Chapter 5

ELENA

If I had thought seeing Luca was over for the day, I had been sorely mistaken because just as I had prepared to lay down and rest my sore muscles, a servant knocked on my door, informing me that Luca had asked to see me in his study.

Talk of bad timing.

I stood in the huge study, ignoring how massive it was and focused on the man in front of me. Arms crossed, I watched Luca move with calculated ease. He removed his jacket, unbuttoning his cuffs as he turned to me with a cold smirk.

“There are rules in my house, Elena,” he said, his voice calm but firm. “You will follow them.”

I arched a brow, refusing to show fear. Rules? Of course, a man like Luca had rules in his house. “I’m not your slave.”

His smirk deepened. “You’re my wife. That means you belong to me in every way that matters.”

My jaw tightened, but I remained silent. I had to pick my battles.

“First rule,” Luca continued, stepping closer. Yeah, he had to come into my space again. “You will respect my authority. I will not tolerate disobedience.” Oh, I had heard that one over and over again.

I lifted my chin. “And if I do?”

His blue eyes darkened. “You won’t.”

A shiver ran down my spine, but I refused to look away.

“Second,” he said, walking past me, “you do not leave this house without my permission. Your safety is my concern, whether you like it or not.”

My hands curled into fists. Who did he think he was to dictate how I moved? I was his wife, not his paid servant.

Luca continued. “Third, do not meddle in my business. What I do, who I deal with. It is not your concern.”

I scoffed. “I wasn’t planning on it.” I had already had enough of that with my father.

He turned back to me, his expression unreadable. “Good. Then this should be easy.”

“Fourth,” he continued, his tone becoming icier, “you will be present at all family events. Whether it’s a dinner, a gathering, or a meeting, you will attend. No arguments.”

I narrowed my eyes. “Why? To play the perfect wife?”

“To show respect,” Luca corrected smoothly. “And to remind everyone exactly who you belong to.”

I clenched my teeth but said nothing.

Was I nothing more than a mere trophy to him? It was always about me belonging to him!

“Fifth, you will not embarrass me or our union in public. If you have grievances, we handle them privately.”

I let out a bitter laugh. “Because appearances are everything, right?”

“In this world, yes.”

I shook my head, hating how logical his words were.

“Sixth, if you have an issue, you come to me first. I don’t want you running to anyone else, thinking you’ll find sympathy. Not even Don Alberto.”

My stomach twisted. “But he is my father?” Not like I had forgiven the man who had used me as a pawn in business, but still…

Luca exhaled, stepping closer until he was mere inches away. “You have me.”

I met his gaze, searching for mockery, but found nothing. I couldn't help but feel uneasy.

“Seventh, my bedroom is always open to you. But yours is yours, for now. Don’t mistake my patience for weakness.”

My breath hitched, but I kept my expression blank. I wouldn’t let him see how that rule affected me.

Did that mean we wouldn't be sharing a bedroom throughout our marriage? It was at the tip of my tongue to ask, but I reined it in.

Some things were best left unsaid.

“Eighth,” he went on, his voice turning darker, “you do not lie to me. I don’t care what it’s about. One lie, and there will be consequences.”

I swallowed but held his gaze. “And what happens if I do?”

I wasn't sure why or how I kept talking back to him when the man scared the hell out of me. But something in the way he spoke and made me feel just elicited this deep irritation in me that caused my tongue to grow loose. And the fact that it clearly infuriated him made me reel with joy inside.

He leaned in slightly, his voice dropping to a near whisper. “Don’t make me find out.”

Okay, maybe I needed to calm down a little and not provoke him further.

A tense silence stretched between us before he continued.

“Ninth, you will not try to escape. There is nowhere you can go where I won’t find you.”

A lump formed in my throat. “I wouldn’t give you the satisfaction.” So many fucking rules. Maybe I should have brought a damn pen and paper to remember all of them.

But I had the sinking feeling that I wasn't going to forget a single one.

Luca smirked, clearly amused by my fire. “Good.”

Then his expression turned serious. “Tenth and final rule, Elena.” He paused, looking straight at me. If only he was not the next thing to a fucking grenade, I would have said his eyes were beautiful.

The thought made me blink and try to look away, but Luca held my gaze, pinning me to the spot as I awaited his last rule. “No one touches what’s mine.”

A chill ran down my spine as I processed his words.

His gaze continued to hold mine, his meaning unmistakable. “That includes you. No one else lays a hand on you. Not a friend, not an enemy, not anyone. Understand?”

My breath became shallow. The possessiveness in his voice rattled me more than I wanted to admit. I hated how a part of me burned at the intensity of his words.

I wanted to talk back. Wanted to say something defiant to rile him up. He couldn't win just like that.

But words failed me.

In that moment, with us looking straight at each other, something seemed to give, and it was coming from me.

Luca said nothing, as if waiting for me to strike back, but I just couldn't do it.

In that moment, I knew, then and there, that he had power over me. He had won, and he knew it because a smirk tugged on his lips.

I forced myself to nod. “I understand.”

Luca studied me for a moment before stepping back, satisfied. “Good. Now, get some rest. Tomorrow, your life as my wife truly begins.”

With that, he turned and left the room, leaving me standing there, heart pounding, a mixture of rage and something far more dangerous coursing through my veins.

How had I landed in this situation?

Why did it feel like my life had just become a living hell, and this was just the beginning?

Every single one of Luca's ten rules played in my head, imprinting themselves permanently in my brain. And they mocked me. Each one of them.

I was his.

His for the taking.

His to do whatever it was he wished to do.

Just how had I gone and gotten myself into this mess?

A small laugh that had nothing to with that of amusement came out of my lips. I couldn't help it. Just a few days ago, I was literally plannig how my life would go, and now this?

Who did he even think he was? 

Rules my ass.