Page 37 of King of Obsession (Kings of the Underworld #1)

The bulky, surly man watches me from his side as I follow him down a paved road towards a two-story building surrounded by trees, secluding it well.

It’s a vast compound. In the distance, an impressive white mansion rests in the middle, surrounded by gardens, lush greenery and impeccably mowed grass, a pool and even a pond that you can see from every point complement the luxurious estate.

Two roads split from the main entrance until they meet by the exit of the property, becoming one long road.

The mansion is where his sister and mother must live.

I have so many questions, but I guess I lost the right to ask them.

Enzo put a collar on me, and I still don’t know what to think about that.

I postpone that for later, just like him watching me pee, but I am not as appalled as I should be. It was strangely intimate.

I need to shower and fast. My thoughts are a scrambled mess, but I focus on the fact that I am alive. I don’t know where that confidence comes from, but it’s the only thing I have going for me.

“There are rumors, Luciana Rossi, that you tried to kill the boss,” my guard says in a deep, gravelly voice.

Fuck. I am fucked.

“You shouldn’t listen to rumors.”

“But are they simply rumors? I think the fact that you are here now when a while ago we all were getting ready to welcome you as the boss’s wife says a lot.”

The reminder swiftly cuts my heartstrings, causing it to fall lifeless into my barren chest, just like how I feel. I shouldn’t care about what these men believe, but I do.

I should be thinking of ways to escape, but I am the safest here in this den of vengeful men.

My heart shrivels just at the thought of being apart from Enzo—the weak organ refuses to believe he’d cut us out of his.

“I guess we’ll never know.” I shrug, pretending for nonchalance.

“Your antics precede you. You are no one here. Don’t forget your place.”

I mumble under my breath, and we remain silent until we reach the building. A guard lets us enter; his hostile gaze fixated on me.

A large staircase goes upstairs, but he opens the first door to his right. It’s a small one-room apartment that has all the amenities but is nothing posh or luxurious. Through the crack, I see the bathroom and I sigh in relief, knowing that soon I can finally wash myself.

“This is where you’ll stay until further notice.”

“Where is the key?”

“Newbies don’t get privileges.”

Great. Now I can’t even sleep without thinking someone might slip inside. If these men believe I wanted to kill their boss, they won’t make it easy for me. Some will definitely try to kill me.

“What exactly will I be doing?”

“You’ll find out tomorrow morning at training.”

He leaves, and I remain alone with my thoughts. I could listen and do my best to adapt, considering my precarious situation. But I’ve followed orders my entire life. I am done.

I won’t stay here and be a damn foot soldier, making it easy for him. No, I will confront him until he admits who I am—his woman, his partner, his equal. I won’t settle for less.

Not liking the lack of privacy, I grab the only chair and prop it against the door handle before I go into the bathroom. Luckily, this door I can lock.

I hastily undress and move to the shower stall. The warm water clears away the grime, blood, and sweat. Scrubbing at my skin until it reddens, the difference between the luxurious life I led and this one is jarring.

Enzo wants to teach me a lesson in humility, so be it.

I found out about riches only after Augustus brought me in and I earned my first paycheck.

The thought of him angers me to the point I want to kill him with my bare hands.

Augustus betrayed me the worst by discarding me like I was nothing. Oh, his time will come.

I hate how apparently everyone knew how replaceable I was despite my abilities.

After I brush my teeth, I notice the tracksuit on the bed, something basic I would have never chosen for myself. It wouldn’t surprise me if it gives me a rash. So, I wash my underwear, my leather pants and black top as well as I can before I leave them to dry.

My lids grow heavy, I can barely keep them open. I am exhausted to my bones. The need to surrender to sleep is overpowering. But if I embrace it, I will dream about him—my dream turned into my biggest nightmare.

Pacing around, I wait to make my escape, slipping back into my clothes once they’re dry. Opening the door, I see only one guard at the front door. Without making a noise, I approach him and swiftly pull the gun from his back pocket before moving to his front.

He startles, ready to attack me when I shake my head.

“I don’t want to kill you. Don’t make me.”

He cusses before yelling, “Lorenzo, alarm.”

The commotion has the guard who brought me in and several others rushing down the stairs. Some more run to us from different sections of the compound.

I am surrounded by ten men who eye each other, not knowing what to do.

“Okay, boys. Have it your way.”

Placing the gun at the back of my pants, I gesture for the first one to come at me.

Deflecting his punch, I drag him down by his shirt, and I pull my knee up, smashing the guard’s nose before he drops to the ground.

Another one curses under his breath. I roll over to add a bit of distance to prepare my attack and stand up.

Taking on a fighting pose, my legs spread, one arm protecting my face, I’m ready to strike the two that circle me.

The first one throws a fist I avoid by tilting my head to the right. I kick him in the stomach while the second comes to my other side.

I leap, punching him under his ribs. He bends over, cursing and holding his middle.

The slimmer one quickly recovers and while I give as best as I can, they’re not easily tired. I am trained in hand-to-hand combat, but I avoid fighting because of potential bruises. I prefer to be behind my rifle, but I’ll be damned if I allow these men to take me down.

I have another six to go, but one after the other, they will all fall.

Anyone who is not engaged in the fight has a gun pulled, with Lorenzo standing still, unfazed and letting it all continue while my energy fades, just like my focus.

Blinking and panting, one of the guards takes advantage of my tiredness and has me in a chokehold, pressing his forearm against my neck. I thrust my elbow back, twist his arm and have him on his knees, swiftly escaping his hold.

After I put them all down, I exhale heavily when another set of guards arrives.

The first one delivers a punch straight to my cheek. I drop on my back, the pain is instant.

“You fucking bitch. Stay down.”

I was never good at following instructions. I get up and the other one looks between me, his buddy, and Lorenzo. The latter tips his chin. “Don’t kill her.”

He should be afraid of me not killing them.

“She tried to kill the boss,” he says as he jabs his elbow into my stomach.

I recover quickly, climb up his back and wrap my thighs around his thick neck, bringing him down. I don’t loosen my grip until he passes out. Rolling back, I ready myself to take another one down.

“Last warning. Leave. Now,” I warn them.

I appreciate loyalty. I was certain they would start something, but if they don’t stop, they’ll regret it this time.

Do they stop? No, and pumped up with the adrenaline that courses through me, making me feel invincible, I dash for the chair by the entrance. Throwing it at the wall, I arm myself with legs that look like spikes.

I throw the first one, and it slices through the air with precision, straight into the leg of the guard who makes the first move. He drops on his ass, blood seeping down his calf and dripping onto the grass. He hisses, but it’s not a fatal wound.

Killing them will make my stay here even more of a hardship. I just want to assert some rules.

The bulkier one comes at me, and we’re engaged in a violent tango, squatting and crabbing. Striking, we try to find an opening.

He’s proving to be the best one in the pack. He punches me in the stomach hard enough that I stumble, dropping with a thud. The chair leg rolls from my hand. I could turn and pick up my weapon, but with the last of my energy, I dash to him, ducking and getting behind him in a swift movement.

I kick him in the back of his knees, but he stands, scooping me up as if I weigh nothing. I jab the side of my palm in his neck, taking us both down. Patting for the chair leg, I clutch it and slam it into his shoulder. This injury will take him down for a while.

Breathing harshly, I look at the two men grunting on the floor.

Lorenzo approaches me with three other men, who blink at the guards surrounding me on the ground. They quickly mask their awe.

I need another shower. Great.

“Take them with you,” Lorenzo orders and stalks to me.

“You didn’t kill them,” he says once we’re alone. “Why?”

“Didn’t feel like it,” I shrug, downplaying it as I redo my ponytail.

I don’t want to make new enemies, but show them not to mess with me, giving them something they can run their mouths about.

“I ruined my clothes,” I say, looking at the blood on my clean clothes.

“Your priorities are fucked up, Luciana.”

Whatever.

“I won’t try to escape, so tell your dogs to stay away from me. I am in a mood.”

That’s the only warning he gets as I stride away.

I am sure someone will stop me from going where I am not supposed to, but I need some fresh air and to gather my thoughts. I will not return to that building. Period.

Gone are the days where I was in charge, but I won’t be a foot soldier either.

Taking orders has always been my biggest struggle. I am bad at respecting authority. Augustus was the exception. In my teenage brain, I saw him as my savior. Even more disturbing, I thought of him as someone more than a mentor but as a father figure.

The guards protecting the compound give me a wide breath while their fingers tap on the triggers, observing my every move.