Chapter One

The door flew open with a deafening crash, shaking the very walls of our small, run-down house. My heart leapt to my throat as three towering figures stormed inside, their dark suits and cold glares exuding danger. Before I could process what was happening, they grabbed my father, Javier, who was sitting in his worn armchair, clutching an old book.

“Let me go!” he shouted, struggling against their grip, but it was no use. These men were built like mountains, and their strength was overwhelming. One of them shoved him to the floor with brutal force, landing a harsh kick to his ribs.

“Dad!” I screamed, rushing forward, but another man stepped in front of me, his glare stopping me dead in my tracks. His cold, calculated expression made it clear—one wrong move and I’d regret it.

“Stay back,” he growled.

My father coughed violently, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth as he gasped, “Please… I’ll return the money! I just need more time!”

I froze, my blood running cold. Money? What money? What had he done to bring this nightmare to our doorstep?

“You don’t have time,” one of the men said, his voice sharp and unforgiving. “You stole from Mr. Rodriguez. You know what happens to thieves.”

Theo Rodriguez. The name hit me like a sledgehammer. I’d heard whispers about him—ruthless, untouchable, a man no one dared to cross. And now, my father was at his mercy.

Tears blurred my vision as I watched another kick land on my father’s side. “Stop!” I begged, my voice trembling. “Please, stop hurting him!”

The man holding me back gave me a cruel smirk. “Begging won’t help. Mr. Rodriguez will decide his fate.”

I felt helpless, suffocated by fear. But I couldn’t let them take my father away. Swallowing the lump in my throat, I said, “Take me to him. Let me speak to Theo Rodriguez.”

The men exchanged glances before one of them barked a laugh. “You? You think you can reason with him?”

I nodded, forcing myself to stand tall despite the trembling in my knees. “Please… just give me a chance.”

One of the men grabbed my arm roughly. “Fine. But don’t think for a second you can change his mind. You’ll see what happens when people defy him.”

As they dragged me out of the house, my father’s weak voice called after me. “Sofia, don’t—”

My father’s broken voice echoed in my ears as the men yanked me forward, their iron grips bruising my arms. Outside, the cool night air hit my face, but it did nothing to calm the storm brewing inside me. Parked at the curb was a sleek black sedan, its polished surface reflecting the dim glow of the streetlights. The vehicle screamed wealth and power—everything I imagined Theo Rodriguez embodied.

“Get in,” one of the men barked, shoving me toward the car.

I hesitated for a moment, fear rooting me to the spot, but a rough push sent me stumbling forward. My hands pressed against the cool metal of the door, and I shot a glance back at the house. My father was still inside, slumped on the floor and clutching his side. The sight of him, battered and helpless, hardened my resolve.

I climbed into the car, the leather seats cold and unfamiliar under my trembling hands. One of the men slid in beside me, his imposing presence taking up far more space than his physical form should. Another man took the front passenger seat, and the driver, silent and efficient, started the engine. The hum of the vehicle sent a shiver down my spine.

As the car pulled away from the curb, I stared out the tinted window, watching my home fade into the distance. It felt as though I were being ripped from everything familiar and thrown into the unknown—a world where people like Theo Rodriguez reigned supreme.

The man beside me spoke, his voice low and menacing. “You’re either brave or stupid, girl. Most people would’ve kept their mouths shut.”

I didn’t reply. My throat felt too tight, and my hands clenched into fists on my lap to keep them from shaking. Every instinct screamed at me to run, but there was no escaping now. I had willingly stepped into the devil’s lair, and I would have to face whatever awaited me.

The drive felt endless, each second stretching into eternity. The silence in the car was oppressive, broken only by the steady rumble of the engine. My mind raced, conjuring images of what Theo Rodriguez might be like. Ruthless, the men had said. A thief’s punishment was certain. Would he even give me the chance to plead for my father’s life?

Eventually, the car slowed, pulling into the circular driveway of a sprawling mansion. The sight took my breath away—not because of its beauty, but because of its sheer, imposing grandeur. Tall iron gates had swung open to let us through, and the house loomed ahead, a fortress of glass and stone bathed in eerie golden light.

The car came to a stop, and the man beside me gestured for me to get out. My legs felt like jelly as I stepped onto the pristine gravel. The mansion’s doors opened, and a wave of warm light spilled out, casting long shadows across the drive.

“Move,” one of the men growled, pushing me toward the entrance.

The grand doors creaked open as I was shoved inside, and I stumbled slightly, catching myself before falling. The interior was as intimidating as the exterior—marble floors gleamed under a crystal chandelier, and every inch of the space radiated power and wealth. My heart raced as I followed the men deeper into the mansion, my footsteps echoing in the cavernous hall.

We entered a vast living room, its walls adorned with expensive art and shelves lined with leather-bound books. At the far end of the room, a grand staircase spiraled upward. Descending it, with an air of authority that made the hairs on my neck stand on end, was him—Theo Rodriguez.

My breath hitched. He was tall and sharply dressed, his presence commanding the room. His dark hair was perfectly styled, and his piercing eyes locked onto me with a mix of curiosity and coldness. But it wasn’t just his commanding aura that froze me—it was his face. He looked familiar, like someone I’d seen before. I couldn’t place where or how, but the resemblance tugged at the edges of my memory, leaving me unsettled.

Theo stopped midway down the stairs, his sharp gaze flicking to the man beside me. “Who is this?” he asked, his deep voice cutting through the silence like a blade.

“This is Mr. Vargas’s daughter,” the man answered stiffly.

Theo’s expression darkened in an instant. His jaw tightened as he descended the rest of the stairs in a rush, his movements sharp and precise. Without warning, his hand lashed out, slapping the man who had spoken. The sound echoed in the room, and I flinched, my eyes widening in shock.

“Did I ask you to bring his daughter?” Theo’s voice was low, but the fury in it was unmistakable. He glared at the man, who lowered his head in submission.

Theo’s eyes then flicked to me, and the disgust on his face made my stomach churn. “Take her away,” he ordered coldly, his voice dripping with contempt. “Bring me her father. I have no interest in dealing with his offspring.”

The man nodded and reached for my arm, ready to drag me away, but desperation took over. I couldn’t let them take me back without saying anything—not when my father’s life was on the line.

“Please, hear me out!” I cried, my voice cracking.

The men froze, startled by my boldness. Theo’s hand, which had been poised to wave me off, stilled in mid-air. He looked at me, his eyes narrowing as if trying to figure me out. Slowly, he raised his hand again, signaling the men to stop.

The silence that followed was suffocating. His eyes bore into mine, and I felt small under his piercing gaze. “You have a lot of nerve speaking to me like that,” he said, his tone laced with disdain. “You have one minute. Speak.”