Chapter 2
Rose
Morning sunlight streamed through the bulletproof glass into this luxurious tattoo studio, but I felt no warmth whatsoever.
No matter how fancy the decor, a prison is still a fucking prison.
The first thing I did after waking up was check every door, every window. Bulletproof glass, electronic locks—even the air vents were barely big enough for a mouse.
"Damn it!" I pushed against the heavy glass door with all my strength, but it didn't budge an inch.
"Miss, please return to your room."
A bodyguard in a black suit appeared outside the door, his voice as cold and mechanical as a robot. I glared at him, wishing I could kill him with my stare alone.
"I want out! This is illegal imprisonment!"
The bodyguard repeated emotionlessly: "Please return to your room."
I spun around in fury, only to see Raven leaning against the doorframe, those steel-gray eyes watching me. He'd changed into a black dress shirt but still looked cold and dangerous as hell.
"Sleep well?" His tone actually seemed to carry a hint of concern, but I knew it was bullshit.
"Go fuck yourself!" I replied without hesitation.
Raven walked in, scanning the entire studio: "Time to start work. But first, I need to conduct a security check."
"What kind of security check?"
"Take off your shirt. I need to ensure the work environment is secure."
He said it casually, like he was discussing the weather.
My blood instantly rushed to my head: "In your fucking dreams! I'm not your plaything!"
This bastard wanted to humiliate me? Over my dead body!
"Then let's try a different approach." Raven slowly removed his own shirt, revealing a solid chest and arms. "I'll be your first client."
I froze. His body had several old scars, but his physique was still perfect as a sculpture. Shit, I shouldn't be noticing this!
"Chest piece. Rose design." He sat in the tattoo chair, coldly issuing his command.
I clenched my fists, nails digging into my palms: "I refuse."
"Then you can choose prison."
I looked at that cold face, my inner rage reaching its peak. But I knew fighting back now would only make things worse for me.
"Fine." I said through gritted teeth, "But don't blame me if my hand slips."
Want a rose? I'll give you a rose from hell, every thorn designed to make you suffer.
I began designing the pattern, deliberately making each thorn longer and sharper. If he wanted a rose, I'd give him one dripping with blood.
After mixing the ink, I fired up the tattoo machine. The moment the needle touched his skin, I deliberately pressed deeper with each stroke.
"Mmm..." Raven let out an almost inaudible grunt.
Ha! Does it hurt, asshole?
"Painful? Need some painkillers?" I asked with fake concern, laughing maniacally inside.
"Go ahead. I don't fear pain." His voice remained steady, but I could hear the strain underneath.
Let's see how long you can keep up this tough guy act...
I continued working, each needle stroke bringing me vindictive satisfaction. But the closer I got to his heart area, the more I could feel his body heat and that strange tension in the air.
We were too close.
When I needed to adjust my angle, my hand accidentally slipped toward his back.
Then I felt something.
"These scars..." I stopped in shock, "Jesus, these are deep..."
The scars crisscrossed his back like a roadmap of pain, as if something sharp had repeatedly slashed him. Some had healed long ago, but I could still feel the agony they must have caused.
"Don't touch! Don't touch there!"
Raven suddenly jerked up like he'd been electrocuted, shoving me away hard.
I was pushed back into the work table, staring at him in shock.
He was afraid? This cold bastard was actually terrified?
His eyes held a panic I'd never seen before, like a frightened child. In that instant, I didn't see the arrogant creditor, but someone who'd been deeply wounded.
"Who hurt you?" The words escaped before I could stop them.
"Shut up!" Raven roared in fury, "Some things are none of your fucking business!"
But my curiosity was fully awakened: "Those scars look like they were made by..."
"I said shut the fuck up!"
He grabbed my wrist violently, his grip painful. This time, I saw real anger in his eyes and... fear?
Rage overcame fear. I grabbed a tattoo needle from the table and stabbed it into the hand gripping my wrist without hesitation.
"Let go of me!"
The needle pierced deep into his palm, bright red blood immediately gushing out, dripping onto the tattoo machine.
We both froze.
I stared at the bloody needle still in my hand, my emotions a complete mess.
What... what had I done? I'd actually stabbed him...
Raven released my wrist, looking down at the wound in his palm. Blood slowly dripped, forming strange patterns on the metal surface of the tattoo machine.
Strangely, he wasn't angry, and he didn't retaliate. He just quietly watched those blood drops, his eyes holding complex emotions I couldn't understand.
He looked... not like a demon...
"I'm sorry..." The words came out of my mouth, shocking even myself.
Raven looked up at me, those steel-gray eyes showing unprecedented vulnerability.
"You don't need to apologize." His voice was soft, "Pain... I'm used to it."
The blood on the tattoo machine slowly coagulated, forming the shape of a broken rose.
My heart was pounding violently, not from fear, but from an emotion I couldn't name.
What kind of pain was this man who'd imprisoned me hiding? And had my violence just made me into the very thing I despised?
I was starting to feel confused.
Maybe I knew far less about him than I thought.