Russian Roulette /̵͇̿̿/’̿’̿ ̿ ̿̿ ̿̿ ̿̿
CHAPTER 5
Tessa stepped out of her apartment, still dressed in the formal suit she had changed into at the hospital. As she exited the building, her footsteps came to an abrupt halt. She stared in surprise at the scene before her.
Parked right in front of her building was a gleaming luxury sedan, with an attendant in sunglasses standing nearby. There was no attempt to conceal who had sent the car or why it was waiting there.
The attendant, idly pacing on the street, turned his gaze toward her, his demeanor clearly saying, What are you waiting for? Get in already.
Haah.
The temptation to turn around and retreat to the comfort of her room tugged at her, but Tessa ultimately climbed into the car. Thankfully, it was just her, the driver, and the attendant inside.
The ride to their destination passed in complete silence.
Tessa appreciated the quiet. She had no desire for conversation right now.
Vicente must have known, she thought.
He must have been certain that everything would unfold exactly as he intended.
The car came to a stop in front of a luxurious hotel. Tessa had heard of this place before—an exclusive retreat for VIPs, the kind who could shake hands with Vicente himself. But this was her first time stepping inside.
The attendant accompanied her, guiding her through the opulent lobby and into an elevator. With practiced precision, he closed the latticed doors and pulled the lever. The elevator began its smooth ascent.
On a whim, Tessa glanced back. One side of the elevator was made of glass, offering an increasingly breathtaking view of the city as they rose. Saint Leroi—the city of lights and decadence.
Or, more accurately, Vicente’s domain.
Nothing in this city existed without his permission. Every rise and fall, every creation or destruction, bore his mark.
One of Vicente’s many residences was at the top floor of this luxurious hotel. When the elevator came to a stop, the attendant stepped aside, opening the way for her.
“…I’ll go alone from here,” Tessa said.
Leaving the attendant behind, she crossed the expansive marble-floored hall. The walls, made of black marble, gave the space a cold and imposing atmosphere.
At the end of the corridor, a single door came into view. Taking a deep breath, Tessa raised her hand and knocked.
No answer.
She knocked again, but still no response. Hesitantly, she reached for the doorknob and turned it.
The door wasn’t locked.
She slowly pushed it open and stepped inside. The brightly lit room welcomed her. Like the elevator, one wall of the room was made entirely of glass, offering a sweeping view of the city below.
Vicente’s quarters were meticulous and minimalistic, with not a single item out of place. She had expected extravagance, but the space was instead furnished only with essentials, making the vastness of the room all the more apparent.
It was clear that its occupant didn’t live here full-time.
“Mr. Zermo?” she called out tentatively.
Tessa cautiously called his name, but there was no reply. Arriving before Vicente? Perhaps it was for the better.
She wandered aimlessly in the empty room before deciding to sit on the sofa and wait. As the ticking of the clock filled the silence, she turned her gaze to the city’s night view, losing herself in the glittering lights.
Minutes passed.
Click.
The door opened, and someone stepped inside. Startled, Tessa shot to her feet.
“Tessa, you’re here.”
“Mr. Zermo.”
Standing in his quarters to face him, she felt a mixture of unease and dread. As Alex had said, she had entered not just his world but its very core.
Vicente smiled faintly as he removed his coat. “Have you been waiting long?”
Caught up in an inexplicable sense of duty, Tessa instinctively approached to take his coat. But as she reached for it, Vicente pulled her arm instead, catching her off guard.
She stumbled and steadied herself with her hands against his chest. Her first instinct was to pull away, but Vicente tightened his grip, keeping her close as he asked,
“Did you come here just to tend to me like a servant?”
“Mr. Zermo, I…”
“I didn’t summon you here to hold my coat. You’re not my subordinate anymore—not here, at least.”
With those cryptic words, he let her go. Frozen in place, Tessa could only watch as Vicente casually shed his coat.
“I asked if you’d been waiting long.”
“No… I haven’t waited much.”
“I didn’t expect you to come so quickly,” he said, smirking.
“Were you in a hurry? Or did you simply want to see me that badly?”
Tessa didn’t respond. While her current state did demand immediate guiding, the real reason she was here was bigger: she had to fulfill the agency’s expectations.
Vicente didn’t seem to expect an answer. He disappeared into the bathroom, emerging moments later after washing his hands. As he passed the unmoving Tessa, he walked over to the bed and sat down, now only in his shirt.
The sight of him settling on the bed made her heart sink. Vicente glanced at her and asked,
“What are you waiting for?”
“What should… I do?”
“Ha.”
His sharp gaze swept over her in disapproval before softening. He issued a simple command, his tone calm but firm.
“Take it off.”
Tessa swallowed hard. She had expected this. Being summoned to his quarters meant there was no avoiding it.
With trembling hands, she loosened her tie and slipped off her jacket. Then, one by one, she began unbuttoning her shirt.
Soon, only a plain white bra remained on her upper body. She hesitated, wondering if she should remove her pants too, but Vicente gestured for her to come closer.
As she approached, Vicente’s eyes fixed on the bandaged area where she’d been shot. He reached out, lightly brushing his fingers over the spot.
“Tell me.”
He looked up at Tessa and asked,
“How much does it hurt?”
Tessa was caught off guard. She had braced herself to be roughly thrown onto the bed, not for him to show concern for her injuries. His unexpected interest in her wound threw her completely off balance.
“Be honest,” he said.
“It… it hurts a lot,” she admitted.
In truth, his question was almost redundant. The sweat beading on her forehead, the feverish heat radiating from her body, and her labored breathing all screamed that she was in pain.
“Hm.”
Vicente withdrew his hand from her bandaged side. The brief contact left her Sentinel instincts unsatisfied, stirring an aching longing within her. Despite despising herself for it, she found herself wanting to touch him, to close the unbearable distance between them.
Had it been anyone but Vicente Zermo, she wouldn’t have hesitated to throw herself into her Guide’s arms.
“Tessa.”
“Yes.”
She answered, her voice barely above a whisper.
“You just asked, didn’t you? What should you do?”
“…”
“Who do you think is the one in urgent need here?”
He spoke as though this entire situation existed solely to fulfill her needs. As if his only purpose was to provide her with guiding. Wasn’t he supposed to be using this as leverage to take what he wanted? At least, that’s how Tessa had interpreted this meeting.
“Is that really something you should be asking me?”
“I just…”
“You came here because you need guiding, didn’t you?”
But you clearly want something from me too, don’t you? Tessa swallowed the words, unable to voice them, and instead stared helplessly at the floor.
“Do you not need it? Guiding?”
Her hesitation made Vicente’s tone almost dismissive, as if he couldn’t care less.
“If you don’t want it, you’re free to leave.”
“No, that’s not it,” she said quickly.
Their eyes met.
Tessa realized she hadn’t been wrong. Vicente was expecting something from her. He was waiting for her to say the words.
“Please… guide me.”
Tessa pleaded. Her tone was stiff, as if something heavy pressed down on her words, but the desperation bled through, manifesting in silent tears that trickled down her face.
“Please.”
Vicente, having heard the answer he wanted, smiled. He guided her hands, pulling her into his lap. From this close, his dark eyes gleamed with arrogance, a knowing glint that made her heart race.
“Do as you please, Tessa,” he said.
“…What?”
“Touch me as much as you want. Treat me as a tool, if that’s what you need, or as a lover if that’s easier. Enjoy yourself.”
His words made her hands tremble. This was Vicente. Facing him, Tessa felt fear overshadow her usual contempt. How could she treat him like a mere object?
But even as her mind fought the idea, her body was screaming in agony. Her Guide was right in front of her, and she was at her limit. Dizzy and overwhelmed, Tessa finally threw her arms around him, her breaths ragged and uneven.
Vicente didn’t return the embrace. He simply let her hold onto him, unmoving.
When she stayed like that, clinging to him as if her life depended on it, his low voice resonated near her ear.
“So, this is enough for you, is it?”
“…I don’t know.”
“What don’t you know?”
“What I should do… I don’t know how,” she admitted, tears falling freely now.
For the first time, Tessa met his gaze fully, her eyes filled with a mix of desperation and despair.
“Would it be… too much to ask you to touch me instead?”
“Ask me to touch you,” Vicente said, his voice low and deliberate.
Tears streaming down her face, Tessa felt his hand cradle her cheek. He looked down at her and asked,
“No regrets?”
“Just… don’t be too harsh,” she replied softly.
“What happens on a bed like this is usually predictable, isn’t it?”
“Just… don’t make it hurt too much…”
“Tessa.”
He shifted his position, gently laying her down on the bed and moving over her, his body caging hers beneath him. The moment she was trapped beneath him, a whirlwind of emotions surged through her—a primal sense of relief but also a gnawing fear, as though she had willingly stepped into a cage.
“I’m your Guide. Whatever I do, it won’t hurt more than the pain you’re already feeling. In fact, no matter what I do, your body will welcome it—won’t it?”
“…”
“Are you sure you’re ready to entrust your body to me?”
It felt like signing a dangerous contract, knowing there was no way to go back once her decision was made. But Tessa, teetering on the edge of despair, gave her answer.
“Do whatever you want, just… just make it stop. Please…”
Vicente lowered his head and pressed a kiss to the curve of her neck. The heat of his lips sent a shiver through her, and instinctively, Tessa’s hands gripped the fabric of his collar tightly.
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