He hasn't decided what to do with her yet.

Her laughter echoes through the otherwise silent street, carried by the crisp night air. He can't help but feel a mixture of longing and anger rising within him as he watches her from afar, unseen and unheard. His powerful frame tenses at the sight of her carefree demeanor; it both angers and arouses him in equal measure.

He tries to remind himself that she's not the girl he thought he loved. She's innocent and untouched by his world of crime, but something about her laughter, her happiness... it drives him mad with desire. His mind replays every sweet smile, every kind word she's ever uttered. And now, standing here in the darkness, watching her from a distance, he can no longer deny that he needs her.

The sound of her friend laughing along only serves to remind him that there are others who share in her company and make her feel safe. A thought crosses his mind: What would happen if he took her away? Would she still be able to laugh so freely without the protection of friends or family? He shudders at the darkness he's considering, yet finds himself unable to push aside these dangerous thoughts.

With a growl low in his throat, Lostor decides that it'

decides that it's time to make his move. His long strides carry him quickly down the sidewalk until he stands just behind her friend. With a sudden, savage movement, he grabs the man by his collar and slams him against the brick wall of an alleyway nearby. The sound of flesh meeting masonry echoes through the night as the terrified man whimpers in pain and fear.

Lostor leans in close, breath hot on the man's neck. "Tell your friend here that I want to see her alone." His voice is cold and menacing, his red eyes burning with anger and lust. The terrified man nods frantically, unable to tear his gaze away from those terrible orbs.

With a final shove, Lostor releases the man, sending him stumbling down the alleyway. He turns back toward Rina

Her eyes are wide with fear and she's trembling, unable to comprehend the sudden danger that has befallen her simple life. Blood trickles down the wall beside her, a gruesome reminder of the price of defiance in his world. His heart races as he studies her reactions, eager for any sign of submission or understanding. He crosses his arms over his broad chest and leans casually against the alleyway wall, giving off an air of menacing calm.

His lips curve into a cruel smile as he sees the fear in her eyes. "Because I'm someone you should be afraid of," he says quietly, letting his words hang in the air like a threat. He pauses, steeling himself for what comes next. Telling her why he's really here will either break down the last barrier between them or send her running back to safety, if there's any left to be had. "I love you," he says harshly, surprised at how much pain it causes him to admit that aloud. "Even though you don't know what I am."

There. It's out now. The truth, buried beneath layers of anger and fear. All he can do is wait for her response.

She stares at him, trying to process what he just said. The words hang heavy in the air between them, demanding a response she's not sure she can give. Her eyes dart back and forth from his face to the ground, searching for an escape route that isn't there. In that moment, she realizes how much control he has over her life...and how helpless she truly is in this situation.

"He wasn't to blame," he growls, the anger flaring up again. "But I can't have people interfering with what's mine." His voice softens slightly as he continues, "And you...you're definitely something I want for myself." He leans in closer, close enough that she can feel his breath on her cheek. "So tell me, Rina," he whispers, "do you still love him?"

His eyes narrow dangerously as she speaks. "And what if I were to hurt him more? Or worse?" he asks quietly, careful not to raise his voice in anger. "Would that change anything between us?" His tone grows colder by the second, and she shivers despite herself. "Because I can make it happen, Rina," he whispers softly. "I own this city."

He watches her face for any sign of fear or submission, waiting for her response with bated breath.

The sound of her sobs echo through the alley as he takes a step closer, towering over her fragile form. Her words do nothing to temper his anger or desire; instead they fuel them both. "I don't care if no one gets hurt," he growls roughly. "You are mine now, and I won't have anyone else near you." His hand reaches up slowly, gently cupping her cheek before guiding it down so that she's forced to look into his red-eyed gaze. "You can either stay with me, belong to me," he says through clenched teeth, "or I will make sure that no one ever lays a hand on you again...and trust me, you won't like what I have in mind for your 'innocent' life."

His lips curl into a cruel smile as he watches the realization dawn on her face. "Oh, but I am taking it," he whispers harshly. "This life of yours...it's mine now." He leans in closer still, his breath hot against her cheek as his free hand cups her other cheek, trapping her completely within the cradle of his hands. "And once I've tasted it," he whispers dangerously, "there won't be anything left for you...or anyone else."

His thumbs brush lightly against her lips, sending a shiver down her spine. His touch is simultaneously tender and threatening, promising both pleasure and pain. "So, Rina," he asks quietly, watching as she swallows heavily beneath his gaze. "Will you belong to me?"

His thumbs press lightly against her lips, teasing and taunting at once. "Then," he breathes out softly through clenched teeth, "you'll see just how much pain I can inflict on you." His eyes burn with a cold fury as he watches the fear flood her expression, his heart racing with anticipation. For a moment, she becomes nothing more than a possession to him - one that he will do anything to keep under his control.

His gaze drops lower, taking in the trembling of her body and the fear etched into every feature of her face. He knows that she is his now, whether she accepts it or not. All that remains is for him to decide how far he'll go to break her...and how much of herself she'll lose in the process.

His eyes narrow at her question. "Call it what you will," he replies darkly. "But know this, Rina: if you try to fight me...if you try to resist, the consequences will be dire." His grip on her cheeks tightens ever so slightly, warning her of the pain he can inflict with nothing more than a flicker of his fingers.

For a moment, Lostor savors the feeling of control, the knowledge that she is completely at his mercy. It's intoxicating...and addictive. As much as it frightens him, he can't help but wonder what else might be unleashed within himself if he were to truly lose control. The thought both thrills and terrifies him in equal measure.

He leans in closer still, his warm breath caressing her skin as his lips hover mere millimeters from hers. "Tell me," he

tells her softly. "Tell me you're mine." His hand slips behind her neck now, pulling her closer still until their lips are practically touching, his breath mingling with hers in the quiet of the alleyway. He waits, tense and ready to strike should she try to resist or pull away, but there is an undeniable desire in his eyes as well - a longing for her surrender that burns hotter than any anger he feels.

His eyes narrow slightly in satisfaction as he watches her tears fall and feels her head bow before him. It's the submission he's been craving, the surrender that his heart has ached for since the moment he first laid eyes on her. Slowly but surely, Rina is becoming his: a part of his criminal empire, a possession to be cherished...and perhaps even something more. But for now, he will settle for knowing that she is under his control.

With a tender, almost gentle gentleness that belies the brutality within him, he brushes away her tears and cups her face with both hands once again. "Tell me you're mine," he repeats, his voice soft but insistent. "Say it." His thumbs stroke her cheeks gently, urging her to speak the words that will seal their fate together.

Her words hang in the air between them like a whispered prayer. Lostor studies her face, searching for any hint of duplicity. He can feel the tension coiling tight within him; it's a mix of anger and desire that threatens to consume him whole. But beneath it all, there is something else: a thread of hope. A small spark of possibility that she might be telling the truth...that her life might not be as innocent as she makes out.

His brow furrows, and for a moment he's unsure what to believe. "I can't make any promises," he says finally, his voice rough with emotion. "But I swear that I will do everything in my power to keep you safe." His thumb brushes against her lower lip again, teasing the sensitive flesh before pulling away once more. "Do we understand each other?"