Bound To Don Navarro

CHAPTER 1 BELLA I wiped the sweat from my forehead and let out a tired sigh. The private viewing at Lumina Gallery had gone better than I expected. Rich collectors had shown up, drinks flowed, and a few pieces by up-and-coming Black artists actually sold. My feet ached in these heels, but damn, it felt good to see my hard work pay off for once. I killed the main lights, leaving only the soft security glow. My phone buzzed in my hand as I texted my best friend about the pretentious guy who tried to haggle over a sculpture. "Girl, you won't believe this fool..." I typed, smiling to myself. Then I heard it. A low rumble from the back loading dock. That area was supposed to be locked tight after hours. No deliveries this late. My curiosity got the better of me. I slipped off my heels, carried them in one hand, and crept toward the cracked security door. Just a quick peek. What could it hurt? I pressed my face close to the gap and looked out. Under the harsh floodlights, a black van sat idling. Men in dark suits moved quickly, unloading long, flat crates with careful hands. Priceless stuff, I could tell right away from the way they handled them. Stolen art? Had to be. My stomach twisted. In the middle of it all stood a tall man. Sharp features, jet-black hair slicked back, wearing a tailored black suit like he owned the night. He gave quiet orders in a smooth, low voice with a faint accent. Filipino, maybe? He looked dangerous. Powerful. One of the men lost his grip. The crate tipped and hit the ground hard. The plastic wrapping tore open. Oh God. Inside wasn't just a painting. A man's body lay there, throat slit wide open, eyes staring at nothing. Blood had soaked into the plastic. My heart slammed against my ribs. My fingers went numb. My phone slipped and clattered loudly on the concrete floor. Everything stopped. The man's head snapped toward the sound. Our eyes locked through the crack in the door. His were dark, cold, and calculating. Mine were wide with pure terror. Time froze. "Get her," he said calmly. Strong hands grabbed me from behind before I could even scream. I dropped my heels and fought like hell. "Let go of me! Get your f*****g hands off!" I kicked backward, twisting my body, trying to break free. My elbow connected with someone's ribs. "I said let me go!" They dragged me through the door into the loading area. The floodlights blinded me for a second. The tall man stepped closer. Up close, he was even more imposing. Lean muscle, sharp jaw, intense eyes that seemed to see right through me. Tattoos peeked from under his collar and cuffs. "You weren't supposed to see that," he said, his voice smooth like velvet over steel. "What's your name?" "Arabella," I spat, still struggling against the two men holding my arms. "And I didn't see s**t. I swear. Just let me walk away. I won't tell anyone." A beautiful woman with cold eyes stepped forward. She had a dangerous smile and twirled a knife in her hand. "This is stupid. One bullet to the head. Dump her with the body. Clean and done." Another man, hot-tempered looking, nodded fast. "She's a risk. We can't keep a witness breathing. End it now." The tall man — their boss — studied my face. His eyes moved over me slowly, like he was deciding my worth. I lifted my chin and glared right back, even though my legs felt like jelly. "Please," I said, voice shaking a little. "I have a life. A job. People who will look for me. Just let me go. I promise I saw nothing." The woman laughed softly. "Listen to her beg. Pathetic. Zoren, you know what we do with loose ends. Discharge her. Now." Zoren. So that was his name. He didn't answer her right away. Instead, he stepped even closer. I could smell his cologne, expensive, woody, mixed with something darker. His presence made the air feel thick. "Keep quiet, Elena. You have fire in your eyes, Bella," he said quietly. "Most people crumble when they see what you just saw. You haven't." "I won't talk," I begged again. "Please. I just want to go home." The woman, Elena, moved closer, her knife glinting. "She's lying. Let me handle it. I'll make sure she never speaks again. One cut across that pretty throat." Zoren raised a hand. Silence fell. He looked at me for a long moment, something unreadable in his dark eyes. Then he made his decision. "She's coming with us," he said. "Alive. As my guest." "What?" Elena snapped. "Zoren, this is reckless. She's seen too much. The body, the crates, everything. One mistake and the whole operation—" "Enough," Zoren cut her off, voice firm. "I said she's mine now. Take her." The men zip-tied my wrists tight behind my back. The plastic bit into my skin. "No! Please, don't do this!" I cried out, twisting again. "You can't just take me! Let me go!" They dragged me toward the black SUV. I kicked at the ground, heels scraping concrete. "This is kidnapping! People will notice I'm gone. The gallery has cameras. My friends know my schedule!" Zoren walked beside us, calm as ever. "Cameras can be handled. Friends can be misled. You belong to me until I decide otherwise." Elena followed close, her eyes burning with anger. "Get in the car," Zoren told his men, ignoring her. They shoved me into the back seat. The door slammed shut. Zoren slid in beside me. The zip ties dug deeper as I struggled. "Why are you doing this?" I asked, tears stinging my eyes now. The driver started the engine. The city lights blurred past the tinted windows as we pulled away from the gallery. My heart raced faster. No one knew where I was. No one would come looking tonight. Elena leaned in from the front passenger seat, glaring back at me. "Enjoy your little vacation, b***h. It won't last. I'll make sure of that." I swallowed hard and tried to sound brave. "You think you can just own people? I'm not some toy for you to play with." Zoren's lips curved into a small, dangerous smile. "We'll see about that, Bella." The car sped through the night. One of the men in the front pulled out a small syringe. My eyes widened. "What is that? No! Don't!" Zoren nodded once. "Just something to help you sleep. We have a long drive." "Wait! Please don't—" Strong hands held my arm. The needle pricked my skin. Cold liquid rushed into my veins. "No... please..." My words started to slur. The world tilted. Zoren's face stayed in focus for a few more seconds — those intense eyes watching me fade. Everything went black.