The Mafia King's Trapped Doll

He doesn’t want to kill me. He wants to own me. --- Pain greets me first. A dull, pounding ache at the back of my skull, throbbing in sync with my heartbeat. My eyelids feel heavy as I blink against the suffocating darkness. Where am I? I try to move, but something cold bites into my wrists. Metal. Cuffs. My pulse spikes. I pull at them instinctively, but they don’t budge. My legs shift, pressing against something soft beneath me. A bed. Not mine. A sick feeling twists in my stomach. The air is thick with the scent of expensive cologne—dark, woody, and intoxicating. It clings to the sheets, to the air, to me. Then I hear it. A low chuckle, deep and unhurried. I’m not alone. A shadow moves near the doorway. A figure steps forward, emerging into the dim glow of a single chandelier. He’s tall—commanding. Dressed in black, sleeves rolled up, exposing forearms traced with scars and veins. Even before he speaks, I know who he is. Leonardo Moretti. The Devil of Verona. Mafia King. Murderer. And now, my captor. “Awake already?” His voice is smooth, laced with amusement, like this is all a game. His head tilts slightly, dark eyes gleaming as they study me. “I was hoping to watch you sleep a little longer.” A shiver runs down my spine, but I refuse to let him see it. I steel my expression. “What the hell is this?” My voice is hoarse, but steady. “Why am I here?” He smiles, slow and deliberate, like he has all the time in the world. “Because, little dove, you’ve been very, very bad.” My stomach clenches. My mind scrambles for answers, retracing my last memories. The article. The investigation. Shit. I was too close. Digging into things I shouldn’t have. And now I’m here. I swallow hard, forcing the fear down. “If you’re going to kill me, just do it already.” Leo tsks, stepping closer. The heat of his presence is suffocating. He reaches out, his fingers skimming the side of my face, deceptively gentle. I jerk away, but he only smirks. “Kill you?” His voice is almost soft, but there’s something lethal beneath it. “No, sweetheart. That would be too easy.” My breath catches. He doesn’t want to kill me. He wants to break me. I pull against the cuffs again, desperate for control. “You won’t get away with this.” Leo chuckles, but the amusement in his eyes darkens. “You’re mine now, little dove. No one is coming for you.” I shake my head. “You’re insane.” He leans down, his breath brushing against my lips. “Maybe.” His gaze drags over me, slow and lingering, making my skin prickle. “But you’ll come to love my madness.” Then he straightens. With a snap of his fingers, the door swings open. Two guards step inside. “Take her to the basement.” My stomach drops. “No—” Rough hands grab me before I can fight, dragging me off the bed. My bare feet skid against the cold marble as I thrash, but they’re too strong. Leo watches, arms crossed, expression unreadable. I scream as they pull me out, my voice swallowed by the darkened hallway. And Leonardo Moretti? He just smiles.