2. Caged Like An Animal

Chapter 2: Caged Like an Animal

Elena’s wrists ached.

Thick leather cuffs bound them above her head, secured to the cold metal bar behind her. She had spent hours—maybe more—pulling at them, her skin raw from the effort.

Her body trembled, exhaustion creeping in, but fear kept her awake. The room was dim, nothing but a single overhead light casting shadows across the concrete walls. The air smelled of leather, smoke, and something else—something dark, something dangerous.

Her pulse pounded as footsteps echoed from the hallway.

She stiffened.

The door creaked open, and they entered.

Alessio walked in first, his tall frame dominating the space. He was still dressed in his dark suit, his tie loosened slightly, as if he hadn’t been in a hurry to return. Cold, calculated, unreadable.

Gabriel followed, dressed more casually, his shirt unbuttoned at the top, his sleeves rolled up. A devil with mischief in his eyes.

Elena’s stomach twisted.

Neither of them looked like men who had forgotten about her.

“Still awake?” Gabriel murmured, his voice teasing, mocking. “I thought you’d be crying by now.”

Elena glared. “Go to hell.”

Gabriel chuckled. “I like her fire.”

Alessio wasn’t amused. He walked toward her slowly, stopping just close enough for her to feel the heat of his presence. His eyes trailed over her, studying every inch of her restrained form.

“Are you ready to listen now?” he asked.

Elena clenched her jaw. “I’m not your prisoner.”

Gabriel smirked. “That’s funny, considering those cuffs.”

She pulled at them again, uselessly. “You can’t keep me here forever.”

Alessio tilted his head slightly. “Can’t we?”

Panic crawled up her spine.

She had no idea how far they were willing to go. No idea what they wanted from her.

Alessio reached out, gripping her chin between his fingers. His touch was cold, firm. “You need to understand something, Elena.” His voice was dangerously quiet. “You don’t have a choice.”

Her breathing grew uneven.

Gabriel leaned in, his lips brushing her ear. “Unless, of course, you’d prefer death. That is an option.”

She swallowed hard.

Alessio released her, stepping back. “Tell me, Elena. Are you loyal?”

She frowned. “To who?”

Gabriel smiled. “Wrong answer.”

Pain exploded through her body as a sharp slap landed against her cheek. Not hard enough to bruise, but enough to make her gasp.

Gabriel’s smirk widened. “Try again.”

Her skin stung, but she bit back the pain. She refused to cry. Refused to give them the satisfaction.

Alessio watched her, his expression unreadable. “You saw something you weren’t supposed to see. That makes you a liability.”

She lifted her chin. “Then kill me.”

The room fell silent.

Gabriel’s eyes darkened. “You’re brave, princess. Stupid, but brave.”

Alessio sighed, his gaze steady. “We don’t kill without reason. You have value, whether you see it or not.”

Her hands clenched into fists. “I’m not a pawn in your world.”

Gabriel tsked. “Oh, sweetheart. You already are.”

Elena’s stomach twisted, but she refused to let them see her fear.

Alessio nodded toward Gabriel. “Uncuff her.”

Gabriel arched a brow. “Are you sure?”

“She won’t run.”

Elena tensed. That confidence in his voice made her blood turn cold.

Gabriel smirked and stepped forward, pulling a small key from his pocket. “Let’s see if you behave, princess.”

The cuffs clicked open, and her arms dropped. Blood rushed back into her limbs, pain tingling through her muscles. She tried to move, but before she could react, Gabriel grabbed her wrist, yanking her forward.

Her body collided with his, her breath catching.

“Careful,” he murmured, eyes flickering with something dark. “Wouldn’t want to upset me.”

She glared up at him. “Let go of me.”

Gabriel tilted his head, considering. Then, slowly, he released her.

She stumbled back, her legs weak.

Alessio watched her closely. “You don’t run. You don’t scream. You don’t fight. Understand?”

She met his gaze, defiance burning in her chest. “And if I do?”

Alessio’s lips curled into something that wasn’t quite a smile.

Gabriel grinned. “Then we make you regret it.”

The room felt smaller, the air heavier.

Elena took a shaky breath, trying to keep her composure. She had to be smart. Had to find a way out of this.

But when she looked at them—their dark eyes, their unshakable control—she knew one thing for certain.

She wasn’t getting out of here easily.

Gabriel stepped closer, dragging his fingers down her arm, slow and taunting. “Let’s play a game, sweetheart.”

Her skin tingled where he touched. She jerked away. “I’m not playing anything with you.”

Gabriel chuckled. “That’s not how this works.”

Alessio walked past them, heading toward the door. “She’ll learn.”

Gabriel hummed in agreement. “Oh, I’m looking forward to that.”

Elena’s heart pounded.

The door swung open, and before she could react, two guards stepped in.

“Take her to the main house,” Alessio ordered. “She sleeps in our wing from now on.”

Elena froze.

Gabriel leaned in, his lips inches from her ear. “Welcome home, princess.”

Her stomach dropped.

She had thought this was the worst of it.

She was wrong.