Chapter one: The Trap
The front door of my small apartment didn’t just open; it flew off whatever it was that was holding it with a loud crash that shook the entire room.
I jumped out of bed, my heart instantly throat-bound. Before I could even scream, three massive men in dark suits flooded into my tiny living room.
They looked like giants in my cramped space, blocking the only exit.
"Where is Leo?" the biggest one barked, his voice rough and deep.
"I…I…don't know!" I stammered, pulling my thin blanket tight against my chest. My legs were shaking so badly I could barely stand on the cold floor.
"He hasn't been home in two days. “Why are you looking for him?"
The big man didn't answer. He just stepped aside, and that’s when the room went dead silent.
Another man walked through the broken doorway. He didn't look like the others. He wore an expensive charcoal suit that was like it was made for him, and he moved with a calm, terrifying confidence.
He was tall, with sharp features and eyes as cold as ice. Then it came to my mind.
Dante Vitale.
Everyone in this neighborhood knew who he was. He ran the streets, the clubs, the entire city. He was a monster who got whatever he wanted, and right now, his cold eyes were locked onto me.
"Your brother stole five million dollars from my family," Dante Said in a cold voice. His voice wasn't loud, but it filled the room, making my skin crawl. "And since he ran away like a coward, you are going to pay his debt."
"I don't have that kind of money!" I said while crying, tears finally spilling over my eyelashes. "Please, I have nothing to do with his business. I'm just a student. I don't know anything about his life!"
Dante walked closer, his expensive leather shoes clicking heavily against my floorboards. Every step he took made me want to sink into the wall. He stopped right in front of me, looming so high that he completely blocked out the light. The smell of his rich cologne mixed with the faint scent of smoke washed over me, making my head spin.
"I know you don't have the money, Clara," he murmured, his gaze dropping down to my bare shoulders, then slowly tracing down my legs before coming back to my eyes. His stare felt heavy, almost like a physical touch that made my skin burn. "But you have a body. And until your brother brings back what is mine”. His gaze became cold. “you belong to me."
"No!" I shouted, pushing my hands against his hard chest to get him away from me. It felt like pushing against a solid brick wall. He didn't even shift from his position.
Before I could pull away, Dante’s large hand shot out. His rough fingers wrapped tightly around my jaw, forcing my head up so I had no choice but to look into his dark eyes. His grip was firm, unyielding, and completely dominant. I gasped, my lips parting slightly under the pressure of his thumb.
"Let go of me," I whispered, trying to sound brave, but my voice broke.
"Listen to me very carefully," Dante said, leaning down until his lips were just inches from mine. His warm breath brushed against my mouth, sending a sudden, confusing jolt of heat straight to my stomach. "From today, I own you. You live in my house, you eat what I give you, and you do exactly what I say. If you fight me, things will get very bad for you. Do you understand?"
I wanted to spit in his face, but looking into his ruthless eyes, I knew he wasn't joking. My heart was hammering against my ribs, not just from pure terror, but from a strange, dangerous heat pooling deep inside me. I hated him for what he was doing, but my body was betraying me, reacting to his sheer power.
Dante saw the fear and the flush on my cheeks. A slow, dark smirk touched his lips. He rubbed his thumb roughly over my bottom lip one last time before letting go of my jaw.
"Pack a bag," he ordered, turning his back to me as if I were already just an object he owned. "You're coming with me."
"I told you, I'm not going anywhere," I said, my voice trembling as I pressed my back against the wall.
Dante didn't even look back at me. He just nodded to the large guard standing by the door. "Pack her things. If she doesn't move, pick her up and carry her out."
"No! Stay away from my stuff!" I panicked, rushing over to my closet before the giant guard could touch anything. My hands were shaking so hard I could barely pull my old duffel bag off the top shelf. I began throwing whatever clothes I could grab into the bag—jeans, t-shirts, my favorite sweaters.
Every single second, I could feel Dante’s eyes on me. He stood near my small kitchen counter, watching my every move like a hawk watching its prey. He looked completely out of place in my cheap apartment, yet he looked like he owned it.
I reached into my drawer to grab my underwear, and my face burned with embarrassment. Having a dangerous, powerful man like him watch me pack my private things was humiliating. I tried to hide the lace underwear beneath my shirts, but I looked up and saw him staring right at my hands. His eyes darkened, a heavy, sinful look passing through them that made my breath hitch. He wasn't even touching me, but the look in his eyes made me feel completely naked.
"Are you done?" Dante asked, his deep voice cutting through the quiet room.
"Yes," I whispered, zipping the bag with trembling fingers.
Before I could lift it, one of the guards stepped forward and snatched the bag from my hand.
"Walk," Dante commanded, gesturing toward the open doorway.
I hesitated for a second, looking back at my small, messy apartment. It wasn't much, but it was safe. Now, I was stepping into the dark unknown with a monster.
Dante walked up behind me, his massive chest almost touching my back. "Don't make me ask you again, Clara. Move."
I swallowed the lump in my throat and walked out of the door. The hallway of my building was completely empty; the neighbors were probably too scared to even look through their peepholes after hearing the front door break.
Downstairs, a massive, bulletproof black SUV was idling at the curb. Another guard held the back door open. Dante grabbed my elbow, his grip warm and possessive, guiding me straight into the leather backseat. He climbed in right after me, closing the heavy door.
The interior of the car was dark and smelled like leather and wealth. As the car sped off into the night, leaving my old life behind, I pressed myself against the window, as far away from Dante as possible.
But out of the corner of my eye, I could see him leaning back in the seat, staring at me in the dark. I knew this was just the beginning, and there was no escaping him.
