Spared by the Mafia King

Chapter Four

Elena

"Huh?" I ask, my mind wandering slightly.

"Don’t make me repeat myself," he snaps.

What the actual f**k? My eyes dart around the room like I will find an escape hidden somewhere in the walls. There is none. He actually wants me to strip right here? Right now? In this room? Is that what he wants from me? I was hoping he would be a little chivalrous, even if he is a murderer. He is not looking at me, but he can turn around anytime, and the thought alone makes my skin prickle.

He sounds pissed. Why is he taking it out on me? Did I offend him? Oh. This is how he is.

"Why?" I ask, not ready to give in. I am not a doll that he can just order around. I have dignity. But the tremor in my hands betrays the façade of bravado I try to maintain.

"Because I said so," he replies, his tone icy, devoid of any warmth. I swallow hard, my heart racing as I try to figure out my next move.

"Is this some kind of joke to you?" I shoot back, desperation creeping into my voice.

"You can’t just command me like I’m a puppet!" I take a step back, my mind racing faster. This is not how I envisioned our meeting would go. Not like this.

He turns slowly, finally locking eyes with me, and in that moment, the air thickens with tension. "You think you have a choice?" His voice is low, almost a growl, and I feel the weight of his presence pull me closer despite my instinct to run.

"I’m not afraid of you," I lie. The lie tastes bitter in my mouth. A smile creeps up his lips, slow and unsettling, and it sends shivers down my spine.

"You should be," he replies, a hint of amusement flickering in his eyes.

"You think I will be afraid of you because you kill people for fun?" Where did that come from? Where did this audacity come from? I think. If he kills me now, nobody will look for me. But a part of me knows that he won’t kill me yet—and I don’t know if that should comfort me or terrify me more.

The silence stretches between us, heavy and suffocating. I can feel the walls closing in, the reality of my situation crashing down on me all at once.

His laughter echoes around the room, deep and dark, sending a chill down my spine. "Brave words for someone in a precarious position," he says, stepping closer. The space between us shrinks, and I can feel the heat radiating from him, a sharp contrast to the cold sweat clinging to my skin.

"Do you think your defiance impresses me?" he continues, his voice low and smooth like silk, yet laced with something dangerous. "I admire your spirit, but it won’t save you."

I clench my fists, refusing to show fear. "What do you want from me, Alessandro?" I demand, my voice steadier than I feel. "If you think I’ll just comply with your demands because you’re some kind of monster, you’re mistaken."

He tilts his head, studying me with an intensity that makes my heart race even faster. "You’re right; I’m not just a monster. I’m a man who knows what he wants, and I always get it."

The certainty in his voice makes my stomach twist. I swallow hard, trying to hold on to my composure. "And what is it that you want?"

He steps back, the smile fading from his lips as he regards me with a more serious expression. "You’re more than just a witness to my world, Elena. You’re a part of it now. I need you to understand the stakes."

"Stakes?" I echo, confusion mixing with fear. "What do you mean?"

He moves to the window, looking out at the city below. "This life isn’t just about power and control. It’s about survival."

I feel a small flicker of hope, but it dies almost immediately. "And what’s the price for my survival?"

He turns back to me, his gaze sharp and piercing. "Your loyalty. Your obedience. You have to choose, Elena. Will you fight against me, or with me?"

I hesitate, the weight of his words pressing down on me. I can feel my world closing in, tighter and tighter, and I have to make a decision whether I like it or not.

"I don’t want to be a part of this," I say, my voice trembling despite my effort to steady it. "I just want to go home."

He steps closer again, invading my personal space like he owns it. "Home? You think you can go back to your old life after what you’ve seen? That’s not how this works. You’re tied to me now."

I shake my head, panic rising fast within me. "You can’t just decide that for me!"

"I can, and I will," he replies, his voice low and threatening. "You’re in my world now, and I will protect what’s mine."

My heart races as the meaning of his words settles in. I am trapped in something I don’t understand, something I didn’t choose, and there is no way out.

"Strip," he commands again, and this time his voice is sharper, heavier, almost pressing against my chest. I feel it settle deep, making it hard to think straight.

I take a slow breath, trying to steady myself. "You really think I’ll just… do what you say?"

He leans against the wall, arms crossed, that smirk teasing the corner of his lips again. "I think you might. There’s something about you… curious, isn’t it? Wondering what I could make you feel."

I hesitate, my pulse spiking uncontrollably. "I… I don’t want anything from you," I whisper, though heat creeps up my neck at the thought of him.

"Then why are you still here?" His gaze is fixed, unrelenting, like he can see right through me.

I look away, my heart hammering hard against my chest. "Because… I don’t have a choice," I admit, my voice barely audible.

"Exactly." That smirk turns darker, more dangerous. "And that’s why you’ll follow my lead."

A shiver runs down my spine, sharp and unavoidable. "And if I don’t?"

His eyes darken instantly, the playful edge disappearing completely. "You won’t like it."

Something in his tone tells me that it is not an empty threat. I swallow hard, every nerve in my body on edge. "Fine," I say, my voice shaky but still defiant. "I’ll play… but don’t think it’ll be easy." if I am going down, I am. or going down quietly.

He chuckles, low and dangerous, the sound tightening something in my chest. "I wouldn’t dream of it."

Even as my body tenses, caught between fear and something I can’t quite name, I know this is only the beginning. And somehow… I don’t want it to end.

My hand moves to my chest, and I start unbuttoning my shirt slowly. I undo the last button and am about to pull it off when his phone rings, the sound cutting through the tension. He picks it up, and his expression shifts for half a second before he masks it completely like whatever happened on that call never existed. He returns the phone to his pocket like nothing happened.

"Stop," he commands.

"You aren’t going back to that place you call a house. You are coming with me."