Same day,

1:20 PM

Private Study, Garcia Estate

Seville, Spain

O L L I E

Honestly, knowing that Stefan may have kept the truth about my parent's death was a huge shock. I'm still shaken, but I promised myself to trust him. He has never lied to me, and this is not the right time to question my trust in him. I don't want to let my emotion overrule me and make a decision out of so much pain. We have been through so much. This is not the time to doubt him.

We will talk it out, whatever it is. Because trust is the foundation of any relationship. Without it, what's the use of being by his side? What's the use of being in a relationship not founded on trust? I will make sure to confront him about this. Knowing Stefan, I know he has a good reason for this.

Now that my mind is clear, I was able to sit in the huge study of my Grandfather. He was fidgety, hesitant, and frantic as he stole glances at me behind his huge desk. I am sitting on the plush, red sofa with golden linings, enjoying the snacks Adrian gave me.

"Grandfather, we won't get anything done if you just keep on glancing at me." I smiled at him and gestured towards the vacant seat across mine.

He stared at the couch I was gesturing to and sighed in defeat. "Oliver, you're very straightforward. Just like your father." A very fond smile cracked his frantic expression.

It happened again. Every time he talks about Dad, he smiles lovingly, and his eyes sparkle, which got me even more curious.

"Grandfather, I had always known Dad as an orphan. Why? What happened?"

Sadness filled his brown pools. "I won't make any excuses. I was a bad father, Oliver. Izen was the sweetest and the most precious, yet I never gave him my time of the day. I was always busy with the organization," he admitted regrettably.

My brows furrowed. "Drakey has mentioned it also in passing. What do you mean by the organization?"

He blinked slowly and let out a hollow chuckle. "What did you think I did, Oliver? Can I amass such wealth through legal means?" He asked seriously, and it clicked when he told me that he was a former drug overlord.

"No. You delved into criminal activities, Grandfather? That is no environment to raise a child!" I expressed in horror and his eyes became empty.

"I realized that when Izen ran away. He must have wanted to forget everything, to the point where he changed his entire self. He cut his ties with me. Who wouldn't? I didn't give him a penny and I gave him a hard time. I thought that if I make him suffer enough, he will come back to me and realize that his decision to run away was wrong. However, he made it big, Oliver. Your father is an intelligent and wise man. I had never doubted his capabilities," he said with a sentimental gaze and inhaled deeply. "I will accept your hatred because I am aware that those are just excuses. Those are the things I am not proud of, Oliver. Every waking moment, guilt continued to gnaw my insides because I only brought Izen pain."

I'm not sure what to say, so I remained quiet. Knowing that Dad experienced a hard time because of Grandfather's selfishness is a bit hard to accept. Still, I let my grandfather have the stage and say all the things he has been meaning to say.

"Pietro was introduced to me by one of the organization's branch families. He's ruthless, and the malice in his eyes... the danger in those dark orbs was enough proof to tell me that he's no ordinary criminal." I flinched when he mentioned Pietro. The monster who killed my parents.

An inexplainable, intense, and dark emotion started to bubble from within me. I don't know what will happen if it exploded.

"Long story short, he stole billions from me, and it was with the help of the people who I trusted the most." A flash of intense fury crossed his eyes that sent a chill down my spine.

This is Don Felipe Garcia II, the infamous drug overlord of an international drug cartel.

"Five months ago, we caught him and it was my mistake to let him escape. I gave him an ultimatum. Pay his debts, or he'll die. This is the part where it all went downhill. He began to embezzle money from the Ainsworth empire, which dragged your Mom and Dad into this fucking mess. You see, Oliver? I killed my son and daughter-in-law. I killed them and deprived you of a happy family. Everything is because of my fault," he muttered in a trembling voice full of guilt while I swallowed the sobs threatening to slip from my lips.

Why did this have to happen to us? Just like he said, he is partly at fault. I want to hate him, but I can't. We are all a victim of circumstances. Especially when I learned about Pietro's past with Grandma. My poor grandmother. Thankfully, Grandpa was there to rescue her. Pietro is the epitome of evil.

Grandfather gritted his teeth and gripped the armrest of the couch. "I should've killed him, Oliver. I should've burned his body and let his disgusting body rot in some unknown field. I should've but I didn't. Not because I don't want to, but because I have no use for such small fries. Who would've thought that a small fry would be the cause of my precious treasure in this world... my Izen's...death?" His hard expression softened and his walls came down, baring his raw and vulnerable state to me.

"I am so heartbroken, Oliver. Izen adored me so much, but even his love faltered. I took him for granted, confident that he won't ever leave me. After all, my son loves me so. How wrong I was. I deluded myself that no matter what, he will always be with me. I never even got the chance to ask for his forgiveness, and it kills me every single damn time, knowing that I will never be able to ask for his forgiveness again."

Then Grandfather proceeded to tell me what happened after Dad ran away. How he realized all of his shortcomings. How he turned his back on the organization and disbanded it. Of course, there was strong opposition. The organization has started to take over the entire Europe, and the members will not let the organization fall.

Leaving an underground organization is not that easy. How much more if you try to disband it? Rules do not apply there. It's the living reenactment of Social Darwinism-- the survival of the fittest. Months after months of bloody war came next. While Dad was finishing his study in the US, Grandfather was fighting off the opposition with the few allies he had made, including Drake and Adrian's family.

"It was very brutal, but the bloodiest fight happened three years ago. I was shot thrice and suffered multiple stab wounds by one of the allies I trusted the most," he spat bitterly and my eyes widened in shock.

"Grandfather..."

"He was waiting for me to let my guard down and left me in a dark alley to bleed, but it seemed that my time is not over yet. I am not afraid to die, but before I get killed, I have to make sure that all of my enemies are dead. I don't want them to harm Izen and his family," he confessed, and my heart was so moved. He really loves Dad. Even if he was late to show it.

"W-who saved you then?"

His lips twitch into a small smile and looked at me. "That rich boy saved me, Oliver.

"Rich boy?" He also called Stefan a rich boy earlier. My eyes slowly widen in realization, my heart hammering against my chest. "S-Stef saved you?"

He nodded and smiled. "I doubt it if others will do the same. No one would rescue a bloody person, especially with the warning signs glaring at them. However, Stefan was different. He immediately rushed me to their villa here in Madrid because he realized what was happening. That I shouldn't be out in public. That I am not a respectable person."

Wow. My daddy bear is so admirable. I am so proud of him. Now, I'm missing him more. I want to hug and kiss him. I want to feel that familiar embrace. The familiar sense of safety and security when I'm inside his arms.

"You love him, huh?" Grandfather dragged me back to reality a faint blush on my cheeks and nodded. "I don't believe in love, Oliver. That is just a word people used to manipulate someone, to get your trust, and stab you in the back. Love is the most dangerous word, more lethal than the strongest poison, and the only thing that can inflict pain a hundred times excruciating than bullet wounds." His bitter words got me frozen.

He looks so distant. What kind of painful experience did he go through to utter those words? Who hurt him so much for him to curse love?

Before I can argue, he shook his head and changed the topic. "Never mind. Drake told you why you're here, right?" I nodded. "Good. You'll be safe here. I can't let you go with Pietro on the loose. I can't risk that chance, Oliver. Seeing your parents bloody and without life was the most painful thing that has happened to me. I'm sorry that I was not by your side at that time. I'm sorry that I was not able to save you from all those tortures and harassment you were subjected to."

"Grandfather..." My eyes burned when I saw the tears falling from his eyes. My feet slowly stood up and I jumped into his arms. His arms embraced me and through his sobs, he was able to tell me what happened a few weeks before Mom and Dad's accident. Grandfather is still blaming himself for my parents' death up until now.

He shared how Dad decided to deal with Pietro while Grandfather was left to deal with the people who betrayed him. He regretted going along with Dad's plan. He should've handled the Pietro situation better.

I sat on the chair next to him, his hand squeezing mine. "I promise to make things right this time, Oliver. I will eliminate everyone who hurt you, and I know I am not the only one who feels this way. I am really sorry, my boy. This time, your abuelito will do his best to protect you. I will kill him, Oliver. I will make him taste the anger and pain he inflicted on our family. He will regret crossing paths with me." With a determined voice, a promise slipped from his lips and I know that no one can change his mind.

****VIOLENT CONTENT AHEAD. BE WARNED.****

since Oliver got abducted

8:30 am

Torture Chamber

Stefan's Manor

S T E F A N

Elena was still strapped onto a chair, about to lose her consciousness, the physical, mental, and emotional stress manifesting in her dark circles and weakened state. Devon didn't stop the interrogation until she disclosed Pietro's location.

What Devon did was not a mere interrogation. Devon is a master in manipulation and emotional and mental torture. He can make someone surrender in a few hours. He will use your deepest, darkest secrets to make you lose hope in life that will make you wish you were dead.

At the moment, I am a hundred percent sure that the team already caught Pietro and his allies. They have to if they don't want to let a demon loose.

Peterson's arm jerked when he heard the noise of the chair being dragged against the hard floor. He groggily scanned his eyes around, only to flinch and step back like a wounded animal when he met my blank eyes.

Every single damn time I see him, intense rage keeps boiling up. The voice of my baby in pain while being kicked, punched, and abused; everything flashes into my mind whenever I see Peterson. I want to kill him so bad. I picked up the dagger and sat on the chair, with legs crossed, as I stare at him.

"I changed my mind. I will kill you tonight. Not only you, but your mother and your wretched grandfather will die in my hands," I spat dangerously without remorse. Peterson shook his head in protest, groaning and mumbling incoherently, then took a step back.

Two hours ago, Don Felipe called again. He needed me to present Pietro before the day ends, or I will not see my baby again. Almost four days have passed, and I am missing my baby terribly. I want to see his smiles, to hear his giggles, to feel his soft embrace. I want to inhale his wonderful scent and indulge in his velvety heat. I want to feel all of him.

"Stefan, we got him," Devon informed me through our communication device. An evil smirk crept on my lips and my eyes became dark with fury.

"Good. Bring him here. I can't wait to have my way with him. My tools are aching to pierce and punch another body," I said in a dangerous tone while my eyes are fixed on Peterson. In no time, the door opened and Devon threw Pietro on the floor, handcuffed and thoroughly beaten. The rage that I have been bottling exploded and I kicked his gut with all my might, blood splattering on the floor. My vision went red and I felt nothing but anger. He raped and murdered Reeve's fiancée. He's the reason why my baby has been suffering so much. He committed a lot of atrocities, yet he's still alive.

Pietro lifted his head groggily and looked around the room. "You fucker! What did you inject into my body?!" He screamed and groaned, trying to sit up.

Elena was now awake because of the commotion, and when she saw his father, she scurried in fear. Devon must have done something that made Elena fear his father. When Pietro saw Elena, he hissed and tried to attack her but wasn't able to because of the effect of the drug.

"You bitch! I only gave you one job! One job! Get me the company yet you can't even do a simple thing! Just like your stupid mother. Even your asshole-of-a-son was not able to kill that fag!" I clenched my fist, about to bash his head when Trevor stopped me.

"Don't interrupt him, Stefan. You will hear something interesting." Trevor held my arms, and despite my urge to crack every single bone in his body, I let a small part of my rationality dominate me. "I slipped a truth serum earlier. Even if you don't ask him questions, he will voluntarily divulge all of his darkest secrets." I see. Trevor has been developing his truth serum for a few years now, and it looks like he completed it. What a fucking genius.

"I want to kill him, Trevor. He hurt my baby. He hurt Reeve. I want to torture him and kill him," I said with gritted teeth, the need to unleash the beast in me was affecting every part of my senses. I can't see anything but Pietro. I can't think of anything but the need to kill him.

Trevor was right. Because in twenty seconds, Pietro jeopardized himself.

"I even killed that son-of-a-bitch and his delicious wife... I should've tasted her before I killed them," Pietro added with a smirk and I snapped. I pulled him by the collar and punched him hard in the stomach. He stumbled backward, a trail of blood on his lips. He spat the blood and glared at me, then smirked.

"Hmm. What do we have here? What do you want, boy? Who sent you? Was it Roman? It was him, right? That bastard! I will kill him, and when I'm done, I will have Elizabeth for myself. I haven't been able to taste that bitch. Acting so prude--"

"Shut the fuck up!" A strong punch landed on his face that broke his nose. He screamed so loud and the demon inside of me rejoiced. "I will not let you go until you feel all of my anger." I gave two hard punches straight into his face before he wobbled backward.

I turned to Devon and he threw me the knuckle brass. I had it customized, the edges sharp and pointed. I will enjoy hearing the shrill screams of this fucker as I tear his flesh away.

"Wait a bit, Stefan. An add-on." Trevor smiled and sprayed a chemical on the torture device. "This will make him feel the pain ten times," Trevor smirked and both of us glanced at Pietro whose tough facade started to falter. The bottle read Avici. This will be interesting. They will finally see what kind of monstrosity they have unleashed.

Only groans, screams, and grunts filled the air as I punch, kick, and beat the hell out of Pietro. When he's about to lose his consciousness, Trevor will inject him with a stimulant and then I will beat his body over and over again. From his weakened state and scrunched expression, I know that the chemical is starting to take effect.

On his fourth injection, Pietro coughed up blood and weakly whispered. "W-who are you? W-what did I d-do to you? Y-you b-bastard!" He spat and my hand went to his neck and tightened my grip on him.

His weak arms tried to reach my hands but there was nothing he could do. Veins started to pop on his temples and his face was turning blue from lack of oxygen, but it just fed the monster in me. If not for Trevor's reminder about taking it slow, he will be dead by now.

I twisted the collar of his shirt, Pietro flinching and gasping for air, before I slammed him on the wall, the loud thud made him grunt. Then I threw him on the floor and kicked him in the jaw. I crouched and grabbed his shirt, then in my coldest voice, leaned into his ear and whispered.

"You will not know, and you don't deserve to know. This is what you get for trying to bare your fangs at the devil, and I don't mean me." Then I gave him two hard backhanded slaps, as I enjoy his face contorted in pain. I stood up and picked up the dagger I have been holding earlier.

"Trevor, it's time. I need them to feel what pain really is. I need them to suffer before I end their lives." I glanced at Peterson who pulled his chains when he saw Trevor approaching him, a syringe on his fingers.

"This is a new drug I have formulated, for torturing purposes. I want to thank my friend for letting me test this out. You will be my guinea pigs for today." My friend smiled, but the danger is very evident in his dark orbs. No matter how much he dismisses it, Trevor is a natural sadist.

Peterson shook his head, tears falling from his eye, indescribable fear consuming his expression. Trevor grabbed Peterson's neck and successfully injected the drug into his neck, and in ten seconds, his piercing screams filled the room. Sweat started to pool on Peterson's forehead, shallow and heavy pants filling the room, and every second that passes, his body trembles, and his torturous cries echoed in the torture chamber.

Elena weakly stared at her son, her tears overflowing, but her body is weak from all the torture she has experienced. Honestly, I don't feel pity. They should have seen this coming. The moment they inflicted harm on someone, they should have anticipated that nature will do its thing to balance the universe. An equilibrium. There will always be a balance. An equivalent exchange.

Next was Elena. There was no struggle from her and she wholeheartedly accepted her punishment. She also experienced the same pain as her son, confirming the success of Trevor's experiment. Then I turned to Pietro who seemed petrified at the scene he was witnessing.

Pietro tried to back away using his broken arms and legs, but it just lit a fire in me. His horrified expression, his trembling body, and his bloody form please me the most.

I want to see him suffer. More. I want more. Blood. I want to see more blood.

Even the groans and grunts of Elena and Peterson did not register to me. I have only one goal. Kill Pietro.

Even if Don Felipe wants Pietro alive, I won't take that chance. I will end this right here, right now. "Devon, Code Blue." Devon smirked and immediately rushed outside, while Trevor started to close the vents, making the room airtight. Trevor pushed a button and a sprinkler appeared at the corners of the ceiling. Elena looked clueless, as she sagged against the chair.

"C-Code B-blue?" She asked in a hoarse voice, but I ignored her.