His Bride,Their Prey

Chapter 4

Finally...

Alessandro broke the silence.

"Enough."

His voice instantly commanded the room.

Lucien stepped back.

The invisible tension between us eased, though only slightly.

Alessandro slowly walked back toward the fireplace, the amber whiskey in his crystal glass catching the glow of the flames.

Without looking at either of us, he spoke.

"The wedding will take place in three days."

Three...

Days.

I blinked.

"...What?"

He took another sip of whiskey.

"I believe I spoke clearly."

"No."

I shook my head.

"No..."

"You don't get to decide that."

"I'm not marrying him."

"I don't even know him."

Alessandro remained calm.

"You don't need to."

A bitter laugh escaped my lips.

"This has to be some sick joke."

"It isn't."

"I'll run."

"You'll be found."

"I'll go to the police."

"They won't help you."

"I'll—"

"Enough."

The single word echoed through the mansion.

"You no longer have choices, Elena."

I clenched my fists so tightly my nails dug into my palms.

"Then kill me."

Silence.

"If my only purpose here is to be sold like cattle..."

I swallowed the lump rising in my throat.

"...then kill me."

"It'll save everyone the trouble."

Alessandro looked at me for a long moment.

Then...

He turned toward Lucien.

"Tell her."

Lucien remained silent.

"Lucien."

A long pause followed.

Finally...

He spoke.

"I never wanted a wife."

My brows drew together.

"...What?"

"I don't believe in marriage."

His voice was flat.

Emotionless.

"As far as I'm concerned..."

"It's simply another contract."

Each word landed like another blow.

"I agreed because my father gave me one condition."

"What condition?"

Lucien looked directly into my eyes.

"I need an heir."

The room spun.

I stared at him in horror.

"...What?"

"My father has one year left to live."

"When he dies..."

"The next Don will take his place."

His tone never changed.

"The position belongs to me."

"...But only if I fulfill his condition."

I slowly turned toward Alessandro.

He simply watched us.

"And that condition..."

Lucien continued.

"...is that I marry."

"...and produce an heir."

The words echoed inside my head.

An heir.

That's all this was.

Not love.

Not fate.

Not marriage.

An heir.

My lips parted as a hollow laugh escaped me.

"So..."

I looked straight into those emotionless blue eyes.

"To you..."

"I'm nothing but a contract with a heartbeat."

Lucien didn't flinch.

"If that's how you wish to see it."

I laughed again.

This time...

There wasn't a trace of humor in it.

Alessandro finally spoke.

"You're mistaken."

Both Lucien and I looked toward him.

"I didn't choose you because of your father's debt".

A chill ran down my spine.

"...Then why?"

For the first time since I'd entered the mansion...

A shadow crossed the old Don's face.

His eyes lingered on me.

Almost thoughtfully.

"Because your mother..."

"...left behind far more than memories."

Lucien's gaze sharpened.

I felt my heart skip.

"My... mother?"

Before I could ask another question...

Alessandro lifted his whiskey once more.

"But..."

He took a slow sip.

"...that conversation..."

"...is for another day."

The room fell silent.

And somehow...

I knew my nightmare had only just begun.

The room remained silent.

No one spoke.

No one moved.

My mind replayed Alessandro's words over and over again.

"Because your mother left behind far more than memories."

My chest tightened.

"What does that mean?"

No answer.

I took a hesitant step forward.

"What did my mother do?"

Alessandro continued sipping his whiskey as though he hadn't heard me.

I clenched my fists.

"I'm talking to you."

Still...

Nothing.

Frustration boiled inside me.

"My mother died when I was twelve."

"She was just a secretary."

"She wasn't involved with people like you."

Alessandro finally looked at me.

His expression was unreadable.

"Your and your father believed many things."

The words sent a chill down my spine.

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"It means..."

He set his glass down.

"...Daniel Rossi never truly knew the woman he married."

My heart skipped.

"No..."

"You're lying."

"Am I?"

He took a slow step toward me.

"Ask yourself this."

"If Isabella Rossi was as ordinary as your father believed..."

"...why would the Moretti family remember her after all these years?"

I opened my mouth.

Nothing came out.

Because...

I didn't have an answer.

Alessandro smiled faintly.

"Exactly."

The silence was suffocating.

I looked toward Lucien.

Unlike me...

His expression remained unreadable.

"You knew about this?"

He looked at me.

"Knew about what?"

"My mother."

"You don't seem surprised."

Lucien answered without hesitation.

"I wasn't told to be."

I frowned.

"What?"

"My father selected you."

"I accepted his decision."

"Nothing more."

"You didn't ask why?"

He looked at me as though I'd asked a ridiculous question.

"My father's decisions don't require my approval."

I stared at him.

"So..."

"You have no idea who my mother really was?"

"No."

His answer came immediately.

"I don't."

I believed him.

Because if there was one thing I'd learned about The Morettis...

It was that they didn't waste words.

They didn't lie.

They simply...

Didn't explain.

I slowly turned back toward Alessandro.

"So..."

"You chose me..."

"...but you never even told your own son why?"

A faint smile tugged at the old Don's lips.

"There are some truths..."

"...that are dangerous even within this family."

Lucien remained silent.

He didn't question his father.

He didn't demand answers.

He simply accepted that there were things Alessandro wasn't ready to reveal.

The silence stretched.

I hated it.

I hated all of them.

"You expect me to just accept this?"

My voice trembled with anger.

"You drag me here..."

"My father sells me..."

"You keep talking about my mother like she lived some secret life..."

"And then you refuse to tell me anything?"

Alessandro met my gaze.

"You'll know."

His voice was calm.

"When the time is right."

I let out a bitter laugh.

"No."

"You'll tell me now."

"No."

I stepped closer.

"I deserve the truth."

"And you will have it."

"...Eventually."

I clenched my jaw.

"You keep saying that."

"Because patience is a lesson you'll have to learn."

"I don't have patience."

Alessandro's lips curved into the faintest smile.

"I noticed."

He turned away from me, signaling that the conversation was over.

"Maria."

A woman in her late fifties immediately stepped forward from the line of servants.

She wore a simple black dress with a white apron, her silver-streaked hair neatly tied into a bun.

Despite standing among armed men, there was something gentle about her.

"Yes, Don."

"Prepare the east wing."

Before she could move—

Lucien spoke.

"No, Father."

The room fell silent.

Even Alessandro paused.

Lucien slipped both hands into the pockets of his tailored trousers.

His gaze remained fixed ahead.

"I'll take her back to my estate instead."

Alessandro looked mildly surprised.

"My estate?" I repeated.

Lucien ignored me.

Alessandro studied his son for a long moment.

"She's perfectly safe here."

"I know."

"Then why?"

Lucien finally looked at his father.

"My responsibility."

The old Don smiled knowingly.

"So you've already accepted it."

"I accepted it the moment you made your decision."

Alessandro chuckled softly.

"As expected."

He raised his glass slightly.

"Very well."

He looked toward me.

"From this moment onward..."

"You'll live under Lucien's protection."

I let out a humorless laugh.

"Protection?"

I looked between the two men.

"You call this protection?"

"I was dragged here against my will."

"My father sold me."

"You people pointed guns at my head."

"And now you're talking about protecting me?"

Neither of them answered.

Lucien simply walked past me.

His voice remained calm.

"We're leaving."

I didn't move.

"I'm not going anywhere with you."

He stopped walking.

Didn't even bother turning around.

"You have two choices."

"I don't remember asking."

"You walk..."

He glanced over his shoulder.

"...or you're carried."

My eyes widened.

"You wouldn't dare."

The corner of his mouth almost curved.

Not into a smile.

Into a warning.

"Try me."

I folded my arms across my chest.

"No."

Lucien waited.

The silence stretched.

"I said no."

His blue eyes remained fixed on me.

Then...

He sighed.

Not out of frustration.

Almost...

Disappointment.

"I warned you."

Before I could react—

He closed the distance between us in two long strides.

"What are you—"

One arm slid beneath my knees.

The other wrapped firmly around my back.

The world tilted.

A startled gasp escaped my lips.

"W-What are you doing?!"

In one effortless motion...

He lifted me into his arms.

I froze.

Then immediately began struggling.

"Put me down!"

I kicked my legs wildly.

My fists pounded against his chest.

"I said put me down!"

Lucien didn't even flinch.

It was like hitting a brick wall.

"I swear I'll—"

"You'll what?"

His voice remained maddeningly calm.

"Hit me again?"

"I'll bite you!"

"Go ahead."

"I hate you!"

"I know."

"You arrogant jerk!"

"I've been called worse."

My face burned with humiliation.

The guards lining the hallway exchanged nervous glances.

None of them dared laugh.

None of them dared speak.

Alessandro watched the entire scene unfold before letting out a deep chuckle.

"It appears you've found yourself quite the handful."

Lucien adjusted his grip slightly as though I weighed nothing.

"I noticed."

"I am NOT a handful!"

I shouted.

"I'm a human being!"

"And you're kidnapping me!"

"No."

Lucien answered without looking down.

"I'm taking my fiancée home."

"I'M NOT YOUR FIANCÉE!"

He finally looked at me.

Those icy blue eyes held mine.

"You will be."

I growled in frustration.

"You really enjoy annoying me, don't you?"

"No."

"Then why are you acting like this?"

He walked toward the enormous front doors.

His footsteps echoed across the marble floor.

"Because arguing with you is proving ineffective."

I stared at him.

"So your solution is to carry me like a sack of potatoes?"

He thought for a moment.

"...You're considerably lighter than a sack of potatoes."

My jaw dropped.

"Did..."

I blinked.

"Did you just compare me to potatoes?"

"It seemed accurate."

One of the younger guards quickly looked away.

His shoulders shook.

He was trying very hard not to laugh.

Another guard elbowed him sharply.

The poor man immediately straightened his face.

I glared at Lucien.

"You're unbelievable."

"So I've been told."

The massive doors opened.

A cool evening breeze rushed inside.

Outside...

A sleek black Rolls-Royce Phantom waited at the bottom of the steps.

Several luxury SUVs surrounded it.

Armed men stood beside each vehicle.

Every one of them lowered their heads the moment Lucien stepped outside.

"Good evening, Mr. Moretti."

Lucien acknowledged them with a slight nod.

Without slowing down...

He carried me down the marble staircase.

I stared at the convoy.

"...Are you expecting a war?"

"No."

"Then why do you need so many guards?"

He opened the rear passenger door himself.

"Because people are always looking for an opportunity."

Before I could ask what he meant—

A black umbrella suddenly appeared above us despite the clear night sky.

One of the guards had opened it.

I frowned.

"It's not raining."

Lucien finally looked at me.

His voice dropped low.

"Umbrellas aren't always used for rain."

A cold shiver ran down my spine.

I realized...

This man's world was far more dangerous than I had imagined.