Chapter One

Luciano.

My heart was racing, aching with a sharp pain that shot through my entire body. I groaned aloud, attempting to sit up but instead falling back to the cold, damp floor. My palms pressed against the cold concrete as I closed my eyes, grimacing in agony.

I refused to cry. To shed a single tear would be to admit defeat, to give in to those bastards. I would never show them weakness.

"Brother." I turned my head towards the other side of the room, forcing my eyes to adjust to the darkness.

One would think I would have grown accustomed to it after all these years of staying here.

My brother.

He's the only thing keeping me sane in this cold, desolate prison. The only thing that gives me hope for another day and a chance to escape.

"Are you alright?" His voice shook due to how cold the room was.

I ground my teeth together, holding back a sigh. "I'm fine. Just a minor pain." I bit my tongue to keep from making any more noise.

"Are you sure? The torture lasted longer today." His concern was evident and I couldn't help but agree.

Those fuckers thought that by punishing me longer, I would break and give them the answers they wanted. But how can I answer when I have no idea what they're even asking?

He let out a low grumble. "You should have let them take me…..” he muttered and I cut in.

I snapped, the pain from my ribs momentarily forgotten. "Shut your fucking mouth, Adriano." Thankfully, he got the message and fell silent.

I would rather take any and all punishment to keep my brother, Adriano, safe. After all, it's my fault that we're here. If I was smart enough we wouldn't be locked up in here.

He may be strong, but I'll never let them hurt him. He's my brother. I made a vow to protect him.

"When are we getting out of here?" He asked, pulling as close as his chains would allow.

We were both handcuffed and chained on opposite sides of the room. But if I could move just a little closer we could easily touch each other in the middle of the room.

"Soon, Adriano. Very soon," I assured him, meaning every single word from my mouth.

I yearned for the day when I could finally escape this godforsaken hellhole and take revenge on all those who played a part in our suffering.

Once again, I shut my eyes, taking deep breaths in an attempt to calm myself, even though it felt like a fucking war.

Very soon, we would be able to leave this wretched place.

*****

A Week Later.

"Brother."

I gazed down at the knife in my hand, carefully twirling it between my five fingers to ensure the blade wouldn't harm me. It had been passed to me during dinner last night - we needed a weapon to escape.

But now, it seemed unnecessary - our time here has come to an end.

Killing is an art, and I consider myself quite skilled in that regard. Weapons and torture bring me more comfort than people ever could - with their deceiving and treacherous ways. Putting your trust in someone and then getting betrayed by that person I like a slap to your very face. Every human on this fucking earth has a deceiving and dark side to them and I don't think will ever put my trust in someone again after this.

However, my brother is the only exception. He is the only pure thing left in this world—in my world, though his methods may be twisted.

I cast a glance at him, a wicked glint in his eyes as his lips curled up into a smirk.

It had been years since I had seen that bloodthirsty look in his eyes, and it filled me with joy to see him like this again. Like his true self.

He raised his cuffed hands between us, and without hesitation, I used the knife to pick the locks. Within seconds, he was freed, and he took the knife from me, proceeding to unlock my cuffs as well.

Adriano's skills with blades were almost as ferocious as mine - if not better.

We let the cuffs slip off our wrists, and they clanked to the ground with a loud noise. The sound caught the attention of the two guards stationed outside our prison gate.

Both of them turned to look at us, and we stood there, meeting their gaze with unwavering determination.

"Inmates." The larger one of the pair barked at us, first glancing at my brother and then at me.

"Move silently."

They can't stop us. Nobody will.

Unless they want their flesh stripped from their bodies like fucking animals and their blood painting our feet.

I stepped forward, bracing my forearm above my head against the prison bars and locking eyes with the smaller guard. He swiftly averted his gaze to his left, a common instinct when someone is lying or frightened. After a brief moment, he met my stare and squared his shoulders back.

Pathetic.

He doesn't have to do much to make me see how weak and pitiful he is; his fake courage is pointless.

He's given me a glimpse of his fear and that is all I need.

"Open the cell," I commanded, my tone clipped but composed.

The guard's eyes widened and he turned to the larger one, obviously the superior, for instructions. He has every reason to listen to me if he doesn't want his blood splattered on these walls.

Our sentence ended twenty seconds ago and I've been in charge during that time, so that fucker should listen to my words.

"It's been a damn decade, I think it's time to open the cell." My brother stated beside me, his impatience almost matching mine as he dragged his tongue over his lips.

He looked starved. Like a lion who has been leashed for too long and was now set loose in a land full of prey.

He's been waiting for this day just like I have.

The smaller guard snapped out of his daze and once again turned to the larger one for assistance. When he received no response, except for my brother's loud whistling, as if he was calling a dog. Well, he's the dog now. He's meant to obey us. We are the ones in charge.

The guard stepped forward with trembling hands and body as if he were a sacrificial virgin bride for the beast. He reached for the set of keys pinned to his hip, his hand still shaking.

Adriano and I exchanged glances and at that moment, I was fully aware of his intentions.

"Adriano," I warned, even knowing it would have little effect. He always does what he wants.

"Don't worry, I won't harm you. I promise to behave until we're out," he chuckled, sending a chill down the guard's spine.

“Your need to kill says otherwise.” The guard froze, key already in the lock, as he glanced between us, his face turning pale.

"Now, look what you've done," Adriano clicked his tongue. "You've scared my new friend."

I gritted my teeth and checked the time on the watch wrapped around the guard's wrist. As much as I want to give Adriano time to play his game and prolong this, I can't. The longer I remain in this cell, the more my sanity slips through my fingers.

The longer I remain here, the more I think of the man who is behind this walking freely outside without a bullet in his head.

"If I don't reach the other side of this cell in three minutes, I'm putting a bullet in your head," I threatened.

But the pathetic fool remained frozen in place. I opened my mouth to say something, but Adriano beat me to it.

"Open this fucking door!" There was urgency in his voice, and I knew why.

He was angry.

We had been unjustly imprisoned for some time now, and once we get out of here, there would be bloodshed.