The mansion loomed in the darkness, its pristine white exterior gleaming under the pale moonlight like a monument to wealth and power.
Seven identical estates surrounded it in a perfect circle, creating an isolated sanctuary far removed from the ordinary world.
Each villa was a masterpiece of modern architecture... clean lines, floor-to-ceiling windows, manicured gardens that probably cost more to maintain than most people earned in a year.
Inside Villa Number Three, the atmosphere was suffocating.
Damien paced the length of the main hall for what felt like the thousandth time, his footsteps echoing off marble floors that gleamed like mirrors.
The space was enormous... high ceilings with recessed lighting, contemporary furniture that looked too expensive to actually use, abstract art on the walls that probably had price tags with multiple zeros.
A cage made of luxury, he thought bitterly. Still a cage.
