Page 26 of Kidnapped By the Mafia

Albert stands before us, his expression as cold and emotionless as the rest of the men in the room. His dark suit is immaculate, his posture rigid and formal, like he’s done this a thousand times before and feels nothing for the lives he’s binding together.

He begins to speak, his voice a monotonous drone that’s almost lost in the fog of my own thoughts. I catch bits and pieces—phrases like “lawful wedded wife” and “until death do you part”—but it all blurs together, a meaningless string of words that doesn’t seem real.

Lucas’s grip tightens slightly, and I realize he’s holding my hand now, his fingers lacing through mine in a way that would seem intimate if it wasn’t for the suffocating force behind it.

His skin is warm against mine, but it sends a chill through me, a stark contrast to the cold sweat breaking out along my spine.

“Repeat after me,” Albert says, his eyes flicking between us as he goes through the motions. Lucas’s voice cuts through the air, steady and confident, as if he’s reciting lines in a play rather than making a lifelong commitment.

He speaks each word with ease, his tone measured and controlled, as if this is just another business transaction for him.

When it’s my turn, I can barely speak. My throat feels tight, and my lips are dry. I force myself to look straight ahead, my gaze fixed on a spot just above Albert’s shoulder, trying to focus on anything but the reality of this moment.

I can feel Lucas’s eyes on me, feel the weight of his presence pressing down on me, demanding compliance.

“Say it,” he murmurs under his breath, his voice low enough that only I can hear. There’s no anger there, no impatience—just an expectation that I’ll obey.

I swallow hard, my mouth dry, and somehow manage to find my voice. It comes out small and fragile, like it might break at any moment. “I… do,” I whisper, the words feeling like chains locking into place around my soul.

Albert nods, satisfied, and reaches for the ring. Lucas takes it without hesitation, his hand steady as he slides the band onto my finger. I feel a shudder run through me at the cold touch of the metal, a tangible, heavy reminder of the weight I now carry. It feels too tight, like it’s cutting off my circulation, but I don’t dare pull away.

Lucas doesn’t wait for any further prompting. He leans in to kiss me, his lips claiming mine in a way that feels more like a statement than an expression of affection. There’s a possessiveness to it, a raw hunger that sends a tremor through my body.

I can taste the dominance in his kiss, the way his lips move over mine with a demand that leaves no room for resistance. It’s not soft, not gentle; it’s a declaration, a mark of ownership that makes my stomach twist in knots.

I want to recoil, to push him away, but I know better. Instead, I force myself to endure it, to remain still, my hands balled into fists at my sides. When he finally pulls back, there’s a glint of satisfaction in his eyes, a triumphant gleam that sends a chill down my spine.

Albert clears his throat, breaking the silence, and signs the documents laid out on the small table beside him. His pen scratches against the paper, each stroke echoing in the quiet room like a final nail in a coffin.

He steps back with a nod, his role complete, and the other men in the room follow suit, their expressions blank and impassive. To them, this is just another day, another deal sealed, another life changed without a second thought.

Mia steps forward, her face pale but determined. “You don’t have to do this, you know,” she says, her voice trembling but filled with a fierce kind of bravery. She’s looking at me, not Lucas, and I can see the desperate hope in her eyes. “We can leave. Right now. Just say the word.”

Lucas’s eyes narrow, a flicker of irritation crossing his face, but he remains silent, watching me with that same dark, unreadable gaze.

I shake my head, feeling the weight of the ring on my finger like a shackle. “It’s done, Mia,” I say softly. “There’s no going back.” I want to tell her I did it to save her life. I say nothing.

She looks at me like she wants to argue, but then her shoulders slump, and she nods, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. “I’m sorry,” she whispers, and the words feel like a knife to the gut.

Lucas’s hand slides around my waist, pulling me closer to his side, his grip possessive and firm. “We’re done here,” he says, his tone final, leaving no room for further discussion. He looks down at me, his expression softening just slightly. “Welcome to the family,” he murmurs, and I feel the words sink into my skin like ice.

18

EMILY

He wastes no time. He takes my hand, his grip firm and unyielding, and leads me toward the door. I glance back at Mia, her tear-streaked face etched with worry and fear, but I can’t do anything to comfort her.

All I can do is follow Lucas as he pulls me out of the room and into the elevator.

The journey down is silent. I glance at him but he’s staring straight ahead, as if I’m not here. We step out a minute later into a dimly lit hallway, shadows stretching long across the floor as we move in silence.

My heart is still pounding in my chest, a dull, relentless thud that echoes in my ears. The reality of what just happened is crashing down on me, and all I can do is follow him, my mind too numb to process anything else.

As we walk, I steal a glance at Lucas, trying to make sense of the man who now controls my life. His expression is unreadable, his eyes focused straight ahead, but there’s a tension in his jaw, a tightness in the way he holds himself that tells me he’s not as calm as he appears.

I wonder if he feels anything like what I’m feeling—if there’s any part of him that regrets what he’s done. But I quickly push the thought aside. Lucas has made it clear that he’s willing to do whatever it takes to get what he wants, and right now, what he wants is me.

We reach the end of the hallway, and Lucas pushes open a door that leads into a private garage. A sleek black limo is waiting for us, the driver standing by with the door open.

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