Chapter 2
845 Words
Her father’s voice haunted the darkness long after the house went quiet.
Elena stared at the ceiling, hearing the words again and again until they felt burned into her mind.
*She’ll be yours. No problem at all.*
By morning, the anger had turned into something colder and sharper. She moved through the house like a ghost, making coffee, avoiding her father’s eyes, ignoring Marco’s worried looks. She had to think. She had to plan.
But there was no time.
By evening, her father barged into her room without knocking, already half-drunk again.
“Get dressed and look nice. We’re going to the Rossi gathering tonight.”
“I’m not going.” she said.
“You don’t have a choice,” he snapped. “This is business. Important business. Luca Rossi himself will be there. You will smile, you will be polite, and you will make yourself useful for once.”
She stared at him. “Useful how?.
Her father’s eyes shifted. “Just… be nice. That’s all.”
Marco appeared in the doorway behind him. “Dad, she doesn’t have to ...”
“Shut up,” their father cut him off. “Both of you. Get ready. We leave in an hour.”
Elena didn’t argue. Arguing never worked with him. Instead, she chose a simple black dress that covered her well, nothing too revealing. She pulled her hair back tightly and put on minimal makeup. 'Armor'. That’s what it felt like.
The gathering was supposed to be just another boring mafia event — full of overpriced champagne, fake smiles, and men talking about power like it was something they could buy.
Elena hated every second of it.
She stayed glued to Marco’s side as they moved through the crowded ballroom, her simple black dress helping her blend in as much as possible. Her father had vanished the moment they arrived, probably off somewhere begging for more time on his debts. 'Typical'.
“You good?” Marco asked quietly, eyes scanning the room.
“I’m fine,” Elena lied. She wasn’t fine. She felt like prey walking into a den of wolves, and every instinct told her to find the nearest exit.
A man in a navy suit with a flashy watch spotted her. He smiled like he’d just found something valuable and walked straight over.
“Vitelli’s daughter,” he said. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”
Before she could respond, his hand landed on her waist, fingers pressing a little too hard.
“I’m not interested,” Elena said, trying to step back.
The man laughed and tightened his grip. “Don’t be like that. Your father owes people serious money. You should be nicer to those who can help him.”
Elena’s skin crawled. She opened her mouth to tell him exactly where he could shove his “help” when a low, ice-cold voice sliced through the noise beside them.
“Take your f*****g hand off her. Now.”
The man froze.
Luca Rossi stood only a foot away. He wasn’t shouting,.. he didn’t need to. His presence alone made the air feel heavier. His dark eyes were locked on the man’s hand like it was something disgusting.
The man dropped his grip instantly. “Mr. Rossi… I didn’t realize...”
“Leave,” Luca said,
The man didn’t argue. He muttered an apology and disappeared into the crowd so fast he nearly tripped over his own feet.
Elena rubbed her waist, pulse racing. She looked up at Luca. He was taller than she remembered. Broader. The kind of man who made the room feel smaller just by standing in it. His black suit was perfectly tailored, but the tattoos peeking from his collar and cuffs reminded everyone exactly who he was.
He stared down at her with his expression unreadable.
“You should watch who you let touch you,” he said quietly.
“I had it handled,” Elena replied, keeping her tone even.
Luca’s lips curved into the smallest, coldest smile. “Did you?”
He didn’t wait for an answer. He turned and walked away, disappearing into the crowd like a shadow that had decided it was done playing.
But Elena felt his eyes on her for the rest of the night.
Every time she turned her head, he was watching from somewhere across the room. Not smiling, not approaching.. just watching, like he was studying her, like he was deciding what to do with her... It made her feel uncomfortable
Marco noticed. “That was Luca Rossi. Stay away from him, Elena. He’s not someone you want paying attention to you.”
Too late.
She could still feel the weight of his gaze even after he left the main hall.
Later that night, as they were leaving the gathering, Elena caught one last glimpse of him. He was standing near the exit, talking to two dangerous-looking men. When she walked past, he didn’t say anything.
He just watched her go.
And for the first time in a long time, Elena felt truly hunted.
- Writer
