The First Night
1602 Words
Maya Collins couldn't sleep.
She had tried.
She had closed her eyes, pulled the expensive blankets over herself, turned from one side of the enormous bed to the other, and even counted the seconds between the strange sounds coming from somewhere deep inside the mansion.
Nothing worked.
Her mind refused to quiet down.
Every time she closed her eyes, she saw the auction.
The crowd.
The staring faces.
The final bid.
Two million dollars.
And then Dante Rossi.
The man who had walked into the auction like he owned the entire world.
The man who had bought her.
Her new husband.
Maya opened her eyes again.
"Ridiculous," she whispered.
She sat up.
This wasn't a marriage.
It was a contract.
A deal.
A way to save her sister.
That was all.
At least, that's what she kept telling herself.
She reached for the glass on the bedside table.
Empty.
Maya sighed.
She needed water.
Carefully, she slipped out of bed and opened the bedroom door.
The hallway was dark.
She stepped outside.
The mansion was enormous at night. During the day, she'd noticed how luxurious everything was. At night, however, the place felt completely different.
Cold.
Silent.
Almost threatening.
Maya walked down the hallway, trying to remember where she'd seen the kitchen earlier.
She finally found the staircase.
As she reached the bottom, she heard voices.
She stopped.
One voice was unmistakable.
Dante.
Maya glanced toward the sound.
A door was slightly open.
Light spilled through the gap.
She shouldn't listen.
She knew that.
But then she heard her name.
"...Maya."
Her feet stopped moving.
Dante was speaking on the phone.
Maya slowly moved closer.
"The answer is no."
Silence.
Dante's voice became colder.
"You don't threaten me."
Maya held her breath.
"I don't care what the Morettis want."
Another pause.
Then Dante said something that made her stomach twist.
"You want her dead because she's my property now?"
Maya's fingers tightened around the empty glass.
Property.
She hated that word.
Dante continued.
"Listen carefully. Maya is under my protection."
His voice was terrifyingly calm.
"If anyone touches her, this becomes a war."
Maya's heart pounded.
Who were the Morettis?
Why did they want her dead?
And why was Dante protecting her?
She leaned slightly closer.
"They knew about the marriage?"
A pause.
Dante cursed quietly.
"No. Nobody was supposed to know yet."
Maya's eyes widened.
Yet?
What did that mean?
Then the floor creaked beneath her foot.
Dante stopped talking.
Maya froze.
Silence.
Then his voice came from inside the room.
"Who's there?"
Maya's heart jumped.
She turned around.
Too late.
The office door opened.
Dante stood there.
His phone was still pressed against his ear.
His eyes immediately landed on her.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Dante slowly lowered the phone.
"Go to your room."
Maya swallowed.
"I was just looking for water."
"You were listening."
"No."
His eyes narrowed.
"Don't lie to me."
Maya lifted her chin.
"I heard my name."
Dante ended the call.
Then he walked toward her.
Maya took one step backward.
"What did you hear?"
"Nothing important."
"Then you won't mind telling me."
"I heard enough."
Dante stopped directly in front of her.
"You were given three rules."
"I remember."
"No love."
"No questions."
"No touching."
"Good."
Maya crossed her arms.
"Then maybe you shouldn't have been talking about me where I could hear you."
His expression hardened.
"You think this is a joke?"
"No."
"You have no idea what you've stepped into."
"Then tell me."
"No."
"Why?"
"Because the less you know, the safer you are."
Maya stared at him.
"Someone wants me dead."
Dante said nothing.
"That's what I heard."
Still nothing.
"Who are they?"
"No questions."
Maya's frustration rose.
"My sister is the reason I'm here. If she's in danger, I have a right to know."
"Your sister is safe."
"For now?"
Dante's jaw tightened.
"I have people protecting her."
Maya stared at him.
"Why?"
"Because I promised you."
The answer caught her off guard.
Dante stepped closer.
Maya stepped backward.
Again.
Again.
Until her back touched the wall.
Dante stopped.
He wasn't touching her.
But he was close enough that Maya could feel the tension between them.
"You should learn something quickly," he said quietly.
"What?"
"My enemies don't play by rules."
Maya looked directly into his eyes.
"Neither do you."
Something flickered across his face.
Almost amusement.
Almost.
"You noticed."
"I notice everything."
"That's dangerous."
"For who?"
"For you."
Maya refused to look away.
"You keep saying I'm in danger, but you won't tell me why."
"Because you don't need to know."
"Maybe I do."
Dante leaned slightly closer.
Maya's breath caught.
The room suddenly felt too warm.
His eyes met hers.
Then, for the briefest moment, his gaze dropped.
Maya realized how close they were.
Too close.
Dante seemed to realize it too.
He immediately stepped back.
His expression hardened.
"Rule three."
Maya swallowed.
"No touching."
"Exactly."
He turned away.
"Go upstairs."
Maya remained where she was.
"Why did you stop?"
Dante froze.
Slowly, he looked over his shoulder.
"What?"
"You were about to..."
She couldn't finish.
His eyes darkened.
"I don't break my own rules."
Maya's heart pounded.
"Right."
She turned and walked toward the kitchen.
She filled a glass with water.
Then she returned to the staircase.
Dante was still standing outside his office.
Maya stopped.
"Thank you."
He looked at her.
"For what?"
"For protecting my sister."
His expression became unreadable.
"Go to sleep, Maya."
She nodded.
Then she went upstairs.
---
For the first time that night, Maya managed to fall asleep.
But it didn't last.
Her phone rang.
Maya woke suddenly.
The room was completely dark.
She reached for the phone.
Her sister's name appeared on the screen.
Maya immediately answered.
"Sis?"
Silence.
Then she heard crying.
"Maya..."
Maya sat up.
"What happened?"
"I need you."
Maya's heart began racing.
"Where are you?"
"I don't know what to do."
"Tell me."
"I think someone followed me."
Maya jumped out of bed.
"Are you safe?"
"I locked the door."
"Good. Stay there."
"They know about you."
Maya froze.
"What?"
"They kept asking where my sister was."
Maya's blood ran cold.
"Who?"
"I don't know."
Her sister's voice shook.
"Maya, I'm scared."
Maya rushed toward the door.
"Listen to me. You're going to be okay."
"Maya..."
"I'm here."
"I think they're coming."
Maya opened the bedroom door.
"Call someone."
"Who?"
"Anyone!"
"I can't."
"Why?"
"I don't know who I can trust."
A loud noise came through the phone.
Maya froze.
"What was that?"
Her sister didn't answer.
"Sis?"
Nothing.
"Are you there?"
The line crackled.
Then her sister whispered:
"Maya..."
"I'm here!"
"If they get me..."
"Don't say that."
"Promise me you'll stay safe."
"I promise."
A sudden sound came through the phone.
Then the call ended.
Maya immediately called back.
No answer.
Again.
Nothing.
Panic filled her chest.
"Dante!"
She ran down the hallway.
"Dante!"
A door opened.
Dante appeared almost immediately.
"What happened?"
"My sister."
His entire expression changed.
"What about her?"
"She called me. She was crying. Someone found her."
Dante pulled out his phone.
"When?"
"Less than a minute ago."
"What did she say?"
"They were asking about me."
Dante's face became dangerously cold.
"Where is she?"
"I don't know."
He made a call.
"Trace her phone."
Maya stared at him.
"Can you find her?"
"I'll find her."
His phone rang.
Dante answered.
"What?"
He listened.
His expression changed.
Maya had never seen him look like that.
"What do you mean the cameras went down?"
He listened again.
"How long?"
A pause.
"Five minutes?"
His eyes became colder.
"Get everyone there."
He ended the call.
Maya's voice trembled.
"What happened?"
Dante looked at her.
"The safe house has been compromised."
Maya felt as if the floor had disappeared beneath her.
"No."
Dante walked toward her.
"Maya—"
"You said she was safe."
"She was."
"You promised me."
"I know."
"Then find her!"
"I will."
His voice was firm.
Maya wiped away a tear.
"I'm coming."
"No."
"She's my sister."
"It's too dangerous."
"I don't care."
Dante stared at her for several seconds.
Then he turned toward the guards.
"Prepare the cars."
Maya followed him.
Dante stopped.
"Stay beside me."
"I will."
"And whatever happens, you don't leave my side."
Maya nodded.
They reached the entrance.
The mansion doors opened.
Cold night air rushed inside.
Several black cars waited outside.
Dante stepped toward the first one.
Then his phone rang again.
He answered.
His expression changed almost instantly.
Maya watched him carefully.
"What?"
Silence.
Then Dante slowly looked at her.
"What happened?" she asked.
He didn't answer.
"Dante?"
His eyes remained fixed on her.
Finally, he lowered the phone.
"They left a message."
Maya's stomach dropped.
"What message?"
Dante's voice was barely above a whisper.
"They said they don't want me."
He paused.
"They want you."
Maya's blood ran cold.
Then Dante added:
"And they know exactly where we are."
The mansion lights suddenly went out.
Everything became black.
A second later—
CRASH!
Something shattered somewhere inside the house.
The guards immediately reached for their weapons.
Maya gasped.
Dante grabbed her arm and pulled her behind him.
"Stay close."
Another crash echoed through the darkness.
Then a man's voice came from somewhere inside the mansion.
"Mrs. Rossi..."
Maya's heart stopped.
"Come out."
Dante's expression turned murderous.
The voice laughed.
"We know you're here."
Maya looked at Dante.
For the first time since she'd met him, she realized something terrifying.
Even Dante Rossi hadn't expected this.
And whoever had entered the mansion wasn't afraid of him.
They were coming for her.
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