The city lights blurred past the tinted windows of the sleek black car. My wrists throbbed under the merciless grip of the two men sitting on either side of me. Their silence was heavy, suffocating, broken only by the low growl of the engine.
Across from me, he sat.
Adrian Moretti.
His presence filled the car like smoke—dark, suffocating, inescapable. His sharp jaw caught the glow of the streetlights as he leaned back, one arm resting lazily against the leather seat, the other tapping against the armrest in a slow, steady rhythm. Each tap a warning. Each second that passed, a silent reminder that my life was no longer mine.
I wanted to scream. To claw my way out of this car, out of this nightmare. But his eyes…
Cold. Icy. Fixated on me like a predator that already owned its prey.
I swallowed hard, forcing words through my trembling lips. "Y-You can't just take me. I'm not—I don't belong to you!"
The corner of his mouth twitched, though it wasn't a smile. More like annoyance wrapped in amusement. "Not yet," he said smoothly. "But you will."
Heat surged to my face, a mix of rage and terror. "You're insane—"
Before I could finish, the man to my right slammed his fist into the seat beside me, the sound cracking through the car like a gunshot. I flinched violently, my heart lurching into my throat.
Adrian didn't move. Didn't blink. His gaze stayed locked on mine. "Rule number one," he said slowly, each word heavy with threat. "You don't raise your voice at me."
My lips pressed shut, but my chest rose with shallow, panicked breaths.
He leaned forward slightly, resting his elbows on his knees. His voice dropped, sharp and quiet. "Your brother was given a chance. He wasted it. Now he's wasted you."
I shook my head, tears stinging my eyes. "This isn't fair! I didn't do anything—"
His eyes hardened, and for a moment, I saw no humanity in them. Only steel. Only danger.
"Fair?" His chuckle was low, dangerous. "You're in my world now, sweetheart. Nothing here is fair."
The car slowed. I didn't need to look outside to know we'd reached his territory.
The Moretti estate.
The gates loomed like iron jaws, parting only for him. The car glided up a long driveway lined with trees trimmed too perfectly, hiding the danger that pulsed behind every wall. When the mansion came into view, my heart dropped.
It wasn't just a house. It was a fortress. Massive stone walls, lit windows, armed guards at the entrance.
The car rolled to a stop.
The men yanked the door open, pulling me out. The cold night air bit my skin, but it was nothing compared to the chill in my veins.
Adrian stepped out after me, his presence towering. The guards at the door straightened instantly, their respect laced with fear. He didn't spare them a glance.
"This way," he ordered, his voice sharp enough to slice the night.
I stumbled as they dragged me up the marble steps. The heavy doors opened into a grand foyer bathed in gold light. Chandeliers sparkled overhead. Marble floors gleamed beneath my scuffed sneakers. It was beautiful, but cold. A palace for a king with no heart.
And waiting inside were his people.
Men lounged on leather couches, armed to the teeth. Their conversation stopped the second they saw me. Curious stares. Smirks. Whispers.
And then, I noticed her.
Leaning elegantly against the banister of the grand staircase, a glass of wine in her hand, stood a woman who looked like she'd stepped out of a magazine. Long dark hair cascading in waves, red lips curled into a smirk. Her eyes, sharp and gleaming, locked onto me with instant dislike.
Vera.
I didn't know her name yet, but the way she walked down the stairs with slow, deliberate grace told me everything. She was important here. And she hated me already.
"Well, well," she purred, her accent dripping from every syllable. "What have we here?"
Adrian didn't answer her. He kept walking, forcing me to follow, his grip on my arm unrelenting.
But Vera's smirk deepened. "Another toy, Adrian? Or are you actually keeping this one?"
The men around her chuckled, their laughter cruel and cutting. Heat burned my face, shame and fury mixing until my stomach turned.
Adrian stopped. Slowly, he turned his head, his eyes flicking toward Vera. The room went quiet.
"This one," he said, his voice low but commanding, "is mine."
The air shifted instantly. The weight of those words pressed against my chest, making it hard to breathe.
Vera's smirk faltered, her grip tightening on her wine glass. Jealousy flickered in her eyes before she masked it with a laugh. "We'll see how long she lasts."
Adrian ignored her. He turned back to me, his gaze burning through me. "Take her upstairs," he ordered his men.
"No!" I jerked back, panic clawing through me. "You can't—"
Adrian moved faster than I could register. In one second, he was in front of me, his hand gripping my chin, forcing my face up to meet his eyes. His touch was firm, almost bruising, but it wasn't the pain that stole my breath—it was his expression.
Cold. Dangerous. Possessive.
"Rule number two," he murmured, his lips inches from mine. "You don't say no to me."
My breath hitched. My body trembled against my will.
He let go abruptly, pushing me back. His men grabbed my arms again.
"Welcome to my world, sweetheart," Adrian said, his smirk cruel and final. "Get used to it."
And as they dragged me up the staircase, past Vera's burning glare, one truth seared into my mind.
I wasn't safe.