Chapter Three: The chains of power
755 Words
A Cage Dressed in Gold
Serena had never felt more trapped.
The grand mansion was nothing short of breathtaking—ornate chandeliers, towering marble pillars, and walls adorned with priceless art. But no amount of luxury could change what it really was.
A gilded cage.
Her prison.
She sat stiffly on the edge of the massive king-sized bed, staring at the locked doors. No escape. No freedom.
Her captor’s words still echoed in her mind.
"You were his last bet. And he lost."
Her hands curled into fists.
Alessio Moretti—the ruthless king of the Italian underworld—had taken her as payment for a debt she never made.
And now, she was his.
A knock at the door made her stiffen.
Before she could respond, it swung open.
Alessio stepped inside, his towering presence suffocating the room.
Emerald-green eyes locked onto her, unreadable yet dangerous.
"Dress," he ordered, tossing a black silk dress onto the bed beside her.
Serena frowned. "What?"
Alessio arched a brow. "We have dinner. You will wear this."
Her jaw clenched. "No."
His smirk was slow, dark—predatory.
Alessio stepped closer, the space between them shrinking.
"Defiance doesn’t suit you, dolcezza," he murmured. Sweetness.
Serena lifted her chin. "I don’t belong to you."
A sharp glint flickered in his eyes before he leaned in, his breath ghosting over her ear.
"Ah, but you do," he whispered. "And soon… you’ll accept it."
A shiver ran down her spine.
Alessio straightened, his voice turning cold again. "Dinner. Ten minutes."
Then he was gone, leaving behind a suffocating silence.
Serena glared at the dress, her mind racing.
She wouldn’t let him win.
Not without a fight.
---
The Dinner From Hell
Serena forced herself into the silk dress, hating how soft and expensive it felt against her skin.
Two guards escorted her down the winding staircase to an elegantly set dining hall.
Alessio sat at the head of the long mahogany table, his suit perfectly tailored, his presence commanding.
She hesitated before sitting at the opposite end, as far from him as possible.
Alessio smirked. "Afraid of me, Serena?"
She gritted her teeth. "I just prefer my distance."
"Distance?" He chuckled darkly, swirling the wine in his glass. "You lost that privilege the moment you stepped into my world."
Her stomach twisted.
Food was served—roast lamb, truffle risotto, and a glass of deep red wine.
Serena’s appetite was nonexistent, but she forced herself to take a bite.
Alessio watched her closely.
"You will eat properly from now on," he said.
She stiffened. "You don’t control my—"
"I control everything about you," he interrupted smoothly, eyes gleaming with dangerous amusement.
Serena gripped the fork tightly, her nails digging into her palm.
Her mind screamed at her to be careful—to not provoke the devil sitting across from her.
But she wasn’t a pet to be tamed.
She met his gaze. "You can own my body, Alessio. But you will never own me."
For a moment, silence stretched between them.
Then—a low, dark chuckle.
Alessio leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table.
"You think you have a choice?" he murmured.
Serena swallowed hard.
His gaze dipped to her lips before locking onto her eyes again.
"You don’t."
---
An Escape Attempt
Later that night, Serena paced her room, heart pounding.
She had examined every exit. The windows were too high. The balcony overlooked a deadly drop.
But… the doors.
Guards were stationed outside, but if she could just distract them—
Her fingers brushed the silver candlestick on the table.
A plan formed in her mind.
Taking a deep breath, she lifted the heavy object and hurled it at the wall.
A loud crash echoed through the room.
Footsteps thundered outside.
The door burst open as two guards rushed in.
Serena moved fast. She slipped past them, bolting down the hallway.
Adrenaline pumped through her veins as she raced toward the grand staircase.
Freedom.
She could almost taste it.
Then—a strong arm wrapped around her waist, yanking her back.
She gasped, struggling, but the grip was unyielding.
"You think you can run from me?"
Her blood ran cold.
Alessio’s voice was deadly quiet, his breath against her ear.
"No," she choked out, thrashing against him. "Let me go!"
His grip tightened, effortlessly lifting her off the ground.
"You just made a very, very stupid mistake, dolcezza."
Serena’s stomach dropped.
She had pushed the devil too far.
And now, she would face the consequences.
- Writer
