The Deal
1190 Words
Chapter 2 - The Deal
Elena stared at Luca Romano, her heart beating so loudly she was sure he could hear it.
“You belong to me now.”
The words echoed in her mind like a sentence being passed in a courtroom.
Belong.
The idea made her stomach twist.
“I’m not something you can own,” she said quietly.
Luca didn’t look offended.
If anything, the corner of his mouth lifted slightly, as if he found her resistance amusing.
“No?” he said.
He leaned back in his chair, studying her like a puzzle he already knew how to solve.
“You walked into my club asking for help,” he continued calmly. “You offered to do whatever it takes to pay your brother’s debt.”
Elena felt heat crawl up her neck, and her stomach dropped.
“That doesn’t mean.....”
“It means,” he interrupted smoothly, “you made a deal.”
Her hands clenched at her sides.
“You haven’t told me the terms yet.”
Luca reached for his glass again, swirling the amber liquid slowly.
“Simple,” he said.
“You work for me.”
Elena frowned.
“What kind of work?”
His dark eyes lifted onto hers.
The silence stretched just long enough to make her uncomfortable.
Then he said, “You paint.”
Her breath caught.
“How do you know that?”
Luca shrugged slightly.
“I make it a habit to know things about the people who walk into my territory.”
Of course he did.
Men like Luca Romano didn’t survive by being careless.
“You’ll continue painting,” he said.
“That’s it?”
“For now.”
Suspicion flickered through her.
“You expect me to believe that a mafia boss needs an artist?”
His lips curved again.
“You’d be surprised what powerful men are willing to pay for.”
Elena hesitated.
Part of her wanted to refuse immediately.
But another part of her understood the truth.
She didn’t have a choice.
“What happens if I say no?”
Luca’s expression didn’t change.
But the surrounding air suddenly felt colder.
“Then the Bratva will eventually find you.”
Her stomach dropped.
“You’re exaggerating.”
Amusement flashed in his eyes.
“You think I’m exaggerating?”
He stood slowly and walked toward the glass railing of the balcony.
From here, the entire club floor was visible.
Music.
Drinks.
Laughter.
A normal night for everyone else.
Luca rested his hands on the railing.
“Your brother didn’t just steal money,” he said quietly.
“He stole from men who enjoy making examples.”
Elena crossed her arms, trying to hide the unease creeping into her chest.
“They’ll go after him, not me.”
Luca turned his head slightly.
“You really believe that?”
Silence answered him.
Because deep down, Elena already knew the truth.
If they couldn’t find Marco…
They would look for someone else to punish.
“And you think working for you protects me?” she asked.
Luca finally turned back to face her.
“It guarantees it.”
Something in his tone made her believe him.
Not because he sounded kind.
But because he sounded certain.
“How long?” she asked quietly.
Luca walked back to the table and picked up the envelope she had brought.
Ten thousand dollars.
He weighed it in his hand as if it were nothing.
“Until the debt is paid.”
“That could take years.”
“Yes.”
Her chest tightened.
“You’re asking me to give up my life.”
His gaze hardened slightly.
“Your brother already did that.”
The words hit like a slap.
Elena looked away.
She hated that he was right.
After a moment she asked, “What exactly would I be painting?”
Luca considered her for a second.
Then he said, “Portraits.”
“Of who?”
“People who prefer not to be photographed.”
Her stomach sank.
Criminals.
Of course.
“Why me?” she asked.
“There are thousands of artists in this city.”
“Yes,” Luca agreed.
“But none of them walked into my club tonight offering themselves in exchange for a debt.”
Elena inhaled slowly.
“So this is punishment.”
“No,” he said.
“It’s opportunity.”
She laughed softly.
“That’s a generous way of describing blackmail.”
Luca didn’t respond.
Instead, he stepped closer.
Close enough that she could see the faint scar above his eyebrow.
Close enough that she could smell the expensive cologne on his skin.
“Let me be very clear, Elena,” he said quietly.
“If the Bratva takes you, they won’t ask for paintings.”
A chill ran down her spine.
“They’ll hurt you until your brother shows himself.”
The room felt colder.
Quieter.
“You’re saying this is my only option.”
“Yes.”
Elena looked at him for a long moment.
Then she asked the one question she hadn’t dared to ask before.
“And what do you get out of this?”
Luca’s eyes darkened slightly.
“Control.”
Something about the way he said it made her pulse quicken.
“You like controlling people.”
“I like protecting what belongs to me.”
There was that word again.
Belongs.
Elena exhaled slowly.
“Fine.”
The word left her mouth before she could stop it.
Luca watched her carefully.
“You’re agreeing?”
“I’ll work for you,” she said.
“But once the debt is paid…”
“You’re free,” he finished.
She nodded.
“Deal.”
For a moment, neither of them moved.
Then Luca extended his hand.
Elena hesitated.
Something about shaking hands with him felt like signing a contract with the devil.
But she did it anyway.
The moment their hands touched, his grip tightened slightly.
Warm.
Strong.
Dangerous.
For a brief second, neither of them let go.
Then Luca released her.
“Good,” he said.
“You start tomorrow.”
Elena frowned.
“Tomorrow?”
“Yes.”
“At least give me time to prepare.”
Luca shook his head.
“You won’t need it.”
Something about his tone made her uneasy.
“What does that mean?”
Luca picked up his phone from the table and glanced at the screen.
Then his expression changed.
The amusement vanished.
“What is it?” Elena asked.
He didn’t answer immediately.
Instead, he showed her the phone.
A photo filled the screen.
Three men standing outside her apartment building.
Men she had never seen before.
But the cold expressions on their faces told her everything she needed to know.
“They found you faster than I expected,” Luca said quietly.
Elena’s blood ran cold.
“What do we do?”
Luca slipped the phone back into his pocket.
Then he looked at her with the same calm expression he had worn all night.
“Now?”
He stepped closer.
“Now you move in with me.”
- Writer
