Chapter 4: New Walls, New Chains

Adriana's POV

I wasn't sure what to say; words seemed to slip away the moment I saw him.

He was undeniably hot. His muscular frame commanded attention, and his jawline, sharp and defined, gave his face an almost dangerous allure.

Is this Hunter?

The man my brother warned me about?

"A-are you Hunter?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

"That would be me," he said, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. His confidence was unnerving, and yet… oddly magnetic.

Well… this might not be as bad as I thought.

"What's in the box?" he asked, nodding toward the present in my lap.

I glanced down, suddenly aware of it again. That's when it hit me. The car was moving. We had already left my house.

"I-I don't know," I said quietly. "I'm supposed to open it later."

Hunter let out a low chuckle, the sound rough and unsettling. Without warning, he shifted closer, closing the space between us until I could feel his presence press into mine.

"While we're still on good terms," he said calmly, "there are a few things you need to understand."

I turned to look at him. "Like what?"

"The rules," he said simply. "There are five."

I blinked. "Rules?"

He smiled, but there was nothing soft about it.

"First," he said, voice firm, "you don't talk to other men unless I say you can."

"Second, don't test my patience. I don't handle disobedience well."

"Third, you don't leave unless I give you permission. You're mine now."

"Fourth, if you raise your voice at me, disrespect me, or try to defy me, there will be consequences. And I always follow through."

He leaned in slightly, his voice dropping.

"And finally, number five. You do exactly what I say, when I say it. No questions."

I stared at him, heart pounding.

"What kind of rules are those?" I whispered.

"Those are the rules you're going to follow," Hunter said, his tone disturbingly calm.

I stared at him, disbelief clouding my thoughts.

 "Those rules are insane," I snapped. "Last time I checked, I was a free woman."

His expression didn't change, but the air between us shifted. Cold. Heavy.

Hunter's jaw tightened, and the light in his eyes turned pitch black.

"Last time I checked," he said slowly, "I owned you."

My stomach dropped. The words hit harder than I expected.

"That doesn't mean anything," I said, though the tremor in my voice betrayed me. "Just because you bought me doesn't mean I belong to you."

In an instant, he moved.

His hand wrapped around my arm and yanked me forward with a force that stole the air from my lungs. His grip was brutal, fingers digging into my skin like claws. I winced, feeling the bruises already forming beneath his touch.

"Listen here, you little bitch," he growled. "You'll do what I say. Or I'll make you wish I'd killed you instead. Do you understand me?"

My throat dried up. I didn't dare speak. I just nodded.

Hunter let go, and I stumbled back, rubbing at the burning ache in my shoulder. I edged closer to the door, my heart thudding wildly, fists clenched in my lap.

What the hell did Dad get me into?

I inhaled shakily, his voice still echoing in my head.

What the hell is wrong with him? One second calm, the next a monster. God, he's completely unhinged. Breathe. Just breathe. Remember what Dad said. Stay on Hunter's good side.

After about fifteen minutes of silence, the car came to a stop in front of a massive estate.

And when I say massive, I mean Mansion. It towered over everything I had ever known, including my own home.

“Welcome to your new home, Adriana,” Hunter murmured in my ear, his voice low and almost intimate.

I stepped out of the car, my breath catching in my throat as I took in the sight of the sprawling Mansion. The sheer size of it was overwhelming.

“Wow,” I whispered, my eyes wide.

“This place is… huge.”

Hunter’s lips curled into a small, self-assured smile.

“That’s what hard work gets you, sweetheart.”

He motioned for me to follow him, and I found myself instinctively stepping closer. Still clutching the present, I trailed behind him up the stone steps and into the house.

The moment I crossed the threshold, I was struck speechless. The inside of the house was just as breathtaking as the exterior. Every detail,  every inch screamed luxury.

I couldn’t help myself.

“For a gang leader, you have some serious taste,” I said, my gaze drawn upward to the glimmering chandelier that hung in the center of the grand foyer.

Hunter let out a soft sigh, his gaze briefly flicking to the ornate ceiling.

“I can’t take all the credit,” he admitted, his voice tinged with something like fondness. “I designed our bedroom, but my mother… she did the rest.”

“Ohhh,” I paused. “Wait a minute… Did you say our bedroom?”

“Yeah, our bedroom,” he clarified, his voice calm but laced with something dangerous. “As in you and me.”

“I don’t even know you,” I argued, my voice shaking slightly.

“Aaand?” he groaned, his tone growing colder.

“And I’m not going to sleep in the same bed as you,” I snapped, trying to sound defiant.

Hunter’s eyes darkened. Without warning, he shoved me hard against the nearest wall, his grip tight on my arms, pinning me in place.

“Listen here, cupcake,” he growled, his voice a menacing whisper that made my skin crawl. “You’re going to do what I say, or I’ll make you wish you were never born. I’ll put a bullet in your head and leave you to rot. Your choice.”

Stay on his good side, Adriana. O Oh, who am I kidding? Dylan was right. Hunter doesn't have a good side.

“Looks like we’re going to be roomies,” I whispered, and he smirked briefly before turning away, heading up the stairs. I hesitated for a moment, unsure if I should follow.

He glanced back at me, his eyes locking onto mine. Blueish-gray. Cold. Piercing. There was something almost unsettling about them, but they were undeniably stunning.

“Follow me if you want to see our bedroom,” he said, his tone as indifferent as his gaze. He didn’t wait for me to reply, just continued up the stairs.

I followed, gripping the present in my hands.

I wonder what it is.