Chapter 2 - The Trap Closes

“I don't care who he is! I am not going with you.”

I tried to keep my voice sharp but the cracking at the edges betrayed me. Still, I held my ground.

Luca had walked out of the cafe and now two men stood in front of me. They were built like soldiers… or something worse. Their very presence screamed danger.

One of them tilted his head, and replied. “Not really your choice, Miss. You need to come with us.”

"Did you not hear me? I said, I'm not going.....

I didn't get to finish that sentence before one of the men reached for my arm. I jerked back and snapped.

“Don’t touch me!” my pitch increasing.

The cafe was empty, the street was quiet. They had chosen the perfect spot. No one was coming to save me.

This was a setup. I guess that's what I get for wanting closure.

“Miss, we can do this the easy way, or....... the hard way. Your call. ” the taller one said, stepping forward towards me.

I panicked.

I looked around frantically for help or an exit, but there was none. So I looked to the man who betrayed me again.

"Dad, please"

"Don't do this! You can't let them do this"

"There's nothing I can do". He said simply.

Before I could process what was happening, strong arms caught. I thrashed violently, elbowing wildly, kicking blindly. They were unaffected and It barely slowed them down.

The car door hung open like an invitation to my death. My coffin. Albeit a luxurious one.

“Let me go! I’m not going anywhere with you” I screamed repeatedly, but my voice had lost its edge.

“Boss said you’d be stubborn.” The one by the car said with a smirk on his face. How I wished I could wipe that stupid smirk off his stupid face.

I heard the echoes of my screaming voice bouncing off brick walls, but no one came.Unsurprisingly.

I was carried me like a struggling package toward the car with the taller one holding my legs while the other held my hands.

“Stop making this harder than it needs to be,” one muttered.

I kicked, cursed and struggled like hell but seconds later I was shoved into the backseat and the door slammed shut.

I immediately lunged for the other door, but the locks clicked down before my fingers even reached the handle.

The window lowered just enough for me to see my captor in the car next to the one I was in.

“Welcome to your new life." He said said simply.

My heart sank even as the car pulled away from the curb. Moments later, it stopped.

I didn’t realize I was shaking. Not until I tried to open the car door.

The handle slipped in my grip twice before I could finally get it open. The fresh air hit me like a slap, but it did nothing to stop the pounding in my chest.

I stood on the pavement, arms crossed tight, staring up at the mansion. If you could even call it that.

It looked like something straight out of a movie. Black iron gates. Ivy creeping along the stone walls and windows so dark they might as well have been mirrors. There were probably cameras hidden in every damn corner. Lucky me.

My father’s voice echoed in my head.

"You’ll be safe here."

Sure. I didn't think anything was going to come in and certainly nothing will be let out. In this case, me. I was safe. Just like a bird in a gilded cage.

I tensed when I felt a shadow move by the massive front door.

Luca.

Obviously, it was him. The human equivalent of a red flag. Did I mention he was tall and broad? Clothed in black as though he were attending a funeral. My funeral, probably.

His demeanor? Unreadable. And his eyes?

Dark, Cold. Sharp enough to pierce through skin.

And yet, somehow I found myself drawn to them.

“Are you coming? or do you plan to stand out there all night?” he called.

I clenched my jaw and replied “i'm watching my escape plan die before my eyes.”

He scoffed. “Cute.”

I stomped up the stone steps with every nerve screaming at me to run. But where could I go? The car that brought me here was gone.

Plus I really had no one to turn to. My father made sure of that.

The second I reached the door, Luca opened it and stepped aside.

“You first,” he murmured.

I glared and walked in. His cologne hit me spicy, woody… stupidly good.

The inside of the mansion was ridiculous. Marble floors, crystal chandeliers, expensive art that probably cost more than my entire existence.

I instantly hated how good it looked.

“Nice prison,” I muttered.

Luca’s chuckle followed me. Low. Dangerous. “I prefer to call it home, but to each their own.”

I spun around, ready with smart mouthed retort, but almost collided with him.

My heart skipped a bit, stupidly. His eyes dipped to my lips for half a second. Great. It was just enough to send my brain short circuiting.

Focus, Ciara!!!

I shoved his chest. “move away.”

He didn’t. Instead, he arched a dark brow like I was some amusing little kitten trying to claw a lion.

He simply said “You’ll adjust”

“Not likely.” I replied.

His voice dropped lower, deadlier. "You will, one way or another.”

I narrowed my eyes. "Like hell I will! You don’t own me.

He leaned in, close enough for me to catch the subtle spice of his cologne. His voice became deadly soft as he said “Legally, you are mine. Emotionally? Physically? That depends on you.”

The implication of his words made my skin prickle, but I refused to look away. He wanted fear? He could choke on it.

“Physically,” I repeated, with a flat tone. “You touch me, and I will stab you in your sleep.”

A rough, low laugh escaped him. And even that sounded expensive. “Careful, cara mia. That attitude of yours makes me want to find out if you mean it.”

I swallowed hard, pulse skittering like crazy.

I hated this.

I hated him.

But most of all… I hated the terrifying part of me that secretly wondered, for a split second, what it would feel like to be his.