The question hit Celia like a blow to the face. He knew he couldn't raise that amount anytime soon. Not in this lifetime. Not even his generation could scrape together a billion euros. But something wasn't right.
Why would they lend his cousin that kind of money when they had to know he couldn't repay it?
Celia looked at his cousin. The man wouldn't meet his eyes.
"Tell me, kid."
The stranger signaled his men. They dragged Celia's cousin closer.
The gun pressed slowly against his temple.
Silence filled the room.
His cousin's breathing turned shaky.
"How," the stranger asked softly, "are you going to pay?"
Celia didn't say a word. His mind was racing, scrambling for something or anything to say. Stalling for time. Then make a deal. He wasn't sure if it would work. Probably not.
The stranger chuckled. "You're thinking of a way to pay. But that little brain of yours isn't working."
He rolled the gun in his hand, pointing it at Celia's jaw.
"Now. I want you to answer a few questions." He brought the gun to Celia's cheek, pressing it against the skin. Pushing and patting his cheek with the cold metal.
"You want to pay his debt?"
Celia nodded, slowly and carefully as he could.
No expression crossed the stranger's face.
"One billion euros."
He moved closer. Leaned in.
"You don't even have one thousand." Then he lifted Celia's chin with the barrel.
"But I like your courage."
He pulled back, tilting his head like he was thinking. Considering.
"So here's what we'll do."
He gestured toward Celia's cousin with the gun. "I'll erase his debt."
Celia's eyes widened. He wasn't sure if he heard right. That reaction made the stranger smile. Just a little.
Still looking at Celia's cousin, he frowned. "But man, you're really one lucky dumb ass." The stranger smirked.
"You borrowed money from me. Then you spent it on gambling—in my casino—and you're still owing. I forgave you. Let you work in my turf."
He paused. Let the weight settle.
"But what did you do?"
Silence.
"You shared details with my enemy. Helped them embezzle my money. Caused outrage with my underlings." His voice dropped. "Do you think one billion euros is enough for what you did?"
He turned to Celia. Celia swallowed. Hard. His throat, painfully dry.
He wanted to leave his cousin to face this alone. Every part of him screamed to walk away, let him rot in the mess he made.
But his little cousin sister. Lora.
She knew nothing about this. Nothing. And they were coming for her kidneys.
He couldn't let that happen.
The stranger tapped the gun against his thigh—a lazy gesture. His men understood. They yanked Celia's cousin up, forcing him to stand on shaky legs.
Then the stranger shot his leg.
The sound ripped through the room. No one moved. No one breathed.
Silence stretched, then it bled into screams. His cousin's voice filled the space, raw and broken, bouncing off the walls.
The stranger closed his eyes. Tilted his head. Listened.
"Music to my ears."
He opened his eyes and turned back to Celia.
"I'll erase your cousin's debt." He paused, letting the words land. His gaze locked onto Celia, intense and unblinking.
"In exchange…"
Another pause. The room held its breath.
"Your life belongs to me now."
Celia laughed once, bitter and sharp. Even in this dread, he had the guts to laugh. "You think you can own someone?" he asked.
"I already do," the stranger said, his voice calm, unwavering, leaving no room for argument.
Celia had no words. Nothing to say. He just kept quiet and accepted his fate.
He turned to look at his grandparents. They were already frightened, no, terrified. His grandpa held his wife tightly, gripping her arm like if he let go, she might shatter.. Making sure she didn't scream or draw the stranger's attention back to them.
Celia sighed. It was a heavy hollow one, he looked at his cousin.
He was bleeding, dying and screaming in pain.
One of the stranger men stepped forward with clear annoyance. He grabbed a ragged cloth from his pocket and shoved it into the cousin's mouth. The scream died instantly, turning into muffled, desperate sounds.
No one in the room dared to react.
Dark red liquid spread across the floor beneath him.
Celia stared at him for a long moment. This man, this stupid, reckless, selfish cousin of his had destroyed everything. Their family. Their peace and safety.
And now Celia was supposed to give his life for someone else's mistake?
But Lora's face flashed in his mind. The young, innocent. Asleep in that hospital bed, unaware monsters were walking toward her.
He swallowed hard. Then he turned back to the man before him, who had no single expression on his face. He nodded.
The stranger watched him quietly. There was something in his eyes now. A dangerous glint in those dark brown eyes.
If looks could kill—but no. This was worse. Celia didn't know it yet, but he had just piqued the monster's interest.
But the stranger didn't say anything again. Silence took over the room while he studied Celia—head to toe, feature by feature. Taking in everything before his eyes.
Then a gunshot broke the silence.
Celia's cousin dropped. Lifeless. On the floor before anyone could blink.
His grandparents gasped.
Then his grandma screamed.
"NOAH! NOAH!" Her voice ripped through the room, raw and broken. She thrashed against her husband's grip, trying to run to her grandson. "MY SON! NO NO, HELP HIM! PLEASE…"
Grandpa held her tighter, his own face crumbling, tears streaming down his swollen cheeks. But he held her back. Kept her from running toward that monster.
"No... no, no, no..." Grandma's screams turned into sobs. Her body went limp in his arms. She was fainting right there.
She had just watched her grandson get shot. Right before her eyes.
Time slowed down. Celia's mind tried to catch up, trying to process what just happened.
Noah was now dead.
He couldn't believe it. None of them could. The stranger lowered his gun.
His gaze found Celia.
"Your cousin's debt still exists." He paused, letting the weight of it sink in.
"And you..."
He looked at Celia, his voice deadly calm.
"You belong to me now. Mine until I decide otherwise."