"BE MY WIFE"

~~LENA~~

My body moved before I could fully think it through. I pushed myself up from the bed, heart racing, every instinct screaming at me to stay put.

But I didn’t.

My hand hovered over the handle for a moment. This is a bad idea.

Still, I turned it.

The door opened just enough for me to slip into the hallway. The mansion felt different now—colder, heavier.

I followed the sound, pulse quickening with every step.

Then I saw it.

A man was tied to a wooden chair in the center of the wide room, his head hanging limp, face a mess of bruises and dried blood. His breathing came in wet, ragged gasps.

Niccolò stood in front of him, sleeves rolled up, expression calm in a way that didn’t match the violence.

“Run again,” he said quietly. “Let’s see how far you get next time.”

The man tried to speak, but the words came out broken.

Niccolò tilted his head slightly, eyes narrowing like he was listening—or trying to.

The man slowly raised his head. It was the second guy from the alley.

Everything crashed together at once. He caught him so quickly. What kind of man can track someone down that fast? What have I walked into?

I took one shaky step backward.

“Boss.”

One of the men standing guard shifted, his sharp gaze snapping toward the doorway — straight at me.

Too late.

Niccolò went still, then turned. His eyes found mine instantly. He stepped toward me. “You’re meant to be sleeping, Lena.”

I couldn’t answer. My throat felt tight.

Silence stretched.

His gaze lowered, reading me. Then, softer— “Did I scare you?”

A man rushed in, breathless. He stopped in front of Niccolò, facing him squarely. “We have a problem.” 

Niccolò didn’t look away from me at first. “What is it?”

“They found out about her.”

“Shit.” He ran a hand through his hair. “He isn’t… not now. It’s too early.”

Before I could process it, he grabbed my hand.

“Where are you taking me…?” I managed.

“Just follow me.”

He led me through the corridors and stopped in front of a plain door. Inside, the room was stark, lit by a harsh lamp.

“I didn’t want to do this tonight,” he muttered.

He pulled a thick folder from the drawer and held it out to me.

“Be my wife.”

For a long second, my brain refused to process the words.

“…What?”

“I’m serious,” he said calmly.

“Why?” My voice came out sharper than I intended. “Why the hell would you say that?”

He didn’t answer immediately. Just watched me with those unreadable eyes.

“Nothing?” I stepped closer. “You’re asking me to marry you and you won’t even give me a reason?”

“I didn’t say marry me,” he corrected quietly. “I said be my wife.”

“Or what?” My voice rose. “You’ll threaten me with a gun again?”

“You don’t get to control every part of my life,” I snapped. “I’m not your property.”

“You’re in danger,” he said simply. “That’s all you need to know right now.”

“We’re getting married,” he added, voice lower, “and that’s final.”

Something inside me broke.

I grabbed the folder and threw it to the floor.

My finger pointed straight at him. “I’d rather die,” I said, breath shaking but steady, “than marry you.”

I turned and walked out before I could see his reaction. The moment the door shut behind me, reality hit. My legs gave out and I slid down the wall, hugging my knees to my chest.

You’re dead, Lena. That was the worst thing you could have said.

My hands wouldn’t stop shaking. The image of the bloodied man tied to the chair kept replaying. Niccolò’s calm voice. The way he’d looked at me — not just with command, but with something almost protective.

What danger was he talking about? Who had “found out” about me? And why was pretending to be his wife the only way out?

I pressed my forehead to my knees, trying to slow my breathing. Part of me wanted to run. Another part wondered what it would feel like if, just for a moment, someone like Niccolò actually meant it when he said he’d keep me safe.