Chapter 6

• Chapter 6: The Contract of Ownership
• Elena sat frozen, her hands still stained with blood.
• Her mind refused to process what had just happened. The gunshot still rang in her ears, and the weight of the pistol lingered on her fingers, even though it had long since slipped from her grasp.
• She had done it.
• She had pulled the trigger.
• Killed a man.
• The world around her felt distant, like she was drowning in thick, suffocating silence.
• A warm hand touched her chin, lifting her gaze.
• Alessio.
• His dark eyes studied her, unreadable. He looked neither pleased nor disappointed. Just… patient.
• “You did well,” he murmured.
• Elena flinched as if he had struck her.
• Gabriel crouched beside her, his golden-brown eyes gleaming with amusement. “I have to admit, princess, I thought you’d break before pulling the trigger.”
• Elena’s stomach twisted violently.
• She wanted to scream. To run. To undo what had just happened.
• But there was no undoing it.
• She had blood on her hands now.
• And they knew it.
• Gabriel’s fingers brushed a strand of hair from her face, his touch both mocking and gentle. “How does it feel, cara?”
• Elena turned her face away, breathing heavily. “I hate you.”
• Gabriel chuckled. “You keep saying that, but I’m not convinced.”
• Alessio exhaled, standing up. “Enough.”
• His voice was calm, but the authority in it sent a shiver down Elena’s spine.
• Gabriel stood, stretching lazily. “What now?”
• Alessio turned to Elena. “Now, she signs.”
• Her heart slammed against her ribs.
• She knew what he meant before he even pulled the paper from his pocket.
• The contract.
• The same one he had shown her earlier.
• She shook her head, stepping back, but there was nowhere to go. The body on the floor was still warm, the blood still fresh.
• Her breath came in sharp, shallow bursts. “No.”
• Alessio unfolded the document, ignoring her protest. “You made your choice, Elena.”
• She forced herself to meet his gaze. “You made me.”
• Alessio’s expression didn’t change. “You think that matters?”
• Gabriel smirked. “You pulled the trigger, princess. That means you’re one of us now.”
• Elena’s whole body trembled.
• No.
• This wasn’t real.
• She could still escape. She could still fight.
• She had to.
• Gabriel tossed a pen onto the table. “Be a good girl and sign.”
• Elena clenched her fists, every fiber of her being screaming in resistance. “And if I don’t?”
• Alessio’s lips barely twitched. “Then you belong to us anyway. This just makes it official.”
• Gabriel leaned in, his voice dropping to a whisper. “And if you refuse? Well… we’ll have to get creative.”
• Elena’s throat tightened.
• She knew what that meant.
• She glanced at the contract, her vision blurring. The words danced before her eyes. Ownership. Submission. No escape.
• Everything inside her rebelled.
• She couldn’t do this.
• Couldn’t sign herself away.
• But the blood on her hands told her otherwise.
• She was already theirs.
• Alessio’s voice was quiet, steady. “Sign it, Elena.”
• She swallowed hard, the pen burning in her grip.
• Gabriel sighed, leaning against the desk. “You’re making this difficult, sweetheart.”
• Elena’s breathing was uneven, her pulse wild.
• If she signed, she lost everything.
• But if she didn’t…
• She glanced at Alessio.
• At Gabriel.
• At the dead man on the floor.
• Her hands shook violently as she brought the pen to paper.
• The ink bled onto the contract.
• Her name, written in trembling strokes.
• A signature that sealed her fate.
• Gabriel let out a low whistle. “Well, that’s that.”
• Alessio took the paper, folding it neatly. “You belong to us now.”
• Elena squeezed her eyes shut.
• She had lost.
• Gabriel’s fingers tilted her chin up. “You look like you’re about to cry, princess.”
• She yanked her face away. “Don’t touch me.”
• Gabriel laughed. “Oh, sweetheart, I’m afraid you don’t make the rules anymore.”
• Alessio turned toward the door. “Take her to her new room.”
• Elena’s stomach dropped.
• New room.
• Not a cell.
• Not the dark, cold place she had been locked in before.
• Gabriel grinned, looping an arm around her waist. “Guess that means you’re moving up in the world.”
• She fought against him, but it was useless. He was too strong, too quick.
• He dragged her down the hall, past guards who barely spared them a glance.
• Through long corridors. Up marble stairs.
• Into a lavish room that looked nothing like a prison.
• The walls were lined with bookshelves, the bed was large and luxurious, the windows stretched wide, revealing the night sky.
• But the door clicked shut behind her, and the illusion shattered.
• This was still a cage.
• Gabriel released her, stepping back with a satisfied smirk. “Welcome home, princess.”
• Elena’s chest heaved. “I hate you.”
• Gabriel’s smirk deepened. “That makes this so much more fun.”
• The door opened again, and Alessio stepped inside.
• He held something in his hands.
• A thin strip of black leather.
• A collar.
• Elena’s blood turned to ice.
• “No,” she breathed.
• Alessio didn’t answer.
• He walked toward her, his presence like a storm closing in.
• Gabriel leaned against the doorframe, watching with amusement.
• “You’re ours now,” Alessio said simply.
• And then, before she could fight, before she could scream—
• The collar clicked into place around her throat.
• Elena gasped, her hands flying to the leather band.
• It was snug, firm.
• Not tight enough to choke.
• But tight enough to remind her.
• She belonged to them.
• Gabriel hummed, running a finger along the edge of the collar. “Looks good on you, sweetheart.”
• Elena’s whole body trembled with fury, with humiliation, with something else she refused to name.
• Alessio stepped back, his dark eyes never leaving hers.
• “The more you fight, the harder this will be,” he said.
• She glared at him, her breath uneven. “I will never stop fighting.”
• Gabriel’s grin widened. “Good. We like a challenge.”
• Alessio turned, walking toward the door. “Sleep, Elena. Tomorrow, your training begins.”
• Gabriel winked. “Sweet dreams, princess.”
• The door closed behind them, the lock clicking into place.
• Elena stood there, her fingers trembling against the collar.
• Her world had just been shattered.
• And there was no way out.