*************
Chapter 4
Scarface led me through the dim corridors of Arthdal Strike, till we made our way out for the club.
Every step I took felt heavier than the last with Damon’s words replaying in my mind—You’ll be mine. Exclusively.
The reality of what I had agreed to was beginning to sink in, nearly suffocating me.
I averted my gaze, desperate to avoid meeting anyone’s eyes till we got into the same black car that brought me.
The drive was silent. The car was spacious; now they believed I wouldn't run away. And truth be told, I crossed that thought out of my mind.
Maybe in the past, but with Damon exclusively involved now, there was no hope. Not now, at least.
My mind raced back to the office in the club and Damon. I held back my breath, feeling his presence loom over me as though he were still there.
‘Breath, Ari, breath,’ I mentally chanted till we arrived at the grand estate sprawling across hectares of manicured landscape.
I stood in awe immediately I alighted the car at the grandeur of the mansion.
Its winding driveways were lined with lush greenery and ornate lamp posts. Manicured gardens, bursting with vibrant lights in the dark, illuminating the entire compound and tranquil water features, a grand, multi-story mansion with classical architecture, ornate details, and expansive windows.
Behind the mansion, a separate, modern penthouse structure rose, boasting sleek lines, floor-to-ceiling glass, and a rooftop pool overlooking the estate.
I barely had time to take in my surroundings when Scarface pushed me forward.
“Walk,” the second man ordered.
Scarface remained silent as we passed the mansion, heading for the penthouse. We reached a private elevator, and without a word, he pressed the button for the top floor.
As the elevator doors slid shut, I felt a sudden sense of claustrophobia. The walls seemed too close, the air too thick.
I almost choked, forcing my mind to think of other things. ‘Breath, Arianna. You’ll be fine.’
I was about to be delivered to Damon Dark’s private world, away from the chaos of the club, but it offered no comfort. This wasn’t freedom—it was just another cage, a more gilded and rich one.
When the doors opened, I blinked in shock at the change in scenery. The penthouse was nothing like the gritty streets I’d come from.
Polished marble floors gleamed under the soft light, and the walls were lined with sleek, modern art.
Large glass windows showcased the sprawling city of Thania beneath us, glittering like a dangerous jewel. Everything about the place screamed wealth and power, but it felt cold. Uninviting. Like its owner.
Damon stood by one of the windows with a phone pressed against his left ear, his silhouette sharp against the city lights. He didn’t turn as I entered, but I could feel his awareness like he knew my every move.
I swallowed hard, but my throat had gotten dry as Scarface nudged me forward before leaving the living room without a word. The door clicked shut behind me, leaving me alone with Damon.
For a moment, there was nothing but silence until he spoke into the phone. “I'll be there.”
My skin prickled with nerves. Finally, Damon spoke without turning to face me. "You’ll learn quickly that everything here operates under my rules."
I stiffened as expected but my naughty mouth asked, "What exactly does that mean?"
He turned, his blue eyes locking onto mine. “It means that from now on, you do as I say. You don’t question me. You don’t defy me. And most importantly, you don’t forget who you belong to."
His words were cold, calculated, like everything about him. But there was something else there too. A flicker of vulnerability, as though he was hiding something deeper. It unnerved me, but it also drew me in.
"I don't have much of a choice, do I?" I mumbled.
Damon’s lips twitched in a way that wasn’t quite a smile. "No. You don’t. Just needed to remind you, Ari, because there wouldn’t be a next time. Only punishments shall follow."
I snapped my head up at him. Did he just calm my nickname? And the way it rolled off his lips like sugar on an ice cake made my stomach flutter.
His lips twitched. "You’ll stay here," Damon continued, walking toward me slowly. "You won’t return to that apartment. You’ll have everything you need, but in return, I expect complete obedience."
I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms. "And what happens if I don’t obey?"
Damon stopped just inches from me. His eyes bore into mine. "You're just starting, and you want to disobey? Looks like you have a bigger death wish than I thought.”
“Believe me, I don't. However, I wish to know what I'm getting into.”
In the blink of an eye, Damon’s hand gripped my chin a little too tight for my liking, forcing me to stare into his eyes.
Hypnotised, I held them. “And you’ll find out why I’m not a man you want to cross."
I couldn’t breathe. Those words were filled with unspoken threats. And yet, there was something in his gaze that made my heart race—not just with fear, but with something else I couldn’t name.
"I don’t know if I can do this," I admitted.
"A little too late for that don’t you think?”
“Not like what you need comes with a job description,” I retorted.
“Sharp-tongued, Ari but did anyone ever tell you it would put you in trouble?”
“Maybe.”
He scoffed and released my chin. “You’ll learn," Damon said softly, his voice strangely gentle. His hand reached up, brushing a strand of hair from my face. His touch was surprisingly light. "You’ll adapt. And you’ll survive."
I flinched at the touch, my instincts screaming at me to pull away, but the way he looked at me—like I was more than just another part of his world—kept me rooted to the spot.
As his hand dropped to his side, his expression hardened again, like a mask slipping back into place. "You’ll be safe here. No one will hurt you. As long as you follow the rules."
I swallowed hard. He was offering me protection, but at what cost? I was giving up my freedom, my will, to a man who seemed to thrive on control.
"Get some rest," he said, turning away from me. "You’re in luck. First night passed. Your new life officially starts tomorrow."
I blink in confusion. "Tomorrow?"
Damon didn’t answer. He simply walked toward another door, but then he stopped, half-turned, his expression completely cold.
"On second thought, Victor, throw her in the cold room for forty minutes. Perhaps that will tame her lips."
What?!
With that, he left me alone but to my dismay, Scarface walked in with a wicked grin on his face.
'Just great!'
**********Chapter 5~Ari~First of all, I learnt Scarface’s name. Secondly, Damon wasn’t kidding when he asked that I be locked up. The door slammed shut behind me, leaving me in complete darkness. My breath hitched, panic clawing at my throat. The cold seeped in almost immediately, biting into my skin through the thin, skimpy outfit I wore, but that wasn’t what made my heart race. That was a fraction. The issue was the dark, locked room—the walls closing in and the suffocating darkness pressing on all sides. I’m claustrophobic. It happened after my parents' death and since then… Oh well. My chest tightened, and my knees buckled beneath me. I couldn’t see a thing, couldn’t even hear my breathing over the sound of my racing heartbeat. I stumbled back, my fingers scraping against the cold stone wall, the only thing tethering me to reality. Within seconds, the memories flooded back—being trapped, helpless, after my parents’ car accident. The crushing weight of the wreckage, the end
**************Chapter 1: DesperationI rushed through the crowded streets, my heels clicking on the wet pavement. Another late night, another shift at the diner. My uncle's debt was suffocating us, and I was running out of options."Ari, you're late again," Martha, my coworker, said as I burst through the diner's door."Sorry, Martha. Traffic," I lied, grabbing my apron.The night blurred together—endless orders, tired smiles, and pocket change tips. As the clock struck midnight, I counted my meagre earnings. Not enough. Never enough.With no choice—there never was a choice, I walked home, the city's neon lights reflected off the rain-soaked streets like a twisted mirror. I quickened my pace, hoping to leave the deserted streets and get home.Not that it was any good, but it was a million times better than being caught in the street at odd hours.I shuddered, thinking of the criminal cases that have been heard of. Still, what choice does a girl have? Uncle Jackson’s words echoed in
**************Chapter 2My feet barely touched the ground as they dragged me out the door, my screams lost in the echoes of the night. They shoved me into the back of the sleek black car, slamming the door shut. Trapped between two men, I knew there wasn’t any escape. Furious tears stung my eyes as the engine roared to life, the car speeding off into the city’s darkened streets.I pressed myself against the front chair, every muscle tense. This couldn’t be happening. This was some kind of nightmare. But the cold leather beneath me and the steady hum of the engine made it real. Too real. I’d been sold—by my own flesh and blood.We pulled up to Arthdal Strike. From the outside, it looked like just another club, the kind you’d pass by with a second glance—big building, neon lights flickering, a line of expensive cars parked out front. But as they hauled me out and led me through the entrance, the truth of the place hit me.The inside was worse than I imagined. Dim red lights bathed th
*************Chapter 3~Ari's POV~The stage lights burned down on me, the leering eyes of the men beneath them making my skin crawl. I could feel their stares, the hunger and thirst for the fresh meat. The music blasted through the speakers, but my limbs refused to move. Who in their right mind would? Every nerve in my body screamed for me to run, but where would I go? I swallowed hard, forcing myself to breathe. Dance, they had said. But I wasn’t a dancer. My feet stayed rooted in place, and my mind frantically raced for a way out.Just as I managed a shaky step forward, someone grabbed my wrist, yanking me off the stage. My heart slammed against my chest as I stumbled, nearly tripping over my heels. I was face-to-face with an older-looking man with a disgusting look on his wrinkled face. "Go, Luca Tadeo, show that b*tch some manners and make her dance,” one of the patrons called out. Luca? As in Luca Tadeo—a name that carried weight in Thania, one of the most ruthless politic
*************Chapter 4“Everything?” I questioned back. Rather than answer, he circled me like a predator, his eyes fully roaming over me as his six-foot-3'-inches tall body towered over me. "You defied Luca in front of everyone.” I couldn’t read his tone. Was he angry, proud or was he just playing?I swallowed hard, my words catching in my throat. "I—I won’t be treated like some whore."His lips curled into something that wasn’t quite a smile, more like satisfaction. "You’re brave but also reckless. Luca won’t forget this."I inhaled deeply. “I will deal with Luca’s issue later but for now, I was concerned about what Damon Dark wanted from me. "What happens now? What do you mean by wanting everything from me?"Damon’s eyes narrowed slightly, his gaze darkening. "I’ll offer you a deal."I blinked. "What kind of deal?"He halted and then came to stand before me. His voice lowered, the words like ice as they slipped from his lips. "I’ll pay off your uncle’s debts. All of them.”“What