President's Daughter's Bodyguard-Chapter 80: The Devil Who Smiles

Chapter 80: The Devil Who Smiles

Ethan entered with a slow clap, how sparkling was his eyes...he looked like a birthday boy who had just discovered his favorite surprise gift.

He looked so peaceful that for a moment Danielle wondered if her brain had finally broken. Only a monster would look that happy in a room built for torture.

He stood between Danielle and Jackson, slowly placed hands behind his back like a teacher about to scold a misbehaving class.

"Jackson," he sang quietly. "You ruined the surprise."

Jackson stepped in front of Danielle in a half defensive stance. His hands shook again. Danielle could almost feel the fear vibrating off him like heat.

Ethan blinked once. "Move."

Jackson didn’t move.

Ethan giggled. Actually giggled.

It felt like a high soft sound that curled around the room like sweet poison.

"Oh my. You think I care about that little promise you whispered to her" He tilted his head. "Do you know why I like you Jackson? You are loyal. But loyalty is so boring when pointed in the wrong direction."

Jackson swallowed. "She doesn’t deserve this. Just let her go."

Ethan pressed a hand to his chest as if touched. "You care about her now. How adorable. Since when"

"When you started treating her like a toy," Jackson said carefully.

Ethan’s soft laughter returned. "Everything is a toy if you know how to play correctly." His eyes sparkled with pure wicked joy. "And she is my favorite."

Danielle shivered.

Ethan finally acknowledged her presence. "Are you feeling better princess? I was worried when you fainted. You missed half the fun earlier."

Danielle stared back with cold hate. She refused to speak to him. Words were gifts and he did not deserve any.

Ethan stepped closer and brushed a finger across her cheek. She flinched and he smiled wider like he enjoyed the reaction more than he enjoyed breathing.

"You are so alive," he whispered.

The room fell silent for a moment.

Then Ethan turned his head and looked at the other door that had opened. A figure dragged itself inside.

Ethan clapped again. "How delightful, you look...afwul."

That person collapsed onto the floor with a groan, his arm looked bent unnaturally.

Blood spilled across the concrete as he struggled to breathe.

Danielle recognised that face instantly. One of Frank’s men, and he was a good man.

He had guarded her hospital room once and smiled kindly when no one else did.

Ethan’s playful grin widened.

"Oh look at that. Danielle knows him." He clapped once. "This just keeps getting better. Reunion scene."

The guard tried to push himself up but his limbs shook violently. His nose had clearly been broken. His uniform was shredded by force. He gasped for air before his eyes found Danielle.

"Miss... Danielle..." he managed.

Her chest throbbed with fear and guilt. She wanted to go to him but her legs remained weak and trembling.

Ethan crouched near the dying man with that same excited sparkle in his eyes.

"This one was difficult," he said, as if complimenting him. "He shot two of my good men before they dragged him here." Ethan patted the guard’s cheek mockingly. "I appreciate fighters. They make the games more exciting."

Jackson looked away, as if unable to watch what he already knew was coming. But Ethan snapped his fingers sharply.

"Eyes here Jackson," Ethan said sweetly. "You witness everything. That is your punishment for thinking you could disobey me."

Jackson forced himself to turn back and locked his jaw tight.

Ethan leaned closer to the guard. "So. Tell me. Did Frank send you"

The guard spat blood into Ethan’s direction. It landed barely a few inches away.

Ethan stopped his breathing, but his smile never faded. But in that moment, something horrifying shifted behind his eyes.

Danielle held her breath.

"That was rude," Ethan whispered.

He slowly stood up and brushed invisible dust from his shirt.

"You see Danielle," he said as if giving a lecture, "some people only understand pain. But what they do not understand is that pain is art. And I create beautiful art."

He snapped his fingers again.

A metal cart rolled inside, pushed by two silent men. Tools gleamed brightly under the hanging lamp. None of them belonged in a hospital.

Danielle’s heart slammed against her ribs.

"No," she breathed before she could stop herself.

Ethan turned to her with genuine surprise. "No?" He laughed. "Sweetheart, this one is not for you. Not yet."

He selected a tool. A long steel rod with a pointed tip. He admired it like a child admiring a new toy.

Jackson stepped forward without meaning to. "Ethan. Think. This is unnecessary."

Ethan placed one finger against his lips.

"Shh."

That single sound silenced the world.

He walked toward the guard again and crouched in front of him.

"I will ask one more time," he said cheerfully. "Did Frank send you"

The guard glared back and even with broken bones and blood pooling beneath him, he scoffed.

"You think you can scare me?"

Ethan’s smile turned tender.

"...I already did."

With one move, he drove the steel rod straight through the guard’s shoulder. The sound was wet and painfully cutting.

"Aaarrrgh!!!!! The guard screamed with agony, and the echo bounced violently around the room.

Danielle jerked against her restraints. Her lungs refused air and tears burned but she refused to let them fall.

Ethan’s eyes fluttered closed for a moment. He breathed in the scream like it was oxygen.

"Yes," he whispered. "This is music."

Jackson’s fists clenched so tight his nails dug into his palms, but he didn’t dare to make a move.

Ethan twisted the metal slowly. The guard’s voice cracked into whimpers.

"Frank has been very annoying lately," Ethan said conversationally, as if discussing the weather. "Blocking my calls...Interrupting my deliveries... But sending you here one day before the kidnappiny?" He leaned closer. "That means he was worried about the princess and me... How sweet. And how tragic."

He pulled the rod out with a sickening sound. Blood sprayed across the floor like dark paint.

Danielle felt nausea rise violently.

"Stop," her voice trembled but she forced her eyes to stay on Ethan. "Please."

Ethan turned to her and his lips curved into his softest smile yet.

"Oh, baby..."