Chapter 3 Bound By Fire

Elena's mind raced long after breakfast. Luca's parting smile haunted her, a dark promise that refused to be ignored. His arrogance was infuriating, his power suffocating-but it was his confidence that unsettled her most. He acted as if her resistance was futile, like her fight was already over.

She paced the confines of her room, mapping out every possible escape route. The windows were still her best bet, but the guards she spotted during the day complicated things. Each moment she spent in the mansion solidified one thing: she couldn't afford to stay here any longer.

Elena flinched when the door unlocked again. Her nerves were already raw, and she wasn't sure if she could handle another encounter with Luca's piercing gaze or infuriating smirks. But this time, it wasn't him.

Rosa stepped in, carrying a small tray with a steaming cup of tea and a plate of fresh fruit.

"Lunch," Rosa said, setting the tray down on the table by the window. Her voice was soft but firm, and her smile held a quiet kindness.

"I'm not hungry," Elena said, though her growling stomach betrayed her.

"You'll need your strength," Rosa said. "Mr. DeLorenzo has plans for you this afternoon."

Elena stiffened. "What plans?"

"I don't know," Rosa replied, avoiding her gaze. "He didn't tell me."

Elena pressed her lips together, suppressing the urge to hurl the tray across the room. Rosa was just a messenger, but the reminder of Luca's control over her life made her blood boil.

"Do you always do what he says?" Elena asked, her tone sharper than intended.

Rosa paused, then turned to face her. "You think I have a choice?"

Their eyes locked, and for a moment, the walls Elena had built around herself began to crack. Rosa's voice wasn't accusatory-it was resigned.

"Eat," Rosa said gently, leaving the room before Elena could respond.

Elena stared at the tray, her appetite warring with her defiance. Finally, she grabbed a piece of fruit, her hands trembling as she took a bite. She hated feeling this way-trapped, powerless, and at the mercy of a man who saw her as little more than a pawn.

But she wasn't going to let him win.

---

A knock at the door snapped Elena out of her thoughts. Before she could answer, Luca stepped in, his presence as commanding as ever.

"Do you ever wait for an invitation?" she snapped, crossing her arms.

"This is my house," he said smoothly, leaning against the doorframe. "I don't need one."

"What do you want now?"

"I thought we'd go for a little walk," Luca said, his tone deceptively casual.

"A walk?" she repeated, narrowing her eyes. "What's the catch?"

"No catch," he said with a shrug. "You've been cooped up in here for two days. I thought you could use some fresh air."

Elena's instincts screamed at her to refuse, but the prospect of leaving her room-even briefly-was too tempting to ignore.

"Fine," she said reluctantly.

Luca gestured for her to follow, his expression unreadable. Elena trailed behind him, her heart pounding with a mix of apprehension and curiosity.

They walked through the mansion in silence, the heavy tension between them unspoken but palpable. Luca led her to a side door that opened into a sprawling garden. The sun was warm on her skin, and the scent of roses and jasmine filled the air.

For a moment, Elena almost forgot where she was.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" Luca said, breaking the silence.

She glanced at him, his gaze fixed on the flowers ahead. "I didn't think you were the gardening type."

He smirked. "I'm not. But I appreciate beauty when I see it."

Elena ignored the way his words sent a shiver down her spine. "Is this supposed to impress me?"

"Not everything I do is about you," he said, his tone laced with amusement.

"Could've fooled me."

Luca chuckled, the sound low and rich. "You're relentless, you know that?"

"And you're insufferable," she shot back.

They walked deeper into the garden, the tension between them growing heavier with each step. Elena's mind raced, searching for any opportunity to escape, but Luca's presence was unrelenting.

"Why are you doing this?" she asked finally, stopping to face him.

"Doing what?"

"Playing this... game," she said, gesturing around them. "Dragging me out here like we're on some kind of date. What do you want from me?"

Luca's expression darkened, his playful demeanor vanishing. "I want what's mine."

Her chest tightened, but she refused to back down. "I'm not yours."

"Not yet," he said, stepping closer. His voice was low, almost a growl. "But you will be."

The intensity in his gaze made her breath catch. For a moment, the air between them felt electric, charged with an energy that terrified and intrigued her.

"I'd rather die," she said, her voice trembling but defiant.

Luca's jaw tightened, and for the first time, she saw a flicker of something vulnerable in his expression-something almost like pain.

"Careful, Elena," he said softly. "You don't know what you're saying."

Before she could respond, the sound of a phone ringing shattered the moment. Luca pulled his phone from his pocket, his expression hardening as he answered.

"What is it?" he snapped, his voice sharp.

Elena watched as his jaw clenched, his free hand balling into a fist. Whatever the person on the other end said, it wasn't good.

"I'll handle it," he said curtly, ending the call.

"What's wrong?" she asked, surprised by her own curiosity.

Luca ignored her, his eyes scanning the garden. "We need to go inside."

"Why?"

"Now, Elena," he said, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Before she could protest, Luca grabbed her arm and began leading her back toward the mansion. His grip was firm but not painful, and the urgency in his movements sent a spike of fear through her.

"What's going on?" she demanded.

"Trouble," he said grimly.

They reached the mansion just as the sound of tires screeching on gravel reached her ears. Elena turned, her stomach dropping as a convoy of black SUVs pulled up to the gates.

"Who are they?" she whispered.

"Stay behind me," Luca ordered, his voice like steel.

The doors of the SUVs opened, and men in dark suits spilled out, their expressions cold and menacing. Elena's heart pounded as she watched them approach, her mind racing with questions.

"DeLorenzo," one of the men called out, his voice carrying an edge of authority. "We need to talk."

Luca stepped forward, his posture calm but commanding. "I don't recall inviting you here, Moretti."

"This isn't a social visit," the man replied, his gaze flicking briefly to Elena.

Luca's expression darkened, and he shifted slightly, placing himself between her and the intruders.

"You have five minutes," Luca said coldly.

Moretti smirked, but there was no humor in it. "Five minutes is all I need."

Elena watched, her heart in her throat, as Luca and Moretti exchanged words she couldn't hear. The tension between them was palpable, like the calm before a storm.

Whatever was happening, it was clear that Luca's world was far more dangerous than she had imagined. And now, she was right in the middle of it.

---

To be continued...