Brother's Warning

Sera's POV 

I snatched my phone back from Kaelan the second he tossed it aside, my hands still shaking from everything he had just done to me. “You had no right to hang up on him,” I snapped, stepping away from the couch. “That’s my brother. He’s worried sick about me.”

Kaelan’s eyes narrowed as he pulled up his pants. “And you think telling him you’re spreading your legs for me is going to make him feel better? Use your head, Seraphina.”

The words stung. I wrapped the sheet tighter around my body and backed toward the hallway. “I need to call him back. He’ll do something stupid if I don’t.”

Before Kaelan could stop me, I slipped into the bathroom and locked the door. My heart was pounding so hard I felt dizzy. I sat on the edge of the tub and dialed Marcus with trembling fingers.

He picked up on the first ring. “Sera? What the fuck is going on? Why did some guy hang up on me?”

I closed my eyes and tried to keep my voice steady. “I’m okay. The debt is gone. That’s all that matters right now.”

“Bullshit,” Marcus growled. “I can hear it in your voice. You sound scared. Did you go to the Voss people? Tell me the truth. If that bastard Kaelan Voss has you somewhere I swear I’ll burn his whole fucking empire down to get you out.”

Guilt hit me like a truck. I pressed my forehead against my knees. “Marcus, please. Just trust me. I did what I had to do. Mom gets to keep the house. The firm is safe. That’s what we wanted.”

He wasn’t buying it. “You’re with him, aren’t you? That’s why you’re talking like this. Sera, listen to me. Those people are dangerous. Dad tried to warn us. If you’re trapped with Kaelan Voss right now, give me the address. I’m coming to get you. I don’t care what deal you made.”

Tears burned in my eyes. I wanted to tell him everything. I wanted to beg him to come save me from this nightmare. But I knew what would happen if I did. The debt would come back. Mom would lose the house. Everything would fall apart again.

“I’m handling it,” I whispered. “Please, just give me time.”

The bathroom door handle rattled hard. Kaelan’s voice came through loud and angry. “Open the door, Seraphina. Now.”

Marcus heard it. “Who the hell is that? Is that him? Sera, answer me!”

Kaelan banged on the door again. “If you don’t open this door I’ll break it down.”

I ended the call quickly and unlocked the door. Kaelan pushed it open immediately, his face dark with fury. He grabbed my arm and pulled me out of the bathroom.

“You think you can hide in there and spill everything to your brother?” he demanded, backing me against the wall in the hallway. “You signed the contract. That means you keep your mouth shut about what happens here.”

I shoved at his chest, but he didn’t budge. “He’s my family. I can’t just disappear and expect him not to look for me.”

Kaelan’s hand came up to grip my chin. “Your family is the reason you’re here. Remember that.”

He kissed me hard, punishing, like he was trying to remind me who I belonged to now. I tried to turn my head away but he held me in place. The kiss turned rougher. His hands moved down, yanking the sheet off me completely. I was naked again in seconds.

He lifted me up and carried me to the living room couch. He bent me over the armrest and kicked my legs apart. Without any warning he thrust into me from behind, hard and deep.

“You don’t talk to him about us,” he growled with every thrust. “You don’t explain yourself. You belong to me for this year.”

I moaned despite myself, gripping the couch as he fucked me. The angle was brutal. Every stroke hit deep. Shame and pleasure mixed together until I couldn’t tell which was stronger. He reached around and rubbed my clit roughly, pushing me closer to the edge.

“Say it,” he demanded, slapping my ass hard.

“I belong to you,” I gasped, tears running down my face as I came hard around him.

Kaelan groaned and finished inside me, pressing his body against my back. For a moment we just stayed there, breathing together.

Then his phone started ringing from the other room. He pulled out of me and went to answer it. I stayed bent over the couch, trying to catch my breath, feeling completely used.

Kaelan came back a minute later, his face serious. “Security just alerted me. That suspicious vehicle is back. They tried to access the private elevator this time.”

I straightened up slowly, my legs still shaky. “Because of me?”

He nodded. “They see you as my weakness now. Bringing you here put a target on your back.”

I stared at him, heart racing. My brother was probably already on his way. Liora was coming to confront him. And now dangerous people were outside watching the building because of me.

I had signed that contract to save my family.

But every day in this penthouse made me feel like I was only dragging them deeper into danger with me.

Kaelan pulled me against his chest, his hand stroking my hair almost gently. “You’re not leaving this penthouse until I say so.”

I closed my eyes, tears slipping down my cheeks.

This wasn’t just a year of repayment anymore.

This was quickly turning into a cage I might never escape.