Chapter 176
Adrian Kael
His rage explodes. In less than a second, his hand closes on my collar, and the other rises, ready to punch. I move with a precise strike. The movement is fast, raw, and direct. In an instant, Rocco collapses to
the floor, his neck bent at an impossible angle.
Silence falls over the cafeteria like a blade. Every breath is held, every gaze fixed on me. The smell of food mixes with the iron of blood, creating a dense, almost suffocating atmosphere.
I wipe my hands on the rough fabric of my uniform, run my fingers through my hair, and let a smile open on my face. I turn to the cooks, who observe me motionless, trying to decipher whether they should
fear or obey.
“I want a hearty meal,‘ my voice cuts through the silence. ‘I need to feed my love, and I want the best food you can certainly make.”
Their eyes meet, exchanging quick, nervous signals. TJ, who shook my
hand yesterday, raises an eyebrow but doesn’t hesitate,
They obey first, think later.
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“Now.“I repeat. The command transforms into action.
Trays begin to circulate; voices cross in a new rhythm.
I don’t ask for luxury; I ask for substance, heat, something to nourish
a body subjected to the limit.
The cafeteria remains in silence while the kitchen wakes up. Trays
slide, pots clatter, and voices whisper hurried instructions.
I hear footsteps behind me. I turn my head slowly, my gaze cold, and
see Navarro standing right behind me, arms crossed, evaluating every
detail. I tilt my head slightly, observing him in silence. He responds
with a crooked smile, full of irony.
“I see the “weakling” isn’t so weak after all,‘ he comments, his voice
low and lingering. ‘So, the Enforcer is going to be your toy? Does that
mean you’re the leader now?”
I let a smile form on my lips–a slow, perverse trace. The effect is
immediate: Navarro takes a step back, uncomfortable, his expression
hardening.”
“Yes,” I respond firmly, without raising my tone. “I am the leader now.
My beautiful husband told me that if I wanted to stay away from him,
I would have to defeat him. I won. And now, everything belongs to
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me.”
I look around, the entire cafeteria paying attention, and I let my
smile broaden even further, deliberate.
“If you want to receive your drugs and rewards, stay away from the
Enforcer. I don’t want anyone touching him.”
The order doesn’t require shouting; it cuts through the air and settles
like a decree. The silence lingers, heavy. I see everyone’s eyes
avoiding mine–some wide, others hardened–none daring to
respond.
I shift my gaze to the cafeteria entrance. David is there, leaning discreetly against the wall, his body rigid. I point to the floor, at
Rocco’s sprawled corpse, his neck bent at a grotesque angle.
“David, remove this trash from here,” I say matter–of–factly, with the
same fone I’d use to ask for a glass of water.
He just nods, not knowing how to respond.
I turn back to the kitchen counter. TJ, with a sweaty forehead and
eyes fixed on me, places a hearty tray on the cold steel. Succulent meat, fresh bread, thick broth–clearly the best they could improvise
in minutes.
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I walk over there without haste, each step echoing on the polished
floor. I hold the tray with both hands, but first, I let my gaze meet his.
“Thank you, TJ,” I say simply.
He swallows hard and just nods, stepping back as if he needed
distance.
The food is still steaming; the scent invades my senses. I feel a slow
satisfaction spread through my body.
Without looking back, I leave the cafeteria, the tray balanced
carefully, my steps rhythmic.
I walk down the hallway with calm strides. Now, I am the new center
of this prison. What was once the Enforcer’s domain has become my
stage.
My mind is already projecting every move. Now that I’ve taken
control, the focus is to domesticate my god. To mold him. To teach
him that every action has a response. If he is docile, he receives
rewards; if he is hostile, he is deprived of them.
The first step will be obedience. As long as he doesn’t submit, he
won’t leave the cell. No glances, no external contact. Only me. I will
bring him every meal myself until he understands that everything
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passes through my hands.
When obedience comes, I will move to the second step: contempt. I
want everyone in the prison to ignore him so that not a shadow
remains of the fear he cultivated.
Without fear, without reverence, Magnus will feel his own stature,
crumble. And then, when he realizes there is no longer a throne, nor
subjects, nor glory, the only possible refuge will be my.embrace.
I close my eyes for an instant and feel this pleasure spread inside me -warm, slow, intoxicating. It’s almost like touching a dream while I
walk.
At the end of the hall, the cell awaits–locked, silent–guarding what is most precious to me. With one hand, I balance the tray; with the other, I pull the ring of keys from my pocket. The metal jingles softly
as I pick the right one. I turn it slowly, hearing the dry click that
opens the way.
I enter. The soft light illuminates the improvised cell. I close the bars
behind me, and the sound echoes through the hallway like a final
seal, a promise that nothing and no one will come near.
I raise my eyes. And I have the best gift: on the bed, the marked body
moves, his eyes beginning to open. My love wakes up, and an
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involuntary smile is born at the corner of
my
mouth.
Today will be the start of a new game.
