Dante moved in front of me, blocking my path. “You want to survive? Then face what’s inside. You have a weapon. Use it.”I blinked up at him, disbelief and terror washing over me. “You’re throwing me in there? I don’t even know what I’m supposed to do.”“Figure it out,” Dante said, his voice hard as steel. “This is your world now. No one’s going to hold your hand.”He stepped aside, motioning toward the open door. I stared at it, my whole body trembling, and for a moment, I considered running. Just bolting into the darkness, away from him, away from this nightmare. But where would I go? How far would I make it?I swallowed hard, my fingers tightening around the gun, and took a step toward the door. My legs felt like they would give out at any moment, but I forced them to keep moving.The growling grew louder as I stepped inside. My heart pounded in my ears, and I could fe
**(Elena's POV)**The air in the warehouse felt heavier than before, thick with the scent of blood and something else—something I couldn’t name, but it clung to me like a second skin. I couldn’t stop staring at the man’s body on the ground. His chest wasn’t moving. His eyes, once so full of cruel amusement, were lifeless now.Empty.I’d done that.My hands wouldn’t stop shaking, and I felt the bile rise in my throat. I took a step back, trying to swallow it down, but the feeling wouldn’t go away. I could still feel the weight of the gun in my hand, the echo of the shot ringing in my ears. I had never held a gun before today. Now I’d used one to kill a man.This wasn’t self-defense. It was something else. Something dark and suffocating, and I didn’t know if I could live with it.“Look at me.” Dante’s voice cut through the silence like a blade.I couldn’t. I kept my gaze locked on the man lying at my feet, the pool of blood spreading around him. This couldn’t be real. I’d wake up any mi
**(Elena’s POV)**The next morning came far too quickly. I hadn’t slept. Not really. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw his face—the man I killed. His lifeless eyes followed me into my dreams, into the darkness that seemed to fill every corner of this house. I kept thinking that at some point I’d wake up, back in my old life, where the most dangerous thing I had to face was Brady Thompson's taunts. But I wasn’t waking up. This was real. And now, every breath I took felt heavier, like the weight of Dante’s world was pressing down on me, threatening to crush me if I didn’t learn how to survive. I pulled the thick curtains open, letting the cold morning light spill into the room. The grounds outside stretched out like a maze, perfectly manicured but deceiving. They hid the dark secrets of this place. My reflection in the glass looked like a stranger—eyes wide, hollow, and rimmed with sleeplessness. I didn’t know this girl anymore. The one who had killed a man and still had to keep movi
The weight of Dante’s words lingered in the air, pressing down on me like a vice. “Then you’re of no use to me.” He’d said it so casually, as if my life could be discarded as easily as one of his unfinished plans. It wasn’t a threat; it was a fact. He didn’t need to say any more. I was either going to survive in his world or die trying.I glanced at the men gathered around the table. They were all watching me, their expressions cold, some even amused. I could see it in their eyes—they didn’t believe I could do it. They were waiting for me to fail.“What now?” I finally asked, my voice quiet but steady. I wasn’t about to give them the satisfaction of seeing me crumble, not after everything I’d been through.Dante’s gaze flickered over me, but his face remained unreadable. “You’ll be working with Viktor,” he said, gesturing toward the man with the scar that had taunted me moments earlier. “He’ll give you your first assignment.”Viktor’s lips curled into a smirk, his eyes glinting with s
Moretti looked up sharply at the mention of Dante’s name. His eyes narrowed, and he leaned back in his chair, sizing me up. I could see the flicker of recognition, followed by something else—fear, maybe. But he masked it quickly, replacing it with a scowl.“You?” Moretti snorted, clearly unimpressed. “Dante sent a girl to do his dirty work now? What’s this about, huh?”I swallowed hard, trying to maintain the same steady tone. “You owe Dante. He’s done waiting for what you promised.”Moretti’s scowl deepened, but I could see the tension in his jaw. He was trying to play it cool, but I knew the name Dante Ricci carried weight, even with someone like him. That alone kept me standing there, even though my legs felt like they might give out at any second.“He can’t be serious,” Moretti muttered, taking a swig of his whiskey. “Sending some kid to threaten me. You’ve got no idea what you’re getting into, girl. Get lost before you get hurt.”“I’m not here for small talk,” I said, forcing my
The next few days passed in a blur of exhaustion, tension, and uncertainty. Dante’s mansion became a maze I had to navigate, filled with men who looked at me like I didn’t belong. Maybe I didn’t. Every room felt colder than the last, the walls closing in on me as if reminding me there was no escape. Each morning, I woke up waiting for the next test, the next task that would push me closer to the edge.And each day, I survived. Barely.The assignment with Moretti had left me shaken, but it wasn’t the worst part. The worst part was realizing how easily I’d been pulled into Dante’s world. How quickly I was becoming a part of something I swore I could never accept. The fear that once controlled me now felt different—less panicked and more calculated. It wasn’t just fear of death anymore; it was fear of what I was becoming.I sat in the small room they had given me, staring at the blank walls. The only sound came from the ticking of the old clock on the desk, and every tick felt like it wa
The room felt too small, the air too thick, and the weight of the gun in my hand felt like it might crush me. My finger hovered over the trigger, my heart racing so fast I could hear it in my ears. Alexei stood a few feet away, his eyes flicking between me and the gun, disbelief etched into his features.“You don’t have it in you,” he sneered, his voice low and mocking, like he was daring me to prove him wrong.I tightened my grip, my knuckles turning white. Sweat dripped down the back of my neck, my breath coming in shallow gasps. His words echoed in my mind. Maybe he was right. I wasn’t a killer. Not really. I’d killed a man before, but that had been different. That had been self-defense, survival in the heat of the moment.This? This was cold, deliberate. Planned.Alexei took a step closer, his posture relaxed, almost mocking. “You don’t even know why you’re here, do you? You’re just Dante’s pawn, doing his dirty work. He’s testing you, you know that? He wants to see if you’ll brea
I got out of the car, my legs still shaky as I made my way to the front entrance. The mansion loomed before me, cold and imposing, just like the man who ruled it. My heart pounded in my chest as I walked inside, every step feeling heavier than the last.When I reached Dante’s office, I paused outside the door, my hand hovering over the handle. I didn’t know what was waiting for me on the other side, but I knew I couldn’t hesitate any longer. I had to face him, face the consequences of my failure.I took a deep breath and pushed the door open.Dante was sitting behind his desk, his eyes already on me as I stepped inside. His expression was unreadable, but I could feel the weight of his disappointment, even from across the room.I stood there, unsure of what to say, unsure of what he wanted from me. My heart raced as I waited for him to speak, the silence stretching between us like a chasm.Finally, he leaned back in his chair, his gaze never leaving mine. “So,” he said, his voice calm
**Dante’s POV**The glass of wine in my hand trembled slightly, the dark liquid swirling against the sides as I gripped it harder than necessary. My eyes were fixed on the vast expanse of darkness outside the window, but my thoughts were anywhere but calm. The night was still, suffocatingly quiet, but inside me, a storm raged.I should have killed her.The thought slammed into me for the hundredth time since I brought Elena back, gnawing at my insides like a festering wound. She had betrayed me. Failed to complete her mission. Twice. She had run—**run**—thinking she could escape from me. The sheer audacity of it burned through my veins, hotter than the alcohol sliding down my throat.I didn’t kill her. **Why?**The question roared inside my head like a beast demanding answers, but none came. I had every reason to end her miserable, defiant life. She was weak, an outsider who didn’t belong in my world. And y
I stood there for a moment, my mind spinning, my body trembling. Everything had happened so fast. I had been so close to freedom, so close to escaping Dante’s grasp. But now, I was back in the same place I had fought so desperately to leave. The weight of Dante’s words pressed down on me, suffocating any hope I had left.My legs gave out, and I collapsed onto the bed, the soft mattress doing nothing to ease the tight knot in my chest. The room was cold despite the luxurious surroundings, and no matter how warm the blankets felt beneath my fingers, I couldn’t shake the chill that had settled into my bones.Dante’s voice echoed in my mind: *“You belong to me. Don’t ever forget that.”* It wasn’t just a warning; it was a promise. A dark, twisted promise that no matter what I did, no matter how far I ran, I would never be free of him.My hands trembled as I pressed them to my face, trying to hold back the wa
(Elena’s POV)The car rumbled beneath me, the engine’s hum a steady reminder of my imprisonment. Dante’s hand remained a cold iron vise around my wrist, his grip unrelenting. I stared at his hand, the way his fingers pressed into my skin, feeling the subtle strength he always managed to radiate, even when he wasn’t trying.I was trapped, and he knew it. He reveled in it.The silence in the car was suffocating, the tension like a heavy fog that I couldn’t escape. The only sound was the soft hum of the tires against the road, and I couldn’t bring myself to look at him.“Elena,” Dante’s voice broke the stillness, low and menacing, yet smooth as velvet. He dragged out my name like it was a delicate secret meant to be savored. “You made things very difficult for me.”I swallowed hard, trying to steady my breath. His words were like a noose tightening around my neck, each one a
We ran, the forest closing in around us, the branches tearing at my skin, but I didn’t stop. I couldn’t. Every step was a desperate attempt to stay ahead, to keep moving. Marco’s footsteps weren’t far behind, and even though his voice had faded into the distance, I could still feel him closing in.Haines stumbled next to me, his breath coming in ragged gasps. He wasn’t built for this. He’d always been someone who thrived in quiet spaces, far from danger, and now, here we were, running for our lives. I wanted to shout at him to keep going, to push through the exhaustion, but I could feel his strength fading. We couldn’t last much longer.“Elena…” Haines wheezed, grabbing my arm for support. “I—I can’t keep up.”I glanced at him, the moonlight catching the lines of fear etched into his face. His legs were trembling, his chest heaving. I knew if we kept pushing him, he’d coll
I ran, the forest blurring around me, branches tearing at my skin, and every breath a sharp, jagged reminder that I couldn’t stop. Marco’s footsteps crashed through the trees behind me, relentless and unforgiving. I had no sense of direction anymore—only the pounding rhythm of my heartbeat and the desperate drive to stay ahead of him.The cold air stung my lungs as I pushed harder, my legs burning with exhaustion. I could barely hear anything over the blood rushing in my ears, but Marco’s voice cut through it all.“Elena!” he shouted, his voice laced with fury. “You think you can outrun me? You’re only making this worse!”The rage in his voice sent a chill down my spine, but I didn’t stop. I couldn’t. Haines had run, and I could only hope he was far enough away now. He wasn’t built for this, but maybe… just maybe he had gotten out. And if Marco was chasing me, it meant he wasn’t
The tension between them was palpable, and I could feel the man’s indecision in the way he shifted his weight. He wasn’t sure what to do, and that gave me just enough time.With a burst of adrenaline, I twisted beneath him, bringing my knee up and slamming it into his side. He grunted in pain, his grip loosening just enough for me to slip free.I scrambled to my feet, backing away from both men, my heart pounding in my chest.Marco watched me for a moment, then turned his attention back to the man. “You should leave while you can.”The man sneered, clearly unhappy with the turn of events, but he knew he was outmatched. He gave me one last look—cold and full of promise—before he turned and disappeared into the shadows.I stood there, panting, my body trembling with fear and exhaustion as I watched him go. Marco remained where he was, his expression still unreadable.Finally, he turned to me, his voice low.
The figure stood at the far end of the ravine, shrouded in darkness. My heart thudded in my chest, my breath catching as I squinted, trying to make out who—or what—was standing there. The figure didn’t move, just stood there, watching us. My pulse quickened. It wasn’t Marco. I would’ve recognized his sharp, calculated presence anywhere. But something about this person felt even more dangerous, like they were waiting for the right moment to strike.Haines took a step back, his hand gripping my arm. “Who is that?” he whispered, his voice trembling with fear.“I don’t know,” I said, my voice barely a whisper, but I knew one thing for certain: this wasn’t a good sign. Whoever they were, they weren’t here to help us.The figure moved forward slowly, their steps deliberate and measured. As they stepped out of the shadows, the faint moonlight illuminated their face. It was a man, tall and broad-shouldered, with a calm, almost casual expression on his face. His eyes, though—there was somethi
We made our way to the cabin, slipping inside through the broken door. The interior was dark and musty, the air thick with the smell of damp wood. It was small, just one room with an old, broken-down fireplace and a single window that had long since been shattered.Haines collapsed onto the floor, his body trembling with exhaustion. I leaned against the wall, my legs shaking as I tried to steady my breathing. The weight of everything we had been through pressed down on me, heavy and suffocating. My mind was a whirlwind of fear and exhaustion, but for the first time in what felt like hours, we had a moment to catch our breath.The cabin was silent except for the sound of Haines’ ragged breathing. He was on the verge of collapse, and I couldn’t blame him. We were both pushed far beyond our limits.I glanced toward the broken window, my eyes scanning the forest beyond for any signs of movement. Marco was still out there, hunting us, and I knew he wouldn
The night deepened, wrapping the forest in shadows as we moved through the trees, the air cold and biting. My breath came in ragged gasps, the exhaustion settling into my bones. Every muscle in my body screamed for rest, but we couldn’t stop. Not with Marco so close. Not with every step we took feeling like it might be our last.Haines stumbled behind me, his footsteps heavy and uneven. I slowed down, turning to look at him. His face was pale, his eyes wide with fear. He was barely holding on.“We have to keep moving,” I whispered urgently, grabbing his arm to steady him.“I—I can’t,” he gasped, doubling over and clutching his knees. “I can’t keep up… I’m not built for this.”I clenched my jaw, knowing he was right. His breathing was labored, each inhale sounding more desperate than the last. I could see the exhaustion etched into every line of his face. He wasn’t used to runni