The car ride back to the estate was suffocating.I could still feel the tension lingering between us, thick like the smoke that curled from the cigars those men had been puffing in the club. I sat rigid, my fingers curled into the smooth leather of the seat, my mind racing with thoughts I didn’t want to entertain.Alessandro had exposed me to his world today, peeled back a curtain I could never unsee. The power he wielded, the respect he commanded—it was terrifying. But what unsettled me most was that it wasn’t just terrifying.It was intoxicating.I stole a glance at him, my eyes tracing the sharp lines of his face, the way the dim light from the city cast shadows over his features. He looked so at ease, as if orchestrating backroom deals and bending dangerous men to his will was as simple as breathing.He turned his head slightly, catching me staring.I quickly looked away, my pulse quickening.The car slowed as we reached the estate, the heavy iron gates swinging open. The moment w
Elena PovThe weight of Alessandro’s words stayed with me long after he spoke them."You already are."I wanted to deny it, to push back against the idea that I was becoming part of his world. But how could I? Every day, I was pulled in deeper, my life entangled with his in ways I couldn’t escape.As the car continued its smooth ride back to the estate, I turned my head away from him, staring out the window. The city lights blurred past, but my mind wasn’t on the view—it was on the man beside me.His presence was overwhelming, suffocating, intoxicating all at once.How had I gone from despising him to sitting here, silently battling the strange pull he had on me?I wasn’t sure anymore.The rest of the ride was quiet. Alessandro didn’t speak, but I could feel his gaze on me, studying me as if he was waiting for something.When we finally arrived at the estate, I wasted no time stepping out of the car, eager to put distance between us.But before I could make it inside, Alessandro was a
Elena's pov I stood there, my pulse hammering against my skin, watching as Alessandro pulled away with that damn smirk of his. He knew what he was doing. He knew exactly how to unnerve me, how to push me to the edge and make me question everything.And I hated him for it.I hated the way my body betrayed me when he got too close.I hated the way my breath hitched when his fingers brushed against my skin.But most of all, I hated the way he looked at me—like I already belonged to him.I took a step back, trying to regain control over my own emotions. “I’m not one of your possessions, Alessandro.”His smirk only deepened, as if my defiance amused him. “No, dolcezza, you’re not. But you are mine.”I clenched my fists. “That’s the same thing.”“Is it?” His voice was calm, but there was an underlying edge to it. “Because I don’t treat my possessions the way I treat you.”I scoffed. “And how exactly do you treat me?”His dark eyes gleamed with something dangerous. “Like something I refuse
ELENA'S POV The scent of whiskey and cigar smoke clung to the air, thick and suffocating. My father’s trembling hands gripped my arm too tightly as he led me through the grand double doors of the De Luca estate. The mansion loomed ahead, its cold marble floors gleaming under the chandeliers, its towering walls a gilded cage I was being delivered into.I had known this day would come, but the finality of it settled into my bones like ice.The man waiting for me at the end of the long hall sat in a high-backed chair, one hand lazily resting on the armrest, the other swirling a glass of dark liquor. He did not rise when we entered. He didn’t have to. Power clung to him effortlessly, as natural as breathing.Alessandro De Luca.His name alone sent shivers down the spines of men who thought themselves untouchable. Ruthless, calculating, and feared. My father’s last bargaining chip in a debt he could never repay. And now, I was the payment."Mr. De Luca," my father stammered, squeezing my
Elena's povMy breath hitched as Alessandro’s fingers trailed from my chin to my jaw, his grip firm yet controlled. The dark amusement in his eyes sent a fresh wave of dread through me. I had planned everything down to the last detail—slipping past the guards, vanishing into the city’s underbelly. And yet, here I was, caught in his grasp like a bird with clipped wings."Running, Elena?" His voice was a slow, deliberate drawl, his accent curling around each syllable. "After all I’ve done to make you comfortable?"Comfortable. What a cruel jokeI had been locked away in this gilded cage for months, suffocating under the weight of Alessandro De Luca’s control."You can’t keep me here," I forced out, keeping my voice steady despite the fear clawing at my throat. "You don’t own me."Alessandro chuckled, the sound dark and knowing. "That’s where you’re wrong, bella. From the moment you said ‘I do,’ you became mine." He leaned in, his breath warm against my ear. "And I don’t let go of what’
Elena Pov A hand clamped over my mouth, stifling my gasp. My body went rigid, every muscle locking in place as a voice whispered against my ear. "You're making a mistake." I struggled, my instincts screaming at me to fight, to run, but the grip on me tightened. The stranger’s scent was unfamiliar—clean, sharp, nothing like Alessandro’s cologne. My pulse thundered in my ears. Who was he? Was this my ally? Or had Alessandro discovered my plan before I even had the chance to act? "Don’t scream," the voice warned, his breath warm against my skin. "I'm not here to hurt you." I stilled, barely breathing. Slowly, the hand loosened, then disappeared altogether. I spun, stepping back to put distance between us. A man stood before me, shrouded in darkness. He wore all black, his face partially concealed by shadows. His stance was poised, controlled. I swallowed hard. "Who are you?" "You don’t need my name," he murmured. "Just know that I was sent to get you out." My heart slammed ag
ELENA'S POV I couldn’t move. I couldn’t breathe. The man who had tried to help me was dead. His body lay still on the cold pavement, a dark pool of blood spreading beneath him. I wanted to scream, to fight, to run—but Alessandro’s grip on my wrist was unyielding. "Look at me, amore," he murmured. I tore my gaze away from the lifeless body and met his eyes. They were calm, too calm—like he had just swatted away an inconvenience rather than murdered someone in front of me. "I didn’t want to do that," he said, almost bored. "But you left me no choice." A shudder ran through me. "You’re a monster," I whispered. His lips curled into a small smile. "I’ve been called worse." The air was thick with the scent of blood and gasoline. Alessandro’s men stood in formation behind him, their weapons still drawn, waiting for his next command. I could feel their eyes on me. I was trapped. Again. Alessandro lifted my chin with his fingers, forcing me to look at him. "This foolishness end
Elena Pov The silence was the worst part. Not the darkness. Not the cold. Not even the fact that Alessandro had locked me away like some disobedient pet. It was the silence—thick, suffocating, absolute. I had no idea how long I had been here. Minutes? Hours? Days? The walls were stark white, but the absence of windows made them feel like they were closing in on me. The only furniture was a single bed and a chair pushed into the corner. No mirrors. No sharp objects. A prison, dressed up to look like a guest room. I pressed my palms against the cold door. "Let me out," I whispered, but the words barely left my lips. No answer. I swallowed hard, my mind racing. I had fought Alessandro before, and I would fight him again. He thought he could control me? Keep me caged? He was wrong. I took a deep breath, forcing my hands to stop trembling. I would find a way out. A small metallic click echoed from the other side of the door. I tensed. Footsteps. The door creaked open, and
Elena's pov I stood there, my pulse hammering against my skin, watching as Alessandro pulled away with that damn smirk of his. He knew what he was doing. He knew exactly how to unnerve me, how to push me to the edge and make me question everything.And I hated him for it.I hated the way my body betrayed me when he got too close.I hated the way my breath hitched when his fingers brushed against my skin.But most of all, I hated the way he looked at me—like I already belonged to him.I took a step back, trying to regain control over my own emotions. “I’m not one of your possessions, Alessandro.”His smirk only deepened, as if my defiance amused him. “No, dolcezza, you’re not. But you are mine.”I clenched my fists. “That’s the same thing.”“Is it?” His voice was calm, but there was an underlying edge to it. “Because I don’t treat my possessions the way I treat you.”I scoffed. “And how exactly do you treat me?”His dark eyes gleamed with something dangerous. “Like something I refuse
Elena PovThe weight of Alessandro’s words stayed with me long after he spoke them."You already are."I wanted to deny it, to push back against the idea that I was becoming part of his world. But how could I? Every day, I was pulled in deeper, my life entangled with his in ways I couldn’t escape.As the car continued its smooth ride back to the estate, I turned my head away from him, staring out the window. The city lights blurred past, but my mind wasn’t on the view—it was on the man beside me.His presence was overwhelming, suffocating, intoxicating all at once.How had I gone from despising him to sitting here, silently battling the strange pull he had on me?I wasn’t sure anymore.The rest of the ride was quiet. Alessandro didn’t speak, but I could feel his gaze on me, studying me as if he was waiting for something.When we finally arrived at the estate, I wasted no time stepping out of the car, eager to put distance between us.But before I could make it inside, Alessandro was a
The car ride back to the estate was suffocating.I could still feel the tension lingering between us, thick like the smoke that curled from the cigars those men had been puffing in the club. I sat rigid, my fingers curled into the smooth leather of the seat, my mind racing with thoughts I didn’t want to entertain.Alessandro had exposed me to his world today, peeled back a curtain I could never unsee. The power he wielded, the respect he commanded—it was terrifying. But what unsettled me most was that it wasn’t just terrifying.It was intoxicating.I stole a glance at him, my eyes tracing the sharp lines of his face, the way the dim light from the city cast shadows over his features. He looked so at ease, as if orchestrating backroom deals and bending dangerous men to his will was as simple as breathing.He turned his head slightly, catching me staring.I quickly looked away, my pulse quickening.The car slowed as we reached the estate, the heavy iron gates swinging open. The moment w
I barely slept that night.Even after returning to my room, I could still feel the weight of Alessandro’s gaze, the heat of his touch lingering on my skin like an unshakable curse. I paced the floor, running my hands through my hair as my mind replayed every word, every look, every moment of weakness.What was happening to me?I should hate him. I did hate him.But my body told a different story.The worst part? He knew it.Alessandro wasn’t a man who questioned things. He saw, he wanted, he took. And now, he had set his sights on me—not just as his prisoner, not just as his possession, but as his.A shiver ran through me, though I wasn’t sure if it was fear or something far more dangerous.I needed to get my head straight.{The Morning After}By morning, I had forced every lingering thought of him into a locked box in my mind, determined to pretend last night never happened.A knock at my door shattered that illusion."Miss Elena," a voice called. "Breakfast is served. The boss is ex
The atmosphere had shifted.It was subtle at first so subtle that I almost convinced myself it wasn’t real. But as the days passed, I could no longer deny it.Alessandro was changing. Or maybe, I was.I still despised him for taking me, for controlling me like a pawn in his violent world. But something had cracked between us, a fragile thread binding us together in ways I didn’t understand. He had stopped treating me like an object to be controlled and started treating me like...something else.I wasn’t sure what yet.But I felt it.The way his eyes lingered on me a second longer. The way his voice softened, just barely, when he spoke my name.The way my own heartbeat betrayed me when he was near.Tonight was another one of his extravagant events, and like before, I was expected to be at his side. But unlike before, I had chosen my dress.It was a deep red, made of silk that clung to my body in all the right places. The neckline dipped just enough to be daring but not desperate. When I
The ride back to Alessandro’s estate was silent, but the tension between us crackled like a live wire. His grip on my hand hadn’t loosened since we left the gala, as if he feared I might vanish into thin air.I wasn’t sure if it was possessiveness or control, but whatever it was, it made my pulse race.The moment we stepped inside the grand foyer, Alessandro’s men scattered like shadows into the night. The heavy doors shut behind us with a quiet finality, sealing me inside his world once more.I pulled my hand from his grasp, needing space to breathe. “I’m tired,” I muttered, turning toward the stairs.Before I could take a step, Alessandro’s voice sliced through the silence. “That dress,” he said, his tone unreadable.I froze, my fingers tightening around the fabric at my sides.Slowly, I turned to face him. His dark eyes roamed over me, something flickering behind them—something I couldn’t quite name.“You liked it?” I asked, my voice steadier than I felt.A slow smirk curved his li
The night air was thick with cigar smoke and whispered conversations. The party had long since reached its peak, but the weight of my presence still clung to the room like an unresolved storm.Alessandro had barely left my side. Whether it was possessiveness, protection, or simply his need for control, I wasn’t sure.But I could feel his presence like a shadow, a constant reminder that no matter how much I tried to reclaim my power, I was still trapped in his world.A waiter passed, and I reached for a glass of champagne. Before my fingers could wrap around the delicate stem, Alessandro’s hand intercepted mine."Not tonight," he murmured, his voice low enough that only I could hear.I turned, arching a brow. "Why not?"He leaned in, his breath brushing against my ear. "Because I don’t trust anyone here."A shiver ran down my spine.Not because I feared the people around us—but because I realized Alessandro did.For a man who controlled everything, for a man who moved through this worl
Elena Pov The sound of running water echoed from the bathroom, filling the silence in the room.I sat frozen on the bed, my thoughts a tangled mess.Alessandro’s words lingered in the air.....Tomorrow will be eventful.That could mean anything.A meeting? A deal? Another brutal show of power?No matter what it was, I knew one thing it wouldn’t be good for me.I had learned enough in the short time I’d been trapped here to understand that Alessandro never acted without reason. If he wanted me to know something, it was because he wanted a reaction. And if he wanted a reaction, it meant he was testing me.Testing how much I could take.Testing how much I feared him.I swallowed hard, my fingers gripping the sheets beneath me. I should have been afraid. No, I was afraid. But there was something else beneath the fear something I couldn’t quite name.The water shut off.A moment later, the bathroom door opened, and Alessandro stepped out, steam curling behind him. He had a towel slung over
Elena PovThe silence of the estate was deceiving.For a place that held so much bloodshed, so much power, it was unsettling how calm it appeared on the surface. But I know the truth now. I had seen it with my own eyes.Alessandro wasn’t just a ruthless man he was a force that controlled everything in his path. And tonight, I was about to witness more of it.The air outside was thick with tension. Something was happening, something I wasn’t supposed to know about. The guards had doubled in number, their hands resting on their weapons, their gazes scanning the property with sharp alertness.I sat on the edge of my bed, staring at the locked door. I had no idea what time it was, but I knew Alessandro had left hours ago. And he hadn’t returned.A part of me wanted to ignore it, to stay as far away from his world as possible. But another part the foolish, reckless part wanted to know more.Why was the entire estate on edge?What had Alessandro gone to deal with?And why did it matter to m