The Unholy Intrusion

Chapter 10: The Capture

Selena’s heart raced, her breath coming in short, shallow gasps as she hurried through the parking lot. The night air was cool, but all she could feel was the heat of panic crawling up her spine. The events of the evening replayed in her mind like a terrible nightmare, and no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t shake the feeling of dread that followed her with every step. Mark Adrian Gallo had been at the event—just a few feet away from her. It had been a miracle he hadn’t recognized her, but she knew she couldn’t push her luck any further.

*I have to get out of here.*

Her fingers fumbled with the car keys as she approached her vehicle. The urge to run, to escape the looming threat of discovery, consumed her. She couldn’t believe how close she had come to being caught. Mark had looked right at her—his piercing gaze had lingered a second too long, filled with a flicker of recognition that she had been desperate to avoid.

Selena opened the car door, her hands trembling as she reached for the handle. The soft click of the door unlocking felt like a lifeline. All she had to do was get in, drive away, and disappear into the safety of her home. But as she pulled the door open, a shadow loomed over her from behind.

“Leaving already?”

The deep voice, calm and unsettling, made her blood run cold. She didn’t have to turn around to know who it was.

Her entire body froze as fear took over. Slowly, she turned to face him, and there he was—Mark Adrian Gallo, towering over her with that same unsettling intensity in his eyes.

“Mark…” she whispered, barely able to find her voice. Her heart pounded in her chest, so loud she was sure he could hear it. Her instincts screamed at her to run, but her legs felt heavy, rooted to the spot.

“You’ve been avoiding me,” Mark said, his voice steady but cold. His eyes scanned her face, as if searching for the truth behind her lies. “Haven’t you?”

Selena’s breath hitched. She felt her pulse quicken, and panic surged inside her. She had to stay calm, had to keep her wits about her. “I’m sorry, you must have mistaken me for someone else,” she stammered, trying to keep her voice from trembling. “I was just leaving. I have an early appointment tomorrow.”

She tried to move past him, but Mark’s arm shot out, blocking her path. His hand pressed firmly against the car door, and his body closed the distance between them, trapping her in place.

“Don’t lie to me, Selena,” he said, his voice dropping to a dangerous low.

Her heart sank. *How does he know my name?*

Selena’s throat tightened, and for a moment, she felt as though the world had stopped spinning. How did he know her name? She had been so careful, keeping her distance, hiding her involvement in his ruined wedding. But it was clear now that Mark knew more than she had realized.

“Please,” she whispered, her voice trembling with fear, “I just want to leave.”

“You don’t get to leave,” Mark replied coldly. His eyes were locked onto hers, unblinking. “Not after what you did.”

Before Selena could respond, Mark’s hand shot out, grabbing her wrist with a grip that was both firm and unyielding. Panic surged through her, and she tried to pull away, but his strength far outmatched hers.

“Let me go!” she cried, struggling against him, her heart pounding in her chest.

But Mark didn’t flinch. His expression remained impassive as he reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a handkerchief. Before Selena could even register what was happening, he pressed the cloth over her mouth and nose. The scent of something sweet and chemical hit her senses, and she immediately began to struggle, her vision blurring as she fought to breathe.

Her legs gave out beneath her, and her world started to spin. Selena’s movements grew weaker, her attempts to fight back becoming futile as darkness began to consume her. The last thing she saw before her eyes closed was Mark’s cold, calculating gaze staring back at her.

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**Mark’s POV**

I caught Selena as her body went limp in my arms, her breathing steady but faint. The chloroform had done its job, and now she was completely at my mercy. I couldn’t help but stare at her peaceful, unconscious face as I held her, feeling a strange mix of emotions I didn’t fully understand. Anger, certainly—this woman had wreaked havoc on my life, appearing out of nowhere with her lies and deceptions. But there was something else too. A fascination, an obsession that I couldn’t quite explain.

It was as though Selena had bewitched me, despite everything.

I carefully carried her to my waiting car, where my driver was already in position. He glanced back at me through the rearview mirror, his expression neutral as always. He was used to following orders without question.

“Everything ready?” I asked him, settling Selena in the back seat beside me. I glanced down at her, her chest rising and falling in slow, steady breaths. She looked so innocent, so fragile, but I knew better now. She wasn’t the delicate woman she appeared to be—she was a manipulator, and she had gotten herself into this situation.

“Yes, sir,” the driver replied, nodding.

“Good.” I shut the door behind me and positioned myself next to Selena, making sure she was securely strapped in, her body leaning slightly against the side of the car. If anyone saw her, it would just look like she had had too much to drink.

As we pulled away from the parking lot, I leaned back in my seat, my mind racing with thoughts about what had just happened. Selena had run, just as I expected her to. She had no intention of facing me after the mess she’d created. But she hadn’t counted on this—being caught, cornered with no escape.

My thoughts drifted to my grandfather, the man who had raised me after my parents died. He was old now, frail, and I knew he didn’t have much time left. He had spent years urging me to settle down, to marry and have children. He wanted to see an heir, someone to carry on the Gallo name. But I hadn’t cared about marriage or children—until Selena crashed into my life.

She had claimed to be pregnant, and while it had been a lie, the idea had taken root in my mind. My grandfather didn’t know the truth yet. He still believed that Selena carried my child, and that gave me an advantage. But there was no child. Not yet, at least.

Selena had already entangled herself in my life. Now, I would make sure she stayed. My grandfather didn’t have long, and if I wanted to give him the satisfaction of seeing a grandchild before he passed, I needed Selena to play her part.

As we drove through the quiet streets, I glanced at her again. She would wake up soon, and she would be confused, scared. But I had a plan.

The car stopped in front of my estate, and I motioned to my driver to help me carry Selena inside. She didn’t stir as we moved her, and I carefully placed her on a bed in the guest room. I stood over her for a moment, watching her sleep.

“You’ve made a mess of things, Selena,” I muttered under my breath. “But you’re not going anywhere now.”

This was only the beginning.

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**Selena’s POV**

The faint, distant sound of footsteps echoed in the dark void surrounding her. A sharp pain throbbed in her head, and her body felt heavy, like she was sinking into the earth. Slowly, she became aware of the soft surface beneath her and the weight of something covering her.

Selena blinked, her eyes struggling to adjust to the dim light of the unfamiliar room. She tried to sit up, but a wave of dizziness washed over her, forcing her to lie back down. Panic quickly set in as the events of the night came rushing back.

Mark. The parking lot. The handkerchief.

Her pulse quickened as she looked around, her breath catching in her throat. She was in a bedroom—large, luxurious, and utterly unfamiliar. The walls were lined with heavy curtains, and a dim lamp on the nightstand cast a soft glow over the

room. Her head spun as she tried to make sense of what was happening.

*Where am I?*