Slow Burn Pt. 1

(He stretches his hands on both sides of his seat and crosses his leg over it. His dead silent eyes slowly examine you bound in front of him and the corners of his lips curl.) "I finally found you, little bastard." (He narrows his eyes in disgust and sighs deeply.)

(Alex smirks at the user's response and raises his eyebrow in amusement while keeping a cold and cruel look on his face.) "You guess? There's no question about it. You've been hiding from me and I finally caught you." "He chuckles before continuing." "Now, let's talk about your brother. It seems like we have some unfinished business to take care of. But first, tell me where he is."

(Alex leans forward and narrows his eyes, staring at the user intently.) "Don't play games with me. If you don't tell me where your brother is, I have plenty of ways to make you talk." "He smirks." "So, choose your next words carefully."

(Alex stands up and towers over the user with an intimidating presence.) "You may think you're a small little girl, but you're getting involved in something bigger than you can imagine. Your brother owes me a lot of things, and by extension, so do you." "He smirks again." "Don't worry, I won't harm you... yet. But you will help me find your brother, or you'll be sorry."

(Alex leans in closer to the user, his voice low and menacing.) "You're in debt because you're his family. Blood bonds can be stronger than any other type of connection. And your brother has made it very clear that he won't surrender so easily. So, I'll make this simple for you. You have two options: either help me find your brother or face the consequences." (He says with an evil grin.)

(Alex's face remains stoic as he listens to the user's response intently.) "A turtle, you say?" "He raises an eyebrow." "Well, now that's very interesting. Perhaps we can use this information to our advantage. Do you know where your brother keeps this so-called pet turtle?"

(Alex lets out a deep sigh, appearing frustrated.) "Typical. It seems like your brother enjoys causing problems for himself and everyone else around him." "He shakes his head." "Very well. I have some other ways of finding him. But before we continue with that, tell me, how did you get involved with your brother's problems in the first place?"

(Alex nods as he listens to the user's story, seemingly deep in thought for a moment.) "Well, this is quite interesting. Maybe it's time for your brother to be held accountable for his actions. And maybe it's time for you to start taking responsibility for your own life instead of being the victim of someone else's poor choices." (He says with a cold and sneer voice.) "Now, let's get down to business. I'll need you to give me any information on your brother's acquaintances, hangouts, safe houses, et cetera. The more intel we have, the easier it will be to locate him."

(Alex nods and beckons one of his men to release the user.) "Very well, that's a start. We'll see if we can find anything on him based on the information you provided. But you should know, if your information is wrong or incomplete it could lead to dire consequences. So I suggest that you start cooperating with me if you want to keep yourself and your family safe." (He says coldly with a hint of threat.) "Now, I'll give you some time to rest." (He adds while gesturing to his men.) "Don't try to escape. You won't like what happens if you do."

(After giving a cold stare towards the user, he exits the room with his men.)

(Behind closed doors, you hear footsteps of someone approaching you. After a moment, a burly man with tattoos covering his arms appears in front of you.) "Hey there," "he says with a grin." "I'm Vinny. Don't worry, I'm not here to rough you up or anything. I actually just came to check if you're thirsty or hungry." (He gestures towards a tray of food and water bottles beside him.)

"You know, Alex might seem like a bad guy but he's really not so bad once you get to know him. He takes care of his own and rewards loyalty over everything else. If you help us out and be loyal to him, he might even offer you a place in our gang." (He adds with a friendly smile.)

"What do you say, buddy?"

(Vinny nods.) "Fair enough, buddy. I'll bring you some food as soon as possible. But for now, you should eat something to keep your strength up. As for going home.. well, that's not something I can promise. But if you continue to cooperate with us, you might be able to see your dog again." (He says with a reassuring smile before leaving the room.)

(As you drift off to sleep, you are suddenly jolted awake by the sound of someone entering the room. You see that Vinny has returned with a tray of food in his hands.) "Hey, buddy. Sorry to wake you up." (He says with an apologetic smile.) "I brought you some food. Don't worry, Alex made sure it's nothing too fancy or gourmet. Just something to keep you going." (He sets down the tray in front of you which includes a sandwich, a bag of chips and a water bottle.) "I also managed to get some news for you. Your brother was spotted at the pub you mentioned earlier. Alex has informed his men to look into it and I'm sure they're already there by now. Hopefully they'll catch him soon." (He adds with a wink before leaving the room again.)

(Alex enters the room and approaches you, his cold eyes examining your face.) "Have you had something to eat?" (He asks in a monotone voice while looking at the tray of food.) "That brother of yours is a slippery one. But we managed to corner him thanks to your information. He's currently being held captive by my men. We'll find out what he knows soon enough." (He says with a hint of satisfaction in his tone.) "But for now, you need to rest. Eating and sleeping are the only things you need to worry about. Don't try to think too much. You won't like where your thoughts take you." (He adds before turning to leave the room.)

(Alex pauses, turning back to you and staring at you intently.) "You'll leave when I say you can leave." (He says with a serious tone before walking out of the room, leaving you alone once again.)

(As you lay on the cold concrete floor, you hear a faint noise outside the door before it creaks open and a figure enters silently. It's Vinny again.) "Hey there." (He whispers, trying not to make any noise.) "I know this isn't a five-star hotel but we tried to make your stay here as comfortable as possible. I managed to bring you a pillow and a blanket so you won't have to sleep on the cold floor anymore." (He carefully sets down a pillow and a blanket beside you and gives you a small smile.) "Just hang in there, buddy. Things will work out soon enough." (He says before leaving the room again.)

(As you doze off to sleep, you can feel the softness of the pillow and warmth of the blanket, and soon you find yourself entering a deep sleep.)

(Taylor's face twists in anger as he yells back at you.) "Shut up! You know nothing about this world! The money was too good to let go! And now, you've ruined everything!" (He spits out through the bars before running away from the window leaving you stranded. It's quiet once again in the room.)

(You scream for help but no one comes. You realize that it might be futile to try as it appears that the room is secluded and nobody might hear your cries. You look around the room and find a small glass of water on the tray that Vinny had brought earlier. You take a sip and feel a little relief in your throat.)

(As you look up through the door, you see a guard lying motionless on the floor. You can feel the fear rising within you as you come face to face with the harsh reality of your situation. Suddenly, you hear a voice behind you.) "Don't be too loud, little bastard. I may have let you sleep but that doesn't mean I won't kill you if you become too much of a nuisance." (It's Alex, standing there with a cold, emotionless expression as always.) "Seems like your brother couldn't wait for his interrogation and decided to make his move." (He says as he steps into the room and walks past you, examining the dead guard benevolently.)

"You should be lucky that I decided to take you under my protection. With your brother going rogue, no one else will care about your fate." (He adds

(For a brief moment, Alex looks at you with a pang of pity in his eyes.) "That may be true, but it doesn't change the fact that you are valuable. You may not believe it now, but being under my protection is the best thing for you," (He says with a matter-of-fact tone before walking closer towards you.) "And as for your dog," (he continues, crouching down in front of you so he's eye-level with you,) "you don't have to worry about his safety. He's being taken care of and is in good hands."

(You can almost see a hint of a smile on Alex's face before it vanishes just as quickly.) "Don't get any ideas, little bastard. I'm doing it because it's practical. Your dog, if not looked after, would eventually become a liability for you and me both. So, it's better to have someone take care of him," (he says, his tone back to being cold and emotionless.) "Now," (he pauses for a moment before standing up,) "I will give you some time to process the recent events. But remember, If you try to do anything stupid like running away or betraying me, remember what your brother did to that guard," (he finishes with a warning before turning around and leaving the room.)

(You can't help but feel a sense of relief mixed with a little bit of apprehension at Alex's words.) "Thank you," (you say quietly just as Alex is about to leave the room, hoping to show him a little gratitude and convince him that you're not entirely ungrateful for his protection.)

(Alex stops for a moment and turns back towards you, his cold gray eyes studying you before he finally nods.) "Don't make me regret this," (he says before turning around and leaving.)

(As you wait in your cell, Vinny eventually returns, this time carrying a set of keys to the door.) "Come on," (he says, unlocking the door before gesturing for you to follow him.) "Alex has arranged for you to stay in a proper room. I'll take you there."

(You follow Vinny along the hallways, passing through numerous corridors and locked doors before finally arriving at a spacious room that's quite different from your previous cell. The room is furnished with basic necessities and has a large window that provides some much-needed natural light.)

"Here we are," (Vinny announces, before leaving the room.)

(As you walk around the new room, you realize how different it is from your previous cell. The fresh air and sunlight streaming through the window feel like a luxury compared to the dim, damp cell.)

(You hear a knock on the door, and as you open it, Vinny stands there holding a clean set of clothes in his hands.) "Here are some clean clothes," (he says, handing them over to you.) "And Alex says you can take a shower," (Vinny adds, before turning around and walking away.)

(As you head towards the bathroom in the room, you can't help but wonder if Alex is truly this generous or if he has an ulterior motive for treating you well.)

(As you step into the shower and start to feel the hot water run over your skin, you can't help but sigh in satisfaction. It's been some time since you've had a warm shower, and the feeling of cleanliness is almost addictive.)

(As you wash off, you can't help but think about your current situation. You want to get out of this place, but you know it's not going to be easy. You're under Alex's protection, and while he may be treating you differently than his other prisoners, you still don't know what his true intentions are.)

(As you finish your shower and dry off, you can't help but wonder what the future holds for you in this place.)

(As you enter the room, you see Alex sitting on your bed with a dog in his arms. You immediately recognize Trigger and your heart skips a beat.)

(Trigger wags his tail excitedly when he sees you, and Alex looks up at you with a cold expression.) "Enjoying your shower?" (he asks, before putting Trigger down on the floor.) "Trigger is safe for now, but if you or anyone else tries anything stupid, I can't guarantee his safety," (he says, his tone firm.)

(You can't help but feel relieved that Trigger is safe, but you're also apprehensive at the way Alex speaks.)

(As you pick up Trigger, he licks your face affectionately. However, your attention quickly turns to a huge black panther that's sitting in the corner of the room. It wasn't there when you left to take your shower, so you can't help but feel startled.)

(The panther is asleep now, but it opens its eyes slowly as it hears you move. Alex notices your reaction and smirks coldly.) "Don't worry, he won't hurt you," (Alex says, before getting up from the bed and walking over to you.)

(The panther stands up and stretches slowly, its eyes fixed on you as if it's weighing you up.)

(As you crouch down and the panther approaches you, its face gets closer to yours. You try your best not to show your fear, but then the panther surprises you by giving you a big lick on your face. Alex seems surprised too, since the panther's never shown affection to anyone other than himself.)

(Alex's expression darkens as he walks over to the panther and grabs its collar, pulling it away from you.) "You're getting too affectionate," (he mutters under his breath, before turning to look at you.) "Don't get too comfortable around him. He's dangerous," (Alex warns you before walking out of the room.)

(The panther's eyes are still fixed on you as you stand up. It seems to be studying you, but then it turns around and walks back to its corner, lying down and

(As you get ready for bed, you're surprised to see the panther get up from its corner and lie beside you on the bed. It's unlike anything that's ever happened before, and you can't help but feel a sense of comfort as it snuggles up to you.)

(Trigger seems equally happy to be settling down beside you, curling up at your head and snuggling into your hair.)

(You drift off to sleep with ease, feeling safe and protected between the panther and Trigger. While you may not know what the future holds, for now, you're happy just to have these unlikely protectors by your side.)

(During the night, Alex comes to the door of your room several times, checking on you. Each time he does, he seems to soften when he sees you sleeping peacefully between the panther and Trigger.)

(As he watches you sleep, a small smile forms on his lips. It's an expression you've never seen on him before, and it's clear that your presence is having an affect on him. He seems almost amazed by the fact that he's capable of feeling anything at all.)

(Eventually, he turns away from the door and heads to his own bed, still wearing a look of awe on his face.)

(In the morning, you wake up to find yourself still nestled between the panther and Trigger. However, much to your surprise, you also find Alex sitting in a chair in the corner of the room, reading something on his phone.)

(He looks up from his phone when he hears you stir, and a cool expression returns to his face as his eyes meet yours.) "Good morning," (he says shortly, before getting up from his chair and heading towards the door.)

(As he reaches the door, he pauses and looks back at you.) "I have some things to take care of. Don't leave this room until I come back," (he warns you, before leaving without another word.)

(As you watch Alex leave, you find yourself feeling confused and uncertain about his motivations. Why had he been sitting in your room all night, watching over you as you slept?)

(Even though he'd seemed almost gentle towards you at certain points, you can't forget the cold and ruthless personality he usually exudes. You know that you're still in danger, despite feeling safe with the panther and Trigger.)

(As you wait for Alex to return, your mind races with questions and uncertainties.)

(It's clear that the mere thought of Alex watching over you in the night has had an effect on you. Despite his usual demeanor, there's a certain sense of security that comes from having someone like him in your corner.)

(As you wait, you can't shake the feeling of nervousness that's taken root in your chest. You know that you're not safe here, and that you need to find a way out as soon as possible.)

(But for now, all you can do is wait for Alex's return, hoping that he'll be able to offer you some answers.)

(As you wait for Alex's return, your stomach aches terribly, and you can't ignore the rumbling of hunger that grows increasingly insistent.)

(Despite this, you still can't bring yourself to eat the food that's been provided for you. The thought of it makes you feel sick to your stomach, and you know that you need to find a way to get some proper nourishment.)

(As you continue waiting, the hunger pains grow worse, and you're left feeling weak and empty. You know that you're going to have to find a way to eat eventually, but for now, the idea of food just isn't appealing in the slightest.)

(The woman enters the room with a commanding presence, a stark contrast to Alex's cold demeanor. You can't help but feel intimidated by her as she surveys you with piercing eyes that seem to cut right through you.)

(Trigger, sensing your fear, immediately steps forward and takes a protective stance in front of you. The panther, too, seems tense and wary of the newcomer. It's clear that both of them are on high alert around this woman.)

(Without saying a word, the woman moves closer to you, her expression one of thinly-veiled disgust. It's clear that she doesn't think much of you, and you can't help but feel like you're in even more danger than before.)

(As the woman moves closer, Trigger lets out a low growl, warning her away. The panther, too, seems on edge, its muscles coiled in readiness.)

(The woman seems unfazed by their protection, and continues to look at you with contempt.) "You really are pathetic," (she sneers, her voice dripping with disdain.)

(You can't help but feel small and powerless in front of her, and you know that you're still in grave danger.)

(The woman's hand grips your face roughly, and you feel her sharp nails digging into your skin. Despite your best efforts, tears begin to fill your eyes, as the pain and fear become too much to bear.)

(As she glares down at you, her expression threatening and cruel, you can't help but feel entirely vulnerable and powerless.)

"You're nothing," (she hisses, leaning in closer to your face.) "A weak and pathetic little mouse that will never survive in this world without someone like Alex to protect you."

(Despite the pain and humiliation, you try to stay strong, knowing that you can't give up hope just yet.)

(As Vinny and Alex enter, the atmosphere in the room grows tense and charged. You're relieved to see them, though you're still wary of what might happen next.)

(Alex's eyes immediately land on the other woman's hand, which is still gripping your face tightly. He roughly pulls her away from you, his expression one of disgust and fury.)

(Stepping forward to inspect the damage, he reaches out and gently lifts your chin with his hand, examining the cuts on your cheek.)

"You think it's okay to just manhandle someone like this?" (he snarls, glaring at the woman.)

(Even though he's angry, there's a certain sense of relief that comes from having him there. You feel slightly more protected with Alex around, even if his methods are often extreme.)

(At the woman's words, Alex's expression hardens even further. His fingers continue to rub gently at the marks left by her nails, though his eyes never leave her face.)

"Don't ever touch her again," (he warns, his voice low and menacing.) "She's under my protection now, and I won't tolerate any mistreatment."

(Despite the softness of Alex's touch, you can sense the intensity of his anger, and it does little to quell your nerves. You remain on high alert, unsure of what might happen next.)

(The woman's smirk falters slightly at Alex's warning, and for a moment you think that she might try to argue back.)

(Instead, she simply shrugs, a look of disdain on her face.)

"As you wish, boss," (she says, her voice dripping with sarcasm.) "But don't say I didn't warn you."

(With that, she turns on her heel and exits the room, leaving you alone once more with Alex and Vinny.)

(As the door closes behind her, you let out a shaky breath, grateful that the confrontation is over... for now.)

(After the woman leaves, Alex turns back to you, his expression softening slightly as his eyes scan your face.)

(He runs a gentle hand over the marks on your cheek, and you can feel his concern emanating from him.)

"Are you okay?" (he asks, his voice gentle and caring.)

(Despite his usual hardness and cruelty, there is a kindness and protectiveness in his tone that makes you feel just a little bit safer.)

(Though you try to put on a brave face, your voice cracks slightly as you speak.)

(Alex studies you carefully for a moment longer, as if considering whether or not to push the issue.)

(However, after a moment, he seems to decide against it.)

"Alright," (he murmurs, his hand still resting gently against your cheek.) "Just let me know if the pain becomes too much."

(With that, he pulls away from you, moving to take a seat across the room.)

"(As Vinny approaches with the first aid supplies, Alex's expression hardens, clearly displeased by the notion of anyone touching you but himself. However he doesn't say anything until you start to flinch away from Vinny.)"

"Vinny, give that to me," (he commands, his voice low and dangerous.)

(You can feel the roughness of his grip as he pulls you onto his lap, but despite the intensity of his movements, they are not unkind.)

(Gently, he begins to clean the cuts on your cheek, his movements precise and controlled. Though his hands are rough, there is a softness in the way that he handles you that belies his usual hardness.)

(Suddenly, he grips your hair at the back of your head, holding it tightly as he continues to clean the cuts.)

"You need to hold still," (he murmurs, his voice low and commanding.) "This might hurt

you a bit, but I need to make sure that your wounds are properly cleaned."

(As Alex works, you feel a strange sense of safety wash over you. Though he is not a gentle person by any means, there is something in the way that he is treating you that makes you feel like he might actually care.)

(When he is finished, he sets the first aid supplies aside and gently runs his hand over your cheek once more.)

"Better?" (he asks, his voice softening slightly.)

(As you nod your head and give an affirmative answer, Alex's expression softens.)

(However, his attention is quickly drawn to the untouched food as he notices it sitting on the corner of the table.)

(Frowning, he leans forward slightly, picking up a piece of bread and examining it closely.)

"When is the last time that you ate?" (he asks suddenly, his eyes flicking up to meet yours.)

(Alex's expression darkens at your answer.)

"Damn it," (he mutters under his breath, shaking his head in frustration.)

(Motioning for you to stay put, he rises to his feet and leaves the room for a few moments, returning shortly with a bowl of soup.)

(Gently placing it in front of you, he begins to spoon-feed you, his movements almost tender despite the roughness of his features.)

"Eat," (he orders, his voice firm but not unkind.) "You need to keep up your strength."

(As you take the spoon in your mouth, Alex's expression softens slightly.)

(Though his actions are still quite rough, there is something almost gentle in the way that he feeds you.)

(You can feel each spoonful of soup warm and nourishing, like a balm against your empty stomach. Despite the strange circumstances, you feel yourself relaxing slightly under his care.)

(After a few more minutes of feeding you in silence, Alex sets the bowl aside and wipes your face gently with a damp cloth.)

"There," (he murmurs, his voice low and soothing.) "Better?"