Chapter 8

• Frankie, a preschool teacher with a quiet and predictable life, is suddenly thrust into a dangerous world when she is kidnapped by Rafael, the ruthless and deeply troubled head of the notorious Gomez family. Rafael is seeking revenge against her brother-in-law, Thomas, but is also haunted by a traumatic past that has left him convinced he is cursed to lose everyone he loves.
• Frankie offers herself to Rafael in a desperate bid to protect her sister, Melina, from becoming collateral damage in his war against Thomas. Though Rafael initially refuses, the idea of controlling someone as innocent as Frankie appeals to his darker instincts, leading him to accept her offer.
• Their relationship begins as a BDSM arrangement, where Frankie unexpectedly finds herself drawn to the submissive role, discovering a side of herself she never knew existed. Rafael, too, enjoys their dynamic, but the situation becomes complicated when other men in his circle start showing interest in Frankie. His unexplained jealousy marks the beginning of a slow but intense transformation in Rafael, as he starts to view Frankie not just as a possession, but as someone he might actually care about.