Chapter 4: A Calculated Risk

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 ends tonight, cara. No more running."

I clenched my jaw.

I wouldn’t let this be the end.

Not yet.

[A Calculated Risk]

Alessandro nodded toward his men. "Clean this up."

One of them—tall, broad, face-like a brick wall—stepped forward and reached for the dead man’s body.

A rush of anger and grief surged through me. This man had risked his life to help me, and now they were treating him like garbage.

I couldn’t let this happen.

I wouldn’t.

Acting on pure instinct, I lunged.

With all my strength, I twisted my body, breaking free from Alessandro’s grip. His surprise gave me just enough time to snatch the gun from the waistband of the man standing closest to me.

A shocked gasp rippled through the group.

I raised the gun, my hands shaking.

"Step back," I ordered, my voice sharp despite the hammering of my heart.

Alessandro laughed.

Like this was a joke.

"Elena," he said smoothly, "put the gun down."

I tightened my grip.

"Not another step," I warned.

The men hesitated, their gazes flicking toward Alessandro, waiting for his signal.

He tilted his head, studying me.

Then, to my horror, he stepped closer.

I jerked the gun up, pointing it straight at his chest. "I said, don’t move!"

He didn’t stop.

"Go ahead," he taunted. "Pull the trigger."

I swallowed hard.

I should.

I needed to.

But my hands trembled. My breathing was uneven. Every part of me screamed to act, but something inside me froze.

Alessandro saw it.

And he smirked.

"You’re not a killer, amore," he whispered, stepping even closer. "Not yet."

Then, like lightning, he moved.

Before I could react, his hand closed over mine, twisting the gun away with terrifying ease. Pain shot through my wrist as he disarmed me, the weapon clattering to the ground.

I gasped, trying to pull away, but his grip was like iron.

"You almost had me," he murmured, his lips brushing my ear. "Almost."

Panic exploded inside me.

"No!" I fought, thrashing against him, but he caught both my wrists and yanked me flush against his chest.

His breath was warm against my skin. "This little rebellion of yours ends now."

My pulse hammered. "You can’t keep me here forever."

He let out a soft chuckle. "Oh, cara," he whispered, his grip tightening. "Watch me."

[The Lock and Key]

Minutes later, I was back inside the estate.

The doors slammed shut behind me, the sound echoing like the final nail in my coffin.

Alessandro’s men stood at attention, blocking every possible escape. The gun was gone. My chance was gone.

And Alessandro?

He was calm. Like he had won some twisted games.

I turned to him, my hands still shaking. "Why don’t you just kill me?" I spat.

His brows lifted slightly. "Is that what you want?"

I glared at him. "I want to be free."

Alessandro sighed, as if my defiance was some great burden to him. "You don’t understand yet, do you?"

He stepped closer, and I refused to step back.

"You were mine the moment you said 'I do,'" he murmured.

I clenched my fists. "That wasn’t a choice."

His lips curved. "And yet, here we are."

My rage was blinding. "You can chain me here, Alessandro, but you’ll never break me."

His expression shifted. Something dark flickered in his eyes—something I couldn’t read.

"Is that so?" he mused.

Then, without another word, he reached into his pocket and pulled out…

A key.

I frowned. "What’s that?"

Alessandro’s gaze locked onto mine.

And then—

He walked to the nearest door, inserted the key, and turned the lock.

Click.

The door swung open, revealing… a hallway lined with doors.

My stomach dropped.

"This," Alessandro murmured, stepping aside, "is your new home."

I took a slow step forward, peering inside.

The walls were white, pristine, sterile. The silence was suffocating.

A prison.

I turned back to him, my chest tight. "You’re locking me away?"

He smiled—cold and calculated. "I told you, amore. No more running."

Dread coiled in my gut.

He wasn’t just keeping me inside.

He was keeping me isolated.

I took a shaky breath. "You won’t win."

Alessandro leaned in, his lips brushing my ear. "I already have."

Then—

The door slammed shut behind me.

Darkness swallowed me whole.

I spun, my hands flying to the door.

Locked.

Panic crashed over me.

I pounded on the wood. "Let me out!"

No answer.

Only silence.

I turned, pressing my back against the wall, my breathing ragged.

Think, Elena. Think.

I wasn’t trapped.

Not forever.

Because if Alessandro thought this was over—

He was dead wrong.