Dangerous Awakening

Pain. That was the first thing Sasha registered as she slowly came to. Her body throbbed with it—sharp stabs in her side, a dull ache in her head, and a deep, pulsing bruise on her arm where the man had gripped her. She groaned softly, the sound barely audible in the cold, dark space surrounding her. Every muscle screamed in protest as she tried to shift, the memories of what had happened rushing back like a flood.

Luca’s betrayal. Dominic’s fury. The man’s rough hands dragging her away, then the fall.

She opened her eyes, blinking against the darkness. Her head spun, disorienting her for a moment as she tried to focus. Where was she? What had happened after she’d fallen?

Her heart pounded in her chest as she struggled to sit up, wincing at the sharp pain that shot through her ribs. The floor beneath her was hard and cold, and as her vision adjusted to the dim light, she realized she was in some kind of underground room. There were no windows, only the faintest sliver of light seeping in from beneath a heavy metal door on the far side of the room.

Panic surged through her. She was trapped.

Sasha pushed herself up onto her knees, gasping at the pain but forcing herself to move. She couldn’t stay here—she had to find a way out, had to warn Dominic about Luca’s plot before it was too late. But as she tried to stand, her legs wobbled beneath her, weak from the fall.

“Get it together,” she whispered to herself, her voice shaky but determined.

She hobbled toward the door, her heart racing as she tested the handle. Locked. Of course, it was locked. Her pulse quickened, fear and frustration bubbling up inside her as she banged on the door with her fist, her knuckles stinging from the impact.

“Help!” she shouted, her voice echoing in the small, cold room. “Is anyone there?”

For a moment, there was only silence. Her heart sank as she leaned her forehead against the door, her body trembling from the effort of staying upright. But just as she was about to give up, she heard the faintest sound—a shuffle of footsteps outside the door.

Hope flared in her chest. Maybe someone had heard her. Maybe Dominic had sent someone to find her.

But when the door creaked open, her heart plummeted.

It wasn’t Dominic standing on the other side.

It was Luca.

“Well, well, well,” he drawled, stepping into the room with a slow, predatory grace. “Look who’s awake.”

Sasha’s stomach twisted with fear, but she forced herself to stand tall, refusing to show him how terrified she really was. “What do you want, Luca?” she demanded, her voice sharper than she felt. “What’s your plan? To lock me up in some basement and hope I disappear?”

Luca’s smile widened, cold and calculating. He closed the door behind him with a soft click, the sound final and suffocating in the small space. “I don’t want to hurt you, Sasha,” he said, his voice dripping with false sincerity. “But you’ve made things… difficult.”

She clenched her fists, anger boiling up inside her despite the fear gnawing at her chest. “Difficult? Because I overheard your little plan to betray Dominic? Is that what this is about?”

Luca’s eyes darkened, his smile fading as he took another step toward her. “You shouldn’t have been snooping where you don’t belong.”

“Someone has to stop you,” she snapped, taking a step back, her back hitting the wall. “You think you can take over Dominic’s empire and no one will notice? You think you can just get rid of him and everything will fall into place?”

Luca’s expression hardened, his gaze cold as ice. “It’s already falling into place,” he said quietly, his voice filled with a dangerous certainty. “And Dominic won’t be around much longer to stop it.”

Fear clutched at Sasha’s heart. Whatever Luca had planned, it was bigger than she had imagined. This wasn’t just a power play—this was a coup. And Dominic, the man who had always been in control, was about to lose everything.

She had to warn him.

“You won’t get away with this,” she said, her voice shaking with a mix of anger and desperation. “I won’t let you.”

Luca’s smile returned, slow and menacing. “And how exactly do you plan to stop me, Sasha? You’re in no position to do anything but watch.”

He stepped closer, so close she could feel the heat of his body, the dangerous energy radiating from him. Her heart raced as she pressed herself against the wall, trying to put as much distance between them as possible.

But Luca reached out, his fingers grazing her chin as he tilted her face up to meet his gaze. “You’re smart,” he murmured, his eyes searching hers. “Too smart for your own good, maybe. But you could still have a place in this new world. With me.”

Revulsion surged through her at his touch, and she jerked her head away, glaring at him with all the defiance she could muster. “I’d rather die.”

Luca’s expression didn’t change, but his eyes flashed with a dangerous glint. “That can be arranged.”

Before she could react, he grabbed her wrist, his grip tight and painful as he yanked her toward the door. Sasha struggled against him, her heart pounding with fear, but Luca was too strong. He dragged her out of the room and down the narrow hallway, his steps quick and purposeful.

Panic surged through her as they descended deeper into the basement, the air growing colder and more oppressive. She had no idea where Luca was taking her, but every instinct screamed that she needed to escape—now.

They reached a heavy metal door at the end of the hallway, and Luca shoved it open, revealing a small, dimly lit room. The space was bare, except for a single chair in the center of the room, bolted to the floor. Chains dangled from the ceiling, clinking softly in the stale air.

Sasha’s blood ran cold.

“No,” she whispered, her voice trembling as Luca dragged her toward the chair. “No, please—”

But Luca wasn’t listening. He shoved her into the chair, snapping the restraints around her wrists and ankles before she could even process what was happening. The cold metal bit into her skin, the chains rattling ominously as she struggled against them.

Luca stepped back, his eyes gleaming with a sick satisfaction as he watched her squirm. “Now we’re going to have a little chat,” he said, his voice smooth and dangerous. “And you’re going to tell me everything you know about Dominic’s plans.”

Sasha’s heart pounded in her chest as she stared up at him, her mind racing. She couldn’t tell him anything—she wouldn’t betray Dominic. But Luca wasn’t the type to take no for an answer, and she knew this was only the beginning of the nightmare.

“I don’t know anything,” she lied, her voice hoarse with fear.

Luca’s smile faded, replaced by a cold, calculating stare. “We’ll see.”

He turned and left the room, leaving Sasha alone in the cold, dark space. The door slammed shut behind him, the sound echoing in the small room like a death sentence.

Sasha’s heart raced as she tugged at the chains, her mind spinning with fear and desperation. She had to find a way out, had to warn Dominic before Luca’s plan came to fruition. But as the minutes ticked by, her hope began to fade.

The door creaked open again, and Sasha’s breath caught in her throat as Luca returned, this time with two of his men in tow. One of them carried a small black case, and Sasha’s blood ran cold as he set it down on the floor beside her.

“We’re going to have some fun now,” Luca said, his voice low and menacing. “And by the time we’re done, you’ll be begging to tell me everything.”

Sasha’s heart pounded in her chest as the man opened the case, revealing a collection of sharp, gleaming instruments. Her stomach turned as she realized what was about to happen.

She was trapped. Helpless. And no one was coming to save her.

But just as Luca took a step forward, ready to begin whatever twisted torture he had planned, the door burst open.

Dominic stood in the doorway, his eyes blazing with fury as he took in the scene. His men poured into the room behind him, their guns drawn, ready to take down anyone who stood in their way.

For a moment, time seemed to freeze. Sasha’s heart soared with relief—but then she saw the look in Dominic’s eyes.

This wasn’t just a rescue mission. This was a reckoning.

And Luca was about to pay.