Scarred Seductress

Ashes Before Fire

Selene’s eyes darted around the quiet, dimly lit lounge for the umpteenth time, flashbacks of what had transpired hours ago replaying in her mind and draining the color from her face.

She had been sold—to a total stranger—and transported like property, wrists cuffed, to an entirely different place, probably miles away from home.

Selene blinked back the tears gathering in her eyes and continued struggling against the cuffs, earning nothing but cuts and burning pain along her wrists.

“Get me out of here!” she exploded before breaking down into angry tears, a sickening wave of shame crawling down her spine as memories of the hungry looks in those men’s eyes replayed relentlessly. The last time any man had humiliated her this way was when she married the old man for his money, months after Ava and her mother had saved her life. They had worked for him and lived under his roof at the time, and in exchange for letting her and her newborn stay, he offered her a deal—to warm his bed whenever he wanted.

The humiliation. The abuse. She had endured it all for revenge, for power, and she had made herself a promise: never to be owned by another man. No matter what, she would be the boss of her own game. She would make men kneel—never the other way around.

“Just you wait, Ricardo…” she muttered, sniffing her tears aside as a small, bitter smile stretched across her wet lips.

“You’ll pay for this…”

The door clicked open, interrupting her thoughts. Selene’s eyes darted toward the sound, watching nervously as a figure stepped inside. The dim lighting made it impossible to make out his face at first glance.

She scoffed and looked away, unbothered by who he was as he closed in.

“I don’t care who you are,” she spat as the figure loomed over her. “If you think you can own me—”

“But I do,” he cut her off, his voice calm and unshaken.

Selene’s eyes snapped wide.

That voice.

“Who… who are you and—”

Before she could finish, Matteo’s voice trailed into a low chuckle. He shook his head slightly as he moved toward the leather chair at the center of the lounge and settled into it.

Selene swallowed, forcing down her curiosity and focusing on the only thing that mattered—walking away from this nightmare unscathed.

“I know it’s useless trying to buy myself free,” she said. “If you were willing to offer so much just to have me, then setting me free was never part of your plan.” She bit down hard on her lower lip, enough to draw blood.

“You’re quite smart, Miss Selene,” Matteo said coolly.

Her gaze snapped back to him, blinking hard. She ignored the unsettling thought that his voice sounded eerily similar to Damien’s father’s—there was no way that was possible. But the more he spoke…

Could it be him?

“There’s just something about you,” he growled as he rose to his feet, walked over, and lowered himself to her level. Their eyes locked for the first time.

Selene flinched, a jarring realization striking her and plunging her into deeper confusion.

Why would he—

“For a woman like you,” he continued, “it takes more than guts to enter my turf—and cause chaos on your very first day.”

Selene lowered her gaze, confusion melting into anger, shame, humiliation.

“So you had your men follow me,” she choked out. “If I’m right, they’ve been on my tail since that night?”

Matteo’s cold eyes stayed on her as his hand reached out, seizing her chin. He studied her closely, like a puzzle he had paid to solve.

“For a busy man like you,” Selene said bitterly, “it’s surprising you’d find me worth wasting your time on.”

He shoved her away, nearly sending her crashing onto her back.

“You know damn well I’m just a woman desperate for power,” she snapped. “There’s nothing interesting about me. You didn’t need to have your men follow me.”

“Why did you do it?” he asked as he returned to his chair. He picked up a cigarette from the ashtray, lit it, and drew in a long drag.

Selene swallowed the knot tightening her throat as her mind raced to the school fire. That was what he meant. If he’d been watching her, then he already knew.

“It… it wasn’t me,” she whispered. “I swear.”

He shot her a glare, and she clamped her mouth shut, panic spiraling as she searched desperately for a lie—anything except the truth about Marina.

“I see your fondness for fire comes from the scar on your arm,” he sneered, exhaling smoke in her direction.

Selene turned her face away as tears welled in her eyes, the mention dragging her mind back years and stabbing sharp pain through her chest.

“So what’s your reason this time?” he asked again.

Selene said nothing. Her mind went completely blank.

“I do not like repeating myself,” Matteo said, his voice suddenly firm, commanding, terrifying.

She flinched.

“I’ll ask you one more time, Selene—and you’d better think carefully before you answer.”

She looked up, red-rimmed eyes locking onto his as fear seeped deep into her bones.

“One wrong answer,” he continued calmly, “and I’ll return the favor. Only this time, no one is coming to rescue you—until you’re nothing but ashes.”

Selene swallowed hard. Was he threatening to burn her alive? She had heard enough about Matteo long before crossing paths with Damien. They said he had no heart, that he would wreak havoc on anyone who crossed him. She had feared him for years and had already accepted that he would be the hardest part of her revenge. She knew it better than anyone—he could kill her here and now without hesitation.

“What were you up to this time?” he asked quietly, calmly—chillingly.

Cold sweat broke across Selene’s forehead as she swallowed and met his gaze.