The Devil's Rules

Elena's POV

"Wife?" I repeated with raised brows. Did he actually say wife, or had I misheard him? No I hadn't, he had indeed said wide, because he raised a brow questioning if I wanted to oppose his words.

His dark eyes stared into mine, so fiercely I felt like I was about to drown in them. But Sailor's words echoed in my head "keep your chin up" but all I wanted was to scream. How did I even end up here? One second I was the daughter of one of the most renowned mafia leaders, and in the next I had been sold like a cheap commodity.

Carlos picked up the contract, flipping to the first page with deliberate care. "Rule One," he began, as if he were reading the morning news. "You will sleep in my bed every night. No exceptions. No separate rooms. No locking doors."

I gripped the edge of the table until my knuckles whitened. The image of waking up beside him again—naked, vulnerable, sent unwanted heat crawling up my neck. I hated how my body remembered the warmth of his skin even though my mind screamed no. I stared at him again, imagining his naked body under his clothes. How he would feel, his biceps, his abs—

"Rule Two," His voice called me back to reality. "You will appear as my devoted wife at every public event. Smile. Laugh at my jokes. Let me touch you in front of my men. The world must believe this is real."

Devoted. The word tasted like poison. I opened my mouth, but he raised one finger, silencing me without even looking up.

"Rule Three: No contact with your father or anyone from your old life. Phones, letters, messages—none. If I catch you trying, the consequences will be… permanent."

My breath hitched. Papa. The man who had sold me. Part of me still ached for him, the idiot, traitorous part that remembered bedtime stories and promises. I bit my lip hard enough to taste blood.

I wanted to call him, no, I wanted to meet him and ask him face to face. Why?! Why did he sell me off? Had I done something wrong? Was it for my own safety? There was a reason, a motive, when it came to the mafia, plus the fact that I didn't want to completely hate my father. I still cared for him, he'd taken care of me when Mama died. He'd played both roles, and he'd played them perfectly.

Carlos continued, his tone never wavering. "Rule Four: You will dress, speak, and behave only as I approve. The clothes I choose. The words I allow. No sarcasm in public. No defiance in front of my associates."

I couldn't hold it in anymore. "This is disgusting," I spat, my voice cracking. "You're treating me like a doll you can pose and play with."

He finally lifted his gaze, dark eyes steady on mine. No anger. Just that chilling patience, like he had all the time in the world to break me. "Disgusting or not, Elena, these are the terms. You signed your life away the moment your father handed you over. Interrupt again without permission and we'll add a new rule right now."

I clamped my mouth shut, but my glare could have burned holes through him.

"Rule Five: You will accompany me on all business trips. You will stay by my side, silent unless spoken to. You will never question my decisions in front of others."

He read on, each rule landing like another chain around my wrists.

"Rule Six: Your body is mine to protect and to possess. No one else touches you. Ever. If any man so much as looks at you too long, I will remove his eyes."

My skin prickled. The possessiveness in his voice should have terrified me, and it did. But there was something darker underneath, something that made my pulse stutter in a way I refused to name.

"Rule Seven: You will learn the ways of my world. Shooting lessons start next week. Self-defense the week after. I won't have a weak wife."

That one surprised me. I had expected chains and cages, not weapons in my hands. But then he kept going.

"Rule Eight: You will never lie to me. If you do, I'll know. And the punishment will make you wish you'd never been born."

"Rule Nine: In private, you may speak freely, within reason. But remember, every word has consequences."

He paused before the last one, and I felt the air thicken between us. His eyes flicked up again, holding mine captive.

"Rule Ten: Intimacy will be on my terms. When you beg for it. When you're ready to admit you want it. Until then, I wait. But make no mistake, Elena, you will come to me eventually."

Heat flooded my face, a treacherous mix of fury and something far more dangerous. Beg? The thought of whispering those words to him, of letting those strong hands—

"Disgusting," I whispered again, louder this time. "Why call me your wife when you clearly want a whore?"

Carlos set the contract down slowly. For the first time, the corner of his mouth twitched, almost a smile. "Because a whore is temporary. A wife is forever. And you, Elena, are mine forever." He slid the papers across the table until they rested in front of me, along with a sleek black pen. "Now initial every page. In front of me. No skipping."

My hand shook as I picked up the pen. Page after page, I scratched my initials E.B. while he watched, silent and unblinking. Each stroke felt like signing away another piece of my soul. When I reached the final page, my eyes blurred with angry tears I refused to let fall.

He leaned back in his chair, perfectly at ease, the sea sparkling behind him like nothing was wrong with the world.

"Now sign at the bottom," he said softly, "or I'll call your father right now and let you watch what happens when debts aren't paid."

The pen hovered over the dotted line. My heart thundered so loudly I was sure he could hear it. One signature and I became the Devil's wife in every legal and illegal way that mattered. One refusal and Papa could pay with his life.

I stared at Carlos, at the faint red mark I'd left on his face, at the man who had bought me for one hundred million dollars and now wanted to own me completely. I considered being stubborn, fighting him and doing something stupid. But I knew I wouldn't be helping my case one bit.

My hand moved. The pen touched the paper, and I felt the last bit of my freedom slipping away. Signing this meant I was completely surrendering to him, I knew that, but there wasn't much I could do. Closing my eyes, I scribbled the letters down before sliding everything back to him. The deal was done, I completely belonged to the Devil now.