Chapter 2

CHAPTER TWO

Slowly, she opened her eyes.

Her head still throbbed from whatever they had forced her to inhale.

She rubbed her eyes before carefully sitting up, her gaze sweeping across the unfamiliar room.

The walls were painted navy blue, and on the right side was another door, which she assumed led to a bathroom.

She wanted to get out of bed, but her body felt incredibly weak, as though every ounce of strength had been drained from her.

Where am I?

Where did those men bring me?

She let out a shaky sigh and forced herself to move her legs.

She had to get out.

She had to escape.

Using what little strength she had left, she tried to climb off the bed.

But the moment her feet touched the floor, her knees gave way.

"Ah!"

She fell hard onto the tiled floor, landing painfully on her backside.

A painful groan escaped her lips as tears welled in her eyes.

She remained lying there, trying to recover, when she heard footsteps approaching.

Then came the metallic clinking of what sounded like chains.

The bedroom door opened...

...and closed again.

She didn't bother opening her eyes.

The pain from the fall was still too much.

The footsteps grew closer until they stopped right beside her.

She stayed perfectly still.

Not until a deep baritone voice broke the silence.

"Get up."

Her eyes flew open.

The moment their gazes met, she forgot how to breathe.

She couldn't look away.

Those mesmerizing black eyes held her captive.

She swallowed hard as she took in his handsome features.

A pair of piercing dark eyes.

A perfectly sculpted nose.

Thin lips curved into the faintest smirk.

For a moment...

She couldn't speak.

Her tongue refused to move.

He crossed his arms over his chest, the smirk never leaving his face.

"I said... G-E-T U-P."

"Are you deaf?"

Even his voice sounded strangely hypnotic.

She stared into his cold eyes.

There wasn't a single emotion reflected in them.

They were icy...

Yet impossible to ignore.

Without warning, he bent down and grabbed her firmly by the arm, pulling her to her feet.

She winced.

"Ouch!"

His grip was painfully tight, and every movement sent sharp aches through her body.

But he paid no attention to her cries.

He forced her upright before dropping her back onto the bed.

She grimaced in pain.

Holding her sore wrist, she looked up at him.

He was still watching her with that same unreadable expression.

His cold gaze sent chills down her spine.

"Don't even think about escaping," he warned.

She met his eyes without flinching.

"My parents will come looking for me," she said firmly.

One of his eyebrows lifted.

A mocking smile appeared on his lips.

"Why would they?"

"They already know you're here."

Her heart pounded.

So it was him.

The man her parents owed.

"Let's talk about this," she pleaded, softening her voice. "If it's money you want, I'll pay you back somehow. Just... let me go."

His smile widened.

Instead of answering, he slowly stepped closer.

He stopped beside the bed, resting both hands on either side of her.

She instinctively held her breath as their faces drew dangerously close.

Her mind screamed at her to push him away.

But she couldn't move.

Those dark eyes held her frozen.

"I don't need your money," he murmured.

"I already have plenty."

His gaze drifted to her trembling lips before returning to her eyes.

"Instead..."

"I want you."

She didn't get the chance to answer.

He suddenly closed the distance between them and kissed her.

Startled, she shoved against his chest.

He barely moved.

With effortless strength, he caught both of her wrists and pinned them against the mattress.

She struggled, but he was far stronger.

The kiss deepened, leaving her unable to think clearly.

When he finally pulled away, she gasped for air.

He leaned close once more, his lips brushing against her ear.

"You will be my slave."

His voice was calm.

Almost emotionless.

Yet every word carried the weight of a command.

She stared at him, fear and defiance battling within her.

This nightmare...

Had only just begun.