CHAPTER 7

SAOIRSE.

Days have bled into nights in this sterile hellhole, the hospital and this tiny room a cage of my own forging. Aofie's small body lies tangled in white sheets, his chest rising and falling in those shallow, ragged breaths that haunt my dreams. 

The doctors' voices echo in my skull, reassurances laced with pity, their eyes darting away like cowards. They know. This disease is a merciless thief, clawing at his childhood, devouring his future bite by bite. Leukemia. 

I sit by his bedside, my fingers tracing the IV line snaking into his pale arm, feeling the fragile pulse beneath his skin. Nurses come and go, their footsteps soft as ghosts, dimming the lights when the world outside pretends to sleep. But sleep eludes me. 

Instead, I stare at the door, replaying Zeus's words from that shadowed alley last night. His offer dangles like a noose, protection, power, a way out of this nightmare. For Aofie. But the cost? My soul, maybe. My freedom. Definitely.

My hand trembles as I clutch the edge of his bed, his small fingers warm in mine. For him, swallowing the bile rising in my throat, the pride I am willing to swallow. For his safety. His life. I close my eyes, the darkness swallowing me whole, and whisper my surrender into the void. 

“I'll do it. Whatever it is, Aofie. Whatever it takes...”

Dusk falls like a shroud, and I don't want to waste another second. I slip out of the hospital, the cool night air biting my skin as I head to Nexus. The extravagant club pulses with life, thumping bass, flashing lights, bodies grinding in a haze of sweat and desperation. But I weave through it all, my gaze locked on the elevator leading to the towering floor. 

Zeus is waiting. I can feel it.

The hallway up there is dimly lit, the chaos of the club below muffled to a distant roar. And I wasn't wrong, when I entered his private room, Zeus was there, like the very first time I saw him, sitting like a king in his throne, like a statue carved from marble and menace, his broad shoulders blocking the light from the huge window.

His eyes are dark like always, piercing, stripping me bare. I stop a few feet away to hold my breath, to keep together the little courage I have left in my body.

“You came,” he says, his voice a velvet blade, smooth but sharp enough to draw blood. “Wise choice, little fox.”

I lift my chin, forcing steel into my spine. “You knew I would. What other choices do I have?”

His lips curl into a smirk that doesn't reach his eyes. “Choice? Saoirse, we both know that's a luxury you can't afford. Not with that boy's life hanging by a thread.”

The words hit like a punch, and I flinch, my fists clenching at my sides. “Don't pretend you care about him. All you care about is power. You want control. You want me in your pocket.”

He stood up and with just a couple of steps, he closed the gap between us, the heat from his body radiating against mine, making my skin prickle. 

“And you'll give it to me, won't you, Saoirse?”

I swallow hard, the bitter taste of pride choking me. “What do you want?”

“You. Everything.” His gaze drops to my lips, then lower, lingering on the curve of my neck. “But we'll start small. You'll serve me at my home. La Serpente. Be my maid, my servant. My…whatever I desire. A role that reeks of servitude, yet promises the protection you crave.”

The word ‘maid’ lands like a punch, reeking of servitude, of chains disguised as silk. But in his world, it's a lifeline. Protection wrapped in danger. I imagine the fortress he calls home, luxury and menace, walls that keep threats out but trap you in. 

My hands shake as I lift them, pressing against his chest to push him away, but my fingers linger on the hard planes of muscle beneath his suit.

“Maid?” I scoffed, incredulity sharpening my tone. “You think I’ll believe that's all you want? You don’t own me and I certainly won't be your whore.”

“Oh, Saoirse.” Zeus chuckles, low and dark, the sound vibrating through me. “If I wanted a whore, I'd have one kneeling already. You'll serve me because deep down, you know it's the only way to keep that boy breathing.”

My breath catches, and I glance toward the massive window, where the city lights flicker like dying stars. Castello City swallows people whole, but so is Zeus. 

Zeus Trojan is a beast deep down, and I've been running from it, from him, for what feels like forever. Even though I hate to admit it, he's right. Aofie's life hangs by a thread, and he's the one holding the scissors. 

“And if I refuse? You'll kill him, is that it?”

Zeus's hand shoots out, wrapping around my wrist, his grip firm but not bruising. He pulls me closer, our bodies brushing, and a spark ignites where his skin meets mine, electric and terrifying. 

“I dare you, Saoirse. But you won't refuse, will you? Not when you know I'm the only one who can save him.”

“I’m not your fucking toy. I won't be the one to satisfy your sick desires.”

“What makes you think you have a choice?" He murmured, his voice low and dangerous, sending shivers down her spine.

“Because you don't go around deciding people you own them and you certainly do not own me.”

“Every inch of ground you step upon, I own.” He closed the distance between them in one step. “And unfortunately, for you darling. Everything I want. I get. So, choose. My patience is running thin.”

Tears prick my eyes, hot and furious. I yank my hand free, but he doesn't let go completely, his thumb traces a slow circle on my pulse point, sending shivers racing up my arm.

“F—Fine, I’ll do it…” I whisper, but the word lacks bite. It's a plea, a crack in my armor.

“Louder, little fox. I want to hear you break.”

I glare up at him, defiance flaring one last time, my chin lifting even as my body betrays me with a tremble. 

The room spins, the distant wail of an ambulance mirroring the chaos in my head. Pride burns in my throat, bitter and hot, but I swallow it, letting it burn down my throat.

“Fine,” I breathe, the word barely audible. “I'll do it. I'll serve you.”  

“That’s my good girl.” His eyes flash with something predatory, triumphant. “Pride suits you, but submission will look even better.”

Damn you. Damn this man. Over my dead body I would submit. I would never bow to him. I won't give him the satisfaction that he wants. I will kneel to no man, especially not to him. 

“When do I start?”

“Now. The car’s outside. La Serpente is far, far away from here, the drive will give you time to reflect on your decision.”

He turns, gesturing for me to follow, and I do, my legs moving on autopilot. The hallway leads to a service stairwell, the air thick with dust and the faint scent of mildew. As we descend, the sounds of Nexus fade, replaced by the echo of our footsteps, his steady, mine hesitant. Outside, a sleek black limousine car idles, its tinted windows hiding whatever lurks within. Zeus opens the door for me.

With a deep breath, I slide into the seat, the leather cool against my skin. Zeus climbs in beside me, his thigh brushing mine, and the driver pulls away without a word. The ride is silent at first, the city blurring past, neon lights, and crowded streets. Castello’s alive with danger. 

I stare out the window, my mind racing. What have I agreed to?

Zeus's presence beside me is overwhelming, his scent, musky and expensive, filling the confined space. I steal glances at him, his profile sharp in the passing headlights.

“You’re staring.” He said, not glancing in my direction. I bit my tongue. Shit. I must have been too obvious. “Got questions in mind?”

“Out of nowhere, why…me?” I ask, breaking the silence. “There are people who owe and fear you. Those who are willing to have you. So, why drag me? Why drag me into your life?”

“Just because, Saoirse. You're...broken, but not shattered. Yet.” He turns, his gaze pinning me. “It makes breaking you more…satisfying.”

I bristle, heat rising in my cheeks. “You think you can break me?”

“I don't think. I know.” His hand rests on my knee, brushing his thumb on my skin. “You'll beg for it eventually.”

I shove his hand away, my pulse pounding. “Please, don't touch me.”

He laughs, a sound devoid of humor. “Defiant. As always.”

I spent the whole drive staring at the side-road, I’m not familiar with the place anymore. Then the next thing I knew, the limousine pulled up to gates that part like jaws. 

La Serpente looms ahead.

An obsidian fortress sculpted from shadow and intent. Its sharp, modern lines slice into the overcast sky, every angle precise, every surface unforgiving. Black stone and glass dominate, absorbing light rather than reflecting it, as if the house feeds on secrecy. 

It’s…beautiful. 

We step out, and the courtyard hits me like a physical force. At its heart, a massive black wolf statue crouches in a circular basin, muscles frozen mid-pounce. Its matte-black body gleams under recessed lighting, a silent warning disguised as art. Predatory. Watchful. It reminds me I'm entering a territory ruled by power, not mercy.

Wide steps ascend toward the entrance, illuminated from below, guiding us upward like a procession to judgment. The door is massive, framed by vertical slats that resemble prison bars. Even the openness feels controlled, balconies shielded by dark railings, windows tinted to obscure the sins inside.

The courtyard is meticulously curated: smooth stone paths winding around manicured greenery, black orbs placed like chess pieces. Nothing grows wildly. Nothing exists without permission. The space unnerves me, making me feel small, exposed, already at a disadvantage.

This is not a home built for warmth.

This is a throne disguised as architecture.

A sanctuary for monsters who prefer silence, wealth, and darkness. Where deals and darkness are sealed behind glass walls, and loyalty is tested long before anyone ever steps inside.

Zeus's hand finds my lower back again, urging me forward as we enter, the door clicking shut behind us with a finality that echoes in my bones. 

The foyer is vast, marble floors gleaming under chandeliers that cast long shadows. A staircase spirals upward, and doors branch off into unseen rooms. It's luxurious, yes, plush rugs, art that screams wealth but the air is heavy, charged with unspoken rules.

Zeus turns to me, his expression unreadable. “Your room’s upstairs. Second door on the left. You'll start tomorrow. Get some rest.”

I nod, but don't move. “What about Aofie? How do I know he's safe?”

The dim light casts shadows on his face, making him look even more menacing. “He'll live, Saoirse. As long as you behave.”

The words sting, a reminder of my cage. But somehow relief floods me, knowing that Aofies’ safe, even if it means my freedom is forfeit. 

“How do I know you're not lying? That this isn't just another trap?”

“Because I don't lie to what's mine.” Zeus reaches out, cupping my chin, tilting my face up. His touch is gentle, almost tender, but his eyes burn with intensity. “Now, go.”

The threat hangs between us, and I bite my tongue, turning away. But as I climb the stairs, his voice follows. 

“Saoirse.”

I pause, glancing back. And in that exact moment I swear, I want to take back all the decisions I made as I met his gaze.

“Welcome home, little fox.” he says, a smirk playing on his lips.