The mafia boss owns me

CHAPTER 3

The warehouse went silent again, it was the kind of silence that pressed against the skin, gentle but heavy, like the pause before a confession, or the moment between lightning and thunder, in the far shadows Enzo's men stood still, confusion written all over their faces.

"Work for me" the word lingered in Riley's mind like a song on repeat. Then finally

Huh???

Riley lifted her chin higher, looking at him dead in the eyes, her icy blue eyes piercing into his soul unyielding, there was a question in them, unspoken but obvious all the same 'Are you being serious right now??

'Work for me' he continued almost immediately, returning to his initial position brushing off the fact that she just tried to petrify him with her stare, his voice deep but smooth, he didn't hesitate, he did blink , he spoke like one who was used to obedience following his words like a shadow.

"Not because you want to live, if you’re really as fearless as you seem to be, I'm sure you don't care if you die, Work for me because your talent deserves a stage bigger than petty theft. You were meant for more than stealing scraps.”

His words cut through her defiance like paper. She blinked once, trying to mask the flicker of joy she felt for her recognition. He wasn’t wrong. She was better than scraps. But she’d rather burn than let him hold that truth over her.

“You want me to work for you?? Her voice filled with disbelief

"Yes" he said in a simple tone

"And if I say no?” She asked tilting her head slightly

Enzo's dreamy smile curved, dangerous and soft all at once. "Then...... you die tonight" he said, voice now coated with steel, he let the pause stay, then he continued and the world loses something rare"

Riley broke the tension in the air, she chuckled, the sound filling the entire warehouse, was that supposed to scare me?? You might as well kill me right here because I'm not playing your game. I'd rather die than be some dog on a leash. The room froze. His men stirred, some murmuring, ready to strike her down.

Enzo smiled, he crouched down to get to her level, so there, they were eye to eye, he exhaled, he reached up, fingers brushing her jaw, his touch both intimate and cold pulling her face with his fingers, inches separating them, his warm breath landed on Riley's face, his voice quiet but sharp.... "Did I make it sound like a request?? What makes you think you have any say in this??? Did I make it feel that way to you?? His fingers pressing against her cheeks, hard enough not to hurt, but just the perfect amount force enough to claim

He pushes back her face and continues "You’re battered, bruised, bleeding on my floor, surrounded by men who would gladly tear you apart, piece by piece on my word. Your life is in my hands. That’s not a leash. That’s power. My power.”

The words lingered in the air, clinging to her like smoke. His gaze didn’t waver, pinning her there until even the air itself seemed to tighten.

“You’re clever. Strong. Bold. But out there?” He gestured toward the dark streets beyond the warehouse. Riley followed his hand, her eyes narrowing at the flickering street lamps beyond. “Out there, you’re nothing but prey. But in here, you’re alive because I allow it.”

Riley turned her head back toward him, slowly, painfully her eyes blazing through pain. “ You can't make me do your bidding, I won't bow, I don't "

Enzo studied her, and for the first time, his calm smile faded into something colder, he leaned close again, his voice low, intimate, and terrifying.

He whispered in her ears, “Defiance can be beautiful. But survival? Survival is power. And if you don't bend… you’ll break.” The weight in the words alone made the air shift. His men tensed, watching. Riley's body trembled, not from fear exactly, but from the knowledge that those weren’t just words. They were a calculated promise, a threat. A blueprint of her next move.

Riley's pride screamed at her, clawing for release. But her body, battered, bruised, cornered, was already whispering what her mind refused to accept.

Enzo straightened to his full height. "Now he said, his voice back to its steady, commanding timbre, "you're going to work for me because I say so and you can do nothing about it" His eyes slid over her, cold and assessing. I will use you till I recover what you had made me lose, and then maybe..... just maybe I could let you crawl back into your life of petty crimes. Do you understand, girl?

For a long, burning moment, Riley didn’t move, she didn't say a word. She stayed in silence. She contemplated on her next move.

The silence stretched thin until finally, with a long hard breath and a glare sharp enough to cut, Riley muttered "I'll do it"

Enzo’s head tilted slightly, like a predator hearing its prey’s surrender. His eyes narrowed, but his lips curled faintly. “What did you say? I didn’t hear you.” His tone was mocking now, soft but insistent. He wanted her to bleed the word just for his amusement.

She repeated herself, still in a low tone almost pouting "I said I'd do it."

Something flickered behind Enzo's eyes triumph, satisfaction, maybe even amusement. His calm smile returned, softer now, almost approving. He reached down, gently lifting her chin with his fingers.

“There she is. Not broken...yet, just wise enough to know when to yield. Good girl”

Riley's lips curled into the faintest, bitter smirk, though her eyes still burned with rebellion. “Don’t mistake this for loyalty. I’ll only play your game… for now.”

Enzo chuckled, stepping back, raising his head high, his authority radiating through the room. “Loyalty can come later. For now, I’ll settle for obedience. The men around them shifted uneasily, they realized their boss hadn’t just spared Riley, he had claimed her.

"Welcome to my world girl" he said in a congratulatory tone

"Riley" she retorted, My name is Riley

Welcome to my world Riley.

I AM THE BOSS