THE DEVIL’S HEART
The Devil’s Heart – Chapter 35
(Her possessive devil)
©Goodness Okoye
_____________________________________________
The storm refused to calm.
Rain lashed against the windows of DeHavilland Mansion, as if the sky itself was mourning what had just been revealed.
No one spoke.
Not even Victor.
All eyes were on Hazard.
And Pispa.
Pispa stood frozen in the war room, her mind replaying Wayne’s words over and over.
You shot her.
Her chest tightened.
Slowly… she turned to Hazard.
“Tell me the truth.”
Her voice trembled, but her eyes didn’t.
Hazard didn’t answer immediately.
For the first time—
He looked… human.
Tired.
Haunted.
“I did,” he said quietly.
Pispa flinched.
“But not the way he said it.”
Her heart pounded.
“Then tell me how.”
Hazard exhaled slowly and walked toward the window.
Rain traced down the glass like tears.
“She was my world,” he began.
“Juliana.”
His voice softened on her name.
“She wasn’t part of this life. She didn’t belong to the darkness I was already in.”
Pispa listened silently.
“One night… I found out she had been taken.”
Hazard’s jaw tightened.
“Kidnapped. Used as bait.”
Pispa’s breath hitched.
“Wayne?” she asked softly.
Hazard nodded.
“Yes.”
He turned slightly.
“There were men everywhere when I got there. Guns. Traps.”
His voice darkened.
“But I didn’t care. I just wanted to get to her.”
Pispa could almost see it.
The younger Hazard.
Desperate.
Reckless.
“I fought through them,” Hazard continued.
“I reached her.”
His voice dropped.
“She ran to me.”
Silence filled the room.
Then—
“I heard a click.”
Pispa’s heart stopped.
Hazard’s eyes closed briefly.
“A sniper.”
His voice became rough.
“I turned to shoot…”
He swallowed.
“…but she stepped in front of me.”
Pispa covered her mouth.
“No…”
“I fired,” Hazard said.
“And the bullet hit her.”
The words shattered the air.
Tears filled Pispa’s eyes.
Hazard didn’t look at her.
“I held her while she bled.”
His voice broke slightly.
“She smiled.”
Pispa’s tears slipped down her cheeks.
“And she told me…”
Hazard’s voice dropped to a whisper.
“…‘It’s okay.’”
Silence.
Heavy.
Painful.
“That was the moment,” Hazard said.
“The moment I lost everything.”
Pispa stepped closer slowly.
“You didn’t kill her on purpose.”
Hazard laughed bitterly.
“Does that change anything?”
Pispa shook her head.
“It changes everything.”
He finally looked at her.
“I became what I am because of that night.”
Pispa reached out and held his hand tightly.
“But you’re still here,” she said softly.
“And you still feel.”
Hazard stared at her.
Like he didn’t deserve those words.
The door suddenly burst open.
Victor walked in quickly.
“Hazard.”
His voice was urgent.
“We have a problem.”
Hazard’s eyes hardened instantly.
“What is it?”
Victor placed a tablet on the table and played an audio recording.
Cher’s voice filled the room.
“…Wayne said everything is ready.”
Pispa froze.
Victor continued the playback.
“…Hazard won’t see it coming.”
The recording ended.
Silence.
Cold.
Deadly.
Hazard’s expression didn’t change.
But his voice—
Was terrifyingly calm.
“Where is she?”
The Truth Reaches Nam
Upstairs—
Nam stood behind the wall.
He had heard everything.
Every word.
His small hands trembled.
His mother’s voice echoed in his head.
Wayne will finish him.
Nam’s chest tightened painfully.
“No…”
Tears filled his eyes.
He didn’t understand everything.
But he understood one thing—
His mother was hurting the person he loved most.
His uncle.
Nam slowly stepped back.
Confused.
Scared.
Broken.
The Confrontation
Cher stood in the living room when Hazard walked in.
Victor followed behind him.
Pispa stood further back.
Cher smiled casually.
“You’re back early.”
Hazard didn’t respond.
He walked toward her slowly.
Each step heavy.
Dangerous.
“Who were you talking to?” he asked.
Cher raised an eyebrow.
“What?”
Hazard stopped in front of her.
His eyes locked onto hers.
“Wayne.”
The smile on Cher’s face disappeared.
For a moment—
She said nothing.
Then she laughed lightly.
“You’re being ridiculous.”
Victor played the recording again.
Cher’s voice filled the room.
This time—
There was no denial.
Silence followed.
Cher’s expression changed.
Her eyes hardened.
“So what if I did?”
Pispa inhaled sharply.
Hazard didn’t move.
Cher stepped closer.
“You’ve changed, Hazard.”
Her voice was sharp.
“You used to be unstoppable.”
She pointed toward Pispa.
“But now? You’re distracted. Weak.”
Hazard’s eyes darkened.
“She’s not your enemy.”
Cher scoffed.
“She is. She’s taking you away from your family.”
Hazard’s voice dropped.
“You stopped being my family the moment you chose my enemy.”
Silence.
Heavy.
Final.
Cher’s expression flickered for a second.
Then hardened again.
“You’ll regret this.”
Hazard turned away.
“Lock her in the east wing.”
Victor nodded.
As guards moved forward—
Nam stepped into the room.
“STOP!”
Everyone froze.
Nam’s small voice shook.
He looked at Cher.
“Mom… why?”
Cher’s expression softened instantly.
“Nam—”
“Why are you hurting Uncle Hazard?” he cried.
Tears ran down his face.
Cher reached for him.
But Nam stepped back.
“No…”
His voice broke.
“You lied to me.”
That moment—
Hurt more than anything else.
The Final Preparation
LATER THAT NIGHT_
Hazard stood in the armory.
Guns. Weapons. Ammunition.
All laid out.
Victor stood beside him.
“We found Wayne’s main base.”
Hazard loaded a weapon calmly.
“Good.”
Pispa stepped into the room.
“You’re going after him.”
Hazard looked at her.
“Yes.”
Pispa walked closer.
“Then I’m coming with you.”
Hazard shook his head.
“No.”
Pispa held his gaze.
“You said you didn’t want to lose me.”
Hazard’s jaw tightened.
“I don’t.”
“Then don’t leave me behind,” she said softly.
Silence.
Then—
Hazard stepped closer.
He cupped her face gently.
“This ends tonight.”
His voice was final.
Deadly.
“I kill Wayne.”
“And I end the past.”
Pispa whispered,
“And what about us?”
Hazard looked into her eyes.
Something softer flickered there.
“If I survive…”
He paused.
“…I choose you.”
Pispa’s breath caught.
Hazard leaned down and pressed his forehead against hers.
“Stay alive,” he whispered.
Then he turned.
Picked up his weapon.
And walked toward the door.
Victor followed.
The war was no longer coming.
It was here.
**
The rain had stopped.
But the city felt like it was holding its breath.
Wayne’s Stronghold
An abandoned industrial compound stood at the edge of the harbor.
Floodlights cut through the darkness.
Armed men guarded every entrance.
Inside—
Wayne waited.
Calm.
Unshaken.
Ronan stood beside him.
“He’s coming.”
Wayne smiled faintly.
“He always does.”
The Arrival
Black cars screeched to a stop outside the compound.
Hazard stepped out first.
Dressed in black.
Gun in hand.
Eyes empty.
Behind him—
Victor.
And a few trusted men.
Hazard didn’t hesitate.
“Move.”
The gates exploded open.
Gunfire erupted instantly.
War Breaks Loose
Bullets tore through the air.
Men dropped one after another.
Hazard moved like a shadow.
Precise.
Deadly.
Unstoppable.
Victor covered his back.
“Left!”
Hazard turned and fired without hesitation.
Another man fell.
Inside the chaos—
One thought drove him forward.
Wayne.
Inside — The Final Room
The doors burst open.
And there he was.
Wayne.
Standing calmly in the center of the room.
Like he had been waiting for this moment his entire life.
Their eyes met.
Silence fell.
Deadly silence.
Hazard stepped forward slowly.
“This ends now.”
Wayne smiled.
“I was hoping you’d say that.”
Hazard raised his gun.
But Wayne didn’t move.
Instead—
He laughed softly.
“You still don’t understand, do you?”
Hazard’s finger tightened on the trigger.
“Explain.”
Wayne’s eyes darkened.
“Juliana.”
The name hit like a bullet.
Hazard’s expression shifted slightly.
Wayne continued.
“She wasn’t just some innocent girl.”
Hazard’s voice turned cold.
“Watch your mouth.”
Wayne smirked.
“She was my sister.”
The world stopped.
Victor froze.
Even the air felt heavier.
Hazard’s eyes widened slightly.
Wayne stepped closer.
“Yes.”
“My little sister.”
His voice became darker.
“She loved you.”
Hazard didn’t speak.
“She trusted you.”
Wayne’s eyes burned now.
“And you killed her.”
Hazard’s jaw clenched.
“It was an accident.”
Wayne laughed bitterly.
“An accident?”
He stepped closer.
“I warned her about you.”
His voice rose.
“I told her your world would destroy her!”
Silence.
Heavy.
Painful.
“But she chose you anyway,” Wayne said.
“And that night…”
His voice dropped.
“I decided to prove her wrong.”
Victor’s eyes widened.
“You set it up.”
Wayne smiled.
“I created the perfect situation.”
His gaze locked onto Hazard.
“I wanted her to see who you really were.”
Hazard’s voice was deadly.
“So you used her.”
Wayne shrugged.
“I tested her loyalty.”
His smile twisted.
“And she failed.”
Hazard moved faster than anyone could react—
He grabbed Wayne by the collar and slammed him against the wall.
“YOU KILLED HER.”
Wayne didn’t flinch.
“No.”
He whispered.
“You did.”
The Choice
Suddenly—
A voice echoed from the doorway.
“STOP!”
Everyone turned.
Nam stood there.
Small.
Shaking.
Cher was behind him, held by guards.
“Nam?” Hazard said.
Nam’s eyes were filled with tears.
He looked between Hazard and Wayne.
Confused.
Broken.
Wayne smirked.
“Well… isn’t this interesting.”
Nam looked at Hazard.
“You didn’t mean to kill her… right?”
Hazard’s expression softened slightly.
“No.”
Nam turned to Wayne.
“You used her?”
Wayne didn’t answer.
But his silence said everything.
Nam clenched his fists.
Tears streamed down his face.
Then—
He stepped forward.
And stood beside Hazard.
“I’m with him.”
Cher gasped.
“Nam—!”
Nam shook his head.
“No.”
His voice broke.
“You’re wrong, mom.”
That moment—
Changed everything.
Wayne’s expression darkened.
“Touching.”
He suddenly reached for a hidden gun.
Victor shouted—
“Hazard!”
Gunshot.
But—
Someone moved faster.
Pispa.
She had followed them.
And now—
She stepped in front of Hazard.
The bullet hit her.
Everything stopped.
“PISPA!”
Hazard caught her as she collapsed.
His world shattered instantly.
“No… no… no…”
Blood spread across her clothes.
Her breathing was weak.
“I told you… not to follow me…”
His voice broke completely.
Pispa smiled faintly.
“You’d… die without me…”
Hazard’s hands trembled.
For the first time—
The devil looked helpless.
Hazard slowly laid Pispa down.
Then stood.
Something inside him—
Snapped.
He walked toward Wayne slowly.
Step by step.
Wayne tried to raise his gun again—
But Hazard was faster.
He disarmed him.
Pinned him.
And pressed a gun to his head.
Wayne laughed weakly.
“Do it.”
Hazard’s eyes were empty.
“This isn’t for revenge.”
His voice was cold.
“It’s for her.”
Gunshot.
Silence.
Wayne collapsed.
The war—
Was over.
Aftermath
Hazard dropped to his knees beside Pispa.
“Stay with me.”
His voice trembled.
“Please…”
Pispa’s hand weakly touched his.
“I told you…”
She whispered.
“…don’t… fall in love with me…”
Hazard shook his head.
“I already did.”
Tears fell freely now.
“And I’m not losing you.”
Her eyes slowly closed.
“Pispa?”
Silence.
“Pispa!”
TBC…
