Claimed By The Syndicate: The Mafia Heir's Obsession

Episode 8

SERENA

“A month from now, you will become my wife, and then you will be completely mine. In the time leading up to that, I want your complete submission. You will listen to me and trust me without question.”

Tears sting my eyes, but I blink them away, fisting the sheets a little tighter. Tears are a weakness, and I don’t want him to see how weak I am, how weak I feel. My chest tightens, and anger rips through me.

Why would my father give me to this man? Why would he let him take me without right or reason? This isn’t how it was supposed to go. I was supposed to be given to a man that would keep me safe, that wouldn’t hurt me. I didn’t expect love or even to be equal to my future husband, but I didn’t expect to become a rug beneath his feet either.

“Let’s see how well you listen.” He claps his hands together and walks over to the bed. “I want you to get up and take a shower.”

My mind is racing. There has to be a way out of this, but I have nothing to barter, nothing but my body which he already owns.

“Please,” I whisper softly, willing him to see me as a human and not an object. “There has to be something else you want. Someone else you want?”

Cocking his head to the side, he stares at me wearily before his entire face goes blank. A moment later, a mischievous grin appears on his lips, and I know I’ve made no headway.

“I have everything I could ever want. Money, power, status, and now I have you too. I don’t want anyone else. There is nothing more in this world that I could want or need.” Darkness clings to each word, and I feel my escape slowly slipping away. Spiraling out of control, I need to gain some type of ground. I can’t let him win. I can’t.

Scurrying off the bed, I make it all of three feet before he’s on me. Like a cat, he pounces, his

fingers finding, and wrapping around my throat as he shoves me back against the mattress. I land in a heap, the air ripping from my lungs on impact.

All over again, I’m trapped between him and the mattress, this time though, his hand is wrapped around my throat, his grip firm but not bruising, his eyes dark and stormy. He’s calculating and fierce.

He holds all the power, and I’m nothing more than a pawn in his sick, twisted game. He has no reason to want me. A man of his stature could have any woman he wants.

“Please,” I croak and grab onto his wrist, trying to pry his hand away. I’m afraid he’s going to hurt me, take and take until there isn’t anything else to take. “Please don’t …” I’m not sure what I’m asking him not to do, all I know is that I don’t want him to hurt me or r**e me. I’m not sure I could come back from that type of pain.

Leaning into my face, his nose brushes over mine, it’s such an intimate action that doesn’t match his behavior. He watches me cautiously as I tremble. I can’t allow myself to fall for his softness. I have to remember he is the one who hurt me, the one who took me away in the middle of the night.

Pulling back an inch, his steely gaze roams my face. I can feel the power he exudes as he holds me to the mattress without barely any effort.

The weight of his body, the steel rod between his legs pressing into my belly, a reminder of what’s to come. It’s frightening. How he could easily snap my neck with nothing more than the flick of his wrist or steal my virtue while holding me against the bed.

“Then don’t make me. Take off your f*****g clothes, get in the shower, and listen to what I tell you. I’ve already shown you more mercy than I should have. Don’t force my hand, Serena, don’t make me hurt you; I promise you that it won’t be something you easily forget. You think I’m a monster now, but you haven’t even seen a sliver of what I’m capable of. ”

I don’t realize how much I’m trembling until he pulls away, releasing my throat and taking the warmth of his body with him.

For a moment, I simply lie there, my chest heaving, fear pumping through my veins. My hand moves on its own, pressing against the flesh at my throat where it still feels as if he’s holding me, his grasp like a steel shackle.

“Are you going to obey, or do you want to test my patience and resolve?” he whispers, and I decide to swallow my pride, and my need to escape for the time being. There will be other instances where fighting back is more worth my while. I need to save my strength.

Sitting up, I come to stand on shaky legs, cross the room, and walk into the bathroom, feeling his presence at my back the entire time.

Once inside the bathroom, the lights flick on, and my eyes burn at the brightness. I look down at the floor, my fingers shake, and goosebumps pebble my flesh when I grab the hem of his shirt and pull it off. It drops to the floor just like my stomach.

I’ve never been naked in front of a man. Never shown any of my intimate parts to one, and now I have no option. If I force his hand, I don’t doubt he’ll hurt me.

“I’ve never been naked in front of a man before.” My cheeks burn at the admission.

“There’s a first time for everything. You should get used to being naked in my presence because next month, we’ll be married, and I’ll be taking that cherry between your legs.”