The Devil's Plaything

The car comes to a stop, and I right myself, before the door opens and I step out to grasp Javier’s hand. He looks at me for a long moment before he steps aside to allow Victor to take his place.

If I weren’t so afraid of these men, I’d feel like a princess being the only one to steal the affections of the King. I don’t doubt that Victor is the king of this world, but I wonder briefly if I could ever be a queen. Could I stand by his side as he tortures men and kills them?

“Victor,” a deep rumble of a man comes from the open door of the rather large mansion we’re walking toward. He’s dressed in black, tattoos adorn his arms, and I can’t help but shiver at how big he is. Muscles look like they’re about to break through his shirt when he shakes Victor’s hand.

“Nice to see you again, Lance,” Victor chuckles, as the men do a one-handed hug, slapping each other on the back. The man, Lance, shakes Javier’s hand as well, before turning his attention to me.

“And this beauty must be Sofía,” he says, shocking me because I didn’t think any of Victor’s acquaintances knew who I was. Did he go boasting about stealing me? Is this man evil too?

“Hello,” I say, and he takes my hand, pressing his lips to my knuckles in a show of chivalry that makes me smile. He doesn’t seem bad, but then again, Victor is beautiful and handsome, but he’s done heinous things.

“I’m Lance Knight,” he tells me. “I have worked with Victor in the past. My wife is happy to hear there’ll be another woman joining us for dinner.”

“Oh?” How can he have a wife? He looks so… dangerous.

Just then, a beautiful blonde strolls out of the house. “Are we having dinner out here tonight?” She smiles as she slides into the crook of Lance’s body, as if she were made to fit there. She looks young, and I can’t help but feel at ease that there’s another woman my age here.

“No, beauty. This is Sofía,” he tells her.

“Oh, it’s so good to have another woman to talk to,” she says, as she pulls me into a hold. “Nice to meet you, I’m Giuliana.” She looks like a princess; her eyes shine with happiness.

“Nice to meet you, too,” I say finally. I watch in awe as Victor leans in to give her a kiss on her cheek before Javier does the same. It’s like they’re a family, and I suddenly feel like an outsider.

“Let’s go inside and get our guests drinks.” Lance pulls Giuliana inside, and we follow with Victor’s fingertips brushing along the base of my spine as he leads me through their modern home.

Once we have our drinks, a glass of wine for me and a whiskey for Victor, the men disappear into the office and leave us in the kitchen. Their home is immaculate, but when I turn to Giuliana, she offers me the story.

“This is our holiday home in a way. When Lance needs Victor’s help, we come down here and spend a few days, sometimes a couple of weeks.”

“It’s gorgeous,” I tell her honestly, sipping my wine.

“How did you meet Victor? He’s not really a man who ever brings a date to dinner,” she tells me, whispering conspiratorially, and I decide then and there that I like her. Also, she probably knows Victor better than I do.

“I… my father works for him, well, he worked for Victor’s dad,” I tell her the truth, omitting the part of him stealing me as payment. Even though I like her, I’m not sure how much I can trust Giuliana with.

“You’re in love with him?” she asks, but it feels as if she’s making a statement.

“No,” I answer quickly, causing her to turn her attention on me. “I mean… He’s just someone I’m with for a short time.”

“Listen to me,” she says, before setting her glass down and giving me her undivided attention. “A man like Victor Cordero doesn’t just bring a girl to dinner with one of his closest associates.” She lowers her voice further, “And Victor also doesn’t speak possessively of any woman he’s ever had in his bed.”

“I’ve never been in his bed,” I retort, cringing the moment the words fall from my lips. “I’m sorry. I’m just not used to this. I grew up believing he was a bad person, and now…” My words taper into nothing, and I know she’s watching me, waiting for me to admit what I already know. But I can’t. I cannot bring myself to admit my feelings for Victor have changed.

Not yet anyway.

“Aren’t all men bad in some way?” Giuliana challenges me. “My father runs an organization called the Cavalieri Della Morte, Lance is one of his soldiers. They hunt, they maim, and they kill. But he comes home to me and he’s the man I love.”