Owned by the Mafia: An Obsessive Marriage

Water hit the streets so fast it turned the bright city lights into blurry streaks of color. Everyone walked fast, heads down, trying to get out of the cold wet wind as quickly as they could. For Lila Carter, this Tuesday evening was just like any other. She had worked ten long hours at her desk, designing things and answering messages. At twenty-three, her life was simple and quiet. She lived alone, had only a few close friends, and tried to stay out of trouble. She believed that if she followed the rules and minded her own business, nothing bad would ever happen to her. She had no idea that this belief was about to break apart completely. When she left her office, she pulled her coat tight and opened a small umbrella to block the rain. The street was busy with cars and people rushing home. Lila walked along the sidewalk, already thinking about the warm cup of tea waiting for her at her apartment. She had no way of knowing that for the past three weeks, every step she took, every place she went, and every person she met had been watched carefully. Hidden cars, buildings, and crowds all held people who worked for the most powerful and dangerous group in the city. To Lila, she was just a normal girl. To the Vance Crime Family, she was the only way to pay back a debt that had been waiting a long time. Lila’s father had died just over a year ago. He was a quiet, kind man, or so she thought. He never talked about secrets or danger, and he never told her that he had borrowed a huge amount of money from criminals. He could never pay it back, and in this world, debts did not disappear when someone died. They passed down to their family. When Damian Vanc, the leader of the Vance Family and the most feared man in the area looked at his records, he did not see money that was lost. He saw a name, a picture, and a face that made him want her more than anything else. He did not want the money anymore. He wanted her. And when Damian Vance wanted something, he always got it. Lila reached the corner where she had parked her car. She walked slowly, fumbling in her bag for her keys. She did not see the big black van that had driven up silently behind her. It moved like something hiding in the dark. There were no license plates and no signs on it, so it looked like any other vehicle on the street. But inside, everything was quiet and tense. Four men sat there. Two stood near the open door. They wore masks and dark clothes, and you could feel how dangerous they were. They had done this many times before, taking people who owed them or got in their way. But this time was different. They had strict orders: do not hurt her, do not leave marks, but make sure she does not run away. She was too important to be damaged. As Lila pulled out her keys and stepped toward her car, the van moved fast and stopped right beside her. Before she could even shout or step back, the side door slid open with a loud noise. Strong hands grabbed her arms and shoulders. She dropped her umbrella and watched it roll away into a puddle. A hand covered her mouth so she could not scream. She tried to fight back by kicking her legs and pulling away, but she was not strong enough. In just a few seconds, she was pulled inside the van. The door slammed shut, and the car drove away quickly. It joined the traffic and disappeared into the rain like it had never been there at all. The ride felt like a nightmare. Lila was held down on the floor. Her hands were tied behind her back, and a cloth was still over her mouth to stop her from making noise. Tears ran down her face, mixing with rain and sweat. She looked up and saw the shapes of the men around her. They looked at her like she was not a person, but just something they had taken. She tried to speak, to beg for help, but nothing came out. She did not know if she would be hurt, sold, or killed. She had no idea that her future had already been decided, written down in papers kept in a dark office. After what felt like a long time, the van slowed down. The noise of the city disappeared, and instead she heard stones crunching under the tires. Then she heard heavy gates opening slowly. When the doors opened again, she was picked up and carried outside. The rain had stopped, but the air was still cold. When she looked up, she saw something that confused her. She expected to be taken to a dark building or warehouse, but instead she saw a huge, beautiful house. It looked like a palace, with big lights lighting it up. It was surrounded by tall stone walls and security gates. This was the Vance Estate. It was miles away from the city, hidden from everyone else. It looked nice, but every window looked like it was watching her, and every corner seemed to have someone hiding. When the gates closed behind her, the sound was loud and final, like a door locking on a prison forever. She was carried inside through big heavy doors and put down on the floor. The inside was fancy. She saw bright lights, shiny floors, and expensive pictures on the walls. But to Lila, it felt colder and scarier than any jail cell. Her hands were untied and the cloth was taken away from her mouth. But before she could run or shout, she stopped moving. Standing at the top of the stairs were four men. They stood quiet and still, looking down at her with eyes that felt heavy and intense. They made her skin feel cold. The tallest man was Damian Vance. He had dark hair and eyes that looked hard and sharp. He looked like a leader, powerful and in charge. Next to him was Cole Mercer, who is big and strong, with a rough look on his face. He looked at her with a mix of anger and interest. Then there was Elias Thorne. He looked handsome and polite, but he smiled in a way that did not feel warm. He watched her like she was something fun to look at. And last was Gideon Hale. He was quiet and serious, and he looked like he was always watching and ready to act. He treated her like she was just another thing to look after. They walked down the stairs slowly, and their steps made loud sounds in the big hall. Lila stepped back until she hit the wall. She breathed fast and shallow, looking from one man to another. There was no kindness or mercy in their faces—only a strong need to have her. Damian stopped right in front of her. He was so tall she had to look up to see his face. He reached out and touched her cheek gently, just enough to make her look at him. “You are here because you belong to us now, Lila,” he said. His voice was deep, calm, and final. There was no room to argue. “Your father owed money. You are what we take to pay it.” Cole stood behind him and laughed quietly. He moved closer until he was right next to her. “And don’t forget, little girl,” he said, his voice sounding rough and mean. “We always get what is ours. You thought your little life was safe? You thought you could stay away from us? You belong to us now, every part of you. And we don’t just want you. We care about you so much it feels like an obsession. Whether you like it or not, you will never leave this place.” Lila stood still, surrounded by four of the most dangerous men in the country. She understood now that her old life was gone forever. She had been taken away, and now she was part of this world. She looked into their eyes and saw cruelty, desire, and a strong need to own her. She knew then that she had not just come to a house. She had entered a place where everything was controlled by power and wanting and there was no way out...