LUXURY PRISON

~~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 me. Debt paid in full.”

The words hit hard, but I forced my face to stay neutral. “You… you don’t have to remind me.”

For a moment, neither of us spoke.

Then his hand closed around mine. “Let’s go. You’ve wasted enough of my time already.”

Something in me snapped. I jerked my hand back. “Hey—are you deaf? I said I’m not going anywhere with you.”

He went completely still behind me. The sudden absence of movement terrified me more than anything else he had done.

Why did he react like that?

Before I could blink, cold metal pressed against my forehead.

My breath caught.

“Choose,” he said, voice now ice-cold. “You walk with me… or I kill you right here. With my bare hands if I have to. Trust me—I will.”

My heart slammed against my chest.

“I said I’m not—”

“Ten.”

“Seven.”

“I don’t care what you—”

“Three.”

Panic rushes through me.

“Two.”

“Okay!” I blurted out. “Okay… fine. I’ll go with you.”

The gun disappeared. His grip steadied again, almost gentle now, as if the last thirty seconds had never happened.

“Good girl,” he murmured. “Let’s go.”

He released my wrist and gestured toward a sleek black car idling at the mouth of the alley. I hesitated only a second before forcing my legs to move, ignoring the way my entire body screamed to run the other way.

The ride was silent, except for the faint hum of the engine.

I sat as far from him as the seat allowed, arms wrapped tightly around myself, staring out the window while city lights blurred past. My ankle still throbbed, but the pain felt distant compared to the storm in my chest.

“You know, you could’ve at least introduced yourself properly,” I said, voice tight. “Or… not threatened me with death?”

He glanced at me briefly. “Niccolò,” he said simply.

“What?”

“My name,” he replied calmly. “Consider it an introduction.”

I blinked, trying to process it. “Oh… right. Cool. Thanks for that, I guess?”

No reply.

I hated how small I sounded. I hated that I was trapped in this car with a man who could kill me and make it look easy.

“Don’t think this makes you some kind of hero,” I whispered, trying to sound braver than I felt. “I’m not impressed.”

“You should be.”

I snorted, gesturing at the gun. “Should I? Because last I checked, I’m following a man who could’ve killed me.”

He said nothing.

I stared out the window. Tears burned at the corners of my eyes, but I refused to let them fall.  

Fuck him.

The car slowed and turned into a long driveway. My stomach dropped as the massive mansion came into view—gleaming marble and glass, lit up like a nightmare I couldn’t wake from.

When we stopped, Niccolò stepped out first. I followed slowly, legs unsteady.

Maids and bodyguards straightened instantly, bowing their heads as we passed. The display made my skin crawl.

He glanced at me over his shoulder. “This is your home now.”

I blinked. “Excuse me?”

“You’ll get used to it,” he said, eyes sharp on mine. “They’re here to serve and protect you… and remember, I come first.” A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips, daring me to argue.

Before I could respond, he added, “I have something to take care of. Don’t wait up.”

I watched him walk away, his coat shifting with each step as he disappeared down the long corridor.

*Don’t wait up?*

As if I would.

A maid stepped forward cautiously. “Miss… your room is ready.”

I followed her through hallways that smelled of wealth and silence. When she opened the door, I nearly laughed.

The room was enormous, with soft lighting and a bed bigger than my entire old bedroom.

“Great,” I muttered. “Luxury prison.”

The maid stiffened. “Pardon?”

“Nothing. You can go.”

She left with a soft click of the door.

Silence settled.

I sat on the edge of the bed, staring at my hands. The word “sold” kept echoing in my head.

“No,” I whispered. “That’s not… that’s not real.”

Later, another maid knocked quietly. “Dinner is ready, ma’am.”

“I don’t want to eat.”

She hesitated. “The boss said we should make sure you eat.”

“What the hell is his problem?” I muttered.

Letting out a slow breath, I softened my tone. “It’s okay. I just don’t feel like eating right now. When Niccolò comes back, I’ll tell him myself.”

She nodded and left.

I lay back, exhaustion creeping in. I reached for my phone.

12:34 AM.

Of course.

I dropped it back beside me and closed my eyes anyway, forcing myself to try. Maybe if I just lay still long enough, my body would give up before my mind did.

Then a loud crash echoed somewhere in the mansion.

My eyes flew open. For a while, nothing happened.

My heart started to pick up, but I forced myself to breathe slowly. Maybe I imagined it. Buildings make noise.

Then—a gunshot tore through the silence.

Yeah. Definitely not it.