Bought For His Vengeance

4

Chapter Four

(Amara POV)

“Come.”

I didn’t want to.

Every part of me wanted to run again.

But my body didn’t listen.

My feet moved slowly as I followed him.

My heart was still racing from what I had just seen.

The sound of the gunshot still echoed in my head.

It wouldn’t stop.

We walked in silence.

Long corridors.

Cold walls.

Everything felt too quiet.

Too normal.

Like nothing had just happened.

Like someone hadn’t just died a few minutes ago.

Dante didn’t look at me.

Not once.

Not even when I slowed down slightly.

He just kept walking.

Like he already knew I would follow.

Like I had no other choice.

And maybe…

I didn’t.

We stopped.

Another door.

He opened it and stepped inside.

I hesitated.

Just for a second.

Then I followed.

The room was empty except for a chair.

And something else.

My eyes landed on it immediately.

Rope.

My breath caught.

I stepped back instinctively.

“What is this…?” my voice came out barely above a whisper.

Dante closed the door behind us.

The click sounded louder than it should have.

Final.

He didn’t answer me immediately.

Instead, he walked further into the room.

Calm.

Unbothered.

Like this was normal.

Like I was overreacting.

“You run,” he said finally.

My chest tightened.

“I didn’t—”

“You lie.”

The words were quiet.

But they hit harder than anything else.

I shut up.

My hands started shaking again.

“I was just—”

“Silence.”

My lips pressed together instantly.

He turned to look at me fully now.

And this time—

There was something different in his eyes.

Not just cold.

Not just empty.

Something darker.

“You saw what happens when I’m lied to,” he said.

My stomach dropped.

My mind flashed back to the man.

The gun.

The way he fell.

Just like that.

Like nothing.

“I didn’t lie,” I whispered before I could stop myself.

Wrong move.

Dante stepped closer.

Slow.

Measured.

I stepped back immediately.

Until my back hit the wall.

No space left.

“You hesitate,” he continued.

“You run.”

Another step closer.

“You disobey.”

My breathing got faster.

“I was scared,” I said quickly.

“I didn’t know—”

“That doesn’t matter.”

His voice didn’t rise.

Didn’t change.

And somehow—

That made it worse.

My chest felt tight.

Like I couldn’t breathe properly.

“You think fear excuses you?” he asked.

I didn’t answer.

I couldn’t.

Because I didn’t know the right answer.

And something told me—

There wasn’t one.

He reached out suddenly.

I flinched.

But he didn’t hit me.

He grabbed my wrist.

Firm.

Not gentle.

Not painful.

Just enough to remind me—

I couldn’t pull away.

“You learn quickly,” he said.

“Or you don’t learn at all.”

My throat tightened.

“I’ll learn,” I said quickly.

Too quickly.

Desperate.

I hated how desperate I sounded.

He didn’t react.

Didn’t look impressed.

Didn’t look convinced.

Just watched me.

Like he was deciding if I was worth the effort.

Or not.

Then—

He let go.

Suddenly.

Like I was nothing.

I stumbled slightly but caught myself.

“You don’t leave without permission,” he said.

“You don’t run.”

“You don’t speak unless I allow it.”

Each word felt like it was locking something inside me.

Tighter.

Tighter.

Tighter.

“And if I do…?” I asked before I could stop myself.

Silence.

For a second—

I thought maybe he wouldn’t answer.

Then—

He stepped closer again.

Slow.

Until I could feel the space between us disappear.

His voice dropped slightly.

Lower.

Colder.

“You already saw what happens.”

My heart stopped.

I didn’t need him to explain.

I had seen it.

I had heard it.

I had felt it.

The gunshot echoed in my head again.

Loud.

Sharp.

Final.

My hands clenched at my sides.

“I understand,” I whispered.

And for the first time—

I meant it.

Not because I agreed.

Not because I accepted it.

But because I had no choice.

Dante watched me for a moment longer.

Then turned away.

Like he was done.

Like the lesson was over.

“Good.”

⸻

As he reached the door, he paused.

Just for a second.

Without turning back, he said—

“Next time…”

My breath caught.

“…it won’t be someone else.”

The door opened.

And then closed.

Leaving me alone—

With the silence.

And the understanding that settled deep in my chest.

I wasn’t just trapped.

I was being trained to survive him.