Chapter 5

Mia’s eyes snapped open.

Darkness. A heavy, suffocating black.

As her senses adjusted, she realised her vision was covered—soft, silky fabric pressing gently against her eyelids. She tried to lift her hands but couldn’t.

Thick ropes dug into her wrists, pinning her to something solid beneath her.

She moved her mouth—only to find it gagged with the same silky material, tied tight behind her head. Panic flared instantly in her chest, but then she realised her clothes were still on. Relief pulsed through her, shaky and thin, but there nonetheless.

Stop. Breathe. Listen.

Somewhere in the dark, footsteps echoed faintly, slow and steady, drawing closer. Then—click. The door. Keys. And locks sliding inside the doors structure.

Mia’s stomach twisted.

“Don’t you look beautiful all tied up and helpless, darlin’?” Axel’s voice purred through the shadows, rich with amusement, too smooth, too calm.

He sat down beside her, the mattress dipping slightly under his weight. Cool fingers brushed against her cheek as he gently untied the blindfold, and light burst through, blinding her temporarily. Mia blinked rapidly, her vision adjusting to the brightness. When she could finally focus, she took in the room—large, opulent, but locked tight. Several bolts lined the heavy wooden door. No quick escape here.

Axel tilted her chin toward him, their eyes meeting. His stare was intense, predatory—but maddeningly beautiful. It made her feel exposed, seen in a way that made her shiver. Vulnerability wasn’t something Mia allowed herself often, but here it was, creeping into her bloodstream.

“What’s happening?” she managed around the gag as he untied it, her voice shaky but sharp. “Why am I tied up? What do you want?”

Axel smirked lazily. “Depends how much you really wanna know, doll. You passed out downstairs—I thought it was best to keep you safe until I knew you weren’t gonna try to claw my eyes out.”

His eyes darkened, dragging slowly down her body, lingering in ways that made her pulse hammer wildly in her ears. She was tied to the posts of an antique four-poster bed, her arms stretched awkwardly above her.

“Untie me. Now,” she said, firm but trembling.

“Now, why would I do that and spoil all the fun?” His hand trailed up her thigh, stopping at the hem of her dress, his smile both seductive and extremely dangerous. Mia flinched, muscles tensing.

His smirk widened. “Aw, don’t be shy. I thought you liked playing games.”

Mia didn’t hesitate. The moment his eyes dropped, she kicked out—hard.

Axel reacted in a blur, catching her legs and pinning them with his weight. He straddled her easily, like a predator toying with its prey. His lips brushed her neck, soft at first—then a sudden bite, sharp enough to make her cry out.

Tears burned the corners of her eyes.

“Learn, or be punished. Your choice, sweetheart.” His tone was playful, but there was venom under the silk.

Then, just as quickly, he stood, straightening his shirt like nothing had happened. “I like you. You’ve got fight. That’s gonna make this interesting.”

With that, he walked out, leaving Mia alone—heart racing, wrists burning, mind spinning.

Time blurred into meaningless stretches as Mia lay bound, forcing herself to breathe, to think.

It’s just another game. Just a game.

That was how Mia survived everything in life—turning it into something to win, something to beat.

If she panicked now, she’d lose. And losing wasn’t something she ever did willingly.

When the door clicked open again, the scent of whiskey followed Axel into the room, rich and smoky. He approached, glass in hand.

“Here. Drink.”

He untied the gag, and Mia realised how dry her throat had become. The whiskey burned on the way down, making her head swim instantly. She cursed herself. Whiskey. Of all things. It had always been her weakness.

“You’ll get food when you’ve earned it,” Axel murmured, setting the glass aside, sitting close again. His smirk sent chills down her spine. “I reward good behavior. How good you are to me… well, that’ll decide what kind of meal you get.”

“And how exactly do you expect me to ‘earn’ it with my hands tied?” Mia shot back, forcing the sharpness back into her voice.

He hesitated, assessing her. Testing her.

After a moment, he began untying her wrists, one by one.

“You didn’t have to tie me up, you know,” Mia said softly, leaning toward him just enough for the words to feel like an invitation. “I would’ve come willingly.”

Axel’s gaze heated, that predator smile curling at the edges of his mouth. “Oh, doll… for what I really want? You’d have bolted.”

As soon as the last rope loosened, Mia moved.

Fast.

She scrambled across the bed, bolting for the door, fingers fumbling over the locks. One, two, three… Almost there—

A soft, amused laugh echoed behind her. “You’re cute when you think you’re clever.”

Mia froze.

The final lock—a biometric thumbprint. No key. No code. Just him.

He’d planned it perfectly. Just enough freedom to give her hope—just enough to break it.

Fury rose hot and wild in her chest. “You can’t just take people! Someone will notice—I’m not just going to disappear!”

Axel’s expression shifted. No more playful teasing. This was the real man underneath the charm. Cold. Merciless.

“Sweetheart,” he said softly, dangerously, “I’m not some amateur kidnapper. I’m the man in this city. Nobody crosses me. Nobody even thinks about it.”

Mia’s breath hitched.

“You’re mine now, doll. You just don’t know it yet.”

With one last smirk, he left her again, locking the door with a soft, mechanical click.

Panic threatened to surge up again, but Mia stuffed it down ruthlessly, locking it in the same vault she kept all her worst fears.

No one’s coming for you, she thought grimly. Replying the same mantra over and over.

You get out of this by your own damn self. Just like you have done your whole life. Survive Mia, just survive. There isn’t another option.

He thought he was the player.

But Mia?

Mia was the game.