The minutes stretched into hours after Dante left. Isla paced the grand room, her mind racing. Part of her wanted to escape, but the other part wondered where she’d even go. This mansion, with its high walls and endless corridors, felt like a gilded cage, and she was still at the mercy of Dante’s will.
As dusk began to settle outside, Isla caught her reflection in one of the tall windows. She was wearing the gown he’d chosen – soft, flowing, and beautiful, but distinctly not her. She felt like she was playing a role in his world, one that she hadn’t auditioned for but had somehow been cast in nonetheless.
Just as she was lost in thought, the double doors to the room swung open, and Dante entered. His intense gaze met hers, and for a moment, she felt her heart skip. She tried to mask her emotions, lifting her chin defiantly.
“Didn’t think I’d return?” he asked, his voice low, tinged with the slightest hint of amusement.
“I was more surprised that you came back so… quickly,” she replied, forcing herself to stay calm.
Dante gave a small smirk, but there was an edge in his eyes. “Believe it or not, I have a knack for getting things done when I want them to be done.”
He crossed the room, his steps slow and deliberate, never breaking eye contact. Isla felt her pulse quicken as he drew closer, a familiar tension filling the air between them. She clenched her fists, unsure whether she was more afraid of him or of herself.
“So,” he said, stopping only inches away. “Why were you hiding earlier?”
Her eyes narrowed. “I was just… needing a little space. It’s not easy, adjusting to all this.”
A faint laugh escaped him. “Space? In my world, space isn’t something you get to take on your terms. Not when you’re tied to me.”
“I didn’t ask to be tied to you!” she shot back, her voice rising in frustration. “You’ve made every decision for me. I have no say in any of this.”
Dante’s expression hardened, his gaze flickering with a dangerous spark. “You think you don’t have a choice? Fine. Here’s a choice. Either you play by my rules, or you leave – but I guarantee you won’t make it far without me.”
Her jaw clenched. “Are you really that possessive, Dante? That controlling?”
He stepped even closer, leaving no room between them. “I’m a lot of things, Isla. Possessive, controlling… ruthless. But everything I do, I do with a purpose. You might hate me for it now, but one day, you’ll understand.”
She shook her head, feeling a mix of fear and defiance. “I don’t need to understand you. I just need to survive this.”
“Surviving won’t be enough,” he replied, his voice a near whisper. “Not for you. Not for me.”
The intensity of his words sank in, leaving her momentarily speechless. She could feel the pull between them, an electric current that neither of them seemed able to ignore. Just as she was about to step back, Dante reached out, his hand catching her wrist with a gentle but firm grip.
“Where do you think you’re going?” he murmured, his tone soft but laced with authority.
“I…” Isla’s words caught in her throat. “I don’t know. I just… can’t breathe in this.”
“You’ll breathe just fine,” he said, loosening his grip ever so slightly but still keeping her close. “But you’ll do it on my terms.”
Her eyes narrowed. “And what if I refuse?”
A glint of something dark crossed his face. “Refusal isn’t an option, Isla. You agreed to this life when you chose to stay.”
She exhaled sharply. “You’re impossible, you know that?”
He gave her a look, one brow arching as a hint of a smile played at his lips. “Maybe. But you’re still here, aren’t you?”
They stood in silence for a long moment, the weight of unsaid words hanging thick in the air. Isla could feel her heart pounding, a war raging within her. Just as she opened her mouth to speak, the sound of footsteps echoed down the hall, interrupting the charged moment.
One of Dante’s men appeared in the doorway, his expression tense. “Sir, we have a… situation.”
Dante’s gaze never left hers, even as he replied, “Go on.”
“There’s been a breach in our security,” the man explained. “One of our rivals is making moves on the east side of the city. We think it might be linked to… her.”
Dante’s jaw clenched, and his hand tightened around Isla’s wrist. “Is that so?” he murmured, his voice cold and dangerous. His eyes flickered with anger as he looked down at her. “It seems you’re drawing more attention than I anticipated.”
Her eyes widened. “I… I don’t know anything about this.”
“Oh, I don’t doubt that,” he said, his tone deceptively calm. “But it doesn’t change the fact that you’re now a liability. One that I’ll have to deal with.”
A chill ran down her spine. “What does that mean?”
“It means,” he replied, his voice like ice, “that you’re going to have to earn your place here. Trust is earned, Isla, and you haven’t done a very good job of that so far.”
She took a step back, her heart racing with a mixture of fear and defiance. “What do you want me to do?”
Dante’s eyes narrowed. “Simple. You stay by my side, no more games, no more hiding. And if I tell you to do something, you do it.”
The command in his voice sent a shiver down her spine, but she nodded, forcing herself to meet his gaze. “Fine.”
Dante released her wrist, his gaze softening ever so slightly. “Good. Because if anyone tries to come after you, I’ll be the one they have to answer to.”
The intensity in his voice left her breathless, and despite everything, she felt a strange sense of security in his words. She wasn’t sure if she should be relieved or terrified, but for now, she nodded, accepting his terms.
The man in the doorway cleared his throat. “Sir, we need to leave immediately.”
Dante gave Isla one last look before turning to his man. “Prepare the car. I’ll be there in a moment.”
As the man exited, Dante turned back to Isla, his gaze softening ever so slightly. “I’ll be back soon. Don’t even think about running.”
She crossed her arms, a spark of defiance in her eyes. “I wasn’t planning on it.”
A small smile tugged at his lips. “Good. Because you and I still have unfinished business.”
With that, he turned and strode out of the room, leaving Isla alone with a racing heart and a mind full of questions. She watched him disappear down the hall, her chest tight with a mix of fear, anger, and something else she couldn’t quite name.
As the evening deepened, Isla found herself pacing the room, replaying their conversation in her mind. She couldn’t shake the feeling that her life was teetering on the edge of something dangerous, something she couldn’t fully control. She knew she was in too deep, but there was no way out – at least, not one that she could see.
Just as she was lost in thought, a loud crash echoed through the hallway outside her door. Her heart leaped into her throat as she rushed to the door, pressing her ear against it to listen.
Muffled voices, tense and urgent, filtered through the wood. She couldn’t make out what they were saying, but the tone was unmistakable. Something had gone terribly wrong.
A moment later, the door flew open, and one of Dante’s men burst in, his face pale and frantic. “Miss Isla, we need to leave. Now.”
She backed away, her heart pounding. “What? Why? What’s going on?”
“There’s been an attack,” he said, grabbing her arm and pulling her toward the door. “They’re coming for you.”
Her blood ran cold as the words sank in. She looked down the hallway, half-expecting to see Dante, but there was no sign of him.
“Where’s Dante?” she demanded, her voice trembling.
The man shook his head. “He’s handling it, but we have orders to get you to safety.”
Isla’s mind raced as they hurried down the hall, the sound of gunfire and shouting growing louder with each step. She couldn’t believe this was happening – and yet, deep down, she knew this was the world Dante lived in. The danger, the violence… it was all part of his life.
But as they reached the door leading to the back exit, she suddenly pulled back, her heart pounding with a mix of fear and determination. “No,” she said, her voice steady despite the chaos around them.
The man looked at her, his eyes wide with confusion. “What are you talking about? We need to go!”
She shook her head, a fierce resolve filling her. “I’m not leaving him. Not like this.”
And with that, she turned and ran back into the chaos, her mind set on one thing: finding Dante.