This is the last chapter. The next would be the epilogue 😭

Thank you for supporting me and this book throughout it's journey ❤️❤️❤️

The steady beeping of the heart monitor filled the hospital room, its rhythm a quiet reassurance that Aezvan was still alive and had the scope of recovery.

Haven sat beside his bed, her fingers gently brushing against his hand as if assuring herself of her reality. She was free from both Aerius and Vincent, her Aezy was safe, she was safe and her family, her brothers loved, cherished and protected her.

Ares stood near the window, arms crossed, his sharp eyes scanning the room like the silent shield. The soft glow of the city lights outside cast shadows over his face, but his expression remained unreadable.

After a long silence as haven contemplated to form the right words, Haven whispered, "Thank you... for protecting me."

Ares didn't respond with words—he simply gave a small nod, acknowledging her gratitude without dwelling on it.

Haven didn't press further. She turned back to Aezvan, watching the slow rise and fall of his chest. Her exhaustion weighed heavy, her body finally surrendering to the toll of the past days. She leaned forward, resting her head lightly against the mattress, and within minutes, sleep claimed her.

Ares remained standing, his gaze fixed on her small, curled-up form. He knew she wouldn't be comfortable like that. With a quiet sigh, he walked over, carefully sliding his arms around her to lift her. She barely stirred as he carried her to the couch, settling her down with effortless ease.

He grabbed a blanket from the chair and draped it over her. As he turned to walk away, her fingers suddenly latched onto his hand.

Ares stiffened.

In sleep, she pulled his hand under her head, holding onto it as if seeking warmth, security.

He hesitated, trying to pull back gently, but her grip tightened, a soft furrow forming on her sleeping face.

Ares exhaled slowly. He had no choice.

So, he sank down onto the floor beside her, his hand still trapped in her grasp.

And as the hours passed, he sat there, unmoving, watching her unblinkingly, his gaze unreadable as her small fingers clung to his hand in sleep. He tried to cautiously force his way out of her grip, but couldn't.

He sighed, running his free hand through his hair before murmuring under his breath,

"Even in your sleep, you're stubborn, Fiera."

His voice was low, almost a whisper, laced with something unspoken. He settled himself  beside her, his presence as silent as the night.

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The iron doors to the dungeon groaned open, the cold, damp air greeting them with the stench of old blood and decay.

The flickering overhead light cast eerie shadows against the stone walls as the guards dragged Vincent's almost limp, bloodied body inside.

Vincent groaned as he was thrown onto the floor like discarded trash. His body convulsed in pain, his injured leg twitching from Rafael's bullet. He tried to move, but the chains clamped around his wrists and ankles made sure he wouldn't go far.

The cold dampness of the dungeon sent a chill up his spine, but it wasn't the cold that made him shudder. It was the sight before him.

Aerius.

His was barely recognizable. His once-arrogant face was now a grotesque mess of bruises, dried blood, and swollen flesh. His breathing was ragged, labored, each inhale sounding like broken glass grinding together. His arms hung limply above his head, chains cutting deep into his wrists. The moment Vincent's eyes locked onto him, Aerius gave a weak, bloodied chuckle.

"You're... finally here," Aerius rasped, his voice barely above a whisper. "Welcome... to hell. Boss"

Vincent swallowed hard as his condition, his one eyes was hollow, most of his teeth gone. The rest he couldn't even comprehend.

This wasn't what he had expected. He had imagined Aerius bruised, beaten, but alive enough to suffer. This? This was pure insanity. The Sinisters weren't just men. They were demons in human skin.

Worst part? they were worst than him when it came to torture.

The heavy sound of boots echoed through the dungeon as the brothers stepped in, surrounding the two men like predators cornering their prey.

Lucifer stood in front of them, his cold gaze unreadable. "Seventeen years," he murmured, voice like a quiet storm. "Seventeen fucking years, we let you breathe. We should've buried you long ago."

Vincent let out a weak chuckle, spitting blood onto the floor. "Is this the part where you give a speech about revenge?" he rasped.

Lucifer's lips twitched, almost amused. "No, Vicious . This is the part where you beg."

Gabriel crouched beside him, tilting his head. "You look confused. Let me make it simple for you," he said, retrieving a blade and pressing the flat edge against Vincent's throat. "You're in our world now, and the only way out is in pieces."

Vincent tensed, but before he could utter another word, a sharp kick landed against his ribs. Michael straightened, wiping his boot against Vincent's clothes like he had just stepped on filth.

"You dared to ask my sister to kneel," Michael sneered, "but now you're the one on your knees. I would make sure you would crawl like a bitch begging for out mercy"

Vincent groaned, trying to lift his head. "You... think this ends with me?" he slurred. "Others will come."

Izrael chuckled darkly, stepping forward with slow, deliberate steps. "Good," he whispered, crouching in front of him.

"Let them come. I need something to keep me entertained." His fingers ghosted over the blade strapped to his thigh right where the bullet wound was "I like hearing my enemies' scream—it's like music, don't you think?"

Vincent screamed in pain.

Rafael stepped forward next, rolling up his sleeves, his voice void of any emotion. "We're not killing you yet. That would be too merciful." His knuckles cracked. "First, we take back every ounce of pain you caused to our family"

Lucifer took off his jacket, tossing it aside. "And when we're done," he promised, "there won't even be enough left of you for the rats to feast on."

Vincent screamed more as Izrael twisted the knife with a cruel smirk in Vincent's wound.

"Calm down dear Vince.. tonight is all about our little Ari here who thought he could mess with our sister and get away with it." Gabriel snickered

Rafael cracked his knuckles, walking over to Aerius, who flinched and helplessly struggled in the chains,"Still breathing, huh?" he muttered. "Impressive. But let's see how long that lasts."

Without warning, he drove his fist thrice into Aerius's ribs. sickening cracks followed, and Aerius let out a broken groan, almost feeling hard to breath.

"P-Pl-Please, J-Just kill me" Aerius begged. Instead of satisfaction it only enraged the brothers.

Michael picked up a hammer and weighed it in his hands. " Haven must have begged you too right? Did you show her any mercy? No. You loved breaking her, didn't you, bastard?" His eyes flickered with something dark. "Donot expect mercy from us Aerius. It's your time to suffer now fucker"

Vincent barely had time to react before Michael swung. The hammer connected with Aerius shin, and a searing pain shot through Aerius body. A scream tore from his throat as he collapsed fully onto the ground.

Izrael, watching with amusement, crouched beside him. "So soothing," he whispered, running a gloved hand through Vincent's hair mockingly. "Pain is a beautiful thing, isn't it?" He leaned closer, voice a ghost against Vincent's ear. "Look at him. Vicious. Do you feel it? The helplessness? The fear? This is what Haven must have felt. This is what me- nah." He scoffed "This is what fuckers like you and him made her felt."

A series of torture from each of the brother on Aerius was witnessed by Vincent. That's when he realised why were they called sinisters

Lucifer finally moved, stepping forward and gripping Aerius' jaw in a bruising hold. His voice was calm, almost gentle, but his grip was anything but.

"You took my sister's trust, her innocence, and twisted it into something vile." His fingers tightened. "I will make sure you feel the pain hundred times worst"

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The Years in Hell

The dungeon was silent, save for the slow drip of water from the ceiling and the occasional rustle of chains as Vincent shifted, trying to ease the pain that had long since become his only companion.

He wasn't sure how many days had passed. There were no windows, no clocks—only endless darkness, the weight of damp air pressing down on him like a coffin.

Aerius was worse. His body was wrecked, his one leg ripped and left to be rotten besides him to see, his mind fraying. At first, he had tried to fight, tried to snarl and spit threats. Now, he barely spoke. He flinched at shadows, at the mere sound of footsteps approaching.

And those footsteps always came.

The Sinisters never forgot.

His thought broke as he felt the hauntingly familiar presence around him.

Lucifer stood before them, hands in his pockets, his presence suffocating. He didn't speak for a long time, simply watching them with those unreadable eyes.

Vincent, who had once thought himself untouchable, found himself trembling.

"You still think you're the mafia king, Vicious? Or finally you have accepted your reality" Lucifer finally spoke, his voice calm, collected. "Because from where I stand, I see nothing but insects waiting to be crushed."

Vincent enraged let out a broken, wheezing laugh. "You... think this is enough... to break me? Once I am out of here, I will show who I really am bastard"

"Time for punishment Vince" Lucifer's lips curled slightly. A flick of his wrist, and Gabriel stepped forward, holding a rusted blade. "You ever see how flesh peels from bone, Vincent?" His tone was almost conversational as he pressed the knife against Vincent's arm. "It's fascinating. The way it curls... like ribbons."

Vincent gritted his teeth, but when Gabriel dragged the blade down, his scream tore through the dungeon.

Vincent jerked against his chains. "Stop! Just—"

Rafael chuckled, stepping beside him. "Stop? You didn't stop when you had Haven forced into marrying you, forcing her, a girl half of your age to submit to your sick desires" His voice darkened. "Did you?"

Vincent's mouth snapped shut.

Michael crouched beside him, fingers tracing the bruises on Vincent's ribs. "It's funny," he murmured. "How fragile the human body is. Do you know how many bones I've broken since we brought you here?" He tilted his head, almost thoughtful. " Eighty six, I think. But I haven't touched your hands yet."

Vincent's eyes widened.

Michael smiled—a slow, eerie thing. "Let's change that."

The sickening sound of a hammer meeting flesh echoed through the dungeon. Vincent's screams followed.

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.
.

"Times up" lucifer smirked as he looked stared at Vincent's and Aerius' almost lifeless figures.

Rafael raised his gun and aimed at Aerius's head. Izrael did the same with Vincent.

Gabriel sighed, looking almost disappointed that the fun was over. "What a shame. I actually had a brilliant way of torturing them tonight."

Lucifer gave a single nod ignoring Gabriel's complaint. "Kill them."

The gunshots echoed through the dungeon.

Vincent's body slumped to the ground, a hole between his eyes. Aerius, already on the brink of death, finally fell silent, his suffering unfortunately over.

The Sinisters stood over their lifeless bodies, the stench of blood thick in the air.

Izrael wiped his gun against his sleeve. "Well, that was fun."

Lucifer turned to Michael. "Burn the bodies." His voice was cold, final. "I want no trace of them left."

And with that, the last remnants of their past enemies were erased—forever.

I hope you loved the chapter. Epilogue will be published by tomorrow ❤️