Chapter Five: The Deal Has Been Signed.

My heart hammered against my ribs, my breathing increased, I stood there frozen. H-how...how did he find out?

He then stopped walking and stood beside Clara, slowly caressing her cheek making her break into sobs, he was threatening me... "Selene, you haven't answered my question," he said, his voice surprisingly calm despite the rage in his eyes.

"I have no idea what you're talking about," I lied.

"25th, August, 2016. Keira Diaz. At Silver hospital, you put to bed twins. A boy and a girl," He said, his eyes still fixed on me. "Are you denying them now?"

I sucked in a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves. "Lorenzo, I-"

"Who. Is. The. Father?" He spat, his voice rising by the second.

"Andres. The man you killed."

I blurted out before I could stop myself, the words tumbling out in a rush of guilt and defiance.

His shoulders slowly relaxed, the tension seemingly draining out of him. He kept silent, his gaze unwavering, piercing. He just stood there, his face a mask of inscrutable emotion, as if he was trying to read my very soul.

The silence stretched, heavy and suffocating. I could hear the frantic pounding of my heart, the shallow gasps of Clara's breath. Everything was amplified, heightened, as if the world was holding its breath, waiting for Lorenzo's next move.

After what felt like an eternity, he let go of Clara, his touch lingering on her skin for a moment longer than necessary. He began to walk towards the door. Then, he stopped, his back to me, his silhouette dark, imposing figure against the doorway. "I no longer have the patience to wait for you any longer," he said, his voice low and dangerous. He then turned to one of the men, a hulking brute with a shaved head and eyes as cold as steel. "Take her."

Before I could even process what was happening, the man picked me up, despite my protest, he didn't budge. Just as he left the apartment, I looked up to see Kiara standing behind Clara with tears stained cheeks, Clara stood in front of her, blocking her from seeing what horror had just happened.

But my little girl was smart... She knew something was up, and all I could do was smile and wave goodbye at her.

~

The car ride was like a blur of fear and adrenaline. My heart was hammering so hard I feared it was going to explode. I was crammed into the back seat, flanked by two of Lorenzo's goons, their presence suffocating.

Lorenzo sat in the front, his back to me, radiating an aura if controlled menace. Then, he turned, his face a chilling mask of cold calculation. He brought out a gun and held it up, it's black metal glinting in the dim light. He pointed it at my forehead.

"If I find out that you lied to me, even about the smallest detail, you will live to suffer the consequences of your actions," he said in a flat tone devoid of emotion.

I looked up into his eyes, they were cold and held a deadly promise....a guarantee that he would keep to his words.

"I didn't lie," I said with all the courage in my being. "I don't lie."

A slow, predatory smirk stretched his lips, a chilling sight that freaked me. He slowly pulled the gun away, holstering it somewhere beneath his impeccably tailored suit jacket. "I know." He said, then turned back to face the front.

The rest of the drive was conducted in oppressive silence, each passing mile deepened my dread. I wasn't with my phone which made things more worse, I was worried about Kiara and Clara.

Were they okay?

What had happened after I left?

Fuck!

My work had shrunk, reduced to the confines of this luxury car, heading towards a future I hadn't chosen. I watched the city lights blur into streaks, a silent farewell to the world I was leaving behind.

Neither was good.

Not this future.

Or my past.

Soon, the car veered off the main road, gliding up a long, winding driveway. The gates that swung open were wrought iron, tall and imposing, revealing a mansion that looked less like a home and more like a formidable fortress. Constructed of dark, brooding stone, with soaring turrets that seemed to pierce the inky sky, it exuded an aura of ancient power, and unyielding authority. Gothic gargoyles leered from the ledges, and the sheer scale of the place was overwhelming, s stark testament to Lorenzo's immense wealth and formidable influence. This wasn't just a house, it was a Kingdom, and I was about to become a very unwilling subject.

The car stopped with a soft thud. Lorenzo exited first, he waited, a silent command for me to follow. Immediately after his goons stepped out, I did too. I felt the crisp night air, a sharp contrast to the suffocating warmth of the cat. The mansion loomed over me, an architectural embodiment of my new gilded cage.

Inside, the grandeur was almost suffocating. Marble floors gleamed under the soft glow of crystal chandeliers, priceless artworks adorned the walls, and the air was thick with the scent of old money and power. It was magnificent, intimidating, and utterly devoid of warmth.

"Amelia," Lorenzo's voice cut through my stunned contemplation. A woman stepped forward from the shadows. She looked to be in her late forties, dressed in a simple, elegant uniform. "See to Selene. She needs to be prepared."

Amelia's eyes met mine briefly before she offered a slight bow. "Yes, Don Lorenzo."

Lorenzo didn't spare me another glance. He simply walked away, disappearing down a grand corridor. Amelia, with a gentle hand gesture, indicated I should follow her.

She led me up a sweeping staircase, then down another long hallway, until we reached a room that was surprisingly tasteful and opulent. A four poster bed draped in silk dominated the space and marble en-suite bathroom.

"A bath will be drawn for you, ma'am," Amelia said softly. "I'll go get you some clean clothes."

I nodded in silence, feeling like a doll being prepped for an unknown performance. Moments after, the bath had been drawn and a silk bathrobe had been laid out for me.

The bath was scalding hot, laced with fragrant oils, and for a brief moment, the warmth seeped into my aching muscles, almost luring me into a false sense of security.

Just as I finished dressing up, a quiet knock sounded at the door. Amelia opened it. I turned to see a tall man standing at the doorway. "Don Lorenzo requests your presence in his office, ma'am."

My stomach clenched at his words but I forced a smile.

Immediately, I stood up and left the room, descending down the stairs, the silk robe swishing around my ankles. I was directed to his study, which was far down in the hallway. I opened the door to see Lorenzo waiting, seated behind a vast mahogany desk.

He gestured to the chair opposite him. I sat, my hands clasped tightly in my lap to hide their tremble. On the desk, a crisp white paper Kay open, accompanied by a pen.

"Selene..." He began. "These are the terms of our arrangement," he picked up the paper, his gaze fixed on me. "Firstly, you will not entertain the company of any other man. You're mine, in every sense of the word that matters to me, on paper and in practice,"

My breath hitched, but I said nothing as he continued. "Secondly, you'll not leave this estate without my permission. When you do, a guard will accompany you at all times. Thirdly, you'll live here, under my roof. You'll be provided with anything you need. And fourthly," his jaw tightened as his eyes narrowed at the paper. "You may be allowed to visit your children, at times I deem appropriate."

He slid the paper across the desk. "Sign it."

My hands trembled as I reached for the pen, the cold metal feeling heavy against my palm. With a deep shuddering breath, I picked up the pen and scrawled my name, Keira Diaz.

"One thing Lorenzo," I said, looking up into his eyes as I dropped the pen. "Don't call me Selene. It's Keira."

He titled his head and then shrugged. "Sure, whatever you want love," he reached out for the paper, a smirk tugged on his lips as he scanned the contents, his gaze lingering on my signature.

He dropped the paper, the sound oddly loud in the silent room. Rising, he walked closer. My breath hitched when he stopped inches away, his hand rose and I flinched involuntary. But instead of striking, he gently lifted my chin, forcing me to meet his gaze.

"You're mine now."​