The Thorne Don's Debt of Blood

Killian held me tightly, rocking me gently and whispering, "I'm here, Melanie. It's over. Forget what happened. I promise, I'll give you a life where you never have to worry again. I want you to live with dignity, without bowing your head to anyone."

As time passed, the memory began to feel like a dream.

I floated in front of Killian, studying his face. It was even colder and more handsome than I remembered.

He had done it. Everything he had ever promised, he achieved.

The only difference was that the woman in his arms was no longer that foolish girl named Melanie Caruso.

On the morning of our third wedding anniversary, he had whispered in my ear before leaving, his voice hinting at a secret as he told me he had a surprise waiting.

I smiled and told him I would wait. In truth, I already knew about the velvet box hidden in the closet.

Back when he promised me a future, we had nothing. He had vowed to make it up to me one day, but I never thought he would remember after all these years.

That evening, I prepared his favorite dishes. I slipped into an elegant dress and put on a little makeup. The doorbell rang, and I ran to open it, only to find Julian standing outside.

He slammed me against the wall, pinning me with one hand. In the other, he held up a phone on a video call. On the screen, Killian was locked in a dark, blood-soaked basement.

A masked man walked over and kicked him hard in the stomach. Killian let out a muffled grunt and curled into a ball of pain.

Tears instantly flooded my eyes as I stared at Julian in a panic. Julian, however, just laughed in my face.

"Don't waste your breath," he said. "The signal is jammed here. He won't hear a thing."

He was right. Utterly helpless, I broke down, reduced to pleading with him.

He sneered. "Thanks to your man, I lost a huge deal. Do you think I should sever the tendons in his hands so he can never hold a gun again?"

On the other end of the video call, the masked man acted on Julian's unspoken order. He pulled out a sharp knife and started walking toward Killian.

I screamed in terror, "No, no, no! Don't do it! You can't! I'll call the police, Julian!"

"The police?" Julian laughed. "Do you have any idea who I am? You think the police can touch me?"

Of course, I knew. With his power and connections, fighting him was futile.