つ変わらない。でも、私たちは大きく変わった。「寧々、あの日から俺の人生は変わったんだ。バーで泥酔していた君を見つけた、あの夜から」律が桜の木の下で立ち止まる。花びらが舞い散り、彼の肩に降り積もっている。「寧々がいてくれるから、俺は俺でいられる。寧々がいてくれるから、俺は毎日を大切に生きることができる」律の声が、いつもより震えているように感じた。「律?」その時、律がゆっくりと片膝をついた。世界が静寂に包まれた瞬間だった。桜の花びらが舞い散る音、遠くで遊ぶ子どもたちの笑い声、すべてが遠のいて、私の心臓の音だけが響いている。「寧々」律の声が、まるで祈りのように静かに響く。小さな箱を取り出すその手が、微かに震えているのがわかった。箱が開かれると、そこには息を呑むほど美しいダイヤモンドの指輪が輝いていた。春の陽射しを受けて、虹色に光を放っている。「俺と結婚してほしい」時が止まったような感覚に陥る。桜の花びらが、まるでスローモーションのように舞い散っている。「これからもずっと、俺の隣にいてほしい」律の瞳に、これまで見たことがないほど真剣な光が宿っている。その目を見つめていると、涙があふれてきた。「俺の人生を、君に捧げたい」律の声が、桜の花びらと一緒に私の心に舞い降りる。「君がいなければ、俺の人生に意味なんてないんだ
長かった冬が終わり、桜が咲く頃、私は無事に大学を卒業した。念願だった大手出版社「文英社」の文芸編集部への内定通知を受け取った日のことを、今でも鮮明に覚えている。律が私を抱き上げて、リビングを一周したあの喜びを。入社式の朝、新品のネイビーのスーツに袖を通しながら、鏡の中の自分を見つめた。「頑張って、一条寧々」自分に言い聞かせる。今日から、私は編集者だ。「寧々、準備できた?」律の声が玄関から響く。「うん、今行く」リビングに向かうと、律がスーツ姿の私を見て目を見開いた。「すごく似合ってる。本物の編集者みたいだ」「まだ新人だよ」「でも、寧々はきっと素晴らしい編集者になる。間違いない」律の言葉に背中を押されて、私は新しい人生への第一歩を踏み出した。文英社のオフィスビルの前で、律と別れる。「頑張って」律が私の頬に、そっとキスをしてくれる。もう人目を気にする必要はない。この自由さが、まだ不思議に感じられた。「ありがとう。行ってきます」***文芸編集部での初日は、想像を超える充実感に包まれていた。ベテランの田中主任は厳しくも温かい人で、「新人のうちは失敗を恐れるな。たくさん失敗して、たくさん学べ」と激励してくれた。優しい先輩の山田さんは、「寧々ちゃん、分からないことがあったら何でも聞いてね」と気にかけてくれる。同期入社の佐藤さんとは、すぐに意気投合し、「お互い切磋琢磨しましょうね」と握手を交わした。しかし、現実は甘くなかった。時が流れ、初雪がちらつく頃には、私は新人作家の田村さんの原稿と格闘する日々を送っていた。深夜まで赤ペンを握り、より良い作品にするための提案を練る。コーヒーカップは何杯も空になり、デスクには付箋紙が山積みになっていく。「一条さん、この修正提案、素晴らしいですね」田村さんが感激してくれた時は、疲れも吹き飛んだ。一方で、ベテラン作家の渡
小島さんの微笑みは、これまで見たことがないほど優しかった。まるで息子の門出を見送る母親のように。***それから1週間、俺たちは戦略的に公表の準備を進めた。小島さんは経験豊富なプロフェッショナルの本領を発揮し、あらゆるリスクを想定して対策を練っていた。「律、寧々さんの個人情報は一切公開しない。彼女の安全を最優先に考える」「はい」「そして、あなたの真摯な気持ちを前面に出す。スキャンダルではなく、愛の告白として受け取ってもらえるように演出するの」俺は小島さんの指示に従い、SNSに投稿する文章を何度も練り直した。一文字一文字に、寧々への想いを込めて。『皆様、いつも応援していただき、ありがとうございます。今日は、大切なご報告があります。僕には、かけがえのない大切な人がいます。彼女は僕の心の支えであり、僕が僕らしくいられる唯一の存在です。これまで公にしなかったのは、彼女を守りたいという想いからでした。しかし、最近の出来事を通して、もう隠すべきではないと決意いたしました。真実を隠し続けることは、彼女への愛情に反することだと気づいたのです。彼女を守るため、そして僕自身の誠実さを示すため、公表する決意をしました。どうか、温かく見守っていただければ幸いです。彼女がいてくれるから、僕は僕らしくいられるのです。これからも、変わらぬご支援のほど、よろしくお願いいたします。』投稿ボタンを押す瞬間、指先が震えた。でも、迷いはなかった。これが俺の選択だ。寧々のための、俺たちのための。投稿直後から、コメントが怒涛のように流れ始めた。『律くんが幸せなら私たちも嬉しいです!』 『律くんの隣にいる人なら、きっと素敵な方なんでしょうね』 『応援してます!お幸せに!』 『誠実な愛の告白に感動しました』批判的なコメントも予想通りあったが、応援のメッセージが圧倒的だった。「律、見なさい」小島さんがタブレットを俺に向ける。そこには、俺
【律side】7月の蒸し暑い午後、俺はビルの最上階にある所属事務所に向かった。エレベーターの中で、自分の手が微かに震えているのに気づく。これから話すことが、俺の人生を大きく変えることになるかもしれない。扉をノックして中に入ると、マネージャーの小島さんが書類に目を通していた。彼女は俺の足音を聞いただけで、いつもと違う緊張感を察したようだった。「律、どうしたの?まるで、決闘でも挑むような顔をして」「小島さん、決めました」俺は椅子に座ることもせず、立ったまま宣言した。この距離感が、俺の決意の表れだった。「俺、寧々との関係を公にします」ペンを持つ小島さんの手がぴたりと止まった。書類から顔を上げ、俺を見つめる瞳に、驚愕の色が浮かんでいる。「律……一体何があったの?」「沙羅のことで、目が覚めたんです」俺の声に、これまでにない強い意志が込められている。自分でもそれがわかった。「寧々を秘密にしていたせいで、彼女をあんな危険な目に遭わせてしまった。俺が守るべき人を、守れなかった」「でも律、あなたのキャリアを考えて……」「俺の人生に、寧々は欠かせないんです」俺は小島さんの言葉を断ち切った。胸の奥で燃え上がる想いが、言葉になって溢れ出す。「彼女がいなければ、俺は俺でいられない。彼女は、俺の心の支えなんです」小島さんの表情が、困惑から真剣さへと変わっていく。長年俺を見てきた彼女だからこそ、俺の本気度を理解したのだろう。「俺が俺らしくいられる、唯一の存在です。彼女を守るため、そして俺自身の誠実さを示すため、公表する決意をしました」俺は、小島さんの目を真っ直ぐ見つめた。この視線に、俺のすべてを込めて。「どうか、温かく見守っていただければ幸いです」オフィスに重い沈黙が降りた。窓の外から聞こえる街の喧騒だけが、この緊張した空間に響いている。小島さんは俺をじっと見つめ続け、その瞳の奥で何かが揺れ動いているのがわかった。「……律」
マンションで一人、私は膝を抱えてソファに座っていた。沙羅さんの嫌がらせは止まず、拓哉も再び現れて、もう心身ともに限界だった。そのとき、玄関のチャイムが鳴った。こんな夜中に誰だろう。まさか、また拓哉や沙羅さんが何かしに来たのだろうか。恐る恐るモニターを確認すると、そこに映っていたのは……。「えっ、律!?」私は慌ててドアを開けた。そこには、確かに律が立っていた。「寧々」律の声を聞いた瞬間、これまで抱えていた全ての緊張が一気に解けた。安堵と喜び、そして恐怖から解放され
それから数日後、大学から突然連絡があった。「一条さん、学生課まで来てもらえますか」電話の向こうの事務員さんの声は、いつもより重々しかった。翌日、学生課を訪れると、課長が深刻な表情で私を迎えた。「一条さん、実はあなたについて告発文が届いているんです」「告発文?」私は驚いて聞き返した。「内容は……」課長が読み上げた告発文の内容に、私は愕然とした。「文学部の一条寧々氏は、A大学の品位を著しく損なう行為を行っている可能性があります。特定の著名人との親密な
翌週、私がバイトをしている大学近くのカフェで、奇妙なことが起こり始めた。その日は平日の午後、比較的忙しい時間帯だった。私がレジでオーダーを取っていると、ひとりの女性客が入店してきた。地味なベージュのカーディガン、黒縁の眼鏡、深くかぶった帽子、大きなマスク。完全に変装した格好で、顔はほとんど見えない。でも、その立ち振る舞いには、なぜか気品を感じた。「いらっしゃいませ」私が笑顔で迎えると、その女性は私の前に立った。「メニューを見せて」声は低めで、意図的に声質を変えているようにも聞こえた。
3月に入ると、律から送られてくる写真で、彼の新しい生活の様子が少しずつ分かってきた。ニューヨークの街並み、撮影現場の様子、現地のスタッフたちとの食事会。どの写真も、律が充実していることを物語っていた。でも同時に、律からのメッセージには時々、寂しさが滲んでいた。『ニューヨークは美しい街だけど、寧々がいないとやっぱり寂しい』『今日は撮影が大変だった。寧々の声が聞きたい』『寧々からのメッセージが、一日の楽しみになってる』律のそんな言葉を読むたび、私の胸が温かくなった。私も同じ気持ちだった。
리뷰