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19: The Heat of Confinement
Last Updated:
2025-01-12 03:41:06
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How to Escape from a Ruthless Mobster 20: Notes of a Crumbling Marriage
POV: RyuuHiding in my office felt pathetic, but I couldn’t summon the energy to care. The weight of my own failure pressed against my chest, the silence around me broken only by the rhythmic clink of whiskey against glass. I leaned back in the leather chair, the throbbing in my temples matching the pulse of the ache behind my eyes. Another swig of whiskey scorched its way down my throat, but the fire did nothing to burn away the image burned into my mind: Nitta and Beatrice, tangled on the floor, too close, too familiar. It played on a relentless loop, mocking me. No matter how much I drank, I couldn’t shake it. The door swung open, shattering the fragile quiet. I turned slowly, my gaze heavy with the haze of alcohol. Fukui stood in the doorway, his jacket slung over one arm and his car keys dangling from the other. He must have just returned. “Drinking again?” His voice carried a mix of irritation and worry, his expression carefully guarded. “Did I ever stop?” I bit back, the
Last Updated : 2025-01-13How to Escape from a Ruthless Mobster 21: Between Brothers and Enemies
POV: BeatriceThe suitcases sat in the foyer as I passed, gleaming and expensive, their unfamiliarity sending a ripple of unease through me. For a moment, I wondered if Ryuu might be throwing me out. The thought wasn’t entirely unwelcome—I’d gladly leave if I had anywhere to go. But the truth was, I didn’t. I didn’t even know if my father was still in Los Angeles or if he had returned to Palermo with the rest of the family. And even if he were nearby, living with him would be as suffocating as staying here. When I entered the kitchen, the scent of something savory greeted me. A woman I didn’t recognize stood at the counter, humming softly as she stirred a pot. Her presence startled me—another staff member I hadn’t met. “Mrs. Morunaga,” she greeted, not needing an introduction. Her tone was warm but carried a formality that reminded me of Mena. “Would you like to eat in tonight?” “That sounds fine,” I said, trying to return her politeness with a smile that felt forced. Her ta
Last Updated : 2025-01-14How to Escape from a Ruthless Mobster 22: Conditional Freedom
POV: BeatriceWhen I stepped into the kitchen that morning, the sight of Fukui leaning casually against the counter sent a ripple of déjà vu through me. He was immaculate, as always, dressed in another impossibly tailored suit that made me feel even more disheveled in my oversized sweater and messy ponytail. It was barely seven, and his sharp gaze met mine briefly before I looked away, pretending to be engrossed in the steam curling up from my coffee. The porcelain mug burned against my palms, but it was nothing compared to the searing intensity of his scrutiny. I knew I looked a mess. A restless night of tossing and turning had left me drained, and Ryuu had been the root of it. Again. Our constant clashes gnawed at my patience, and I had no doubt that Fukui, with his unnerving perceptiveness, could see every frayed edge of my composure. “Another coffee and a fresh serving of bad news?” I muttered, thinking back to our last encounter in this very kitchen when he’d delivered one of
Last Updated : 2025-01-14How to Escape from a Ruthless Mobster 23: Traces of Blood and Silence
POV: Beatrice “I didn’t know you were so charmed by my sparkling personality and conversational skills, Hime,” Fukui said, his voice smooth and dripping with sarcasm as he glanced up briefly from his phone. “You’re being an ass,” I retorted, the heat of frustration prickling at my cheeks. “You’re the only adult I’ve spoken to all week besides Nitta, and forgive me if that’s been less than fulfilling. And by the way, I don’t have any money, so you’ll have to pay.” Fukui scoffed, but his teasing smirk softened the edge of his reaction. When the café attendant greeted us and took our order, he handed over several bills with a bored efficiency that somehow made the mundane act look annoyingly graceful. “Can I have your number?” I asked, nodding toward his phone. His brow arched in surprise, amusement flashing across his face. “You want my phone number?” “I don’t have any of your numbers,” I said flatly, trying to ignore his smug expression. “That doesn’t seem particularly smar
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POV: BeatriceWhen the woman finally approached our table, I smoothed my expression into a mask of indifference, carefully concealing my curiosity. It was obvious Fukui knew her, and judging by the tension radiating off him, their history was far from simple. Watching him squirm provided a spark of amusement, but I couldn’t let my guard down. Strangers who mingled with the Morunaga family rarely came without hidden motives, and this Sophia was no exception. “Fukui,” she greeted, her tight smile failing to reach her sharp, calculating eyes. Her gaze flicked to me, assessing and unrelenting, as though she were dissecting my very presence at the table. “Sophia,” Fukui replied curtly, his jaw tightening, hands vanishing from view as though he were bracing for something unpleasant. Sophia’s posture screamed confidence, from the subtle arch of her brow to the way she cocked her hip with the ease of someone accustomed to being the center of attention. Her eyes dropped to the wedding ba
Last Updated : 2025-01-16How to Escape from a Ruthless Mobster 25: A Dangerous Waltz
POV: RyuuMy eyes stayed locked on Beatrice as she moved through the room, her presence commanding attention in a way that felt almost defiant. She carried herself with a confidence that was equal parts captivating and infuriating, her chin held high, her gaze steady, and her lips curved into a smile that hinted at secrets only she knew. Watching her maneuver through a room full of Morunagas—each more venomous than the last—was like watching someone walk a tightrope over a pit of snakes. And she made it look effortless. I told myself it was annoyance that kept my attention on her. But even as I fed myself that lie, I couldn’t deny the strange pull she had on me. She was supposed to be an inconvenience, a burden, yet here she was, standing out in a sea of my polished, posturing relatives. Then I saw it—the sapphire brooch pinned to her dress. It caught the light, flashing like a taunt, and my chest tightened. The brooch had belonged to my mother, an heirloom Beatrice had worn on our
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POV: BeatriceLying in bed with my phone in hand, I scrolled through the evening news highlights, doing my best to ignore Ryuu’s stormy presence across the room. He hadn’t slept here once since we got married, so why now? Why tonight? All I wanted was to shut out the world, turn off the lights, and get some much-needed rest. Instead, he moved through the room like a thundercloud, muttering under his breath and slamming drawers with enough force to rattle the dresser. The party had been a draining spectacle. We’d left early, but even so, the endless social pleasantries and fake smiles from his oversized, power-hungry family had left me exhausted. Now, Ryuu’s relentless racket was transforming my exhaustion into a pounding headache. “Ryuu,” I called, my voice soft but laced with irritation. I didn’t look up from my phone, but I could feel his gaze flick toward me. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught his perpetually annoyed expression—his default, it seemed. “Are you planning to ke
Last Updated : 2025-01-18How to Escape from a Ruthless Mobster 27: A Question Too Far
POV: BeatriceBy morning, there was no sign Ryuu had come back after his abrupt departure the night before. I tried to push it aside, convince myself it didn’t matter—but it did. The feeling gnawed at me, the weight of being left out, of being deliberately kept in the dark. It was clear now—he had secrets, and he wasn’t even trying to hide it. I knew better than to expect honesty from a man like Ryuu. In his world, knowledge was power, and he wielded it with precision. If he wasn’t willing to share, fine. But that didn’t mean I had to sit around and do nothing. If Ryuu wouldn’t talk, I’d find someone who would. “Fukui,” I called the moment I spotted him in the living room after breakfast. He was hunched over his laptop, fingers moving with an almost mechanical rhythm, his expression locked in that perpetual state of brooding focus. “I need to ask you something.” Without looking up, he sighed. “Is this going to take long?” His impatience was obvious, and I should’ve been annoye
Last Updated : 2025-01-19
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How to Escape from a Ruthless Mobster 52: Possessiveness in a Whiskey Glass
POV: BeatriceI hesitated before answering, pressing the device to my ear. "Didn’t think you’d respond so fast."A pause. His silence was thick, suffocating."You’re drunk."How the hell could he tell? I had barely spoken. I blinked, trying to remember how many drinks I’d had. My mind blurred around the number."Where are you?" His voice sharpened, all warmth stripped away.I frowned, glancing at Caleb, who was still watching me with interest. "Where are we again?""The Alchemist," Caleb answered, smirking. "You really can’t hold your liquor, huh?""Did you hear that?" I asked, ignoring Caleb entirely. "Ryuu?"Silence. Then, a sharp, clipped response."Who are you with?""Sophia and some of her friends."The line went dead.I stared at the screen, dumbfounded."Everything okay?" Caleb asked, resting a casual hand on my shoulder. I shrugged him off, irritation flaring hot in my veins.What a bastard. He called just to hang up? It was the first time I had heard his voice in two weeks, a
How to Escape from a Ruthless Mobster 51: The Wrong Message, The Right Person
POV: BeatriceIt gnawed at me, an ache I couldn’t ignore. My family had let me go too easily. The realization cut deep, deeper than I wanted to admit. They had fought when I was married off, but now? Nothing. I had been ripped from them, and in the void they left behind, all that remained were my father’s lies and betrayals.I swallowed hard, fingers twitching over my phone. Where was Dario? Had the Morunagas done something to him? Had he returned to Italy without telling me? Why wasn’t he answering my calls?I could dial Ryuu, demand answers—but what would I even say? If he had hurt Dario, he wouldn’t admit it. And if he hadn’t, would I even believe him?Maybe I should reach out to my other cousins. But if Ryuu was involved, and they found out, I’d be the one who set everything ablaze. A war would break out, and I would be trapped in the center of it. No matter how distant I felt from them, my loyalties were now bound to Ryuu. If a battle ignited between our families, I wouldn’t have
How to Escape from a Ruthless Mobster 50: A House Without Her
POV: RyuuI had been restless since leaving Vincenzo’s estate. The drive back felt like a slow suffocation, each mile stretching the unbearable silence pressing against my skull. The second we pulled into the garage, I tossed the keys aside and sank into the passenger seat, my knuckles aching from how tightly I had gripped the wheel. I couldn’t bring myself to go inside. Not yet.Leaving Beatrice there had been the right decision. That’s what I told myself, over and over. But the gnawing unease in my gut told a different story.I had woken early that morning, ready to force the conversation we kept avoiding. I wouldn’t allow this distance to stretch any further. I wouldn’t let her slip through my fingers. But instead of finding her in bed, still curled in sleep, I found empty sheets.She was gone.The panic had been instant, raw. A vice around my ribs. Every worst-case scenario slammed into me at once. The house wasn’t impenetrable—someone had already gotten to her once. If they had c
How to Escape from a Ruthless Mobster 49: If You Let Go, Do You Lose Me?
POV: BeatriceHis hold tightened for a moment before he pulled back just enough to scan my face, his eyes running over every inch of me like he needed to memorize my existence, to confirm I was real. There was no mistaking the raw emotion in his expression—a mix of fury, fear, and something darker, something unspoken."Come home," he said, his voice both a command and a plea.I shook my head, my resolve solidifying even as my body ached from his warmth. "I can’t. I won’t."His brows furrowed, his grip tightening just slightly. "Why not?""That house..." I swallowed hard, my throat tight. "It suffocates me. I shouldn’t be afraid to exist just because it doesn’t fit your idea of safety.""It’s for your protection!" he snapped, his desperation cutting through the anger.I met his gaze head-on, forcing him to see the truth in my eyes. "This isn’t about protection, Ryuu. It’s about control. And I can’t live like that. The more you try to trap me, the harder I’ll fight to escape."His nostr
How to Escape from a Ruthless Mobster 48: Not Even Distance Can Save Me
POV: Beatrice"Shit…" I muttered, pressing my face into the pillow, trying—failing—to smother the rising panic. "What have I done? How could I forget how powerful Ryuu is?"Sophia’s firm grip on my shoulder pulled me back. Her fingers squeezed lightly, grounding me until I finally lifted my eyes, the heat of my tears still burning my cheeks. Her gaze was steady, an anchor in the middle of my storm."Beatrice, look at me," she said, her voice softer now but no less certain. "Nothing bad is going to happen to you. My uncle won’t let it. We’re here for you. I’m here for you." She squeezed my hand, her warmth seeping into my skin, offering a comfort I hadn’t expected. "If you need to talk, I’m ready to listen. About that night… or whatever is going on between you and Ryuu. This stays between us."The tears kept falling, uncontrollable. I never imagined I’d have someone like Sophia, someone willing to fight for me. Before my marriage, support was scarce, limited to my aunt… and my cousins.
How to Escape from a Ruthless Mobster 47: A Door Left Open
POV: BeatriceThe mansion was silent, but the weight of its presence pressed down on me, suffocating. Every breath felt stolen, every step a betrayal. I moved through the corridors with the precision of someone who knew the cost of getting caught. The cold marble beneath my feet sent a chill up my spine, grounding me in the reality of what I was doing. I was running. Escaping. Finally breaking free from the cage that had held me captive for too long.Each shadow felt like a threat, each flicker of movement a warning. My pulse hammered in my ears as I reached the grand entrance, fingers trembling against the cool brass of the door handle. The night air hit me like a slap, crisp and unforgiving, but I welcomed it. It was the first real breath I had taken in months.I didn’t have time to hesitate. The estate was crawling with guards, men who answered to Ryuu, men who wouldn’t hesitate to drag me back inside. My only advantage was that they never expected me to run. Not like this.Then, f
How to Escape from a Ruthless Mobster 46: A Fragile Escape
POV: Beatrice Sophia didn’t bother with pleasantries."You look awful," she said, her gaze steady, sharp. "Problems with Ryuu?"I exhaled slowly, sinking into my seat at the small café. My fingers curled around the warmth of the teacup, grounding myself. Outside, the city hummed with life, indifferent to the storm brewing inside me."I hate that he’s always the first topic," I muttered, voice tight.It was inevitable. Every conversation circled back to Ryuu, to the Morunaga name that clung to me like chains. Even when I tried to escape, he was there, lurking in the shadows of my thoughts."Alright." Sophia leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand, studying me. "So, what do you want to talk about?"I forced a smile, but even I could feel how brittle it was."How are your classes?" I asked, reaching for anything that wasn’t my life.Sophia’s expression darkened instantly, her fingers tightening around her coffee cup."Don’t get me started," she groaned. "I spent days on an essay, a
How to Escape from a Ruthless Mobster 45: The Breaking Point
POV: BeatriceIt all made sense now. Every twisted, broken piece of the puzzle fell into place. My mother had taken her own life because of his betrayal. And me? I had been cast into the very family that had destroyed her, all to soothe the wounded pride of a man who deserved nothing but ruin."You… you’re disgusting," I spat, tears burning my eyes, but I refused to let them fall.He didn’t try to defend himself. He simply lowered his head in disgrace."I am many things," he admitted bitterly.My hands trembled with unspent rage, my nails digging into my palms. I looked at him then, and all I could feel was contempt."A father isn’t one of them. And neither is a husband."He stepped toward me, but the warning in my eyes kept him frozen in place. He wouldn’t dare.The shrill buzz of a phone sliced through the suffocating silence. He glanced at the device, relief flashing across his face as he reached for his jacket."I have to go," he muttered, not daring to meet my eyes.I nodded, unm
How to Escape from a Ruthless Mobster 44: A House of Betrayals
POV: BeatriceI woke to a weight pressing against my chest, familiar and suffocating. Next to me, Ryuu worked in silence, the dim glow of his screen flickering across his face. No words were exchanged. I couldn’t even look at him properly when I stepped out of the shower, dressed, and left the room with the sole purpose of avoiding him.The irony wasn’t lost on me. He had spent our entire marriage keeping me at a distance, and now, I was the one retreating. A cruel reversal, but necessary. Until I knew the truth—until I confirmed whether Ryuu had a hand in the lies surrounding my mother—I couldn’t stand being near him.The photographs I had found haunted me. My mother had not died in a hospital after my birth, as I had been told. No, she had died here, in the Morunaga estate. The weight of that revelation made my stomach churn. I needed answers. And I knew exactly where to get them.Downstairs, I found Fukui in the kitchen, his usual composed demeanor at odds with the storm inside me.
