How can you be this cruel?

Arabella winced as she came awake.

She turned and let out a groan as pain flared up as soon as she moved.

Her lashes fluttered against her cheeks before she snapped her eyes open.

Realizing she was lying on her stomach as soon as her vision cleared, she creased her brows despite the pounding in her head and sat up on the bed.

"Shit!" She gasped softly. Using a pillow to brace herself, she leaned to the edge of the bed and shut her eyes.

Then she opened them again. Her eyes wandered around the vast room which was done in white.

She didn't need to think twice to know she was in the clinic as the smell of bleach and antiseptic wafted into her nostrils.

She gagged and glared at the IV line that was connected to her vein as she recalled what happened.

She wondered if he was a monster of some sort.

Goodness, he had not shown remorse and had hit her until she passed out!

He hadn't stopped and she was certain he enjoyed everything he did.

That bástárd!

"I see you're awake."

Arabella lurched as a voice mumbled. She turned to her side and noticed a russet-haired man standing by the doorway. He was lanky and his hands were in the pocket of the white lab coat he donned.

He tilted his brows as he stepped into the room and shook his head.

"W-who are you?" Arabella stuttered. Her eyes were still on him.

Perhaps, he was here to kill her per Alessandro's order?

Her head reeled as she thought of what he was doing in the room and she wondered if he was the one that had treated her.

"I mean no harm." He grinned and hoisted his hands in the air. "Don't be scared."

"Why should I believe you?" Arabella croaked out. She cleared her throat and winced as it ached.

Assessing him again, she noticed he had a mole just under his right eye. But, it added to his attractiveness, instead of being a blemish.

He rolled his dark eyes and chuckled, "I could have killed you in your sleep."

Arabella glared. It didn't assure her if she could trust him enough. But, the fear in her dissipated. At least, if he had wanted to kill her as she had thought, he didn't need to treat her whilst he was unconscious.

"Are you done checking me out?" He asked, snapping her out of her thoughts.

"I wasn't checking you out." Arabella scowled.

"If you say so." He grinned, "Anyway, I'm Doctor Francis and you are?"

"Arabella."

"Oh, a nice name you've got there." He asserted, then turned serious. "I know you are recuperating nicely, but I'd like for you to rest a bit more and not do anything rash."

Arabella nodded. "But, I am curious to know how I got here and who put this on me?" She pointed to the flowery hospital gown she donned. "I know he wouldn't do that. He doesn't care."

By 'he', Francis didn't need to guess who she was referring to. He was aware it was Alessandro.

Also, he didn't think it was in his place to tell her who Alessandro was.

To him, he was the best thing that ever happened. He made life much easier ever since joining the gang.

Since he graduated from college five years ago, he had been unemployed and roaming the streets of Cooan with his documents when Alessandro caught hold of him. Ever since then, his story had taken another turn. A better turn.

"You don't intend to answer that, I guess?" Arabella asked.

"Sorry!" Francis flashed her an apologetic smile. "Janice changed you into the dress and someone brought you her…"

"I did."

Arabella's eyes widened as she heard the gruff voice.

"B-Blaze?"

"You know each other?" Francis interjected. His eyes moved from the stoic face of Blaze to the startled ones of Arabella.

As Blaze stepped further into the room to her bedside, Francis stepped to the door, "I guess I'll leave you two. If you need my help, don't forget to contact me."

Francis waved and left the room, Arabella's eyes shifted from the closed door to Blaze.

"What are you doing here?"

"I should be the one asking you." He grunted. He ran a hand through his hair and glared.

"Why are you glaring at me?"

"Why the fúck did you disobey him?!"

Taken aback by his sudden outburst, Arabella scoffed. "That's unbelievable. Are you my father to ask me such a question? And why the fúck are you stalking me?!"

"I am not stalking you!" Blaze snapped. He stood from where he sat and paced to the door, then back to the middle of the room.

"Why do you have to disobey his order? You should have fúcking done as he said."

"What has my choice got to do with you?" Arabella rolled her eyes.

She didn't know the reason he was getting mad at her and she didn't think he was in the place to caution her.

"Alessandro is a dangerous man, do not tempt him…"

"I repeat, what has that got to do with you? And why the fúck are you here?"

Blaze's eyes stayed on her. He shook his head and gritted his teeth. She was stubborn. The first woman he knew to be defiant.

Goodness, she could get killed with a manner like this. But he doubted he'd allow that to happen.

He couldn't.

"Because I am part of the gang and I know how cruel…"

"You are part of the gang?!" Arabella cut him off.

Her eyes went round as she glimpsed the hesitation on his face.

"Of course." He rasped. He pointed to a tattoo that was on the back of his arms, "This is the symbol of the De Luca family."

She had seen the same symbol on Sandro's neck. Even on her father's arm.

It was that of a tiger and three dots which were done in triangles. She didn't know the meaning and she didn't think she'd like to know.

Arabella took in a staggering breath, "Oh God, what have I gotten myself into?"

She eyed Blaze once more and flinched as he stepped closer.

Appearance could be deceiving. When she saw him, she thought he exuded the bad boy nature for fun and didn't know he was a real gangster.

A fúcking gangster in Alessandro's family.

Blaze halted in his tracks as he glimpsed the fear in her eyes. He furrowed his brows and tilted his head, "Are you scared of me?"

"Why should I not be?" Arabella questioned. "For all I know, you might have been sent to decapitate my head from my body from your almighty boss."

Blaze rolled his eyes. Despite the situation, he attempted a grin.

"I didn't know you were in a gang. I should have listened to my boss, she is right after all. Everyone in this town has a secret."

"Perhaps, the secrets are being kept for a reason," Blaze mumbled. He walked back to the chair and sat on it.

He clutched her hands before he could help himself and breathed in as sparks jolted through him.

His heart warmed at the feeling it ignited in him. Her alluring scent, her eyes, her lips and most especially the way she stared at him…

It was insane. He shouldn't feel anything but he couldn't help himself.

His stomach did a flip flop and he grimaced.

Arabella gazed at her hand, then at Blaze as he caressed her palm. She flushed and attempted to yank her hands from his but his grip was tight.

"Blaze?"

"Oh, sorry!" He said, releasing her hand swiftly and standing from the chair. He ran a hand through his hair, "I'm sorry. I'm just glad you are fine."

"You shouldn't be worried, we are not friends," Arabella blurted. She grimaced as it sounded harsh even to her ears. "Sorry, I didn't mean it that way."

"You are right, we are not friends and I shouldn't care about your wellbeing." Blaze said.

"Look who's awake."

Arabella grimaced as Sandro stepped into the room.

"Now, if you'll excuse me, I have something better to do." Blaze said without a second glance at her.

He walked out of the room.

"For some seconds I would have thought you both were bickering lovers."

Arabella glared at him, "What do you want, Sandro? Haven't you done enough already?!"

She flinched as he walked to her side. His finger caressed her cheeks and he leaned into her.

"My lovely, Bella. Very defiant yet alluring." Sandro mumbled and then he gripped her neck, "I told you not to yell or talk back at me."

"S-Sandro!" Arabella choked out, her eyes bulging.

"Be glad I am in a better mood today." He shoved her to the bed and plucked a wipe from the box near the table beside her bed, he wiped his hand and tossed it on her.

Arabella bit her lip as she gazed at him. He was definitely a monster. How could anyone enjoy torturing a fellow human? It was insane!

"Why don't you get well soon? I have a lot of things I'd like to introduce you to." The grin on his face widened.

"I'd rather die than do your bidding…"

"Did you say something?" Sandro slanted his head.

Arabella shook her head.

"That's weird. I thought I heard something about dying."

Arabella shook her head again as Sandro neared her.

He leaned into her and grabbed a fistful of her hair. His breath fanned across her neck and he whispered into her ear, "You should know death gives me a thrill. You should have learnt that from your father and I show no mercy."

Arabella heaved as soon as he released her hair. She trembled and blinked back the tears from her eyes as the thought of her father emerged in her head.

"Don't you have any feelings at all? How can you be this cruel?"

"Your tears mean nothing to me. The sooner you realize that the better for you."

Arabella swiped at the tears on her cheeks angrily. But, that didn't stop it. The more she wiped it, the more it kept coming.

"I hate you, Alessandro. I hate your existence."

"You should know I feel the same way, Tesoro. Do you expect me to like the daughter of my enemy?"

"You are too cruel to be human!"

"Of course, I am. Because darling, I am a fúcking monster." Sandro chuckled and his eyes darkened.