Chapter 5

• Sera was in the middle of preparing a modest dinner, two peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, when the front door suddenly burst open with a loud crash. She jumped, her hands fumbling with the knife, and turned toward the door to see three familiar men filling the entryway like a storm. The leader who had haunted her dreams the past two weeks, stepped in first, exudeing an aura so powerful, so menacing, it seemed to cast a shadow over the entire room. His dark eyes scanned the room with a calculated coolness, and she could see the outline of muscles under his tailored black suit.
• Her father, half-dazed and slouched on the couch, turned and froze. But then he seemed to recognize the man in front of him, his mouth twisting with barely concealed hatred. Stumbling to his feet, he spat the name, “Enzo,” like it was a curse.
• Sera’s heart skipped a beat. She’d heard that name in passing, spoken in hushed tones among those who dared to even mention it. “Lorenzo De Luca?” she whispered, her voice trembling.
• Her father ignored her, but the man—Enzo—turned to her, and a slow, almost predatory smile spread across his face. “Yes,” he said, his voice dark and smooth, a voice that seemed both reassuring and terrifying in equal measure.
• Her heart raced as realization sank in. Lorenzo De Luca. The man everyone whispered about. The infamous king of the underworld and CEO of a vast empire that stretched far beyond any legitimate business. And he was here, in her tiny, dingy living room, towering over them like some dark god ready to claim his due.
• Enzo’s gaze shifted back to her father, his voice all business. “I’m here for the money, Jimmy. We had an agreement.”
• Her father’s face drained of color, but he didn’t look away. Sera felt the air thicken with tension, and without thinking, she stepped forward, hands clasped nervously in front of her. “Please,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. “I... I’m still trying to get it together. I just need a little more time.”
• Enzo’s eyes flicked to her, taking in every inch of her with an unsettling intensity. Then, without a word, he pulled a folded document from his coat and turned back to her father.
• Her father’s face twisted in confusion and fear, but he stayed silent as Enzo bent down, leaning close to his ear, murmuring something low and ominous that Sera couldn’t hear. She watched, feeling a chill crawl down her spine as her father’s expression changed, his jaw tightening, his eyes filling with something raw and defeated. After a long moment, he nodded, his hands trembling as Enzo handed him a pen.
• “Dad?” Sera’s voice was laced with panic. “What are you doing? What are you signing?”
• But her father didn’t look at her. He kept his eyes fixed on the document, his hands still unsteady as he signed his name. When he finally stepped back, he shoved the pen into Enzo’s hand and stared at the floor, refusing to meet her gaze.
• Straightening up, Enzo folded the document with a certain finality, slipping it back into his coat pocket. Then he turned to Sera, a cold smile curling his lips. “Congratulations,” he said smoothly, “your father’s debt has been erased. Completely.”
• Relief flooded her, and she let out a shaky breath. “Thank you. I... I don’t know how to—”
• He cut her off, his smile never reaching his eyes. “Your thanks aren’t necessary,” he said, his tone chillingly detached. “You see, your father didn’t simply sign over money. He signed over something... someone.”
• Sera froze, a cold dread pooling in her stomach. “What... what do you mean?”
• “Your father has signed this document,” he explained, each word sharp and precise, “which states that all his debts are cleared on one condition—he hands over his daughter to me.”
• The world seemed to tilt beneath her, her vision blurring as her heart thundered in her chest. “No...” she whispered, the word escaping her like a plea.
• Enzo’s gaze remained steady, and for a brief moment, she thought she saw something almost triumphant in his expression, as if he’d been expecting this reaction. “Yes,” he replied simply. “The deal has been made. You come with me tonight, or I take the payment out of your father’s hide. And believe me, it won’t be pretty.”
• She stumbled back, glancing desperately at her father, who still stared at the floor, his shoulders slumped in a way that seemed almost hollow. He’d really done it. He’d actually traded her away like a piece of property.
• “Dad?” Her voice cracked, a faint, desperate hope clinging to her words. “You... you’re not really going to let him take me, are you?”
• Her father’s silence was answer enough. He didn’t move, didn’t even look up, just kept his gaze locked on the worn carpet, as if it held all the secrets of the world.
• Her stomach twisted in disbelief, her chest tight with betrayal and hurt. She turned back to Enzo, her hands shaking as she tried to muster up the courage to face him. She had no choice. If she refused, she knew he’d make good on his threat, and she couldn’t live with the thought of what he might do to her father.
• “Fine,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. “I’ll go with you.”
• Enzo inclined his head, his expression unreadable as he gestured toward the door. His two men closed in behind her, flanking her like guards as they led her out of the only home she’d ever known.
• As she stepped through the doorway, she cast one last, desperate glance back, hoping for a miracle—a word, a look, anything from her father. But he remained where he was, still staring at the floor, as if she no longer even existed.
• Blinking back the hot sting of tears, Sera forced herself to keep walking, to put one foot in front of the other as she followed Enzo to a sleek, black car waiting at the curb. The leather seats felt too smooth, too luxurious beneath her as she slid inside, the door clicking shut with an ominous finality.
• The city lights blurred outside the window as they pulled away, her heart pounding in her chest as she fought to keep her composure. She was leaving behind everything she’d ever known, stepping into a world that terrified her. And sitting beside her, silent and imposing, was the man who now held her fate in his hands.