All Chapters of His Arranged Protection: Chapter 1 - Chapter 6

~~LENA~~“He’s coming today,” my stepmother said.I froze in the middle of the hallway, still wearing yesterday’s clothes. “What?”“Yes, Lena, you heard me right. He’s coming today.” She turned me toward my bedroom door. “So go get dressed. Something tight. Show your curves. Make sure he likes what he sees.”I spun back to face her. “Why do I need to look good for… him?”She rolled her eyes, already walking away. "Don't you want him to like you? We only get one chance to make a good impression, Lena. Don’t ruin this for us.”My chest thudded painfully as I shut the bedroom door behind me and leaned against it, trying to breathe. This couldn’t be happening. Last night I’d overheard my father quietly agreeing to something, a deal, a marriage, whatever it was but I never thought it would move this fast. Today? Now?I searched through my drawers, tossing clothes onto the bed—everything I could grab quickly.Then a screech of tires made my stomach drop.He’s already here? What is this, a s

~~LENA~~I was completely fucked.My hands shook as I pressed my back harder against the man behind me, my heart beating wildly.“Who… who are you?” I whispered, my voice barely holding together.A low, calm voice brushed against my ear, sending ice down my spine. “Someone who should never have been left waiting.”I froze. There was no threat in his tone, only control.“W-What do you want from me?”“I’ve already told your parents what I want.” He tilted his head slightly, his breath warm against my skin. “You. Whether you like it or not.”The irony wasn’t lost on me—not with the echo of the gunshot still ringing in my ears, blood spreading across the pavement, and him holding me like I belonged there.I took a small breath and tried to step away. For a second, he let me.Then—“You’re going with me.”I shook my head. “No.”His hand tightened.“I’m not going anywhere with you.”“You’re mine now.” His voice was calm, almost gentle, which somehow made it worse. “Your parents sold you to

~~ NICCOLÒ~~My fingers tightened around the folder until the edges bit into my palm. The paper creased under the pressure, but I barely felt it.For a moment I just stood there, staring at the closed door.“I’d rather die than marry you.”She had no idea how dangerous those words were in my world. Most people who spoke to me like that didn't live long enough to regret it. Yet something about her defiance stuck to me.Before I could shove the thoughts aside, the door opened again with a soft click.“Boss.”Matteo stepped in, his expression grim as he closed the door with a quiet click I felt more than heard.I tossed the folder onto the table. The sharp slap cut through the room. “How the fuck did they find out about her?”Matteo shut the door fully. “There’s no way they should’ve known this fast. Not unless someone inside talked.”“Within,” I finished for him.He nodded once.I leaned back in the leather chair, forcing a slow breath through my nose. Control. Always control.Panic was