Chapter 4

I sat opposite Adrian in his mansion, the silence between us as suffocating as the air that wrapped around my throat like a noose. He leaned back in the leather chair, the crackle of his fingers breaking the stillness. Then he cleared his throat, his voice low and commanding.

"You'll move here starting today!"

I blinked, unsure of what I'd just heard. "Excuse me?"

He looked up at me, those obsidian eyes unreadable. "It's not up for debate, Lucia Alvarez. That attack at the club? It wasn't random. Words got out that a new member joined my empire. That's you, Lucia. They're targeting you now. And that means doom for me."

I swallowed hard, my pulse thudding like a warning drum. "This...  wasn't part of the plan," I whispered.

He leaned forward slowly. "Plans change. You don't get to back out. Not now."

Something inside me coiled tight. This was happening too fast. I never intended to move in, to blur the lines between investigation and submission. But di Santi left no room for refusal.

I gave the smallest nod, my voice stuck in my throat. "Okay..."

And then—

A small pair of feet pounded down the hall, light and rapid. A girl, no older than five, burst into the room in a blur of curls and laughter.

She squealed, "Uncle Adrian!" and launched herself at him.

I tensed, expecting him to flinch, to turn her away, to freeze her out with that frostbitten demeanor.

But instead, Adrian knelt to her level, pulled her into a tight hug, and gently ruffled her hair.

"My baby!" It broke something in me to watch it — a glimpse of warmth where I thought none could exist.

"Can we get ice cream?" She asked sweetly, her little hands clinging to his neck.

"For sure," Adrian said, smiling. Smiling. The first time I'd ever seen it curve his lips.

And it wasn't terrifying. It was... devastatingly human.

He stood, glanced at me without a word, and walked out with the girl. Moments later, the car pulled away down the long drive, leaving me alone in the cold, beautiful tomb of secrets.

Who was the girl? And why is Adrian so sweet to her?

As I sat frozen in thought, one of the maids who had silently helped me dress earlier passed by dusting a shelf. She glanced at me and said flatly, "Mr Adrian doesn't joke with his girls."

I stared. "So you speak?"

She didn't respond to that. Just continued, "If you want to survive here... treated the girls well. That's how you earn his soft spot."

I stood. "Who was that child?"

No answer. Just a blank look. She walked away, leaving me with more questions than when she came. What the hell is all these?

An hour passed. I hadn't moved. And then the front door opened.

Adrian walked in, the little girl cradling an ice cream cone, her face lit up with innocent joy. He crouched down, and kissed her cheek, "Go to your room, Laylah."

"Laylah," I muttered to myself. That was her name.

Just immediately the warmth on his face vanished.

He turned to me, face once again carved in cold marble. "You're still here," he said dryly. "Get ready. There's a place we're going to tonight. Confidential. You don't speak. You don't act. You follow my lead."

No further explanations. Just orders.

---

We drove through dark, winding roads until we reached a barren compound surrounded by metal fences and shadows. It looked like it hadn't seen sunlight in years.

Inside were men — brutal looking, rough. At the head sat an older man behind a desk. A deep scar running down the side of his face.

"Adrian," he grinned. "I heard you've been buying girls again."

Something in my chest snapped.

Buying?

I froze, my mind a mess of confusion and disgust. Is this who he was?

The more I get to know, the more I wonder how Miguel had survived that long. The more I wonder what is really hidden in di Santi's empires.

I said nothing, only listened, mentally documenting everything as the man slid a picture across the table. A girl. Young and fragile.

The deal was struck.

The child was brought out moments later, dirty and trembling. The man's guard shoved her towards Adrian like she was worthless.

Adrian pulled a gun so fast I didn't even see it drawn. "Touch her like that again," he said quietly, "and I'll put a bullet through your skull."

The guard paled and backed off.

Adrian went to the girl, knelt like he had earlier, and examined her arms and face for injuries, whispering something I couldn't hear. Then he kissed her forehead.

I didn't know what to think anymore. He bought her… to save her?

Or was it something else entirely?

Was he saving them… or branding them?

We rode back in silence. He held the child the entire way, a wall of protection around her.

When we returned, he barked for hot water and handed her off to the maid who had spoken to me.

"Take care of her. Put her with the others."

The others? How many were there?

Too many questions. I buried them.

That night, I tried to sleep. But something stirred in the hallway.

Footsteps.

I got up cautiously, stepping into the corridor.

But there was no sign of anybody.

I turned to go back. A costly mistake.

A hand clamped over my mouth.

I tried to scream but it came out as a muffle. I kicked and fought, terror clawing at my throat.

The intruder dragged me across the marble floor. My heart exploded in my chest.

Adrian!!! I tried to scream his name.

And then —

A flash of lightning showed a shadow near the stairs.

Adrian.

Gun drawn and face cold as usual walked towards the intruder and I, a murderous look on his face.

"Let her go," he growled. "Now."

The intruder froze and quickly pulled out a gun, aiming at Adrian.

Then I heard a single shot. I collapsed to the ground, knees cracking against the hard, cold marble.

What sort of life have I gotten myself entangled with?

I heard footsteps, it was Adrian's guards. They had surrounded the intruder already and he gave up, sliding his gun across the room.

"Please!" He whimpered. The old man sent me. I was just supposed to grab money, and take the girls with me. Please— don't kill me."

I was shaking. My skin had turned pale due to fear and my breath came in choked gasps.

"Coming to my house was your biggest mistake." Adrian looked at me, then walked over ... And placed the stillwarm gun in my trembling hands.

My stomach twisted.

"Kill him," he said.

I stared up at him. "What?"

"Kill him, Lucia. You're a part of us now."

"But b-but I'm not trained for this." I stuttered, wishing this was all a dream and I could wake up any time.

"Well you're a part of us now. Show me your loyalty by killing him."

The world spun around me. My hands trembled around the cold steel, my breath hitching as I stared at the terrified man on his knees. I came here to avenge my brother, not to spill another innocent life.

How could I become the very thing that took my brother from me? I shut my eyes, tears streaming down my cheeks, and in that moment, I wished I had never started this — never stepped into a world where blood was currency and souls were disposable. I was tired… so, so tired.

I had never even touched a gun until this moment. Never intended to kill. I lied to get this close. Everything — everything had been a performance.

But this... this was real.

I looked down at the man, sobbing on his knees. Then back at Adrian.

"I... I can't," I whispered, with a broken voice. "Please..."

He stepped closer.

I flinched, instinctively taking a step back, the gun in my hands wobbling like a leaf in a storm.

My legs felt weak, like they might give out beneath me. My chest heaved with shallow, panicked breaths, and my heart was thundering so loud it drowned out everything else.

Adrian’s shadow stretched over me, his voice low and cold. “Pull the trigger.”

My fingers clenched tighter around the gun, but I couldn’t lift it. I couldn’t move.

My lips trembled as I whispered, “I can't... Please!”

Tears spilled freely now, hot against my frozen cheeks. What am I doing?

I squeezed my eyes shut, desperate to disappear. My whole body was shaking, and my knees buckled slightly under the weight of it all.

Adrian’s eyes burned into mine as he growled, “Do it, Lucia. Prove your loyalty — that you're not just another pretty face in my empire.”

My hands trembled harder. I couldn’t breathe.

And then—

His finger moved toward his own trigger.

One second more…

Someone was going to die.

But would it be him… or me?