Belonging to Lady Red
Chapter One
---
Liam Jones sat in the chair, guns pointed directly at his head. He knew why he was here—selling weapons to the rival organization. Two years of trust, burned in an instant.
And still, he wore a smirk.
"God…" he murmured, eyes locked on her. "You're so beautiful."
Raven Moretti uncrossed her legs slowly, removing the cigar from her lips. Smoke curled toward him.
His expression didn't change. The smirk stayed, unwavering, as he leaned back in the chair, eyes fixed on her.
"Come on, dollface. Don't be like that."
Raven tilted her head slightly, her gaze piercing. Her eyes asked a question, sharp and deliberate: Do you like your eyes?
He raised an eyebrow, smirk widening. "My eyes? Why, dollface, are you threatening me?"
He leaned forward, resting his arms on the table. "But to answer your question… yes, I do like my eyes. They let me see beautiful things."
A subtle gesture from her, and one of her men's fist connected with his eye.
"Talk when I permit."
He hissed in pain, hand reaching up to touch the swelling. The smirk faltered, flickering into a frown.
"Ah… that's gonna leave a mark," he muttered.
But the smirk slowly returned. "You sure love to play rough, huh? Gotta say, you've got some pretty tough guys working for you."
He shifted in the chair, still cocky.
"So, Lady Red, what happens now? You gonna kill me, or can we talk like adults?"
"Hammer again."
"Wait, wait, wait," he pleaded, hands raised. "Can we talk this out first? No need for more violence."
"I told you not to talk without permission, didn't I?"
The cherry of her cigar pressed into his bruised eye.
"Or do you want to eat your tongue?"
He winced. "Alright, alright! I'm sorry, damn it."
"Can I speak now?" he asked.
She slapped him—not hard, not soft.
"No."
He rubbed his cheek, annoyance replacing cockiness. "Damn it, Miss Moretti… you really know how to make a guy feel loved."
Raven looked away, scanning reports.
"I'll be asking the questions. All I want from you is yes or no. Got it?"
He nodded, still rubbing his cheek. "Fine. You ask, I answer. Yes or no."
"Fire away."
"How much were you paid?"
He sighed, head hanging. "Two million."
Eyes flicking up to hers, he added, "But it was a one-time deal, dollface. Not personal."
"Two mill? Is that how much you valued your life?"
He shrugged. "Hey, a man's gotta make a living."
He avoided her gaze, guilt and defiance mixing in his expression.
"And come on, Raven… you really think I'd do this if I didn't think I could handle myself?"
"Oh? You seem to forget where you stand."
Hammer punched him in the stomach and slapped him, stopped only by her sharp glance.
"You do know I lost ten times more than that?"
He grunted in pain, face twisting, breathing labored. "I didn't forget where I stand… and yeah, I know you lost ten times more than that." His voice was hoarse.
She pulled out a pistol, screwing on the silencer.
"Good. That means you owe me two hundred million. I don't take transfers—only cash. Tell me: pay now or in an hour?"
His eyes widened. "Wait, wait, wait!" Hands raised, desperation in his gaze.
"Boss, you know I don't have that kind of money. Can't we negotiate?"
"Negotiate? That word doesn't exist in my dictionary."
She shot his patella.
He cried out, collapsing, clutching his leg. "Bastard…"
"Alright, fine! I'll get you the money. Just stop shooting me!" he spat through gritted teeth.
She tilted her head. Luce chuckled.
"Get me the money? Changed my mind. You know too much."
His eyes widened in horror. "No, no! Please, Lady Red, you can't kill me! I'm useful, I swear!"
"I have information! Valuable information! I can be a loyal asset!"
"Useful? Only the living are useful," she whispered, leaning closer. "And you, my dear… are a dead man."
She straightened.
"But since my brother's birthday is coming, I'm in a good mood. I'll leave you to mingle with your new inmates."
Horror turned to disbelief, then anger. "You're crazy, you know that? After all I've done for your organization, you're just throwing me away?"
She glared.
"You keep forgetting the golden rule here. My word is—"
The room chorused: "Law. Betrayal is punishable by death."
He sighed, knowing the words well. "Yeah… yeah, I know."
Pain became unbearable.
"But dollface, this was just a one-time thing! I've been loyal for years. Aren't I worth anything?"
She paused at the door, scoffing. "Worth? You are worth a lot. Your organs alone will pay your debts."
Anger boiled inside him. "Screw you, Raven! You don't care about loyalty… only money and power!"
She walked away.
"Lock him up in the Swine."
Her code for the mental hospital—the place for experimental tests. A fate worse than death.
Dragged away, he looked back at her, fury and fear in his eyes.
"You'll pay for this, Miss Moretti. I swear!"
Luce stepped on his injured leg before trailing behind her.
Marco noticed her hand twitch—just once. He understood.
"Hey, wait a minute…" Marco called. Guards paused, nodded, and carried him instead of dragging.
"Can't hurt the merchandise now, can we?" the enforcer grinned.
The laughter echoed. Liam froze. "D-dollface? What do you mean, 'merchandise'?"
She had already disappeared. Then, darkness swallowed him.
---
Consciousness returned in a cold, sterile room. White walls, no windows, one metal door.
A plate of birthday cake sat by his bedside. White table, white bed, white sheets… he wore white patient robes.
A mirror reflected unfamiliar pale eyes and white-dyed hair.
"What… where am I?"
Hours passed. When he slept, the walls glowed red. Screams echoed—pleading, cursing. Fifteen minutes of agonizing cries, then silence.
A voice: "Lights out."
Birthday tunes morphed into Moonlight Sonata, movements 1–3. By morning, it was stuck in his head.
He awoke on a grassland, people like him lined up, numbers on their backs.
"Let's stretch our aching muscles with a game~" the voice said.
His leg—amputated, replaced by a robotic one. Others had them too.
An ad explained Mori Tech's mechanical legs. They were made to race. Many fell behind and were dragged away.
Finished stretching, they were knocked out.
A plate of plain rice waited beside him, along with a note: "I hope u find white."
White. Peace.
---
Days passed. Each day brought new replacements: hands, ears, an eye, even skin.
By day thirty-four, he was seventy percent machine—artificial heart, replaced urinary system. White food ceased.
Nights brought excruciating pain.
Day fifty: a new room, a chart listing everything for sale. Last item: his brain.
Even his voice changed hourly, alternating male and female tones.
A date flashed: Tomorrow. Hope you find your true purpose in life.
Sleep mode.
Awake, he was in a box, moved to the seventh floor. Scientists strapped him down, opened his skull, injected his brain with liquid.
He convulsed. Vision fractured. A raven perched on his artificial heart, squeezing his real one.
A voice cut through: "Bring him out."
Light flooded him.
---
Eyes adjusting, she sat across from him. Tied to a machine, the enforcer with the "merchandise" joke held a VR set.
"Welcome back to the living," Luce taunted.
"What… what is happening?"
"You've been… tamed." She glanced at Luce.
She touched his face—his real skin.
"You used to call me dollface. Now, MASTER. What do you think… pet?"
"Pet? Don't call me that!" he flinched.
She walked toward the skyline.
"How did it feel? Fifty days in one. Mental and physical torture. My finest creation, designed for you."
"Your creation? Your pride is… twisted," he spat.
"Yes, concerning. But your debts aren't paid. Only a taste of punishment."
"Punishment? If you'd given me a choice—"
"You didn't deserve one. Besides, it's not that bad—" She paused. "—as getting locked up with wolves for a year."
He froze.
"Be a good pet and let your caretakers help you rest."
A chop to the back of his neck.
---
He woke next evening on silk sheets. Luxury black and red.
Beside him: Raven's younger brother, nine or ten, softer features. Two enforcers posed as bodyguards.
"Brother-in-law!" Kelvin leaped to the bed. "Raven brought you here to recover. If you need anything, ask me."
Liam blinked, confused. "Brother-in-law?"
Kelvin gestured to a red book: Marriage certificate. "You signed with your thumbprint. And you've been together for years."
The bodyguards glared. A warning.
Engines roared. "She's back!" Kelvin called. He left, one bodyguard following. The other stayed.
"Be careful how you talk near him," the enforcer murmured. "He must never know the truth."
Liam met his eyes. "The truth?"
"About the boss's real work. Unless you want to live with snakes."
The door opened. She stood there. The enforcer left.
Raven sighed. "Liam. How are you feeling?"
"Well." His voice was bitter. "Just peachy. Never been better."
"I'm glad. You must have been informed from Lucas. Anything you see stays with you till death. Or else." She paused. "Have you eaten?"
"No."
"What do you want to eat?"
His stomach growled. "Anything decent… please."
She smiled. "Good. Change into something formal. We're going out."
She left. Through the open door, Kelvin was caught eavesdropping. She flicked his forehead playfully as they walked away together.
---
The maid—probably another enforcer—led him down the grand staircase.
At the bottom, Raven and Kelvin stood dressed in black and red. A line of bodyguards escorted them. Kelvin was asking where they were headed. She lied—a fancy party.
Raven nodded at Liam. "You look sharp. Suits you. Let's go."
They moved toward the fleet. Mercedes AMG GT63s for the enforcers. Mercedes AMG G63s for lieutenants and capos. A red Rolls Royce Phantom for her, Liam, and Kelvin.
She helped Kelvin in—no bodyguard touched him. The closest any enforcer had ever gotten to him was 5 meters. After settling him, she sat beside Liam, arm resting behind her brother who was on his phone.
She patted the seat beside her. "Sit."
The fleet moved.
Inside the Rolls, Kelvin played on his phone. Raven watched him, playing with his soft black hair. She glared at Liam for a second when she caught him staring, then turned back to her brother.
The silence stretched.
"Where to?" Liam asked.
"A party where we can eat and drink." She kept up the lie, patting Kelvin's head as he ordered gaming stuff online. "Kelvin, how was school today?"
Kelvin froze. "Um. It was fine."
She smiled. "So what did you learn?"
Kelvin's eyes lit up. For the rest of the drive, he chattered about his day—people he met, what he learned.
Liam found himself listening. "So, school going well for you, kiddo?"
Kelvin nodded as the car came to a halt.
Classical music drifted through the air. More cars like theirs were parked around. The people entering wore dark colors—but no one wore red except them.
Taking Kelvin's hand, she led him inside the big gala.
A concentration of her fellow monsters. The mafia gala.
Kelvin recognized some people. He'd been here many times—since Raven told him it was a fancy party, he'd guessed this was it. Men and women tried to flatter him. He politely thanked them while they stayed 10 meters away.
As for Raven—no one dared meet her gaze head-on.
The host came to greet them. She left Kelvin with him after hugging Liam, whispering in his ear:
"If any hair on his head is missing…"
She turned and followed the host to where the real giants of the crime syndicates stayed.
Kelvin led Liam to a terrace with red curtains—a place no one approached. On the table, enforcers wore their usual uniform but with red handkerchiefs. They gave Liam food to taste first—to prevent Kelvin from getting poisoned. Foods like shrimp and fish were declined by a white-haired enforcer who spoke to the servants.
Meanwhile, Raven met with three others like her. One Asian, one Russian—making them four in number. They chatted, probed each other. A "peaceful" conversation.
Soon she came out.
Liam glanced in her direction. "That was quick."
"I was bored, so I left." She looked at him. "Any problem?"
He raised an eyebrow, small smirk creeping onto his face. "Bored? Or maybe you just couldn't handle the stimulating conversation?"
"My time is of the essence. They were too arrogant for me. If I had my way, I'd train them properly." She patted Kelvin's head. "Do you like the food here?"
He chuckled. "So the conversation didn't go your way, huh? And yes, the food is quite good."
"It went my way—just not the easy way. Someone paid a hefty price." She looked at Kelvin. "Alright. Pack this garbage up. We're going to enjoy ourselves." She smiled at her brother. "Kelvin, tell me—is there anything you want to eat? Anything at all? Big sis will buy it for you."
Kelvin's face lit up. "Anything I want? Really?"
He looked up at her, hope in his eyes.
"Yes." She took his hand. "Let's go."
They left the party, heading toward the fleet. After 10 minutes, the sounds of waves welcomed them.
The house was a large estate with massive space. Cars pulled up. They headed inside.
Kelvin ran in. Raven nearly ran after him, only managing a small "Wait."
Liam watched, a small smile tugging at his lips. "He's quite a handful, isn't he?"
"Not every time." She signaled to the men behind. Two-thirds left in the cars. One-third stood guard.
She headed inside to find Kelvin in his room, playing games. She smiled, carrying a bowl of warm curry rice to him.
"Here. Eat it, okay?"
He continued gaming but managed a nod. She left.
Meeting Liam in the hall, she sighed, leaning back against the wall, hand over her eyes.
He leaned beside her. "Tired?"
"Mn. C-can I lean on your shoulder for a sec?"
Surprised, he nodded, moving closer.
She leaned on him. A tear rolled down her cheek.
After 6 seconds, she wiped her face and walked away.
"The room by your left is yours."
He watched her go. "Wait, my room?"
She paused. "What? You want us to sleep together?"
His face heated. "What? No, I—I just… uh…"
She chuckled and headed to her study.
---
In her study, she touched her parents' picture. Poured herself a glass of whiskey. Muttered something. Finished her drink. Plopped into her chair.
She made calls—discussing business, listening to reports.
By 10 PM, she noticed him.
"Who's there?"
He stepped in. "Uh, it's me."
"Liam? Come in. What is it?"
He scratched the back of his neck awkwardly. "Nothing really. I was just wondering what you were doing."
"I'm working. Why aren't you asleep? Scared of the dark?"
She stood, heading to Kelvin's room. He was asleep on his keyboard. A plate of half-eaten curry and an empty juice box sat beside him.
She carried him to bed, tucked him in, kissed his forehead.
"Goodnight."
She switched off his PC and walked past Liam.
"What are you smiling at? Go to bed before I think you're trying to betray me again."
His smile faded. "Wait." He reached out, grabbing her arm. "I'm not… I'm not trying to betray you. Not anymore."
"I know that. So go and sleep."
He sighed, grip loosening. "Alright. I'll go to bed."
"Now."
He sighed again. "Fine." He let go. "I'll go."
He walked away.
---
After making sure everyone was asleep, she sat in the living room on a call with Hammer. An issue with the cargo they'd bought.
At 3 AM, she finally took a break. Headed to her room. Showered. Went to bed.
At 5 AM, she woke and started the day.
Maids were already getting Kelvin's clothes ready. His bath. His food.
She made sure he was ready for school. Drove him personally.
At the school gates, she watched him run inside, waving back at her.
Then she drove home.
---
Liam had woken early. Heard the car engine. Went to the window.
Watched Kelvin get into the car. Watched them drive away.
He stood there for a long time, staring at the empty driveway.
Wondering where they'd gone.
Wondering what came next.
Wondering who he was now.
---
By noon, he was given a burner phone by one of the lieutenants.
"The boss wishes to speak to you."
He looked down at the phone, curiosity and caution mixing in his chest.
He accepted the call, holding it to his ear.
"Hello?" His voice was steady.
"Hello, pet. I'm going to be a bit late to pick Kelvin from school. I've already contacted his school. Your task is to—"
A shot rang out mid-sentence.
"—pick Kelvin from school. Understood?"
The cold shift in her voice, the gunshot echoing, sent a chill down his spine.
"Understood," he replied, forcing calm into his tone. "I'll be there."
"His school closes by one. Don't be late." The beep cut the call.
The bodyguards prepared to escort him. It was 12:34. He had 36 minutes to reach Kelvin's school.
He dressed quickly in casual clothes, grabbed the keys, and left.
The enforcers gave skeptical looks. Luca, the same enforcer from before, spoke up:
"Are you going alone?"
A flicker of annoyance crossed Liam's face.
"Yeah. Is there a problem?"
Luca hesitated. "You don't need security? It's the young master you're picking up, after all."
He knew Luca had a point. Kelvin's safety was paramount, but he bristled at being told what to do.
"Alright, fine," Liam said reluctantly. "No security, got it?"
Luca immediately backed off, wary of Raven's unpredictable wrath. Everyone was on edge, unsure where they stood with Liam.
The gates opened, and he drove toward the school. He arrived four minutes late—and received the worst news of his life.
Kelvin's teacher, Miss Janet, informed him that Kelvin had already signed out. Worse, the log showed he was the one who picked him up.
"What?!" Liam's voice cracked with panic. "You must be mistaken. I didn't pick him up."
"But you look exactly like the man who did," Miss Janet said.
His stomach dropped. He looked like the person who had taken Kelvin?
"I… that can't be right," he stammered.
By now, the teacher had already dialed Raven's public number. Liam felt a knot tighten in his stomach.
"Hello, Miss Janet. Why did you call? Did something happen?" Raven's voice was smooth, calm, completely at odds with the panic clawing at him.
Miss Janet explained. "Miss Moretti, I'm sorry to bother you. Kelvin was picked up about fifteen minutes ago."
"Fifteen? Classes end at one," Raven's voice cracked, a mix of cold fury and anxious calculation. "Don't tell me you lost my brother. Where's Liam? Why isn't he there?"
"No, we didn't lose him. It's just… he was already signed out," Miss Janet faltered.
"Speak."
"The sheet shows Liam picked him up," the teacher confessed.
"I called Liam thirty-seven minutes ago. Even if he was fast, he couldn't have picked him up. Put Liam on the line."
The teacher handed Liam the phone.
"Hello?" he said, voice trembling.
"Explain yourself," Raven demanded, anger crackling through the line.
"I… I don't know what happened. I swear I had nothing to do with this! I was on my way to pick Kelvin."
"Then how the heck did my brother get taken fifteen minutes ago? I don't care what nonsense you're planning. Find my brother, or else." The beep ended the call, leaving Liam frozen, the weight of her words crushing.
He snapped out of shock. He had to find Kelvin, and fast.
The CCTV revealed the truth: he had picked up Kelvin fifteen minutes ago, exactly when Miss Janet said he did.
"This can't be happening," he muttered. His mind raced, desperate for an explanation.
As if on cue, a fleet of black cars screeched to a halt at the school gates. Raven emerged, storming the principal's office.
"Where the hell is Kelvin Moretti?"
The principal froze. "Miss Moretti, I can explain—"
A gunshot echoed. The principal's body crumpled to the ground. No hesitation, no warning—just death.
"Find Liam and break his legs."
Her enforcers fanned out, hunting him down. Raven stood, a mixture of wrath and cold precision, eyes scanning for the boy who had triggered the chaos.
END OF CHAPTER ONE