chapter 2

I tried to breathe, but the air felt thick and suffocating as the black SUV rolled through the gates. The car’s interior was cold, and the only warmth came from Anna, who was pressed tightly against me, still crying. Her tiny body shook, and all I could do was hold her close, stroking her hair to calm her down, though I was terrified too. My mind was racing—my heart pounding as the realization of what was happening hit me again. Millions. My father owed millions to a man whose name was whispered in fear across the city.

How the hell could he ever have come to owe that much?

I looked down at Anna, her wide, terrified eyes meeting mine, and I felt like I was about to break in half. My thoughts spiraled, each one darker than the last. Where would I even get that kind of money? A quick, desperate idea flashed through my head—maybe I could sell my organs. But no, that was insane. What would I even do? I didn’t have any way out of this.

There was only one thing I was sure of: I wasn’t going to let anything happen to Anna.

I held her tighter, feeling the weight of the moment settling on my shoulders like a boulder. I had to be strong. For her. For Dad. But what was I supposed to do now?

The SUV slowed, coming to a stop in front of a massive, imposing gate. My stomach turned as I glanced at the towering mansion beyond it. Moretti’s estate.

The gates swung open, and we were driven up a long, winding driveway, passing expensive cars parked along the front. I saw one woman, elegantly riding a horse as if she belonged in a movie scene, her red coat bright against the green lawn. The whole place screamed wealth—wealth I couldn’t even begin to comprehend.

The driver didn’t even look at us as he stopped the car in front of the massive marble steps leading into the mansion. I felt a cold shiver run down my spine.

"Stay close, Anna," I whispered, squeezing her hand as we were pulled out of the car. Her small body trembled next to mine. She was still so scared.

I didn’t blame her.

As we were led up the stairs into the house, every step felt heavier, the weight of what was about to happen pushing down on me. The mansion was everything you’d expect from a man like Alaric Moretti. Grand, polished marble floors reflected the golden chandeliers hanging from the high ceilings. The walls were lined with paintings of what looked like centuries-old portraits of stern-looking men in suits—probably ancestors of Alaric, reminding anyone who stepped in here that this house had a long, dark history.

I couldn’t look away from it. The grandeur only made everything worse. This was the kind of wealth that made people disappear. This was the kind of family that took what they wanted, no matter who got hurt in the process.

They led us down a long hallway and into a large office. The door opened with a creak that echoed through the silence of the house. As we stepped in, I froze.

Sitting behind a massive wooden desk was a man who exuded power, even in the stillness. His cold, sharp eyes locked onto mine immediately. And there it was again—the spark of recognition.

Alaric Moretti.

The name had always been a whisper of terror, a subject of gossip in dark corners. But seeing him in person was a whole different story. He was unreal. His face was handsome, chiseled in a way that made my heart skip a beat—angular jaw, high cheekbones, full lips that were twisted into an expression that could’ve been a smile or a threat. His dark hair was neatly styled, and there was a glimmer of silver in his eyes, like a storm waiting to break.

I was still holding Anna’s hand, but my grip tightened, not only to protect her but to steady myself. He looked like a man who didn’t know the meaning of mercy.

"Sit," he commanded, his voice cold, controlled, sending a shiver down my spine.

We both sat, but I couldn’t take my eyes off him. I was trying to ignore the sick feeling that gnawed at me, but it was impossible. He was a god—powerful, untouchable, and dangerous. And I had just pissed him off in a café, called him out like he was just any other guy.

"You seem to have a very… unique way of handling things, Miss Bennett," Alaric said, his voice cutting through the silence like a blade. His gaze never left mine. "You must realize, though, that your father’s debt—" he glanced at Jonas, who was barely holding it together "—is far more than a few numbers on a paper."

My heart thudded painfully in my chest as I watched my father tremble under Alaric’s gaze. He had no way to defend himself. He was sick, broken, and now, he was the one who had gotten us into this mess.

"Alaric, please," my father whispered, his voice cracked with fear. "Don’t harm them. I—"

"You should’ve thought of that before you got yourself in this position," Alaric interrupted. He leaned forward, his expression impassive as he studied my father like he was a bug pinned under a microscope. "You don’t have the money, Jonas. And I don’t take kindly to people who waste my time."

I could feel Anna’s body trembling beside me, her small hand clutching mine so tightly it hurt. She was scared—hell, we all were. But I couldn’t let Alaric know that.

"What do you want from us?" I demanded, my voice coming out stronger than I felt. I was pissed. Furious. But mostly, I was scared. Scared for Anna. Scared for Dad. Scared for my own survival.

Alaric’s silver-gray eyes slid from my father to me, then back again, his gaze lingering on me just long enough to make my stomach drop. "One of you will donate a lung and a substantial amount of blood to my girlfriend, Emma. She’s dying. Your father’s debt will be forgiven if one of you complies."

I wanted to throw up. "What?" I choked out, my voice trembling despite myself. "You want us to… to what? Give you a lung and blood?"

Alaric’s expression didn’t change. "I think you understand the situation perfectly well."

I stood up, shaking with fury. "I will not let you hurt her!" I pointed at Anna, who was still holding on to me like her life depended on it.

"I know you’re upset," Alaric said, standing up as well. His sheer height towered over me, making me feel smaller than I already did. "But this is your only option. Your father can’t help you he is sick. He doesn’t have the strength for this. You do."

I clenched my fists, trying to hold back the wave of panic that threatened to crash over me. But there was no way out. Then, a thought struck me—I could make this work. I had to.

"You want my lung and my blood?" I asked, my voice calmer now. "Then I’ll give them to you. But I have one condition."

Alaric’s eyes narrowed, his cold gaze fixed on me. "And what, pray tell, is that?"

"You marry me," I said, every word feeling like it burned my tongue. But I knew what I was doing. If I was going to save Anna, if I was going to save Dad, I had to make this work. And I wasn’t going to leave anything to chance.

Alaric’s expression darkened, his jaw tightening in irritation. "You have no right to make demands, Miss Bennett," he growled. "You’re in no position to negotiate."

I didn’t flinch. "Then kill us. If you don’t care about the deal, just kill us all." I saw the way his jaw clenched harder, but I held my ground. "Or… or you can marry me. Get a legal contract, secure my sister’s future, and make sure my father gets treatment. After that, divorce me. I don’t care. Just make sure you keep your word."

Alaric grabbed my chin suddenly, his fingers tightening around my jaw, forcing my face to tilt upward.

And then it happened.

A shock—sharp, like electricity—coursed through my skin where he touched me. It spread through my entire body, making me gasp in surprise. My heart pounded as I jerked back, but he held me there, his eyes burning into mine with an intensity that could’ve shattered me.

His lips parted slightly, and I heard it—low and guttural—a growl that made my chest tighten. I felt that spark, a dangerous, almost primal connection between us.

And then, just as quickly as it happened, he let go of me, stepping back with a look of disgust.

"You’re playing a dangerous game," he said, his voice cold as ice.

I swallowed hard, trying to ignore the electric pull between us. "I’m not playing," I said, forcing myself to sound strong. "This is the only way. You want your lung and blood? Then we have a deal."

Alaric narrowed his eyes. For a moment, I thought he might just end us right there. But then he nodded sharply to his men.

And just like that, we were being dragged away.

I glanced at Anna. She was still clutching my hand, her face pale with fear, and I felt a pang of guilt deep in my chest.What I had done was extremely crazy but at least for now, we were still alive.