Devin almost lunged at Leonid, but the cuffs on his wrists restrained him.
So he screamed in rage.
"You bastard—!"
"Bastard?"
Leonid echoed mockingly, before a sharp slap struck Devin's face, followed instantly by a punch to the mouth that left a bleeding gash.
Devin coughed, collapsing from the pain, sweat streaking his forehead, his eyes burning with contempt.
"Get up."
Leonid ordered.
Devin tried to rise, barely managing, before a hand clamped around his throat and hurled him against the wall with brutal force. His body hit with a thunderous crack, the floor trembling beneath the impact.
"I told you… get up. We're not done yet."
Leonid repeated coldly, then turned his gaze toward the one-way mirror, his eyes piercing through everyone on the other side, unmoved by the cameras and the recorder.
He shifted back to Devin, who barely stood on trembling legs.
"How dare you… how dare you hit me?!"
Devin shouted in rage.
Leonid remained calm, tightening his grip just enough to make Devin choke as he pressed him against the wall, whispering with a mockingly tender tone in his ear:
"This isn't hitting… I'm showing you just how passionate I am for you, Mr. Devin Zorin."
Devin trembled, his voice caught between anger and fear.
"You're insane… this isn't love!"
Leonid chuckled, shaking his head, then drove a vicious kick into Devin's stomach, doubling him over in agony.
"You've sent plenty of girls to the hospital Charlotte Smith being the latest all in the name of love. So why don't we try that with you?"
He rammed his knee into Devin again, every word slicing into his consciousness.
"Or do you prefer playing the dominant one? Impossible… you need to taste what it means to be the victim!"
Leonid stepped back, and Devin collapsed to the cold floor, coughing up blood, his body shaking with pain, while Leonid simply watched, merciless.
"Your endurance is weak, but that's fine… we'll work on improving it so we can play properly. Now, where was I… ah yes~ your hand."
"My… hand?"
Devin barely repeated the word before Leonid's boot ground down on his wrist. Pain ripped through him like fire, a strangled cry escaping between his clenched teeth. His breathing turned rapid and broken, the echo of pain pounding in his ears.
"Yes… your hand."
Leonid paused for a moment, then added coldly:
"The doctor says Charlotte's wrist was broken under savage force. From my experience, I can already guess which part of your body you used to crush her bones."
Leonid pressed harder, stomping again with cruelty.
Devin's helplessness burned worse than the physical agony every throb of pain laced with fear, his muscles locking in despair.
"How does it feel? Don't you want to moan for me?"
Leonid asked in a deadly tone, his eyes fixed on him.
"Can you feel my passion reaching you?"
Each word collided with Devin's torment, every twist on his wrist a test of his will. Every breath was heavy, thick with fear and panic, echoes of screams reverberating in his head.
"I'm sorry! Okay, I'm sorry!"
Devin screamed, almost hysterical, trying to appease Leonid as his wrist felt like it was about to snap.
"I was wrong… I'll confess… I swear!"
Leonid narrowed his eyes, not lifting his foot instead pressing harder.
"I don't want your confession… all I want now is for you to understand the meaning of true pain."
"I'm sorry! Just stop!"
Devin kept screaming, struggling to push Leonid's boot away. For a fleeting second, he remembered Charlotte's resistance, bitterness filled him at becoming the prey instead of the predator.
"Using love and passion as excuses for your violence… is unjustifiable."
"You're right… there's no excuse for what I did. So please… have mercy… forgive me… take your foot off, my hand is breaking!"
Leonid wasn't about to descend into blind vengeance. As much as his heart boiled at the thought of Charlotte's suffering, he knew unleashing excess punishment wouldn't be justice.
After a long, heavy sigh, he finally lifted his foot.
Devin smiled, a mix of broken happiness swirling within him. For a moment, he thought the danger had passed but suddenly, Leonid's foot pressed against his face.
"Ugh!"
"Perhaps mercy has spared you, but know this… your victims will never forgive you. And also, I'm not insane enough to fall in love with a man."
Leonid punctuated his words with a real admission, arrogantly rubbing the sole of his shoe across Devin's face.
Suddenly, the door swung open violently, and a group of men entered, led by a tall man with wrinkles etched across his face, his gaze fixed on Leonid.
"Again, using your authority wrongly… so how do you justify yourself this time?"
"My uncle…?"
Leonid called out respectfully before removing his gloves with disgust, tossing them onto Devin without concern, then lifting his foot.
"I'm amazed at how you catch me in the act every time, but it seems you were a bit late this time."
"Late thanks to your friend who wasted our time. And don't call me 'uncle,' we're outside the family now."
Leonid's eyes fell on Dmitri as he adjusted his glasses and crossed his arms, then he turned to Mikhail, his maternal uncle, and said.
"Hmm… well, as for my justification… I was in love with him."
"You were… and you are no longer after you're done with him."
Mikhail Romashchenko gave Devin a piercing glance, then sighed slowly:
"What a justification. Nevertheless, we will deduct from your salary, and if you repeat this behavior, your rank will be lowered. Do you understand me?"
"I understand you well, Mr. Mikhail."
"If it weren't for your efforts and achievements, we would have dismissed you immediately."
"I know… I'm very special."
"Hah. Be humble; arrogance kills its owner."
Leonid nodded and lowered his hands behind his back, showing respect to Mikhail, before leaving the room with firm, decisive steps.
He paused for a moment and gave Leonid a quick glance.
"You seem to have changed a little, Leonid."
"What do you mean, uncle?"
Mikhail sighed. Every time Leonid called him "uncle," he remembered only the small child with innocent eyes and his beloved late sister.
"Nothing."
Mikhail replied calmly and left.
Silence lingered for a moment until Dmitri entered lightly with a short laugh:
"Family ties… truly terrifying."
"You're right. My father, my uncle… no one occupies them but me."
Leonid muttered in disappointment, then kicked Devin, who let out a stifled groan.
"You will confess now. And any further attempt to evade… will make you regret it."
"You bastard… what kind of person are you?!"
Devin shouted, his anger mixed with pain.
"A federal agent. I've devoted my life to serving this country. Unlike you, you son of a bitch, I am not a disgrace like you."
Devin gritted his teeth, holding back his pain. But Leonid showed no mercy, bending over to grab him by his clothes like a sack of potatoes and threw him onto the table.
"Sit still. Dmitri, bring Pyotr immediately."
"Understood."
Dmitri nodded and left, while Devin sat on the chair with trembling legs. Silence reigned for a moment before Devin laughed mockingly:
"Do you think you're the winner here… Mr. Dead Puppy Owner?"
Leonid narrowed his eyes and leaned on the table.
"You know? I'm curious… why do you call me by that strange nickname?"
Devin raised an eyebrow in mockery, just as Pyotr entered and closed the door behind him.
Pyotr had been delayed after Mikhail's group confiscated the camera recordings, which made him realize Leonid's true location.
"Are you asking because you don't know… or because some doubt nags at you?"
Leonid smiled at his attempt to provoke anger. He shook his head and said coldly:
"I don't know. Well? Then tell me, you insignificant fool, why do you call me that way?"
Devin's smile widened, ignoring Leonid, focusing all his attention on Pyotr.
"Is the interrogation starting now, officer?"
"Oh… yes."
Pyotr was surprised by the response, feeling uneasy inside.
Leonid, however, remained silent.
"Alright… regarding Charlotte Smith, why did you make her your target?"
"A sensitive question."
Devin smiled despite the wounds that marred his mouth and face.
"But that's fine, I can tell you. Since I met her earlier this month, she's stuck in my head… I told myself: this is my personal doll."
Pyotr narrowed his eyes.
"What happened between you two for you to see her as your doll?"
Devin leaned his head back, his sickly calm contrasting sharply with the bruises on his face.
"I sat next to her, and she complained about my smoking."
"And that? That's normal."
"Normal? You can't describe my doll with a word so shallow as that!"
Devin leaned forward, revealing more of his twisted excitement.
"She was complaining, saying, 'You disgust me.' But guess what~ I told her it didn't bother me. And then she said, 'I'm glad my words didn't hurt your heart.' Can you believe it? How could that be called complaining, when she cared about my feelings with such gentleness?!"
Devin laughed, his voice echoing in the room.
Leonid, in contrast, gripped his jacket tightly. That story… it reminded him of something Charlotte had told him the day she returned crying.
"Even though she was angry… she seemed kind."
"And that's when you started chasing her?"
"Exactly. The residential building, the bar, the grocery store, the lobby, and finally her apartment. At first, she didn't notice me. Even when I brought her strawberry ice cream at the bar, she refused it, but my determination didn't waver. I sent her a red bouquet… she refused that too. And when we met at the grocery store… I couldn't resist, so I choked her a little… yes, just like you saw in the news. For a moment, I thought I'd become famous without even trying."
Suddenly, Leonid sprang up violently, the table creaking under his feet.
"I'm leaving now. Follow him."
Pyotr nodded reluctantly.
But Devin interlaced his fingers with an innocent smile:
"Where to? I'm not done yet… Aren't you curious why I call you 'Mr. Dead Puppy Owner'?"
Leonid stopped at the door, breathing heavily, his hand trembling with anger, on the verge of losing his patience and striking.
"I told you to stop messing around!"
He spun around suddenly, lunging at Devin, sparks flying from his eyes.
Before Leonid could raise his hand, Pyotr grabbed his arms with all his strength.
"Calm down, please, Leonid!"
A twisted smile spread across Devin's lips, exuding madness, and he spoke in a calm tone, like a dagger sinking slowly:
"That rainy day… when you and Charlotte went to the rooftop. That day, you lost your puppy, right? Well, guess what… I was the one who killed that filthy puppy. And I enjoyed seeing the life drain from its eyes."
Leonid froze for a moment, eyes wide, before roaring in anger:
"You sicko!"
"Guess what else… Charlotte knows, but she didn't tell you. I can see it in the way you deal with me."
"What… are you saying?"
Leonid muttered hoarsely, words forced from his throat, then stopped moving for a moment, eyes wide with shock.
Devin smiled slowly, tilting his head:
"I told you… don't ever think you're the winner between us. Even if you tear my face with your fist until you're satisfied… it won't bring back the puppy, nor can it restore the broken bond between you and Charlotte."
Devin laughed like a madman, his voice bouncing off the walls like demonic echoes.
Leonid, on the other hand, fell into a heavy silence before raising his fist suddenly, on the verge of smashing Devin's face.
But—
The door burst open violently, and the others stormed in at the last moment.
Dmitri caught his fist mid-air, preventing it from falling.
"Leonid!"
"Stop! We can't fix things if you hit him now!"
At the same moment, Vasili wrapped his strong arms around his waist, pulling him back, while Pyotr still held onto his arms tightly.
Alia pushed against his chest with all her strength, shouting:
"Stop, Leonid! Don't do it!"
Leonid's body remained tense, trapped by four forces at once, eyes blazing with wrath, breaths broken like a beast about to explode.
"You didn't just hurt women… you killed an innocent animal. What swamp of filth have you reached?"
Devin tilted his head with a crooked smile, his voice calm:
"Yes… I killed an animal. How despicable I am~."
He shrugged, relaxing on the chair, his eyes gleaming with deadly cold, a victorious smile still staining his face.
"At least there's a bright side… I didn't kill a woman. Even if Charlotte almost died… she didn't."