Kidnapped

The gala was a spectacle of power and wealth, it was a grand display of deception where men in tailored suits and women draped in diamonds smiled over glasses of blood-red wine. Serena De Luca had spent her life attending such events, she was forced to play the role of the obedient daughter, she was the mafia princess and was meant to stand beside her father as proof of his legacy. But tonight, something felt different.

She could sense it in the air, the way her father’s men stood on higher alert, their hands lingered near the holsters beneath their jackets too often. Her father, Marco De Luca, smiled too widely, and held her with a grip too firm on her arm. He had whispered to her before they stepped into the grand ballroom of the De Luca estate, “Smile, dolcezza. You are my greatest asset.”

She knew what he meant. He wasn’t just talking about her presence; he was speaking of her worth. As a daughter in the mafia world, Serena was nothing more than a bargaining chip, she was a tool to be used when it benefited the family. She had always known that one day, she might be sold off in an arranged marriage to strengthen an alliance.

But tonight, the danger felt different. There was something off. She exhaled slowly, gripping the stem of her champagne flute, letting the bubbles tickle her lips as she surveyed the crowd. Dangerous men filled the room, there were men with cold eyes and sharper smiles, They whispered about power, about money, and about the next war brewing between the families.

She also spotted…Lucian Moretti.

The name was whispered like a curse, a man whose presence turned even the most hardened criminals into prey. He stood near the grand staircase, dressed in black, his shirt was unbuttoned at the collar and were his sleeves rolled up as if he were here for business, not pleasure. He was the biggest rival her father had. He was shadow that had haunted him for years.

His dark gaze locked onto hers, and her breath hitched. He made her stomach flutter. 

Serena had seen photographs of him, she had heard the stories, he the man whose family was destroyed by her father’s betrayal. He had vanished for years, only to return more powerful, more ruthless than before. Now, he stood before her, a predator stalking his prey.

She forced herself to look away, but it was too late. Her heart was pounding and she was shaking as she sipped her drink. 

The party stretched on, and Serena played her usual roles, smiling, nodding, pretending to care about the conversations around her. She looked around to find out that though he was at another place, Lucian’s gaze never left her. He didn’t approach, didn’t speak, but he was watching.

When the clock struck midnight, she knew she was free. She excused herself, weaving through the crowd, with her pulse pounding. She needed air.

She stepped onto the balcony, the cool night breeze brushing against her bare shoulders. She gripped the railing, trying to steady herself, when a deep voice sent a shiver down her spine.

“You shouldn’t be out here alone.”

She turned sharply to find Lucian standing in the shadows, his presence was overwhelming, the scent of whiskey and some strong cologne clinged unto him.

“I can take care of myself,” she said, masking her unease.

He smirked, stepping closer. “I doubt that.”

Serena clenched her jaw. “If you’re here to threaten my father, you’re wasting your time. He doesn’t scare easily. I am sure you know that by now”

Lucian chuckled. “Oh, I’m not here to scare your father.” His eyes darkened as he reached out, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “I’m here for you.”

Before she could react, a gloved hand clamped over her mouth. The world spun as she was pulled into the darkness and Lucian’s smirking face the last thing she saw before everything went black.

The first thing she felt was pain, it was a dull throb at the back of her head. The second was cold.

Serena’s eyes fluttered open, and she realized she was in a dimly lit room, her wrists were bound to the chair that she sat on. The air smelled of smoke and leather, the hum of distant voices echoing beyond the heavy door.

Panic surged through her. She tugged at the restraints, but they held firm.

“You’re awake.”

Her head snapped up.

Lucian leaned against the desk across from her, a glass of whiskey in his hand. He was too relaxed, too in control, and that terrified her more than the ropes cutting into her skin.

“What the hell is this?” she demanded of course. 

“This,” he said smoothly, taking a slow sip, “is the beginning of your father’s downfall.”

Serena glared at him. “You think kidnapping me will break him? He doesn’t care about anything but power.”

Lucian’s smirk deepened. “That’s where you’re wrong, princess. Your father may not care about you, but he cares about what you represent.” He set his glass down and walked toward her, crouching so they were eye level. “You are his weakness. His only female, his perfect little doll. And I will use that to destroy him.”

She refused to let him see her fear as she spat on the floor. “If you think I’ll beg, you’re wasting your time.”

Lucian reached out, tracing a finger along her jaw. “Oh, I don’t need you to beg, Serena.” His voice was velvet and steel. “I just need you to break.”

She swallowed hard, her hands were already shaking but she hoped her eyes didn't give out any sort of fear refusing to let him see her tremble. But as his eyes burned into hers, she realized something terrifying. Although she was scared to death by this man, she still felt butterflies in her chest.