Taming the Devil

Chapter 52: Into the Unknown [End]

The cold night air was thick with tension as Almond and Progress ran, the estate they had just left now a distant silhouette against the starless sky. Their feet pounded against the pavement, each step faster than the last, but no matter how quickly they moved, the weight of what they had just done pressed heavily on their shoulders.

Almond’s grip on Progress was tight, his hand clutching his wrist like a lifeline. The sound of their breathing filled the silence between them, each breath heavy and urgent. Behind them, they could hear the faint hum of the mansion’s lights flickering out of sight, but the fear of being caught made their hearts beat even faster.

“We need to keep moving,” Almond said, his voice low and strained, as if forcing the words through the pressure building in his chest. He didn’t dare look back, his only focus on the road ahead.

Progress, feeling the heat of Almond's hand on his, glanced over at him, but Almond’s face was unreadable. The intensity in his eyes was unmistakable—a mixture of fear, determination, and something else. Something raw, something real.

"We’ll figure it out," Progress said softly, his voice steady. He didn’t know how, but the certainty was there. They had both made the same choice, and now they were in this together. There was no turning back.

As they reached the gates, Almond stopped, his hand tugging Progress to a halt beside him. The silence between them stretched out, filled only by the soft rush of wind and the distant hum of city lights. Almond stood still for a long moment, gazing ahead into the night, as if weighing the consequences of their decision.

"Where do we go now?" Progress finally asked, his voice cutting through the quiet, but it was more out of necessity than uncertainty. They needed to know their next move, but neither of them had answers.

"I don’t know," Almond admitted, his voice cracking slightly as the words left him. He wasn’t ashamed of not having an answer. For once, the overwhelming weight of his father’s expectations, his family’s iron grip, was gone. "But I know... anywhere is better than that place. Anywhere is better if I’m with you."

Progress’s heart skipped a beat, the words settling deep within him. Almond had always been controlled by power, by the legacy of his family, but now, the only thing that mattered was the man beside him. Almond wasn’t just choosing him—he was choosing freedom, choosing something far more powerful than bloodlines.

Almond’s words hung in the air like a soft melody, but Progress’s heart was racing now. He pulled Almond closer, wrapping his arms around him. It was as if the world around them disappeared for that one second—no more mafia rules, no more threats, just them.

"I love you," Progress whispered against Almond’s ear, his voice a quiet, vulnerable admission. The words weren’t new, but they felt more real now than ever before.

Almond’s eyes fluttered closed, his breath catching in his throat. For a moment, he didn’t know what to say, didn’t know how to express everything that was swirling inside him. He didn’t have the words, but he didn’t need them.

Progress pulled away just slightly, just enough to look into Almond’s eyes, and the world around them ceased to exist. The tension, the danger, the weight of their situation—everything melted away. All that remained was the raw, undeniable connection between them.

Without thinking, Almond leaned forward, capturing Progress’s lips in a kiss that was all fire and desperation. It wasn’t gentle or soft; it was everything they had fought for, everything they had feared and desired. It was a kiss that spoke of the battles fought in the dark corners of their hearts, the moments of weakness and strength that had defined them.

Progress’s fingers tangled in Almond’s hair, pulling him closer, deepening the kiss. There was nothing left to lose, nothing left to fear. This moment—this perfect, reckless moment—was all they had.

They broke apart, both gasping for air, their foreheads resting against each other. Almond’s hand, still clutching Progress’s wrist, trembled slightly, but the warmth of his touch grounded Progress in a way nothing else ever could.

“We don’t have a plan,” Almond said, his voice low and rough.

“No,” Progress replied with a smirk, his hand resting on Almond’s chest. "But we have each other. And that’s all we need."

For a moment, neither of them moved. The night stretched out before them like a blank canvas, filled with endless possibilities, and neither of them felt the need to rush. They had made their choice. They had broken free.

And now, all they had to do was savor the feeling of freedom, even if they had no idea what came next.

Almond’s hand slid down to clasp Progress’s, his fingers threading through his. It wasn’t a question. It was a promise.

“Then let’s go,” Almond murmured.

And as they walked away from the only life they had ever known, toward an uncertain future, their hearts beat in sync, no longer burdened by the chains of their past. The road ahead was unclear, but for the first time, it didn’t matter.

Because they were free. Together.

---

They drove through the winding roads, the city lights flickering by as they made their way far away from the estate. The further they went, the lighter the air seemed to grow. The tension, the weight, the oppressive feeling that had followed them for so long slowly began to ease.

When they finally stopped at a small, secluded cabin on the outskirts of the city, almond trees surrounded the place, their branches stretching toward the night sky. Almond stepped out first, looking around with a sigh, his shoulders relaxing for the first time in what felt like forever.

Progress stepped out beside him, his hand never leaving Almond’s. For a moment, they simply stood together, breathing in the night air, savoring the quiet.

“Is this our new home?” Progress asked softly, teasing a little.

Almond chuckled, a rare sound that made Progress’s heart swell with warmth. “I think it is. For now.”

Without warning, Almond pulled Progress into his arms again, holding him tightly. The world around them seemed to fade as they stood there, in the middle of nowhere, with only each other to rely on.

“I don’t know what comes next,” Almond murmured against Progress’s hair. “But whatever it is, I’m with you. I’m always going to be with you.”

Progress nodded, his arms wrapping around Almond, holding him as if letting go would break them both. “And I’ll be with you, Almond. No matter what.”

They stood there, beneath the stars, wrapped in each other’s arms, knowing that whatever the future held, they would face it together. And for the first time in a long time, they could breathe freely.

Freedom.

It was terrifying. It was uncertain.

But in that moment, it was perfect.

And as they kissed again, slow and tender, neither of them thought about the world that had tried to tear them apart. They simply savored the peace they had fought so hard for.