Chapter 8: His World

The room felt too small, the air too thick, as if everything was closing in around me. My heart raced. His queen. That was the last thing I expected to hear. But I couldn’t let him know how deeply it unsettled me. I had a job to do, and as terrifying as this was, it didn’t change anything.

I just had to play the part. For now, I had no choice but to stay close, to gain his trust, and get the evidence I needed. But the more I played into his world, the more I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was in over my head.

But I had no time to doubt myself now.

"Alright," I said, my voice steady, though my insides churned. "I’ll come with you, Thorne. But don’t forget… I’m not some pawn you can control."

He chuckled darkly, leaning in once more. "We’ll see, Nora. You’ll learn your place soon enough."

And with that, I knew my path was set. Whether I liked it or not, I was stepping deeper into his world, and there was no turning back now.

The words "You’ll learn your place soon enough" echoed in my mind long after Thorne spoke them. His gaze never wavered, the weight of his stare pressing into me, claiming me in a way that made my chest tighten with both anticipation and dread. I could feel his dominance in every word, every gesture.

There was no mistaking it: he wasn’t just some dangerous man I was playing with—he was a force, and I had just stepped into his world.

"Come with me," he said, his voice firm, as though there were no option to refuse. "You’re coming home with me. Today."

I swallowed, trying to steady myself. This wasn’t part of the plan, but I had no choice now. The mission required me to get closer, to gain his trust, and that meant following his lead—no matter how unsettling it felt. I couldn't afford to question him now.

He took a step toward me, his eyes dark, watching my every move. I forced myself to meet his gaze, my heart racing as he closed the space between us.

"We’ll leave now," he said, taking my hand with an almost possessive grip. "I’m going to take care of you, Nora. Everything you need will be here, at my place. You’ll be mine."

A chill ran down my spine at the weight of his words. It wasn’t just the physical claim he had over me—it was something deeper, something that threatened to consume everything I was. I wasn’t just here to seduce him. I was here to bring him down.

Still, I couldn’t ignore the knot in my stomach. His world felt suffocating, dangerous. But I couldn’t let him see my unease. I needed to play my part, to keep up the facade of being his.

"Alright," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "I’ll go with you."

Thorne’s smile deepened, and there was something predatory in it. "Good. I knew you would. You belong to me now, Nora. In every way." He tightened his grip on my hand as he led me out of the room, and I followed him without a word.

We didn’t speak during the drive to his mansion. The silence between us was thick, filled with unspoken tension. Every time I glanced at him, his eyes were on the road, but I could feel him watching me—observing me. His presence felt like it consumed the space around me, leaving no room for escape.

When we arrived at the mansion, the gates opened without a sound, as though they had been waiting for him. The grand entrance was imposing, the mansion towering above us as I stepped out of the car, my heart beating faster in my chest. This place—his world—felt suffocating, too opulent, too controlled. Every part of it was a reflection of him: cold, powerful, untouchable.

"You’re home now," Thorne said as we stepped inside. His voice held an edge to it, as though I had no other choice but to accept what he was offering—or what he was demanding. "Everything you need is here. And remember, Nora, you belong to me. No one else."

The words hit me like a heavy blow, but I didn’t let my surprise show. I couldn’t. This wasn’t about me. It wasn’t about how I felt. It was about the mission, about gaining his trust, and getting the evidence I needed to take him down. But the more I tried to push the fear down, the more it seemed to rise, swirling in my chest.

I nodded slowly. "I understand," I said, my voice barely a whisper.

Thorne gave me a satisfied look, his smile curling into something far too pleased. "Good," he said. "You’ll learn to enjoy it here, Nora. This is just the beginning."

As he led me further into his mansion, I couldn’t help but feel like I was walking deeper into a trap. His world, his power, his control—everything about it seemed to be designed to make me feel small, insignificant. I had to keep my composure, keep playing my part.

But I was terrified. I didn’t know what he had planned, but I knew one thing for certain: this was going to be much more complicated than I had anticipated. I had to stay close, stay in control of my emotions, even as everything around me made me feel like I was losing myself.

Thorne stopped and turned to me, his gaze steady. "I’m going to make you my queen, Nora. You’ll see. Everything will change from here on out."

His words hit me harder than I expected. His queen. The thought rattled me, but I didn’t let it show. I had to be strong. I had to play the part.

He smiled, the expression dark and knowing. "But remember, Nora. There is no escape from here. You’re mine now. Forever."