An Understated Dominance by Marina Vittori

As soon as he stepped inside the basement, Dustin’s face went cold. There were dozens of iron cages scattered throughout the basement, each holding one or two teenage girls.

The girls, all stripped to the waist, wore expressions of pure terror. Most of them were covered in bruises, cuts, and other signs of abuse. It was a pitiful sight to behold.

Two of the cages held the bodies of two young girls. They were curled in a fetal position. Their stench wafted through the air. They were left alone for too long, and their bodies had already become food for vicious rats.

The sight ignited a surge of anger within Dustin.

“Are you responsible for bringing all these people here?”

His gaze turned sharply toward Russo.

“No … I swear it’s not me,” Russo stammered, gesturing frantically.

He explained, “Aster is the one behind this. He has a twisted obsession, deriving pleasure from tormenting these girls. Every month, he captures one or two slaves and locks them in the basement. It just piled up over time.”

“You’re all despicable for treating others as slaves. You deserve to die!”

teeth and exuded an aura

had nothing to do with this. I’m an innocent civilian!” Russo nervously

“Where’s Lisa?”

in unnecessary conversation, cut

as he pointed toward a corner. Dustin followed his

disheveled girl covered in bruises huddled. She was shivering. Around her neck, a dog collar was fastened, and her eyes were blindfolded with a black cloth. She had been brutally raped, and the lower part of her body was

“You monster!” Dustin exclaimed.

Russo by the throat and pinned him against

“Don’t kill me! I know I did something

you. I’ll make sure your existence becomes a

into a grim mask as he suddenly moved. He grabbed Russo’s lower region and

a shredded mass of flesh. Russo emitted a haunting scream. He foamed at the mouth and convulsed. His head tilted

then walked over to the iron cage. With

softly called out, “Lisa, is it

Lisa was scared.

me … I

I’m a friend of your brother, Lucas. I’m here to rescue you,” Dustin reassured her, swiftly revealing his

“Lucas?”

Lisa’s entire body tensed.