Russian Roulette /̵͇̿̿/’̿’̿ ̿ ̿̿ ̿̿ ̿̿
CHAPTER 7
Have you ever seen a city of decadence glowing brightly through the dark of night? The nights of Saint Leroi shone more brilliantly than anywhere else. Like a paradise—or perhaps a dangerous flame, tempting moths to their doom.
The city lights were so mesmerizing that even from across the wide canal separating it from neighboring towns, one could catch a glimpse of its dazzling radiance.
Innocent children would often ask,
‘What kind of place is that? Can I go there too?’
To this, adults would always respond with a firm warning.
‘Listen carefully. That place is very dangerous. You must never go near it. A monster lives there that will swallow you whole.’
Tessa, who worked for the government, knew more about Saint Leroi than most. She knew the truth about the city, which Vicente had personally turned on its head—a city that was once little more than a corrupt slum.
He had rebuilt the city, one that bore a holy name, with money and blood. And now, it served as both his domain and his stronghold.
Now, Saint Leroi was a hub of twisted order centered around Vicente. It had become the capital of another world entirely—one led by him.
He was the one who imposed order on the chaotic, lawless underbelly of the city. Vicente had accomplished what the state, despite waging war against the underworld, could not.
It wasn’t surprising. Vicente never intended to destroy them. Instead, his immense wealth and ruthless nature allowed him to naturally ascend to the throne. He didn’t just control their cash flow—he owned it.
The government decided to strike a deal with Vicente.
They offered him certain benefits in exchange for keeping his people from wreaking havoc in the open. That was their condition.
Vicente accepted. However, it was simply a negotiation between two powers. He never became a pawn of the government. And who could possibly know what he was scheming behind the scenes? Who could peer into the mind of someone like him?
Tessa had been sent to keep an eye on him, but even now, she couldn’t figure him out completely. She had no way of knowing what went on in his head.
Even after unexpectedly becoming one of his closest confidants, nothing had changed.
Walking through the lobby and down the corridor to Vicente’s office, Tessa carried herself as she always did—her pale blond hair tied back in a single ponytail and her tailored suit neat and proper.
Her presence drew the unspoken ire of the other subordinates, their silent stares hitting her like invisible bullets. But none dared to say or do anything.
She’d overheard the story of a high-ranking member who had been left in a heap after laying a hand on her. With that in mind, no one would dare to cross her.
Climbing the stairs silently in the hostile atmosphere, Tessa avoided the elevator. She couldn’t bear the thought of being stuck inside with others who would only make her discomfort worse.
The attendants standing guard outside Vicente’s office moved aside without a word when they saw her.
“Thank you.”
Tessa murmured softly. But their faces remained stiff, and they offered no reply.
Vicente’s office was as spacious as the room they had spent the night in. Just like there, it was populated by the subordinates who worked closest to him.
The cool breeze from the city filtered through the room, carrying a sense of calm as Vicente reviewed a set of documents. When Tessa stood upright at the doorway, his gaze lifted and settled on her.
“Tessa.”
He said, raising his right index finger. Wait a moment.
Tessa obediently stayed where she was, as instructed. Vicente continued working for another thirty minutes before finally leaning back in his chair and addressing the room.
“Leave. Except for Tessa.”
The subordinates filed past her without sparing her so much as a glance, leaving the office one by one.
Tack.
Only when the door closed behind them did Tessa allow herself to exhale. From behind the desk, Vicente gave her his next order.
“Come here. Closer.”
Her steps were hesitant, trembling slightly as she approached him. Despite what they had shared that night, her fear of him remained. Vicente knew she was a traitor. If his mood soured, he could order her execution at any moment.
He pulled out a cigarette, placing it between his lips. Reflexively, Tessa retrieved a lighter and lit it for him. Hoo. Vicente exhaled, the faint haze of smoke curling into the air.
“How are you today?” he asked, his expression languid.
“…I’m not sure,” she replied hesitantly.
Tessa faltered, unable to believe he was genuinely inquiring about her well-being. Sensing her hesitance, Vicente asked again.
“Since you received guiding, there must have been some changes.”
“…I feel a little better,” she admitted softly.
“A little better?”
Vicente took another drag from his cigarette, studying Tessa intently as she avoided his gaze with visible effort.
“What’s making you so tense?”
“It’s nothing,” she replied quickly.
“If you’re this stiff, it really kills the mood for guiding,” he said, his voice low and teasing.
After stubbing out his cigarette in the ashtray, Vicente reached for Tessa’s jacket, pulling it open on either side. She instinctively drew in a sharp breath, and his gaze momentarily hardened before softening again.
“Was last night satisfying for you?” he asked.
Tessa hesitated before nodding slightly. It wasn’t as if she had much choice in how to answer a question like that.
But Vicente seemed displeased with her response.
“For someone who says that, you sure couldn’t stop crying.”
“That’s…”
She stammered, unsure of how to respond.
“I can feel every emotion you’re experiencing. So, it’s best for you to be honest with me,” Vicente said, his voice calm but firm.
He gently ran his hand over the area of her injury through her shirt, his touch light and deliberate, before pressing down with his fingertips. A sharp pang of pain escaped as a soft whimper from Tessa’s lips.
“Still not healed?”
“Well, it was a severe wound. One night isn’t enough to…”
“Looks like you’ll need my help quite a bit going forward.”
Clicking his tongue, Vicente adjusted her jacket back into place. Tessa’s heart pounded in her chest. She couldn’t imagine another Sentinel feeling these kinds of emotions when facing their Guide.
“But Tessa,” he continued, his tone shifting.
“you don’t seem very willing to receive my guiding.”
Startled, Tessa quickly looked up to meet his gaze. Vicente remained seated, legs crossed, staring at her with an inscrutable expression.
“You’ve finally found the Guide you’ve been searching for all this time. Shouldn’t you look at least a little happy about it?”
“…I’m sorry.”
“I don’t have much interest in women who act like stiff, lifeless statues.”
Tessa’s mind raced. Vicente had granted her two significant mercies. First, sparing her life despite knowing she was a spy. Second, offering her guiding directly.
He was not the type of man to expend effort on things that didn’t benefit him. There had to be something she could give him in return. But what could it be?
Does he want my body?
Do I have to act like some kind of courtesan for him?
“Do you really think I spared your life just because I wanted a common whore?”
Vicente asked, his voice sharp and cutting, as though he had read her thoughts.
Tessa’s face flushed crimson with embarrassment and confusion.
“That’s not what I meant…”
“Or perhaps,” he continued with a sly smile.
“you enjoy the idea of being treated that way. Is that it, Tessa?”
“…Then just tell me,” Tessa whispered, her voice trembling.
“Tell you what?”
“What it is you want from me. I really… I don’t know. Why I’m still alive standing here in front of you, why I’m receiving guiding from you… I don’t understand any of it.”
Vicente, who had been watching her with an inscrutable expression, rose from his chair. His tall frame towered over her in an instant, and with each deliberate step forward, she instinctively retreated until her back hit the cold surface of the wall.
Pinned by the inevitability of the situation, Tessa looked up at him, her breath caught in her throat. Vicente reached out, his hand moving toward her as if to strike—but instead, he adjusted her tie with a practiced ease.
“That’s right. You’re the government’s dog,” he said smoothly, his fingers delicately working the knot.
Though his touch was gentle, Tessa couldn’t relax. It was impossible.
“You came into my life with a single purpose—to spy on me, to see if I was up to anything reckless. They’re such cautious people, aren’t they?” he continued with a mockingly sweet tone.
Satisfied with the perfectly adjusted tie, Vicente withdrew his hand. Instead, he tilted her chin upward and let his thumb trace the line of her trembling lips.
“But I’m not going to kill you. If I wanted to, I would’ve put the last bullet in your heart long ago—or ordered my men to play with you before disposing of you. Don’t you wonder why I’ve let you live?”
Tessa’s amethyst eyes quivered with fear, her lashes fluttering faintly. Vicente admired the flickering unease within them—it was beautiful. But beauty was secondary to his true goal.
“I can’t kill you just yet,” he said with a smirk.
“…”
“I’m curious to see what color you’ll become.”
Tessa’s pupils darted, clearly lost in his cryptic words. He hadn’t expected her to understand, nor did he care. It was time to get to the point.
“You asked what I want from you. What I want is simple: I want you to say you desire me with those eyes still filled with hate. It’s delightful, watching you gasp for me, wanting to be in my arms.”
At his words, a flicker of defiance and humiliation lit up her violet gaze. She was clearly unskilled at hiding her emotions, as always.
But how long could she keep it up?
Vicente had found her weakness. Sliding his hand under her jacket, he deliberately stroked a delicate, vulnerable spot. The defiant gleam in her eyes faltered, replaced by a wavering uncertainty.
This—this was the moment Vicente relished most.
“Ah… wait…” Tessa gasped softly.
“Don’t hate me too much, Miss Ambrose.”
Vicente murmured, his voice smooth and low, brushing against her ear as he spoke.
“The more you do, the harder it will be for you.”
The more he touched her, the deeper the overwhelming satisfaction bloomed within her. Tessa cursed her body’s sensitivity even as she leaned into the comfort his presence provided.
It was undeniable—when she was with Vicente, the pain vanished. That was the unvarnished truth, a rare, clean fact in this filthy world.
As tears welled in her eyes, she looked up at him with a pleading gaze, silently begging for something she couldn’t put into words. In response, Vicente gently stroked her hair, a gesture almost like praise.
“I didn’t think you’d want this here,” he remarked with a sly smile.
⋆｡ ﾟ ☁︎｡ ⋆｡ ﾟ ☾ ﾟ ｡ ⋆
☕ Hi, friends! Your support means the world to me. If you’d like, you can buy me a coffee here: Click the link on the image! 💖
Thank you for keeping me inspired! 🌸
⋆｡ ﾟ☁︎｡ ⋆｡ ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡ ⋆
