Chapter 5 Suspicion

• The air hung heavy with the scent of incense and grief as Nero stood before the crematorium, a stoic figure amidst the mourners. He had chosen cremation for his parents, a decision born from a cold pragmatism that had become his defining characteristic. He couldn't bear the thought of their remains being desecrated by his enemies, or of their deaths being a source of satisfaction for those who sought to destroy him.
• Justin, his younger brother, was a broken man, his sobs echoing through the air. Nero watched him, his heart a cold stone in his chest. He knew the pain of loss, the gnawing emptiness it left behind, but he couldn't afford to indulge in such weakness. He had a job to do, a vendetta to fuel.
• The whispers of the mourners reached his ears, their eyes filled with pity and suspicion. They saw him as a grieving son, but Nero knew they were wrong. He was a storm brewing, a force of vengeance ready to be unleashed. He felt their stares, but they held no power over him. He had a suspicion, a gnawing feeling in his gut, that this wasn't simply a tragic accident. His parents, powerful figures in the underworld, had too many enemies for their deaths to be a mere coincidence.
• He glanced at the woman beside him, Silvia, her face streaked with tears. She was a vision of grief, playing the role of the heartbroken widow to perfection. But Nero saw through her facade. He knew her kind, the women who used their beauty and charm to manipulate and deceive. He had a plan, a way to expose her true colors and unravel the web of deceit that had ensnared his family.
• "Any problem, honey?" Silvia asked, her voice soft and laced with concern. She draped her arm around him, her touch meant to be comforting, but it only served to fuel his suspicion. He allowed it, knowing the eyes of the mourners were upon them. He placed his arm around her waist, playing along with her charade, a cold smile playing on his lips.
• "I pity my parents," he said calmly, his voice devoid of emotion. Silvia looked at him, her eyes widening in shock. He smirked internally, enjoying her surprise. He knew she expected him to be consumed by grief, to be a broken man like his brother. But Nero was not a man who broke. He was a man who broke others.
• "You're correct. I also pity them because they died in the accident, but it's okay, I'm here for you, and your uncle and brother are also here." Nero's jaw tightened at her words. He wanted to silence her, to rip out her tongue for daring to speak such a lie. He held back, though, knowing he couldn't afford to act recklessly. He needed to gather evidence, to build his case.
• "I'm not pitying them for that," he said, meeting her gaze.
• "What do you mean?" she asked, her brows furrowed.
• "I pity them because they lost their chance to kill the person behind this. After all, my dad was more kind in killing our enemies, unlike me, I killed them mercilessly." He lied, knowing his father was more brutal, but he wanted to appear even more ruthless. He tightened his grip on her waist, watching her flinch. He loosened his hold, enjoying her discomfort.
• "Do you know how I kill people, honey?" he asked, his eyes boring into hers. She trembled, trying to hide her fear behind a forced smile. He knew how women's minds worked, and he wouldn't make the same mistakes his father had. He wouldn't be blinded by their tears or their smiles. He would see through their facades, and he would use their weaknesses against them.
• "H-How?" she stuttered, her voice barely above a whisper.
• Nero smirked, leaning close to her ear, licking and biting her lobe before whispering coldly. He enjoyed the moan she let out, calling her a slut in his mind. He saw her for what she was, a pawn in a larger game, and he would use her to his advantage.
• "I let them die in the most painful way," he said calmly. "But I think it would be better if my future wife will be there so that she can see how enjoyable it is. What do you think, honey?" He pinched her waist, watching her flinch again.
• "T-That would be great," she stammered, her voice trembling. She stood up, drawing the attention of the mourners. "Hon, I will just go out." He nodded, watching her leave. He caught James eye and gave him a subtle signal before he followed Shaira.