Chapter 7

L A N A

The drive feels like it's never going to end.

I watch the city pass me by, as if it's forgetting who I am, or simply doesn't care that I'm still here. Everything goes on like nothing happened, making me feel more insignificant than ever. Hours ago, I was preparing for my engagement party, and the only thing I had to worry about was decorations, my outfit, and making sure that everything was going according to plan. 

But that all went to shit.

Who knows what Tyler is telling all our friends and family by now? Probably something that suits the narrative of me being the unfaithful one. And Elizabeth... my so-called backstabbing, lying best friend... I'm sure she's loving every moment of it. Things are working out perfectly for them, and here I am sitting at the back of a stranger's car, kidnapped, and being taken to God knows where.

Just a typical evening, right?

He's still sitting next to me, the man who took me... Ezio.

I'm too terrified to look in his direction. His presence alone is enough to leave me on edge. As we continue to drive, the car hums quietly, a low mechanical growl that vibrates beneath my legs. 

I can feel his eyes on me. Every few minutes, Ezio glances my way, not saying a word, just... observing me, until I finally muster the courage to face him, and just as I had guessed, I find his eyes locked onto me.

He sits there like a man carved from stone – silent, still and composed. He holds my gaze for a few moments longer, right before he smiles and faces forward. It's chilling, and for some sick reason, I find myself blushing.

Get it together, Lana. Just because he's sexy doesn't mean you need to forget what he did at the club.

I refocus on what I see through the window. The city bleeds away behind us, replaced by long stretches of road, by tall black gates and manicured trees that flash past in the headlights. I can feel how far we're going, how far from normal life I'm being taken. The streets turn quieter, emptier, and my heart sinks lower with every curve of the road. I have no idea where we are.

When the car finally slows and I realise we're approaching something massive. The headlights catch large, black, iron gates taller than any I've ever seen. As we approach them, they slide open automatically with a slow metallic groan that makes my stomach twist. And then, beyond them, I see it.

A mansion.

Calling it a mansion doesn't even feel right. It's more like a palace hidden in shadows and gold – powerful stone walls, arched windows glowing with warm light, ivy crawling along the sides like veins. The driveway stretches in a perfect circle, lined with black cars and uniformed guards. It's beautiful and terrifying all at once, like something out of a dream that's about to turn into a nightmare.

My throat tightens as I take it in. I've never seen anything like it – not even in magazines, not even on the kind of shows where they showcase billionaires' homes. Every inch of this place screams power, control, danger. And all I can think is: What am I doing here? What does he want with me?

The car stops, and the air changes. Two of his men step forward immediately, opening the doors before I even move. The chill of night air hits my skin, and goosebumps rise across my arms. I don't move until one of them grips my arm again, not rough this time, but firm enough to remind me that I don't have a choice.

Ezio exits the car first, unhurried, his shoes clicking softly against the stone. He doesn't even look back to see if I'm following. He knows I will. He knows I don't have anywhere else to go.

When I finally step out, the scent of the night hits me. It's cold, sharp, and mixed with the faint smell of burning wood and expensive cologne. The mansion looms over me, silent yet magnificent. I tilt my head back, my breath catching as I take it all in. It looks like something ancient, like it's been here long before any of us existed, and I can almost feel the weight of its history pressing down on me.

"Bring her inside," Ezio says, his voice smooth, casual, as if he's talking about luggage.

The guards move instantly, and before I can process, I'm walking again, my heels clicking softly against the marble steps as we enter. The air inside is warm, scented with leather, smoke, and his cologne. This is all his... The floor gleams beneath chandeliers, and my reflection follows me across the polished marble. Everything looks too perfect – like a museum or a temple built to worship money.

My chest tightens. What is this place?

I want to ask, but my voice is buried somewhere in my throat.

We move through a long hallway lined with paintings as Ezio walks at the front, hands clasped behind his back, the perfect picture of authority. He doesn't even need to look around; he knows every inch of this place. This is his kingdom.

Finally, we reach a large sitting room with black leather furniture, gold-trimmed mirrors, and a fire crackling lazily in the hearth. He turns toward me then, gestures for his men to release me. They do, instantly, and my arms feel weightless without their grip, but my knees almost give out.

Ezio's gaze shifts down to my dress – the same one I wore to my engagement party, the one I haven't had the chance to take off. His eyes travel slowly, analytically, before meeting mine again.

"You're dressed for an occasion," he says softly, like he's commenting on the weather. "Where were you coming from, love?" He questions. His tone is calm, but the question feels like a test. Like, there's a right and wrong answer, and I don't know which is which.

I shake my head slightly. "I'm not telling you anything." My voice trembles, but I force the words out.

His mouth curves into the faintest smirk. "You can at least tell me your name."

Silence pressed between us, the only thing being audible in the room being the fire that crackles in the hearth. I stare at him, at those dark eyes that seem to pull every thought out of me, before whispering...

"Lana."

He smiles at me before taking a few steps forward.

"Lana…" He repeats it slowly, like tasting the word. The sound of my name in his accent makes my stomach twist. "Mm..." He tilts his head, watching me for a long moment. "You should get used to hearing it from me." He whispers, bringing his hand to my chin and holding onto it delicately as I look up at him in confusion.

I blink, confused. "What... what does that mean?" I say, tilting my head up to meet his gaze.

His eyes narrow slightly, but there's amusement in them now, like a cat watching a mouse try to make sense of its fate. "It means you're mine now, darling. I want you to understand that."

My breath catches. Mine. The word slams into me like a punch to the chest...

"I-...I'm not yours," I whisper, shaking my head. "You can't just–..." I try to protest, but instead he silences me by placing a bare thumb on my lips.

"I can." His voice is calm, certain and final. He steps closer, and I instinctively step back until I feel the wall behind me, my breath catching as I see how incredibly close he is to me.

"You saw something you weren't meant to see. That makes you mine until I decide otherwise. And, Lana…" He leans closer, his breath brushing against my skin, "I don't intend to change my mind."

I can feel my pulse racing under my skin... and somewhere else entirely. Every instinct in my body screams to run, but my legs won't move. His eyes are on me like a physical touch – tracing, claiming, consuming. He doesn't need to raise his voice, he doesn't need to threaten... he danger is all in his stillness.

"That scent..." He whispers before he brings his face to my neck, taking in a deep breath before groaning so deeply that it sends chills passing through my body.

"So sweet... Chanel? Vanilla and rose..." He whispers to me before I suddenly feel his lips press against my neck, making me whimper fearfully, but at the same time, my body doesn't exactly want him to stop.

"Ezio... please..." I find myself whispering, placing my hands on his chest in an attempt to push him off me. He pauses all his movements, keeping his head by me for just a moment before he exhales deeply, his breath fanning against my neck just as he pulls away and stares down at me.

"I think can get used to the sound of you begging me." He says to me, a smile grazing his lips as he stares down at me. I am too stunned to say anything to him, all I can do is stare back with my mouth slightly open, the words failing to leave my lips... There's a pulsating between my legs that I feel utterly ashamed of. I can't believe I've physically attracted to the man who has just kidnapped me...