Flash Marriage: Trapped with the Mafia Boss

“Timeless Tales,” I read the sign and sighed. The bookstore stood alone in a posh residential area, dwarfed by towering buildings. Drenched from the heavy rain, I had wandered, denied entry to the marketplace meant for residents. The moment I stepped inside, a gunshot shattered the silence. I froze. My breath hitched. A man in a tuxedo stood with his back turned, blood pooling at my bare feet. A middle-aged man lay lifeless on the floor, eyes fixed on nothingness. My voice barely escaped in a whisper. "Oh my God." A presence loomed behind me. Before I could turn, strong hands clamped over my mouth, a grip of steel seizing my wrist. I thrashed, but he was stronger. "Quiet," he hissed against my ear, his breath warm against my chilled skin. Terror surged. My body trembled. I felt the press of cold metal against my throat. A gun. "I'm letting you go," he said, his voice eerily calm. "Don't move. Don't scream." I nodded, barely breathing. He released me. I remained motionless, heart hammering as he finally faced me. Dark eyes trailed from my wet, tangled bun to my lips. Rain clung to my evening gown, highlighting my shivering frame. A smirk played on his lips as he studied me—too long, too intense. "I didn’t know there was a party in my estate," he mused, settling onto a tiny sofa, gun resting lazily in his lap. "What’s your story? Running from a cheating husband? Family drama?" I said nothing. My past—an uncle who tried to sell me, a fiancé I’d never met—felt distant, meaningless in the face of the monster before me. A man in a black raincoat entered. "Master, the car is ready." The killer rose. The other man moved to clean the mess as if I weren’t even there. Then he turned back to me. "What’s wrong? Let’s go." I stiffened. Go where? My nails dug into my soaked gown. He sighed. "Oh, I see. You must be tired from running. Let me help you." Before I could react, his arm snaked around my waist. "What are you—?" My voice was weak, hoarse from crying at my uncle’s gate hours ago. "Taking you home, honey." I struggled, kicking and thrashing. "Please! I won’t tell anyone! Just let me go!" He halted, his voice dropping to a chilling whisper. "If you don’t want me to f**k you in front of my assistant, be obedient." A cold dread consumed me. My body went limp. Satisfied, he carried me into a limousine. The doors shut. Trapped. He wrapped me in a blanket, his touch deceptively gentle. Pulling a towel from somewhere, he leaned in, too close. My reflection swam in his dark eyes. "Don’t catch a cold. You’re already feverish." "Please," I whispered. "I swear, I’ll take this to my grave. Let me go." His expression darkened. "I don’t care if you scream my crime to the world." He pressed the gun to my stomach. "I would’ve let you go if you weren’t this pretty. So don’t ask me again." My breath hitched. His gaze flickered, studying me as though I were a puzzle he intended to unravel. Then, suddenly, he kissed me. Revulsion shot through me. I fought, fists pounding his chest. He held firm, deepening the kiss until my resistance drained. The moment I stopped, so did he. Leaning back, he wiped his lips with his thumb. "I’ll need a new car," he said, pressing a button. "Yes, sir," a voice answered. "Where to?" "Snow Palace." The car pulled away. He settled across from me, watching, waiting, as though he relished my torment. I turned to the rain-blurred window, drowning in silent horror. This wasn’t just a nightmare. This was my new reality. And I had to survive. The limousine glided through the city like a phantom, weaving through the neon-lit streets. My mind raced, heart pounding so hard I thought it might give me away. Escape. I needed to escape. But how? The gun still rested in his lap, his fingers drumming lazily against the barrel. He was watching me, waiting for me to crack. "You’re quiet," he remarked. "I expected more begging." I clenched my fists beneath the blanket. "Would it change anything?" His lips curled into a smirk. "Smart girl." I turned my gaze back to the window, my reflection ghostly against the dark glass. My mind conjured the image of the dead man on the bookstore floor. His blank stare haunted me. If I didn’t act fast, I’d end up just like him. The car slowed at a red light. My pulse spiked. The doors. If I could reach the handle— A hand clamped onto my wrist before I could move. "Don’t." I gasped, jerking back as he chuckled. "I like what you’re thinking, though. It’s cute. But let’s not waste energy. You won’t get far." Tears burned in my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. Fear would only feed him. I needed control. "Who are you?" I asked, voice steadier than I felt. He tilted his head as if considering whether to humor me. "Alexander." A name. It shouldn’t have mattered, but somehow, it did. A name made him real. Human. Not just a monster lurking in the dark. "What do you want from me?" "I haven’t decided yet." His voice was light and casual, but his eyes gleamed with something darker. "But we’ll have plenty of time to figure that out." The limousine turned, leaving the city behind. We were heading somewhere isolated. Panic clawed at my throat. This was my last chance. I lunged. My fingers barely brushed the door handle before he grabbed me, yanking me back. I fought, nails digging into his arm, but he was stronger, and faster. He twisted me effortlessly, pinning me beneath him on the seat. His face hovered inches from mine, breath warm against my skin. "Feisty," he murmured, eyes glinting with amusement. "I like that." I struggled harder. "Let me go!" "You’ll only get hurt," he warned, pressing his weight down just enough to remind me of his strength. "Be good." I spat in his face. For a moment, there was silence. Then he wiped his cheek, exhaling a soft chuckle. "That was a mistake, sweetheart." Before I could react, he grabbed my chin, forcing my head back. His grip was firm but not painful, a silent threat more than an actual one. "You’re mine now," he whispered. "And I don’t play nice." The car pulled into a massive estate. Snow Palace wasn’t just a name—it was an actual fortress of glass and steel, perched on a cliffside. There was no way out. Trapped. And the real nightmare was just beginning.