Chapter 10

The silence in Raoul’s office stretched, thick and oppressive, as he slid a thick, leather-bound contract across the polished mahogany desk. The sharp scent of ink and paper filled the room, but it only made Karina feel like she was suffocating. She stared at the contract for a long moment, her fingers hovering above it, her heart thudding in her chest.

Raoul stood across from her, his gaze unflinching as he watched her carefully, his eyes calculating, waiting for her to make the next move. His very presence seemed to fill every inch of the room, as though the walls were closing in on her.

“Sign it,” he said softly, his tone laced with a calm authority that made her skin crawl.

Karina swallowed hard, picking up the pen. She could feel her palms sweating, her nerves getting the best of her. She had no choice. She knew that. But this? Signing away her life? It was worse than she had imagined. She could feel the weight of the decision pushing down on her, as though each stroke of the pen would carve away at what little control she had left.

Raoul’s eyes never left her as she skimmed over the first few lines, her mind racing with a thousand thoughts.

“I, Karina Hardings, hereby agree to the terms set forth by Raoul Lombardi… to be at his disposal in exchange for the clearing of my family’s debt…”

She froze, her gaze lifting to meet Raoul’s, her voice trembling with disbelief.

“What does this mean exactly?”

Raoul leaned in slightly, his fingers tapping the desk, a silent gesture for her to continue reading.

“It means exactly what it says. You are now in my service, Karina. You will follow every instruction, obey every command. And I will see to it that your family is safe.”

She gripped the pen tightly, her knuckles turning white.

“You’re going too far with this,” she whispered, her voice breaking. “I— I can’t live like this. I can’t just become your servant. Your mistress… whatever you want to call me.”

Raoul’s gaze hardened instantly, his expression shifting from calm to something darker, more dangerous.

“You’re forgetting something, Karina,” he said, his voice cold and sharp, his eyes flicking to the papers in front of her. “This isn’t a choice. You’re already mine. And if you think you can back out now, you’re gravely mistaken.”

“You might have my body but you will never have my heart.” 

“I don't collect hearts, Karina. I prefer souls.” 

“What? 

“Your allegiance, that's all. And when you betray me? 

“What happens?” she stutters 

“Then I will perish your soul, in hell.” 

Karina’s throat tightened, her mind racing as she flipped through the pages, each clause more restrictive than the last. Her stomach churned with dread.

You will not be involved with any man, except Raoul Lombardi, during the entirety of your time in his service.

She let out a shaky breath, trying to hold back the surge of panic rising in her chest. She’d been warned about Raoul’s possessiveness, but this… this was beyond anything she had expected.

Raoul, noticing her distress, moved to stand beside her. His presence towered over her, and for the briefest second, Karina felt the urge to run. To leave everything behind. But she couldn’t. Raine’s face flashed in her mind, and the sharp reminder of her sister’s safety cut through her like a blade.

“Why?” Karina managed to ask, her voice barely above a whisper. “Why won’t you let me go? I’ll do anything to make things right. Just let me go. I don’t care about the money, I just—”

Raoul’s voice interrupted her, low and firm. “Because you’re not in charge here, Karina. You’re my property, yes. But that comes with a price. You will never be with another man. Not while you’re with me. Understand?”

Karina’s pulse raced, her breath catching in her throat. She shook her head, her fingers tightening around the pen. “I can’t… You can’t expect me to—”

Raoul stepped closer, his presence overwhelming, his breath warm against her skin. “I can expect anything from you, Karina. You’re mine now. The rules are set, and if you don’t follow them, there will be consequences.” His voice dropped to a whisper, so low, so intimate that it sent a shiver down her spine. “I’m offering you and Raine protection, a safety. But you’ll give me what I want in return. Or else…”

Karina froze, her heart stopping. She didn’t need to hear the rest.

He was right. She had no choice.

Her lips parted, but the words stuck in her throat. She wanted to protest. She wanted to fight back, but the reality was harsh. Raoul wasn’t going to back down. Not now, not ever.

“I’ll wait until I’m ready,” she whispered, her voice shaking as she met his gaze.

Raoul’s eyes darkened. “Don’t make this harder than it needs to be. You will follow my rules, Karina. Or I will make sure you regret it.”

She couldn’t breathe. She wanted to say more, to fight, to run, but she couldn’t. Not when her sister’s life hung in the balance. She stared at the contract, the finality of it sinking in.

Raoul turned, his eyes flicking to the door. “Take her to Kim.”

Karina’s head snapped up, confusion flashing in her eyes. “Who’s Kim?”

Raoul’s lips twitched into a smile. “Kim is going to teach you how things really work in this world. The Mafia world. I don’t expect you to understand it, but you will learn. You’ll be trained, Karina. If you want to survive, if you want your sister to stay safe, you’ll have to learn the rules.”

Fear gripped her heart. “Trained? To do what?”

Raoul’s smirk deepened. “To be mine in every sense of the word. To learn how to walk in my world… and never leave.”