Chapter 2 That Man Was Mafia
1127 Words
The gun pressed against the man's chest, but before she could react, he effortlessly took it from her hand.
"The game's over."
As he casually twirled the gun in his hand, Claire's initial fear morphed into seething anger.
This man treated her like a plaything, something he could easily manipulate!
A brave little kitten, indeed.
The man thought as he pinned Claire against the wall, his gaze tracing her beautiful, alluring face. Under the dim light, her red lips were as tempting as roses.
At this moment, he couldn't control his accelerating heartbeat.
Claire, sensing the desire in his eyes, panicked and struggled to free herself, but he held her hands firmly above her head.
They were so close. The man's fingers brushed against her lips, and he chuckled, his voice deep and sexy.
What did he want from her?
Their position was incredibly intimate, but Claire remained as stiff as a statue. She had already decided that if he tried anything, she would...
"If I kiss you, I bet you would bite me," he murmured, releasing her.
"Don't worry, I don't enjoy forcing others."
To hell with him! He already forced her to stay here! Claire cursed inwardly, rolling her eyes.
"My name is Lucien Stacey," he declared, emphasizing each word, his gaze searching her face as if expecting a reaction.
Claire frowned, confused.
Did he think they knew each other?
Lucien didn't get the response he expected and withdrew his gaze, his tone turning colder. "You're coming with me to a dinner party later. If I'm in a good mood, maybe I'll let you leave.
Be good," he added before turning away.
His tone brooked no argument.
Claire watched him walk away, fearing what else he might do.
Was it just her imagination, or had Lucien expected her to recognize his name?
And when she didn't, he seemed somewhat disappointed.
That couldn't be...
Claire dismissed the thought. He was probably just a pervert!
Lucien left the room, his voice returning to its usual cold tone. "Are they still looking for her?"
"Yes, we’ve caught a few, but the rest are still at large," Nathan replied.
Lucien pondered for a moment. "Find them as soon as possible. If they manage to slip into the hotel, it’ll be trouble."
He glanced at the tightly closed door. For now, he couldn’t let her leave.
****
A swift and efficient stylist wheeled a cart into the suite, warmly inviting Claire to choose a gown.
Claire initially wanted to refuse, but reconsidered. Until she could figure out Lucien’s true intentions, it was best not to provoke him.
The most important thing now was to stay on Lucien’s good side and wait for the right moment to escape.
After eyeing the various gowns for a moment, she chose a subtle silver evening dress, its back elegantly laced with fine silver threads. The long dress hugged her slender, sexy figure, her chestnut hair styled in loose waves like thick seaweed.
Claire stood up amid the stylist's praises, looking both sexy and relaxed.
When she was led to the lounge, she saw a man who had been badly beaten lying on the floor, barely unrecognizable and possibly unconscious.
Lucien sat on a leather sofa, smoke slowly exhaling from his lips, exuding both elegance and danger.
The man on the floor, barely conscious, crawled towards Lucien, trying to grab his pants.
Lucien frowned slightly but stopped his subordinate from shooting him.
" Claire's here. Don't kill anyone in front of her."
He wasn't speaking English. It sounded more like Italian, his deep voice like a beautiful cello piece.
Despite Lucien's captivating voice, Claire didn't understand.
She only knew the man was dragged away.
Lucien turned to look at her, a flash of appreciation in his eyes.
Under the dark eye shadow, Claire's brown eyes sparkled with a glint of light, shaded by long lashes. Her dark red lipstick made her look even more seductive.
She was stunningly beautiful, but like a dahlia, carried an air of dangerous allure.
Claire's attention was elsewhere, though. She watched the man being dragged away, instinctively trembling with fear.
Lucien toyed with a silver handgun, saying, "Come here."
His tone was gentle as if he were a different person from that ruthless man moments ago.
The oppressive aura in the room somewhat dissipated.
Despite her reluctance, Claire had no choice but to comply.
Lucien could easily lock her up, or pull the trigger in public without a second thought. She knew better than to cross him.
Displeased with her slow pace, Lucien pulled her into his lap and gripped her delicate chin, his intense gaze making Claire turn her head away instinctively.
Sensing her resistance, Lucien released her, loosening his tie. "I told you, I won't force you."
Claire was still wary and clenched her fists tightly.
She wouldn't believe any of his lies and would definitely escape at the first opportunity!
Thinking of the beaten man and Lucien's chilling aura, Claire was genuinely frightened. It was the first time she had witnessed such violence. If not for her strong mental resilience, her legs would have given out...
"Link arms with me." Lucien's voice interrupted her thoughts, commanding yet strangely gentle.
Claire obediently slipped her hand into the crook of his arm. She had no other choice.
Then, they headed to the basement.
It was a luxurious underground casino.
The crystal chandeliers reflected on the faces of the rich and gamblers, their laughter echoing as if coming from hell.
Passing through the casino, Lucien stopped before a grand, ornately carved door.
Two rows of men in black suits bowed respectfully at Lucien's arrival. "Mr. Stacey."
One man opened the door, and Lucien led Claire inside.
Unlike the brightly lit casino, this room was dim, with only flickering candlelight. Everyone's faces were shrouded in shadows, a smooth piece of cello filling the air.
Everyone was whispering, and the hall was filled with indistinct murmurs.
Each of them greeted Lucien with respect, calling him "Mr. Stacey."
Claire suddenly thought of "The Godfather," where a man with a red rose on his chest also commanded such respect.
She realized she was in a dark world, and here she became the target of many women's hostility. They clearly didn't like seeing a woman so close to Lucien.
The men, on the other hand, eyed Claire lecherously. After all, her captivating face was as alluring as a siren's song, and their gazes made her extremely uneasy.
Everything here was slowly breaking down her mental defenses, and the immense pressure made Claire's stomach ache.
Perhaps it was just her imagination, but under the dim light, Lucien's chiseled features seemed softer, giving Claire the courage to speak to him. " Mr. Stacey, we need to talk."
- Writer
