Afraid

(Lisa's POV)

"Are you sure nothing happened in Italy?" my dad asked, trying to force the truth out of me. Ever since I came back to California two days ago, his question has remained the same. He was clearly surprised when I came back just a day after leaving. He hadn’t expected me back so soon, but I wasn’t ready to tell him the truth about Nathan’s betrayal—or how I had carelessly given my virginity to a total stranger.

"Nothing happened, Dad," I replied, forcing the words out. Guilt welled up inside me for lying to him, but I just wanted to forget everything that had happened in Italy and move on.

"Then why did you come back so soon?" he pressed, his brows knitting together. "You were supposed to stay at least a week."

I swallowed hard. He wasn’t wrong. If Nathan hadn’t betrayed me, I would still be in Italy. And maybe, just maybe, I wouldn’t have encountered the stranger who made me feel things I’d never felt before.

"He’s busy with work. I didn’t want to stress him out," I lied again. My dad stared at me, as though trying to search for the truth in my eyes, but I maintained a look that said I wasn’t lying.

The next day, I returned to work. My boss was surprised to see me because I had taken two weeks off. She had agreed to it, but that didn’t mean she wouldn’t cut my salary for the unplanned days.

"You’re back so soon?" she asked.

I nodded, forcing a smile. I work as a weather forecaster, and I couldn’t let anyone find out that I had just gone through my first heartbreak.

"I decided to cancel my trip and focus on work," I replied. She didn’t ask further questions, so I buried myself in tasks, trying to forget everything that had happened in Italy. But his touch—and the way he made me feel that night—kept creeping into my mind.

"Why can’t I just forget that night?" I muttered aloud before realizing I had spoken.

"What night?" Nadia asked.

Nadia is my coworker and the only person I’m close to at work. I’m not the kind of woman who mingles with everyone. I looked at her, shook my head with a smile, and she gave me a doubting look but thankfully chose to focus on her work.

After work, around 8:00 PM, I was exhausted. All I wanted was a bath, dinner, and to fall into bed. The faint pain between my thighs reminded me of him, and I found myself wondering how huge he had been. I shook my head, blushing at the thought. I’m never going to see him again.

My phone rang in my bag. Seeing that it was my dad, I smiled before answering.

"Hello, Dad."

"Are you still at work?"

"I just finished. I’m waiting for a cab," I replied.

"Alright, dear. I made dinner, and you know this old man can’t eat without his precious daughter." His words made me smile. Ever since my mom died when I was ten, Dad had taken on the roles of both parents.

"I’ll be home soon, Dad," I said, ending the call.

While waiting for a cab at the subway, two men suddenly grabbed me. Before I could scream, they covered my nose. I struggled to break free, but everything went black.

*

I slowly opened my eyes but sprang up quickly when I realized I was in a strange room. It was huge and luxurious, painted in my favorite color: white. Looking around, I tried to piece together how I had ended up here. Then I remembered being forcefully taken by those men.

Have I been kidnapped? The thought sent waves of fear through me.

Hearing faint voices outside, I moved to the window for a peek. I saw the back of a man dressed in a sleeveless shirt. His tattoos looked oddly familiar. He spoke with authority to two other men, who nodded at every word.

Were they planning to kill me? Or demand a ransom?

Why would anyone kidnap me? I wasn’t a politician’s daughter, nor did I come from a wealthy family. My dad’s struggling coffee shop barely got any customers. My thoughts were interrupted when the door creaked open, and the first thing I noticed was a pair of expensive shoes. As the man entered, I traced him from his legs to his knees, chest, and finally his face. I gasped and fell to the floor in shock.

It was him.

The man I had a one-night stand with. The man whose touch had sent waves of sensation through me that night.

"I see you’re finally awake," he said, his deep voice resonating as he stepped closer. When I instinctively shifted backward, he paused.

"Are you afraid of me?" he asked.

How can I not be afraid? His commanding aura was intimidating, and I’d never expected to see him again after running away.

"Why are you here?" I managed to ask.

He finally walked up to me, squatting beside me, his piercing gaze locked on mine. "I brought you home, Lisa," he said, making me furrow my eyebrows. This place was nowhere close to my house. My home was a small apartment compared to this massive, luxurious room.

"What home are you talking about? This isn’t my house," I retorted.

"You’re in Italy," he said bluntly, not bothering to beat around the bush. I gasped, shocked to hear that I was back in Italy—a country I thought I would never set foot in again. It dawned on me that he was the one who had kidnapped me. But why would he do that?

As if reading my mind, he added, "Do you think you can escape after agreeing to be mine?"

What the heck was he saying? When did I agree to be his? Even if I did, I was drunk that night and not in my right mind.

"What happened between us was a mistake. You shouldn’t have kidnapped me! I want to go home. I don’t belong here," I said, attempting to leave. But he grabbed my hand and pinned me against the wall, gently, as if he didn’t want to hurt me.

"Let go of me! I want to go home!" I spat, struggling to break free from his grip. But he held me tightly. He was much stronger, and I couldn’t compete with his strength.

"I won’t let you escape a second time, Lisa. You’ve stirred something in me, and I’m not letting you go. Your body and soul are mine," he said authoritatively.

A sudden, cold silence fell. His eyes searched mine, daring me to challenge him. Then, with a sinister smile, he whispered, "You have no idea what you’ve gotten yourself into."

My blood ran cold as I stared back at him, the weight of his words sinking in. Suddenly, I felt the sharp edge of fear, knowing I had stepped into a world where leaving was no longer an option.