SLEEPING WITH THE ENEMY

A Mother's Wrath

Darkness swallowed me whole.

I had been locked in my room for days, the walls pressing in on me like a cage. No one came to see me except the maids who brought food I refused to eat. My father had made his decision—I was to marry the mafia’s son, and Danny…

I shuddered. I didn’t know what they had done to him.

Is he still alive?

That thought consumed me.

I paced restlessly, my body weak, my heart aching. My hands trembled as I pressed them against the cool glass of my window, staring out at the vast estate. Somewhere beyond those gates, Danny was suffering. Because of me.

"Mitchell."

I spun around at the sound of my mother’s voice. Camila stood in the doorway, her eyes weary but filled with determination.

"Mama, please," I begged. "Tell me where he is."

She hesitated. "Your father… he's keeping him alive for now. But he won’t forever."

My breath caught. "I need to see him."

"You can’t. Lucas is watching you. The wedding is in three weeks. He won’t risk you running away."

I clenched my fists. "I will never marry that man."

"Then what do you plan to do?"

I met my mother’s gaze, my voice cold with resolve. "I will fight."

Camila sighed, stepping forward and cupping my face. "You’re my daughter, and I will always protect you. But Lucas… he is ruthless. Be careful."

I swallowed hard. My father had power, control, and an army at his command. But he underestimated me.

I was his daughter. And I would burn everything for the man I loved.

Camila’s POV

I had tolerated Lucas for years—his greed, his hunger for power, his cold, ruthless ways. But this? This was her limit.

"You will not destroy my daughter’s life for your business!" I screamed, my voice echoing through the grand halls of our mansion.

Lucas stood there, emotionless, his piercing gaze daring me to challenge him further.

"You will watch your tone, Camila," he said, his voice low and dangerous.

But my mum didn’t care. she stepped closer, pointing a trembling finger at him. "You think you can play god? That you can decide who she loves, who she marries, and who she suffers for? If you want a business alliance, then you marry that mafia son yourself!"

His eyes darkened, and I saw the shift—the dangerous glint of a man who never tolerated disobedience. But I wasn’t afraid.

"This is your last warning," Lucas said, his voice eerily calm. "Stay out of this."

"Or what?" she challenged, my breath heaving. "Will you kill me too, just like you've killed so many others?"

A flash of rage crossed his face.

Then—

A crack.

Pain exploded in my skull as Lucas struck me. The force sent me staggering back, and before I could recover, I felt my body hit the marble floor hard. The world spun, my vision blurring.

I heard voices—Michelle screaming, guards rushing forward, but everything was fading… drowning…

Then, darkness.

Mitchell’s POV

Blood.

My mother’s blood.

I couldn’t breathe. My body felt frozen in place as I watched her crumple to the floor, unmoving.

"Mama!" I screamed, rushing toward her, my hands shaking as I touched her face. "Mama, wake up! Please!"

Her eyes fluttered weakly, but she was barely conscious.

"Get the doctor!" someone shouted, but I wasn’t sure who. My vision was red with rage, with fear, with the unbearable grief of watching my father hurt the only woman who had ever truly loved me.

I turned to Lucas, my father, my monster, and for the first time in my life, I wanted to kill him.

"You did this," I whispered, my voice trembling.

Lucas met my gaze, unflinching. "She gave me no choice."

No choice? No choice?

"I hate you," I spat, tears burning down my cheeks. "I swear, one day, you will pay for this."

Before he could respond, the guards lifted my mother’s limp body, carrying her away. I stumbled after them, refusing to leave her side.

This wasn’t over.

It was just the beginning.