Claimed by the Hellbound Rider

Gilded Cage

Elena POV

Luca’s men held the doors for us as we exited the SUV in the parking garage. What used to feel like protection suddenly felt like control, and I couldn’t rationalize it away like I used to.

Luca helped me to my feet, then placed his palm on the small of my back as we walked to the elevator. I tried to act like I normally would, but every gesture, every movement felt exaggerated and overdone. If I didn’t pull myself together, Luca was going to know something was wrong. And I could only use the Alessa situation for so long before he got suspicious that I wasn’t brushing it off.

He pressed the button for the penthouse and laid his thumb on the biometric lock pad. It was keyed to just a few people, which usually made me feel safe. I was starting to realize that it also meant very few people could get to me if I needed help.

The mirrored walls of the elevator suddenly felt too close, reflecting us back from every angle. Luca beside me in his tuxedo, composed and devastatingly handsome. Me trying not to look like I was seconds away from falling apart.

I wondered if he could hear how hard my heart was pounding. If he noticed the way my breathing kept catching every time he touched me.

Before tonight, I would’ve leaned into him without hesitation. I would’ve let myself enjoy the warmth of his hand against my back and the quiet possessiveness of the gesture.

Now all I could think about was how trapped I really was. Thirty floors above the city with a man who’d promised to kill me if I became a problem.

He leaned against the wall as the car climbed, his eyes on me. I picked at my nails for a minute before he reached out, stopping the damage I was doing to my manicure.

“Elena, tesoro. Stop that.” He brought my hands to his lips. “Are you sure the only thing bothering you is your dress, and the scene she caused?” He was watching me now, and my heart rate kicked up another notch.

I nodded. “I’m sorry, Luca. You know I don’t handle that kind of confrontation well. And it was supposed to be our night. Our engagement celebration. I think that’s making it feel worse.” I gave a little shrug. “Probably just my anxiety acting up. I’ll call my therapist tomorrow, see if she can fit me in.”

He pulled me against him again, but the car stopped and the door opened before he could do much more. I stepped out first, and he followed behind, giving quiet instructions to the security in the hallway.

I’d never paid attention before, not really. We were surrounded by his people. Men at the entrance in the garage, stationed in the elevator hallway on our floor. We were the only penthouse, yet he stationed two people here around the clock. Were they to keep others out, or me in?

By the time he followed me inside, I was sitting at my vanity, removing my jewelry. He stood behind me, watching me in the mirror as I took off one diamond earring, then the next. I reached for the clasp of the matching necklace, and he stepped forward. “Allow me,” he murmured. His hands replaced mine, lightly brushing the back of my neck as he worked the chain. He laid it down beside the earrings and nuzzled into my neck.

Our reflections stared back at me from the mirror. Luca looked calm and controlled, every inch the future head of the Mancini Syndicate. I looked pale beneath the carefully applied makeup from earlier in the evening, my smile thinner than normal.

For one terrifying second, I wondered if he could see it. If he could look at me and somehow know I’d heard everything.

His eyes met mine in the mirror, softening instantly.

“Don’t think about Alessa anymore tonight,” he murmured. “She’s not worth your tears.”

The tenderness in his voice almost hurt worse than the threat had.

“You’re breathtaking, Elena. I’m sorry the night wasn’t what we’d planned.” He pressed a kiss to my cheek. “Gio’s getting us that pizza we talked about. I sent him to Marcone’s. They have that mushroom truffle pizza that you like.”

I gave him a smile and turned, watching him undo his cufflinks. “That sounds perfect. Thank you.”

I escaped into the bathroom, taking a moment to pull myself together. If I didn’t get myself under control, Luca was going to realize something more was wrong.

“I’ll kill her myself.” The words echoed through my head, a reminder of what was at stake. I needed to act as if everything was normal.

When I was reasonably sure I could, I headed into the living room. Luca was pouring us both a glass of wine, the pizza box already on the table.

“That was fast,” I said as I sat down.

“I may have given him a heads-up while we were on our way here.” Luca winked at me. It was unfair that it still made my stomach flutter.

“You’re too good to me, love,” I said, taking a sip of the red.

“Impossible.”

He reached over and stole one of the mushrooms off my slice before I could take another bite, grinning when I glared at him.

“Luca.”

“What?” he asked innocently. “You know sharing is part of a healthy relationship.”

The normalcy of it made my chest ache.

We spent the next few minutes focused on our food, and I tried not to let my thoughts spin out. Relief flickered through me when his phone rang. He glanced at the readout and scowled. “I have to take this. I’ll be right back.” He stood and walked out onto the balcony, closing the door behind him.

The pizza sat heavy in my stomach as I waited to see if I’d been caught.

Luca paced back and forth, anger clear in the way his fists clenched and the glower on his face. Then he slid his phone into his pocket and inhaled, waiting a beat before sliding the door open and coming back in. He strode over to me, then knelt beside my chair.

“I’m sorry, Elena. I need to go,” he brushed a hand over my hair.

“I hope everything’s okay?”

He nodded once. “Just taking out the trash.” He pressed a kiss to my forehead. “Alessa won’t ever bother you again,” he said as he stood. The implication landed harder this time.

“Okay,” the word barely rose above a whisper. It frustrated me that I couldn’t sound firmer, more in control.

Luca cupped my cheek, turning my face up to his so I could meet his gaze. “No one gets away with hurting you, tesoro. Absolutely no one.” He dropped a kiss on my head, then strode to the front door. “Make sure you get some rest. I don’t know how long I’ll be.” And he was gone.