Chapter6
946 Words
A CAGE WITH NO BARS
Valerie wasn’t running anymore.
Not tonight.
She sat on the balcony of Mason Kingston’s mansion, staring at the city below. The door stretched out before her, glittering under the moonlight, but it wasn’t freedom.
Not really.
It was just a beautiful illusion, just like the man who owned this place—who owned her.
She clenched her hands against the cold iron railing.
Mason had given her more freedom in the past week. She could move around the house, even step outside into the gardens.
But she wasn’t stupid.
She knew there were eyes on her at all times.
The guards. The cameras. The ever-present feeling that Mason himself was always watching.
He had loosened the leash, but the leash was still there.
And what scared her the most?
She didn’t know if she wanted to pull away anymore.
The sound of footsteps behind her was unmistakable—calculated, controlled.
Mason.
She didn’t turn. Didn’t acknowledge him.
But that never stopped him.
A glass of whiskey clinked softly as he placed it on the small table beside her. He didn’t sit. Just stood behind her, his presence wrapping around her like the cold wind.
"You’ve been quiet today," he finally said.
Valerie exhaled slowly, forcing herself to stay calm. "Maybe I just don’t have anything to say."
"Hmm." He moved closer, his fingers trailing along the back of her chair. "Unlikely."
She turned her head slightly, meeting his gaze. "Or maybe I’ve learned that nothing I say matters. You’ll do what you want, no matter what."
His lips twitched, not quite a smirk. "Now that darling, is true."
The nickname sent a shiver down her spine. He always called her that. She kind of liked it.
Like he enjoyed watching her claw at him, fight him.
Valerie turned away, focusing on the city lights again. "Why are you here, Mason?"
A beat of silence. Then:
"There’s something you need to know."
Something in his voice made her tense.
She turned back to him fully now, watching as he took a slow sip of whiskey, his dark eyes unreadable.
"Your father," he said, "is in debt again."
Her stomach dropped. "What?"
"He lost everything I gave him." Mason’s voice was calm, almost indifferent, but there was an edge to it. "Gambled it away. And now he’s begging the Rosetti family for help."
The Rosettis.
A rival Mafia family. One that would love to get their hands on anything—or anyone Mason cared about.
Her.
Valerie’s hands curled into fists. "You said his debt was paid."
"It was." Mason’s expression didn’t change. "But I don’t forgive stupidity."
She hated him in that moment. Hated that he spoke about her father’s mistakes like they were an inconvenience.
Like her life wasn’t caught in the middle of it.
"You’re going to kill him," she whispered.
Mason didn’t reply.
Which meant yes.
Her chest tightened. She knew her father was weak, that he would always make the wrong choice.
But he was still her father.
"Let me talk to him," she said. "I can fix this."
Mason finally smirked. "You think you can save him?"
She lifted her chin. "I have to try."
His eyes darkened. "You’re wasting your breath, Valerie. He wouldn’t do the same for you."
It was a cruel truth.
But truth, nonetheless.
Still, she couldn’t just stand by and watch.
"I don’t care," she said, voice steady. "Let me see him."
Mason took another sip of whiskey, watching her over the rim of his glass.
For a long, tense moment, he said nothing.
Then—
"Fine."
She blinked. "Fine?"
He tilted his head. "I’ll let you see him."
A pause. Then, softer—"Under one condition."
Valerie’s stomach twisted. "What condition?"
Mason leaned down, placing his hands on either side of her chair, trapping her between his arms.
"You stop trying to run from me."
The words were quiet. Dangerous.
Her breath caught. "I—"
"You stay," he murmured, his lips inches from her ear. "No more escape attempts. No more fights you know you can’t win. You stay because you choose to."
She turned her head sharply, meeting his gaze. "You’re giving me a choice?"
He smirked. "Of course not. I just want to hear you say it."
Her pulse pounded.
Because the worst part?
She didn’t know if she wanted to say no.
Valerie barely slept that night.
She tossed and turned, Mason’s words playing over and over in her head.
You stay because you choose to.
But was it really a choice?
She had tried to run. And every time, he had caught her.
She had tried to hate him. And yet, the fire between them only burned hotter.
She had tried to ignore the way he looked at her—like she was something he wanted to keep.
But now, he was asking.No, not asking.Demanding.She exhaled shakily, staring at the ceiling.
There was no escaping Mason Kingston
Not physically. Not emotionally.
And deep down, she wasn’t sure if she wanted to anymore.
When the sun rose, Valerie found Mason waiting for her in the dining room.
A single plane ticket sat on the table between them.
She swallowed. "What’s this?"
"You’re going to see your father," he said simply.
She hesitated. "And after that?"Mason smirked.
"You already know the answer."
Her chest ached.Because she did.This wasn’t just about her father anymore.
It was about her.
Her choice.
Her surrender.
Valerie looked at Mason—the man who owned her, the man who had trapped her in his
world and made her crave it.
And for the first time…
She wasn’t sure if she wanted to leave.
- Writer
