CHAPTER FOUR: THE PRICE OF DEFIANCE

I couldn't believe I was standing so close to the most dangerous and ruthless mafia boss in New York.

And the worst part?

He had just called me his Doll.

My heart was beating so fast that I wondered if he could hear it. His beautiful green eyes remained fixed on mine, and for some strange reason, butterflies were dancing in my stomach.

Was I really that beautiful?

Had I somehow captured the attention of the Almighty Bryan De Luca?

Or was he simply playing with my feelings?

"You are my Doll, Carla Mayday," he repeated, his deep voice sending another strange sensation through my body.

I swallowed nervously.

"I'm not your Doll, Mr. De Luca."

His lips curved into a small smile.

"And since you already knew I was Mr. John's daughter, why did you insist that he shoot me?"

Bryan tilted his head, looking almost surprised by my question.

"Doll, I would never allow your father to shoot you."

He said it so innocently that I almost believed him.

For a moment, I wondered whether Bryan De Luca had a twin brother.

Because the man standing before me looked nothing like the ruthless monster everyone feared.

With those beautiful eyes and that innocent expression, someone might actually believe he couldn't hurt a fly.

But I had seen the gun.

I had heard his threats.

And I wasn't stupid enough to forget them simply because he was handsome.

"Then why did you threaten him?" I asked.

Bryan shrugged.

"Your father lied to me."

"That's not a good reason to threaten someone's life!"

He smiled again, as though my anger amused him.

"You're quite brave, Doll."

"Stop calling me that!"

Instead of becoming angry, he stepped closer.

"The moment you walked through that door, you became my Doll."

His voice was calm, but there was something frightening about the way he said those words.

As though he had already made a decision about my life without asking me.

I opened my mouth to argue, but my father's trembling voice interrupted us.

"Mr. De Luca, please don't harm my daughter. I'm sorry for lying to you."

Bryan's smile disappeared.

He slowly turned toward my father.

"You lied to me, John."

"Please, sir. I was only trying to protect her."

"Protect her from me?"

My father lowered his head.

"I'm sorry."

For a few seconds, nobody spoke.

Then Bryan reached for his gun.

Before I could understand what was happening, a deafening sound echoed through the living room.

BANG!

"AAAAHHH!"

My father's painful scream shattered the silence.

I turned around.

And my entire world collapsed.

"DAD!"

He had fallen to the floor, clutching his bleeding leg.

Blood was spreading across the expensive marble tiles.

For a moment, I couldn't move.

My brain refused to understand what my eyes were seeing.

Bryan had shot my father.

Right in front of me.

The same man who had been smiling innocently a few seconds earlier had just pulled the trigger without hesitation.

"I would never hurt my Doll," Bryan said coldly. "But your father lied to me, and he must pay for his sins."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing.

Was this man completely insane?

"NOOOOO!"

I rushed toward my father and dropped to my knees beside him.

"Dad! Dad, please look at me!"

He groaned, pressing his hand against the wound.

"I'm fine, Carla."

"Fine?" I cried. "You're bleeding!"

My hands trembled as I tried to stop the blood with a piece of cloth my nanny hurriedly brought.

"Dad, please don't die. Please!"

My nanny was crying uncontrollably.

"Mr. De Luca, please! He needs a doctor!"

But Bryan remained standing, watching us without showing the slightest regret.

Something inside me snapped.

I slowly raised my head and looked at him.

My fear disappeared beneath a wave of anger.

How dare he?

How dare this monster enter our home and treat my father like an animal?

I stood up.

"Carla, don't," my father whispered weakly.

But I wasn't listening.

I marched toward Bryan, my fists clenched and my entire body trembling.

He watched me approach with a curious expression.

Before anyone could stop me, I raised my hand.

SLAP!

The sound echoed through the living room.

Silence.

Complete silence.

Bryan's face turned slightly from the impact.

His guards immediately moved forward, but he raised one hand, ordering them to stop.

My nanny gasped.

My father's eyes widened in horror.

And I?

I suddenly realized what I had done.

Oh, my goodness!

Carla Mayday, what have you just done?

I had slapped Bryan De Luca.

The most dangerous mafia boss in New York.

The man who could probably end my life with a single command.

My heart almost stopped beating.

But I refused to show him how frightened I was.

"How dare you, Bryan De Luca!" I shouted.

His green eyes slowly returned to mine.

"You can be the most dangerous and ruthless mafia boss in the world, but guess what? I don't care!"

My voice shook, but I continued.

"The moment you stepped into my father's house, you should have left your stupid rules and arrogance outside!"

Nobody dared breathe.

Bryan touched his cheek.

Then he looked at me.

"You slapped me, Doll?"

His voice was frighteningly calm.

Too calm.

I suddenly wished I could disappear.

Maybe I should apologize.

Maybe I should beg him not to kill me.

But another glance at my bleeding father strengthened my anger.

"Yes, I slapped you!" I replied.

"And what are you going to do about it?"

Bryan raised an eyebrow.

"You came here to sign a business contract, and you shot my father simply because he lied about knowing me!"

I pointed toward the floor.

"Look at him! He's bleeding because of you!"

Bryan remained silent.

"What kind of normal human being shoots someone over a lie?"

"Carla, please!" my father cried.

I turned toward him.

"Mr. De Luca, forgive my daughter," Dad pleaded. "She's just a child. She doesn't understand what she's doing."

"Dad, stop apologizing!"

My father stared at me helplessly.

"Carla!"

"No, Dad! He should be the one apologizing, not you!"

Bryan suddenly chuckled.

I turned back toward him.

What was funny?

He had shot my father, threatened my family, and now he was laughing?

"My Doll has grown into quite a strong and feisty young woman."

I blinked in disbelief.

Was he seriously complimenting me?

"Believe me, Doll," he continued, smiling possessively, "I love this new side of you."

I stared at him.

This man needed help.

Serious help.

"Stop calling me Doll!" I snapped.

"My name is Carla Mayday. I'm a human being, not some toy you can claim whenever you like!"

Bryan's smile widened.

"You're adorable when you're angry."

I almost screamed.

Was he even listening?

Instead of answering me, Bryan turned toward my father.

"John Mayday, let's continue our business."

My mouth fell open.

Business?

My father was bleeding on the floor, and this monster wanted to discuss business?

"Do you still need the contract?" Bryan asked casually.

I looked at Dad, expecting him to refuse.

Surely, no business agreement was worth his life.

But my father lowered his head.

"Yes, Mr. De Luca. I need the contract."

My heart sank.

"And I'm sorry for my daughter's behaviour."

"Dad!" I cried.

How could he still want that stupid contract?

"You're putting your life at risk because of some business deal! Why do you need to sign anything with this monster?"

My father looked away.

"Carla, please be quiet."

Tears filled my eyes again.

I couldn't understand any of this.

Why was Dad so desperate?

What could Bryan possibly offer him that was worth enduring such humiliation?

"Stop crying, Doll."

I turned toward Bryan.

His expression had changed.

"I don't like seeing tears in your eyes."

I stared at him in disbelief.

He had caused everything, yet he was ordering me not to cry.

"I won't stop crying!" I shouted.

"They're my tears, not yours, Bryan De Luca!"

His jaw tightened.

"Doll, I'm warning you."

"I don't care!"

The next second, another gunshot exploded through the room.

BANG!

"AAAAHHH!"

My father's scream made my blood run cold.

I spun around.

"DAD!"

He was clutching his other wounded leg, his face twisted in unbearable pain.

Fresh blood stained the marble floor.

I couldn't breathe.

Bryan had shot him again.

Because of me.

Because I refused to stop crying.

I looked at Bryan, horrified.

He lowered his gun without the slightest emotion.

"The next time you disobey me, Doll, it'll be his head."

My lips trembled.

Was he even human?

How could someone be this cruel?

"Stop crying," he ordered. "You don't want to see your father's head rolling across the floor."

I stared into his beautiful green eyes.

Earlier, I had seen charm and innocence.

Now, all I could see was obsession.

Possession.

And a terrifying determination to control everything around him.

"I'm waiting, Doll. Wipe those precious tears."

I tried.

I really tried.

But the tears wouldn't stop.

My father was lying in a pool of his own blood.

My nanny was trembling uncontrollably.

And the man responsible was threatening to kill him if I cried.

How was I supposed to stop?

"Carla, wipe your tears," Dad whispered painfully.

"Dad, I can't."

Bryan sighed.

"I'll count to five, Doll."

My stomach tightened.

"If you're still crying when I finish, you'll be holding your father's head."

"No, please!"

"One."

I wiped my cheeks desperately.

"Two."

More tears fell.

"Three."

"Clean your tears, Carla!" my father shouted.

His voice was filled with pain and terror.

"I'm trying, Dad!"

"Then try harder!"

I rubbed my eyes with both hands.

But the more I tried to stop, the harder I cried.

"Please, Mr. De Luca," my nanny sobbed. "She's frightened. Please have mercy."

Bryan ignored her.

"Stop shouting at my Doll, John."

He glanced at me again.

"Now, where were we?"

My heart pounded.

"Oh, yes. I was counting."

"Please, Bryan," I whispered.

For the first time, I called him by his first name without anger.

"Please don't kill my dad."

He looked at me for a moment.

Then his expression turned cold.

"Four."

I shook my head desperately.

"No, please!"

"Five."

Bryan raised his gun.

"I gave you enough time, Doll."

I opened my mouth to scream.

But it was too late.

BANG!

He pulled the trigger.

And at that very moment, I felt my soul leave my body.