Page 27 of Kidnapped By the Mafia

The cold air of the garage hits me like a slap, and I shiver, suddenly feeling exposed and vulnerable. But Lucas doesn’t pause; he guides me toward the car with the same firm grip, his eyes never leaving mine as he helps me inside.

The interior of the limo is luxurious, all dark leather and polished wood, but the opulence only makes me feel more suffocated. The door closes behind us with a soft click, sealing me inside with him.

The sound of the city outside fades into the background as the car starts moving, the world outside blurring into a series of indistinct lights and shadows.

Lucas settles into the seat beside me, his body close enough that I can feel the heat radiating from him. The silence between us is thick, heavy with unspoken words and emotions that neither of us seems willing to confront. I stare out the window, my mind racing with everything that’s happened, everything that’s been taken from me.

After a few moments, Lucas reaches out and takes my hand, his fingers intertwining with mine. The gesture is surprisingly gentle, almost tender, but it only serves to remind me of the power he holds over me.

I want to pull away, to put distance between us, but I know it’s useless. I’m bound to him now, in more ways than one.

“Emily,” he says softly, his voice breaking the silence. I don’t turn to look at him, but I can feel his eyes on me, the intensity of his gaze burning into the side of my face. “I know this isn’t what you wanted. But it’s what needed to happen.”

I swallow hard, forcing down the lump in my throat. “You didn’t give me a choice,” I whisper, my voice trembling with the weight of my anger and fear. “You took everything from me. My freedom, my future… you’ve trapped me.”

Lucas is silent for a moment, and when he finally speaks, there’s a hint of something almost like regret in his voice. “I did what I had to do, Emily. To keep you safe. To keep you with me, at least until our child is born.”

I turn to face him then, my eyes narrowing as I search his face for any sign of the man I thought I knew. But all I see is the cold, calculating mask he’s always worn, the one that hides whatever he’s truly feeling. “Safe? You think I’m safe with you? You’re the one I need protection from.”

His grip on my hand tightens, just enough to make his point, but not enough to hurt. “You don’t understand,” he says, his voice low, almost pleading. “The world I live in, the people I deal with… they’re dangerous. More dangerous than you can imagine. If you weren’t with me, they would come after you. They would use you against me.”

The words hit me like a punch to the gut, and for a moment, I can’t breathe. Is this why he did it? To protect me from some unseen threat?

Or is this just another manipulation, another way to keep me under his control? I want to believe there’s some part of him that’s doing this out of care, out of a twisted sense of love, but I can’t afford to be that naive.

“You could have asked me,” I say. “You could have given me a choice. But you didn’t. You made that decision for me.”

Lucas’s eyes darken, and he leans in closer, his voice a rough whisper in my ear. “Because I couldn’t risk losing you, Emily. Not again. You tried to run, and I couldn’t let that happen again. Not when I’ve finally got you where you belong—by my side.”

The possessiveness in his voice sends a chill down my spine, and I turn away from him, staring out the window. I can’t escape the truth of my situation. Lucas has taken control of my life, and there’s no way out. I’m his now, for better or worse.

The rest of the ride is silent, the tension between us thick and suffocating. When the limo finally pulls up to Lucas’s apartment building, the driver opens the door, and Lucas steps out first, holding out a hand to help me.

I hesitate, my heart pounding in my chest, but I know I have no choice. I take his hand, letting him pull me out of the car and into his world once again.

The penthouse is just as I remember—opulent, cold, and intimidating. The tall windows offer a breathtaking view of the city, but it feels more like a prison than a home.

Lucas leads me inside, his hand never leaving mine, and I can feel the walls closing in around me, the weight of my new reality settling over me like a shroud.

As the door closes behind us, I realize with a sinking heart that this is my life now. Bound to a man I barely understand, trapped in a world I never wanted to be a part of.

The luxury and coldness of Lucas’s world surround me, suffocating me, and I know that any hope I had of escaping has slipped through my fingers.

Lucas turns to me, his expression unreadable as he studies my face. “You’re mine now, Emily,” he says, his voice soft but firm. “And I promise, I’ll take care of you. You’ll have everything you need.”

But as I look into his eyes, all I can see is the cage that’s closing in around me.

I nod, unable to trust my voice, and Lucas pulls me closer, wrapping his arms around me in a possessive embrace. I stand stiffly in his arms, my mind numb with the realization of what my life has become.

And as I stare out at the glittering city below, I can’t help but wonder if I’ll ever find a way to break free.

19

LUCAS

Isit in my usual corner of The Lounge, an exclusive sanctuary hidden beneath one of Manhattan’s most luxurious hotels. I won’t say which, the Feds are still trying to find it.

The rich scent of Cuban cigars mingles with the polished wood and leather that adorn every inch of this place.

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