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"The person you're looking for perfectly fits this description!" Andrew said, while Cassandra clenched her fists in anger.
"If I catch her, I'm going to ruin her!" Cassandra gritted her teeth and sank into her seat.
"You're not going after her, are you? She works for Nikolai!" Andrew began, but when he saw the necklace he had given her around her neck, he couldn't help but smile.
"It's not time to smile... two days have already passed! Dammit!" She kicked the table and winced loudly.
"I have an idea, my love. I don't know if you'll go for it, though," he said, walking towards her and handing her a glass of water.
"I'm listening."
*
*
"Ahh!" Mr. Gomez screamed as he lay tied to a table, facing the cell.
"You're taking more time than I expected, Mr. Gomez," Fiona said, digging the penknife into his thigh.
He cried out in desperation and pain.
"Just kill me already!" he breathed heavily, and she smirked, unbothered.
"You don't need to teach me how to do my job. I'll get there... but in a painful way," she said, removing her gloves. She took a sip of vodka, clearing her throat as it burned on the way down.
“You'd regret this…I promise you!” The man spoke in between pains.
Fiona chuckled, shaking her head as she set the glass down. "Regret? That's a concept for people who care. I, Mr. Gomez, am not one of those people." She leaned in closer, her eyes cold and unyielding. "But let's talk about you. You've been rather tight-lipped about your associates. I think it's time we changed that."
Gomez's eyes darted around the room, looking for any means of escape, but there were none. He felt the cold steel of the penknife again, this time tracing a line down his other leg. His body tensed, anticipating the pain.
"Who are you protecting?" Fiona asked softly, almost whispering in his ear. "I know you're not the mastermind. You're just a small fish in a big pond, Mr. Gomez. Give me a name, and this can all end."
He gritted his teeth, refusing to speak. Fiona sighed dramatically and stood up, walking over to a tray filled with various instruments of torture. She picked up a pair of pliers and examined them closely, letting the light glint off the metal.
"Do you know what these are for?" she asked, turning back to him. Gomez shook his head, sweat dripping down his face. "They're for taking things apart. Slowly. Piece by piece."
She approached him again, this time gripping one of his fingers. With a swift motion, she twisted the pliers, and Gomez's scream echoed through the room. She didn't stop until the bone snapped and the finger was grotesquely mangled.
"Are you ready to talk now?" she asked, her voice devoid of emotion.
Gomez panted heavily, tears streaming down his face. "Please... please, no more..."
"Names, Mr. Gomez. I need names."
"I... I don't know... much... just... Marco. Marco Diaz. He's the one you want," he finally blurted out.
Fiona's expression remained unchanged. "Now, was that so hard?" She released his hand, and he cradled it to his chest, sobbing. "You see, Mr. Gomez, I always get what I want. You should have saved yourself the trouble."
She turned away from him, satisfied with the information she had obtained. "Someone will be in to clean up your mess," she said over her shoulder as she walked out, leaving Gomez to writhe in his agony.
As Fiona left the basement, a guard greeted her and led her to the Boss’s office. Inside, Cassandra sat, eyes gleaming with predatory intent.
"Boss, here I am," Fiona began, but Cassandra lunged at her, punching her in the face and slamming her head against the wall.
"Fuck you... Where's Mr. Gomez?" Cassandra demanded.
“Easy, Easy…” Nikolai smiled, watching them.
Fiona managed to slip away, but Cassandra quickly threw her back to the ground. Fiona let out a weak cry as she struggled to stand.
Fiona kicked out, catching Cassandra off guard. She got to her feet and swung a punch, but Cassandra ducked and hit her with an uppercut that sent her staggering. Cassandra grabbed Fiona by the hair and smashed her head against the desk.
Blood trickled down Fiona's face as she fought to stay conscious. She clawed at Cassandra's cheek, but Cassandra didn't flinch. With a growl, she lifted Fiona and threw her across the room. Fiona crashed into a cabinet, breaking it with the impact.
Gasping for breath, Fiona tried to stand. Cassandra was on her in an instant, delivering a series of rapid, hard punches. Fiona's defenses fell apart under the assault, her vision blurring.
Desperate, Fiona grabbed a shard of broken glass and slashed at Cassandra, grazing her arm. Cassandra hissed in pain but didn't stop. She took the glass from Fiona's hand and pressed her against the wall, the sharp edge near her throat.
"Where's Mr. Gomez?" Cassandra's voice was icy and firm.
"He's in my basement, bunny. Now let go of her," Nikolai demanded as he walked towards her. When she put down the piece of glass, she turned to face him, hands on her hips.
"I don't care who you are, but Mr. Gomez is mine. I found him first, and he's got something I need."
"Me too. He has something I need, and only one of us can have him," Nikolai replied, removing his gloves one by one.
"Are you going to fight me like the other day?" she asked.
"Who said the only thing this hand can do is fight? I literally made you moan with it!" Nikolai said, clearing his throat as Cassandra stared into his eyes.
He always wore a mask, making it difficult for anyone to imagine his true appearance.
"You must be an ugly duckling behind that mask!" Cassandra taunted, pouring herself a glass of whiskey. She took a sip and crossed her legs, sitting at the edge of the table.
Nikolai smirked, his eyes narrowing. "You talk a lot for someone who hides behind cheap perfume and attitude."
Cassandra glared at him. "And you hide behind a mask. What's your excuse?"
"Maybe I just enjoy the mystery. Unlike you, I don't need to flaunt my insecurities with fake confidence," he retorted, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
She rolled her eyes. "So, what's your plan? Gonna charm me into giving up Gomez?"
Nikolai chuckled. "Charm? No, darling. I'm here to take what I want. If you get in my way, you'll regret it."
Cassandra stood up, her face inches from his. "Big words for a man who hides his face. Why should I be scared of you?"
"Because," he leaned in closer, his tone dangerously low, "I'm not afraid to get my hands dirty. And trust me, they do more than just make you moan."
She scoffed, but there was a flicker of uncertainty in her eyes. "You think you're so tough, don't you?"
"No, I know I am," he shot back, his smirk widening. "Now, are you going to step aside, or do I have to move you myself?"
Cassandra hesitated for a moment, then narrowed her eyes. "We'll see who moves who, Nikolai."
He laughed, a cold, mocking sound. "Oh, Cassandra, I've already moved you more than you care to admit.”
Before she could say another word, he swept her off her feet, holding her in a bridal style. Cassandra gasped, unsure how he did it so effortlessly. The sudden movement made her stomach flip.
"Oh, please, Cassandra, don't tell me you're already falling for me," he sneered.
"I-I have a deal. Put me down and I'll tell you," she stammered, looking away nervously.
"Absolutely not. Now, let's hear about this deal, bunny," he said, his grip firm and unyielding. Cassandra's heartbeat quickened.
"I said drop me, Nikolai!"
"I don't have much patience. Speak now!" he snapped, his voice cold and commanding.
"Fine," she sighed, struggling to keep her voice steady. "We can work together to find Mr. Gomez's boss. You take what you want from him, and I take what I need."
He raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued but not letting her go. "And why should I trust you?"
"Because," she said, meeting his gaze, "we both want something from him. If we team up, we're more likely to get what we need. Fighting each other will only waste time."
Nikolai smirked, considering her proposal. "Interesting offer. But what makes you think I need your help?"
"Because I know things you don't," she replied confidently. "I have connections, information. You need me as much as I need you."
He stared at her for a moment, then slowly lowered her to the ground. "Alright, Cassandra. We work together. But make no mistake, I call the shots. Step out of line, and you'll regret it."
She adjusted her clothes, trying to hide her relief. "Agreed.”
Nikolai smirked, his eyes glinting with a mix of amusement and calculation. "This should be interesting, bunny. Very interesting.”