Five

Chapter Five

*Aryn*

I woke to find myself sprawled out on the bed, the silk robe tangled around my legs, leaving far too much skin exposed. The cool air brushed against my bare thighs, and I bolted upright, panic tightening in my chest.

What the.....

The events of the night before crashed over me like a tidal wave, and I shivered despite the warmth of the room. I quickly pulled the robe tighter around me, my heart pounding as the door swung open without warning.

He stepped in.

The man who had turned my life upside down in the span of a single night. Tall, devastatingly handsome, and exuding an authority that made the air in the room feel heavier. His golden eyes locked onto me, glinting with something I didn't want to understand.

“If I wanted to have my way with you,” he said, his voice as smooth as silk and twice as deadly, “I would have. You were sprawled out like a fucking offering.”

Heat rushed to my face, and I scrambled to cover myself more thoroughly, trying to move quietly to one side of the room. I wanted to get of there but I didn't want to provoke him.

A smirk tugged at his lips, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “Apologies for my reckless behavior last night. I’m Lorenzo De Luca. Boss of the Deluca family.

Lorenzo. The name rang out like a warning bell, a title whispered in fear and reverence.

He moved closer, his steps deliberate and unhurried, like a predator stalking its prey. I shrank back, pressing myself against the headboard as if the wooden frame could somehow protect me.

“Relax,” he murmured, sitting on the edge of the bed. His proximity sent a shiver down my spine.

I flinched when his hand reached out, but all he did was tuck a strand of hair behind my ear. The gesture was almost… gentle.

“You look like someone I once knew,” he said, his tone softer now. “But you’re nothing like her. You couldn’t be more opposite.”

The way he said it made my skin crawl, as though I was some replacement for someone else. I didn't even want to be here.

Before I could respond, he did something unexpected. He climbed the bed and rested his head on my lap. My breath caught, and I froze, unsure whether to shove him off or stay perfectly still.

“My family,” he began, his voice low and tired, “thinks it’s time I settle down. Get married. Have an heir.” He let out a humorless chuckle. “But finding a woman who won’t betray me? That’s harder than fighting my way through an enemy family alone.”

I didn’t dare move, my hands balled into fists at my sides.

He tilted his head up to look at me, and for a brief moment, I thought I saw something vulnerable in his golden eyes. Then he smiled—a sharp, predatory smile that made my blood run cold.

“And that’s where you come in.”

“What?” I croaked, my voice barely above a whisper.

“You’re going to marry me,” he said simply, as if he were announcing the weather.

My stomach dropped.

“What. ..what do you mean?” I blurted, the words spilling out before I could stop myself.

He raised his head, standing to his full, imposing height. “It’s not a request, Aryn. It’s either that, or…” He let the sentence hang, a cruel smirk tugging at his lips.

“Or what?” I whispered, though I wasn’t sure I wanted to know the answer.

“Or you can find work on your back,” he said coldly. “The choice is yours.”

My body stiffened, rage and fear warring within me.

“We’ll be married in two weeks,” he continued, ignoring my silent fury.

He leaned down, pressing a kiss to my forehead. I flinched, the contact burning like a brand.

“Try to look happy about it,” he murmured before turning and walking out of the room, leaving me trembling in his wake.

The moment the door clicked shut, I let out a shaky breath, my face stiffening in its usual cold mask.

Fuck.

I glanced at the corner of the room where the bedside phone was, taking the risk. I snatched it up, dialing the only number I could call right now.

The line buzzed before a familiar voice answered.

“Everything’s going according to plan,” I said quietly, pacing the room. My voice was steady, but my hands shook. “But fuck, I’m so tired of playing the weak, helpless girl.”

A low chuckle came through the line. “You’re doing great, Aryn. Just a little longer.”

I closed my eyes, my jaw tightening. “I am only here to find out who killed Arya. And when I do…”

The image of Lorenzo’s smirk flashed in my mind, and I clenched my fist.

“I’m going to kill Lorenzo De Luca myself.”