CHAPTER 7

Angelina's POV

I blinked my eyes open and stared blankly at the smooth white ceiling. A faint, dull throbbing at the back of my head made me hiss in pain. I didn't dare move a muscle as I desperately tried to piece together what had happened.

I remembered Danzel leaving the house. I remembered tying the bedsheets together and climbing out the window to escape. I remembered him coming back, finding me hanging two stories above the ground, and then...

Oh, God, I fell!

Crap! Danzel is going to kill me!

He had explicitly told me not to leave the room, and I had immediately tried to run. My heart raced into a panicked frenzy at the terrifying thought of him hunting down my family to punish them for my actions. If that ever happened, I knew I wouldn't be able to live with myself.

I carefully glanced down at my body and gasped softly. I had deep purple bruises blooming all over my skin, and my right foot was heavily bandaged. Surprisingly, it didn't hurt much when I cautiously wiggled my toes.

I froze completely when the heavy wooden door suddenly clicked open, and Danzel walked in. He was entirely focused on a stack of papers in his hand, so he didn't immediately notice that I was awake. Instead of announcing my presence, I took a moment to observe him. Droplets of water were still falling from his dark, messy hair, indicating he had just showered. He held a steaming mug of coffee in one hand and the documents in the other. He walked gracefully over to the velvet couch and sat down, his intense eyes remaining glued to his reading.

Not wanting to sit there gawking at him like an idiot any longer, I awkwardly cleared my throat. "Hi," I croaked, my voice rough from disuse.

Instantly, his piercing blue eyes snapped toward the bed. A flash of profound emotion flickered in his gaze for a fraction of a second, but he quickly masked it behind a cold, unreadable stare. I gulped uncomfortably under his intense scrutiny.

He continued to stare at me, his eyes narrowing thoughtfully. Suddenly, he tossed the papers onto the coffee table, stood up, and marched straight toward me. He stopped at the very edge of my mattress and leaned over, bringing his face dangerously close to mine.

"You're really awake," he murmured, speaking more to himself than to me.

"Yeah. I am," I managed to squeak out, desperately trying to ignore the warm brush of his minty breath against my face.

"I can tell," he smirked darkly. "Because your heart is beating faster than a fucking racehorse."

Damn it.

I quickly averted my gaze, staring down at my bandaged foot while he continued to watch me. Knowing I couldn't avoid the inevitable confrontation any longer, I finally forced myself to speak up.

"I am sorry," I whispered softly, still refusing to meet his eyes.

"Why?"

"Because I tried to escape. I disrespected you, and I went against your direct orders," I babbled, the words tumbling out in a panicked rush. "But please... please don't hurt my family. I swear I won't ever do it again." I was practically on the verge of tears.

He let out a heavy sigh, the tension visibly leaving his broad shoulders. "I forgive you."

"What?" I exclaimed, my head snapping up in sheer disbelief. "Why?"

"I don't know. But I do," he admitted quietly. "I know I was being a ruthless dick to you in the beginning. But don't worry, Angel—I am never going to hurt your family. However, this is the absolute last time I am letting something like this slide. The next time you try to pull a stunt, you won't even be given the chance to explain yourself," he threatened, his voice dropping into a lethal, serious register.

I nodded frantically. He stayed leaning over the bed, his gaze softening as he continued to stare down at me.

"What is it?" I asked, completely confused by his shifting mood.

"You know... I really can't stay mad at you for very long," he murmured, his eyes slowly tracing the delicate lines of my face. "Those deep eyes of yours make me forget every damn thing I'm supposed to be angry about," he whispered huskily.

My entire body froze as he leaned in closer. He planted one large hand on the mattress near my pillow to support his weight, while his other hand gently cupped my bruised cheek, holding me perfectly in place. My heartbeat skyrocketed into an absolute frenzy as his handsome face hovered mere inches from mine. I could feel the warm flutter of his breath ghosting over my parted lips. My hands instinctively shot out, clenching handfuls of his expensive dress shirt, and my eyes fluttered shut in sheer anticipation.

Just as his lips were about to finally brush against mine—

"Hey man, we are— Fuck! I am so sorry! I completely didn't see you kissing her!" a loud, amused voice suddenly boomed from the doorway.

Danzel immediately jerked back, practically leaping away from the bed. He stood up stiffly, aggressively smoothing down the front of his shirt.

"Creed! Don't you know how to fucking knock?" Danzel snapped, his face flushed with irritation.

"I'm sorry, man! I thought you were just busy staring at her while she slept like usual. My bad, really," Creed explained, though a shit-eating grin was plastered across his face.

Wait... busy staring at me while I slept?

"Hi, Angelina. I'm really glad you're finally awake," Creed said, strolling into the room and casually dropping into the chair next to my bed.

"Hi," I offered a weak, utterly embarrassed smile.

"Allow me to properly introduce myself. I am Creed," he announced, playfully extending his hand toward me. "I am the one and only man in the entire world who has to handle that miserable, grumpy ass right over there," he added, throwing a thumb in Danzel's direction.

I couldn't help but laugh out loud as Danzel narrowed his eyes and actually growled at his friend.

"Hey, Creed," I said, shaking his outstretched hand. "It's really nice to meet you."

"Oh, the pleasure is entirely mine! I am incredibly grateful that I finally get to talk to you. Because this absolute lunatic has been fucking my brain into oblivion while you were unconscious," Creed exaggerated dramatically.

"Oh, I am really sorry about that," I giggled. "But... what exactly happened to me? I don't feel much pain."

"Nothing too crazy. You passed out mid-air, fell into the bushes, and sprained your ankle pretty badly. You had a few minor cuts and bruises, but they've mostly healed by now. The doctor had to give you a massive dose of painkillers, so you've been drifting in and out of a heavy, drug-induced sleep for an entire week," he explained casually.

I nodded slowly, absorbing the information.

"If you're done running your mouth, we need to get going," Danzel interrupted sharply, clearly eager to leave.

"Yeah, alright. I gotta go, honey," Creed winked at me, standing up from the chair.

"Do not fucking call her that," Danzel spat venomously, his hands balling into fists.

"Chill out, man! We're friends now, aren't we, Angelina?" Creed asked, looking at me for backup.

"Yeah," I replied hesitantly, not entirely sure if it was safe to agree.

"See?" Creed smirked triumphantly.

Danzel's eyes flashed with pure murder as he took a menacing step toward his friend.

"Okay, okay! Jesus, I'm sorry. She is all yours. You are such a possessive brat," Creed laughed, backing toward the door. "And please, Angelina, give him a very quick goodbye kiss so we aren't late for our meeting!"

"Get out!" Danzel roared, pointing at the hallway.

I heard Creed's booming laughter echo down the corridor as he pulled the heavy door shut behind him.

Once Creed was finally gone, Danzel walked over to the nightstand, shook two pills out of a prescription bottle, and handed me a fresh glass of orange juice. I took the medicine silently and gulped it down.

"I really need to go, but don't even think about trying that little stunt again while I'm gone. Understood?" he warned, watching me swallow the pills.

I nodded obediently.

He leaned down, pressed a surprisingly tender kiss into my hair, and strode out of the room without another word.

I sat there in the massive bed, completely dumbfounded by his actions. I hadn't expected this strange, gentle calmness from a ruthless mafia boss. For a fleeting moment, I wondered if this was just the eerie calm before a massive storm, but... he had sworn he wouldn't hurt my family. Would he actually keep his word?

Yes, he won't, my instincts whispered.

I let out a long, exhausted sigh. My life had officially turned into a chaotic, terrifying mess.

Throwing the covers aside, I carefully got out of bed and limped toward the bathroom. After taking a long, hot shower to soothe my stiff muscles, I dressed and slowly made my way downstairs to find something to eat. When I finally reached the expansive kitchen, I saw a warm, plump woman around my mother's age standing at the stove, humming softly as she cooked.

"Hey," I called out gently so I wouldn't startle her.

She spun around, and her face instantly lit up with a massive, motherly smile. "Oh, thank God you are finally up, honey! You had me so terribly worried," she sighed, placing a hand over her heart in pure relief.

I instantly liked her warm energy. "I'm okay now, thank you."

"My name is Yara. I've been the head maid here since... well, since this massive house was first built," she introduced herself cheerfully.

"Hello, Yara. I'm Angelina."

"I know, sweetie! Even though I was off-duty the night you arrived, Robert quickly filled me in on all the dramatic details," she chuckled, waving a wooden spoon toward the island. "Come, sit down right here. Eat this before it gets cold."

I smiled genuinely at her loving, fussing nature and happily ate the fresh food she set in front of me.

The rest of the day passed peacefully. Yara was an incredibly caring woman, and we ended up talking for hours. She told me all about her adult daughter who lived overseas. Her husband had passed away years ago, so it was just the two of them left in their family.

Before I knew it, an entire week had slipped by since I first woke up from my fall. As the days blurred together, I slowly grew more accustomed to the strange atmosphere of the mansion. Creed visited almost every single day. He was genuinely hilarious, and I found myself looking forward to his company. We constantly cracked jokes together, while Danzel would invariably sit nearby, aggressively snapping at Creed whenever he dared to call me a pet name. It was honestly hard to believe that a goofy guy like Creed was actually a deadly mafia enforcer.

Overall, my bizarre new life had settled into a relatively peaceful routine. But for the last two days, I had barely seen Danzel at all. He had been coming home incredibly late and seemed to be purposely avoiding me.

---

I glanced up at the antique wall clock. It was past nine at night. Danzel should be returning home at any moment, I thought, pacing my room. I was feeling incredibly restless because he hadn't called or checked on me once. Maybe he was just out there... busy killing people. The horrifying thought made me shiver violently.

How could he just casually take a human life? The mere sight of blood made me physically nauseous, yet he seemed to absolutely thrive in the violence.

I let out a loud groan of sheer boredom and stared out the large window into the dark gardens. How long has it been since I actually stepped foot outside these four walls? I desperately needed to go somewhere. I needed to breathe fresh, unfiltered air.

Tonight, I am going to demand that Danzel let me outside.

The heavy thud of the mansion's front door opening snapped me to attention. He was home early. This was my chance. I crept to my doorway and peeked down the grand staircase. I watched him shrug out of his suit jacket and walk straight into his private study. He immediately marched over to the expensive bar cart, poured himself a massive glass of dark red wine, and gulped it down furiously.

Okay, Angelina. Just walk in, ask him nicely to let you outside for a walk, and then go straight to bed. Do not stare into his intense eyes. Do not look at his broad chest. Do not stare at his lips...

I mentally slapped myself for the wildly inappropriate thoughts.

Gathering every ounce of liquid courage I possessed, I quietly descended the stairs, walked into the dimly lit study, and tentatively took a seat on the leather barstool right next to him. He didn't even acknowledge my presence; his heavy gaze remained broodingly fixed on the empty crystal glass in his hand.

"Uh... Danzel?" I called out nervously.

"Hmm," he rumbled deeply, not bothering to look up.

"I am going crazy with boredom sitting inside this house all day," I began carefully. "Can you please just let me go outside for one day?" I asked, anxiously chewing on my bottom lip.

"No," he replied instantly, his tone final.

"Why not?" I whined, my shoulders dropping in profound disappointment.

"Because I know for a fact that the second I let you out of my sight, you will immediately try to run away," he stated coldly, finally turning his head to face me. "And I am absolutely not letting that happen."

"No!" I argued, shaking my head furiously. "I won't run, I promise! I just want to breathe some fresh air. I feel like I've been rotting inside this house since the day you kidnapped me," I grumbled, my frustration causing my voice to rise.

"Do not use that tone with me, love. I said no! You are not going anywhere," he warned, his jaw clenching in sudden anger as he aggressively poured and downed a second glass of wine.

"You can't just dictate my entire life! You might be the terrifying boss to all those men out there, but to me..." My mouth completely bypassed my brain. "I am not afraid of you. And if you won't let me go out? Well, then who cares! I am going out whether it pleases your arrogant ass or not!"

I finished my reckless tirade by impulsively snatching the expensive bottle of wine right out of his hand and chugging down half the remaining alcohol in three massive gulps. I desperately needed the liquid courage to stand my ground. The dark liquid burned a fiery trail down my throat, and within seconds, the heavy buzz of the alcohol began clouding my senses.

I slammed the bottle onto the counter and confidently turned to leave. But before I could take a single step, his large hands shot out, wrapping like iron bands around my wrists. He yanked me backward and spun me around so forcefully that I ended up trapped securely between his parted thighs.

"Do not do this, Angel," he warned, his voice dropping into a rough, husky growl. "I am already having an impossibly hard time resisting you, and your feisty little attitude is severely testing my limits," he whispered darkly, his lips grazing my ear.

A full-body shiver racked my spine, and my throat instantly went desert-dry. He playfully nibbled on my sensitive earlobe before pressing an open-mouthed kiss against it. I gasped loudly at the electric shock of the contact, and my eyes fluttered shut against my will.

Shit! That felt way too good.

He released my wrists. One of his large hands slid down to firmly grip my waist, anchoring me flush against his hard body, while his other hand moved up to gently cup my jaw.

He tilted my head to the side, completely exposing my neck, and pressed his warm lips directly beneath my jawline. A soft, breathless sigh escaped my mouth as he began trailing slow, wet kisses down the sensitive column of my throat. The heavy rush of the wine was rapidly taking control of both our inhibitions. When his lips hit the wildly sensitive pulse point just below my ear, a quiet, undeniable moan slipped from my lips.

He smirked victoriously against my skin, thoroughly enjoying the pleasurable torture he was inflicting. He slowly kissed his way back up my face until he reached the very corner of my mouth. He stopped there for an agonizing second, his hot, wine-scented breath mingling perfectly with mine, before he planted a teasing kiss right at the edge of my lips and pulled back slightly.

My eyes were squeezed shut, my chest heaving with heavy, erratic pants. When I finally forced them open, I instantly collided with his beautiful, mesmerizing blue eyes. They were completely dilated and swirling with dark, naked lust. He stared deeply into my soul for a moment before leaning in again. He began pressing agonizingly slow, soft kisses over my closed eyelids, the bridge of my nose, my flushed cheeks, and my chin.

He was kissing everywhere across my face—except the one place I desperately wanted him to.

"P-please... don't kiss me," I whimpered pathetically, my hands instinctively clutching the lapels of his shirt as if he were the only thing keeping me upright. I honestly had no idea why those denying words had tumbled out of my mouth.

"Why not?" he murmured, pressing an excruciatingly slow kiss to my cheek, hovering dangerously close to my lips.

"Because... I don't know how to kiss. I haven't ever—" I completely forgot the rest of my sentence as he suddenly latched onto a sensitive patch of skin on my jaw and sucked hard, drawing another helpless moan from my chest.

"Well, then we are just going to have to change that fact, aren't we?" he murmured thickly. His lips brushed seductively back and forth against mine, teasing me mercilessly, until finally, he closed the gap and captured my mouth.

Blinding sparks exploded behind my eyelids the second our lips met. His mouth was surprisingly cool from the chilled wine, yet incredibly soft. He kissed me with agonizing slowness, gently moving his lips in perfect sync with mine. He playfully nibbled on my bottom lip, swiping his tongue along the seam to politely ask for entrance, but I stubbornly kept my mouth clamped shut.

Groaning low in his chest at my stubbornness, he suddenly wrapped his arms fully around me. His hands traveled from my waist down to my thighs, grabbing my backside and forcefully lifting me so I was pressed flush against him. My breasts crushed heavily against his rock-hard chest, forcing a surprised gasp from my lips.

He instantly seized the opportunity, slipping his hot tongue deeply into my mouth. He tasted exquisitely like sharp mint and expensive dark wine. I was so completely lost in the intoxicating haze of his kiss that I didn't even realize he had stood up and was walking us backward across the study.

Suddenly, I felt the soft leather of the couch against the back of my knees. He gently pushed me down until I was lying flat against the cushions, following me down to cage me with his body. He deepened the kiss while his large hands began roaming freely up and down my bare thighs, his rough callouses leaving trails of goosebumps erupting over my skin.

Slowly, reluctantly, his lips left my swollen mouth and trailed down to attack my exposed throat.

I felt absolutely incredible. It felt like my entire body had been set on fire. The slick slide of his lips over my bare skin made me tremble violently. When he dragged his mouth lower, boldly sucking on the swell of my cleavage right through the thin fabric of my dress, I arched my back and moaned loudly, completely unable to handle the overwhelming waves of pleasure.

Encouraged by my sinful, desperate response, he slid his left hand upward, boldly cupping my breast. When he dragged his thumb firmly across my tight nipple and pinched slightly, a loud gasp tore from my throat. My leg instinctively jerked upward, my knee accidentally brushing hard against the thick, straining bulge behind the zipper of his slacks.

He groaned deeply into the skin of my chest, the raw, masculine sound causing my insides to instantly clench with desire.

Oh, my God!

Completely unable to hold back any longer, I tangled my trembling fingers deep into his thick dark hair, forcefully pulled his head up, and smashed my mouth against his, kissing him back with everything I had.

"Fuck... you taste so delicious, Angel. I want you right now," he growled desperately against my mouth.

I moaned in blind agreement, wrapping my arms tightly around his broad shoulders and pulling him flush against me.

"Tell me to stop, Angelina," he panted, dragging his wet lips along my jawline. "I need you to tell me to stop. I don't want you to regret this in the morning."

But I was physically incapable of stopping him. His possessive touches and scorching kisses were sending wild sparks through every nerve in my body.

"Please... stop me, Angel," he begged in a ragged whisper, lightly grazing his teeth over my collarbone.

"Oh, God! Danzel, please," I moaned loudly as he bit down gently on the sensitive bone.

In that drunken, lust-filled moment, I didn't care that he was the terrifying mafia boss who had violently kidnapped me and held me captive against my will. I was completely and utterly lost in the intoxicating high of his touches, and my traitorous body desperately demanded more of him.

Right at that exact, agonizing moment, his cell phone began blaring loudly from his pocket.

But he didn't seem to care in the slightest. He ignored the shrill ringing and continued his sweet, maddening torture against my neck.

"D-Danzel... your phone," I managed to breathe out between ragged pants.

"Ignore it," he muttered dismissively, silencing my protests by capturing my lips in another searing, deep kiss.

But the phone just kept ringing incessantly, shattering the heavy, erotic tension in the room. After a few more agonizing rings, Danzel groaned loudly in pure frustration. He pressed one final, bruising kiss to my swollen lips before reluctantly pulling away from me. I lay there on the leather cushions, desperately trying to control my ragged breathing while he yanked the phone from his pocket and answered it.

"What the fuck do you want?" he roared into the receiver, running an agitated hand through his messy hair.

My cheeks were burning with a deep, furious blush, and my entire body hummed with unsatisfied need. I quickly sat up, trembling as I desperately tried to fix my rumpled top and smooth down my skirt. Not having the slightest idea what to do with myself, I awkwardly stood up from the couch and waited silently for him to finish the call.

"Fine. Okay. I'll deal with it tomorrow morning," he snapped, ending the call and aggressively chucking the phone back onto the cushions.

He turned and walked purposefully toward me. Without a word, he easily scooped me up into his arms, carrying me tightly against his chest. "Let's get you up to bed."

He carried me silently up the grand staircase and down the hall into my room, his intense blue eyes never once leaving mine. He gently laid me down in the center of the massive mattress and carefully pulled the thick duvet over my shoulders. I watched his handsome face the entire time, my heart still hammering in my chest.

"Goodnight, Angel," he murmured softly. He leaned over, pressed a remarkably sweet, tender peck to my lips, and then quietly walked out of the room, shutting the door behind him.

I reached up and gently touched my fingers to my lips, which were still visibly swollen and sensitive from his intense kisses. The way he had just kissed me made me want to completely melt into him. When his rough, deadly hands had held me so softly, I had forgotten every single terrible thing about him and my captivity. In that moment, I had desperately wanted those hands to touch every single inch of my body.

I pulled the covers up to my chin and slowly closed my eyes. Instantly, a striking pair of blue eyes flashed vibrantly across the darkness of my mind.

I knew exactly who they belonged to.

And as the exhaustion of the alcohol finally pulled me under, I knew that tonight, I would undoubtedly be meeting a man with piercing blue eyes in my dreams.