Chapter 4: The Trap Tightens

Lila

I couldn’t stop thinking about him. Maximus. His words, his touch, they haunted me at night, making it impossible to sleep. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw him—his green eyes, sharp and possessive, always watching me. I told myself it didn’t matter. I didn’t need him. I didn’t want him.

But the more I pushed him away, the more I felt him closing in, like the walls around me were slowly tightening, leaving me with no place to run.

I tried to focus on something else. Anything else. But the emptiness in my chest—left by the pack I no longer had—made it hard to think clearly. Every step I took felt like I was walking through mud, every breath I took like I was suffocating.

I had to leave. I had to get out of this town before Maximus and his mafia family sucked me into their world. I couldn’t let myself get tangled in their power games. I wasn’t a pawn to be played with. I wasn’t his to control.

But even as I told myself that, the pull to him was too strong. It was like an invisible thread wrapped around me, drawing me closer every time I thought I could break free.

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The next day, I found myself standing in front of the Vito mansion—Maximus’s territory. I hadn’t planned on coming here. I had told myself I wouldn’t. But I couldn’t help it. Something was pulling me in, forcing me to take this step.

I stood at the gates for a long time, staring up at the grand estate, the iron gates that separated me from the life I was running from. The house was massive, dark, and intimidating—just like the man who lived inside it.

Suddenly, the gates began to open, and before I could make a move, a black car pulled up. The window rolled down, revealing none other than Maximus himself, leaning casually against the door.

“I knew you’d come,” he said, his voice carrying that same smug confidence that made my blood boil and my heart race at the same time.

I didn’t say anything at first. I just stood there, watching him with a mixture of fear and defiance.

“You don’t need to say anything, Lila,” he said, his lips curling into a smirk. “I can see it in your eyes. You’re already here, and you’re already mine.”

I clenched my fists at my sides. “I’m not yours, Maximus.”

“Sure you are,” he replied, his eyes darkening with amusement. “You just don’t know it yet.”

The car door opened, and without another word, he stepped out, towering over me. There was no escaping him now. He was in my space, close enough for me to feel the heat of his body, and yet, I couldn’t bring myself to move.

Maximus was right. I had come to him, whether I liked it or not. And now, I had no choice but to face him.

“Get in,” he ordered, his voice low and commanding. “We’re going somewhere. You can try to run later, but for now, you’re coming with me.”

I hesitated for a moment, my instincts screaming at me to turn and walk away, but my legs refused to obey. Against my better judgment, I climbed into the car.

Maximus didn’t speak as we drove, the silence between us thick with tension. I could feel his eyes on me, and I hated how it made my skin burn. It was like he was dissecting me with every glance, trying to figure me out.

Eventually, the car stopped in front of a large building—a luxury hotel with private parking and security.

“Where are we?” I asked, my voice tight.

Maximus didn’t answer immediately. He just got out of the car and gestured for me to follow him. I reluctantly complied, stepping out and walking behind him as he led me into the building.

Inside, everything was polished and sleek. Expensive marble floors, towering ceilings, and walls lined with art. It was a place for people who didn’t need to worry about the cost of anything.

We entered a private elevator, and the ride up was brief but suffocating. My heart raced, but I refused to show him how much his presence affected me.

The elevator doors opened to a private suite, more lavish than I ever could have imagined. It was bigger than most apartments, with floor-to-ceiling windows and furniture that looked like it belonged in a museum. The view of the city skyline was breathtaking, but none of it could distract me from the man who was standing beside me, watching me closely.

“What do you want from me, Maximus?” I asked, finally finding my voice.

Maximus turned to face me, his eyes locking onto mine, sharp and intense. “What I want, Lila, is simple.” He took a step closer, and for a moment, I thought he was going to touch me again. But he didn’t. Instead, he just stood there, studying me. “I want you to accept your place. I want you to understand that you belong with me now. You’ll never find anyone who can protect you the way I can. And you’ll never be free of me, not until I’m done with you.”

I didn’t know what to say. His words hit me hard, but part of me didn’t want to believe them. He was trying to make me feel like I had no choice, like I was stuck in his world forever. But I refused to let him control me, not like that.

“I’m not your possession, Maximus.” The words came out stronger than I expected. “I won’t let you treat me like one.”

He tilted his head, almost amused by my defiance. “You don’t get to decide that, Lila. You never did.”

Suddenly, the air felt thicker. The tension between us, the undeniable pull, was getting harder to ignore. I knew it wasn’t just him. I was falling into this trap too. And no matter how hard I tried to fight it, I could feel myself slipping further into his world.

Maximus stepped back and gave me a cold smile. “You’re in my world now, Lila. You can try to fight it, but in the end, you’ll be mine. You just don’t know it yet.”

I didn’t answer. I couldn’t. The silence stretched on, and for the first time since meeting him, I felt utterly helpless.