Page 10 of Galen

But one thing was clear—I needed to find out if this attraction I felt was real, or if I was simply losing my mind.

Chapter Five

Bianca’s heart raced as she stepped into Galen’s apartment, her unease heightened by the gangster who shut the door behind her with a soft click.

The sound echoed in her mind, reinforcing the gravity of the situation. She was alone with Galen Arrow, the man responsible for abducting her and her father. The man who held their fates in his hands.

“Bianca,” Galen greeted her, a smile playing on his lips. It was a smile she couldn’t trust, and it sent a shiver down her spine. He gestured to the nearby sofa. “Let’s talk.”

She hesitated, looking around the spacious, elegant apartment. It was clear this wasn’t just any place, it was his domain, his sanctuary.

The decor was refined, with dark wood furniture, leather couches, and expensive artwork adorning the walls. Yet, it felt cold, devoid of any warmth—a reflection of the man who lived there. Trying to mask her fear with defiance, she met his gaze, tilting her chin up.

“What is this place?” she asked, deciding to play along.

Her father’s desperate words echoed in her mind:“Give him whatever he wants. Don’t bother fighting him.”But Bianca had always been a fighter. She wouldn’t surrender easily, not even to a man like Galen.

She moved to the annoyingly comfortable leather couch, her movements tense. As she sat down, she couldn’t help but notice the way Galen’s suit fit him perfectly, accentuating his well-toned body.

His broad shoulders, muscular arms, and the way his shirt stretched slightly across his chest all caught her attention. His dark hair was perfectly styled, framing a face that was both handsome and intimidating. His eyes were a striking blue, cold yet somehow mesmerizing.

Stop it, she scolded herself. It didn’t matter how attractive he was. What he had done was wrong. No amount of good looks could change that.

“Do you know why you’re here?” he asked, casually resting one leg over his knee, his posture relaxed as if this were just another business meeting.

“Mario screwed you and your family over … but that’s his problem, not mine,” she replied, her voice steady despite the turmoil inside her. “It’s not too late to let me go. I won’t call the cops.”

Galen laughed, the sound deep and rich, with a hint of danger that made her pulse quicken. His laughter was warm, but there was something predatory beneath it, something that sent a wave of heat through her body.

Damn it, she thought, hating how much his voice affected her. What was this man doing to her? Had he cast some kind of spell on her?

“The cops in this city belong to us,” Galen said with a casual shrug. “If I ask, they’ll just bring you back to me.”

His words sent a chill down her spine. It was only then that she fully realized how much power Galen and his brothers wielded over the city. What had Mario been thinking, making enemies of this man?

Bianca swallowed hard, feeling the walls of the apartment close in around her. She was trapped, and she knew it. “What do you want?” she asked, her voice softer now, laced with uncertainty.

Galen’s eyes darkened as he looked at her, a hungry gleam in them that made her stomach flutter. He swept his gaze over her, and she was painfully aware of how she must look—messy hair, pajamas, and all. Yet somehow, the way he looked at her made her feel … desirable.

“I’ll let your father live, on one condition,” he said, his voice low and filled with promise.

She didn’t need to ask what the condition was. It was written all over his face, in the way his eyes lingered on her. And, to her own shock, the idea didn’t disgust her. There was something about him, something raw and dangerous that pulled her in, even as she tried to resist it.

“What’s the condition?” she asked, though she was pretty sure she already knew.

“Can’t you guess?” he replied in a teasing voice, his eyes glinting with amusement.

“What makes you think I’ll do anything for Mario?” she retorted, trying to hold onto her defiance. “He was barely a father to me.”

“You care,” Galen said softly, and the tenderness in his voice caught her off guard. “You claim you barely know him, but you comforted him in the cell just now when he was breaking apart. You’re really something else, Bianca. A treasure.”

His words hit her harder than she expected, leaving her breathless. How could he see so much? How could he understand her so well when they had just met? Bianca’s resolve wavered, heranger and fear mingling with an unexpected attraction that made her pulse race.

“You don’t know anything about me,” she whispered, but even to her own ears, it sounded like a weak protest.

“I know enough,” he countered, leaning forward, his eyes never leaving hers. “I know you’re strong, even when you’re scared. I know you’d do anything to protect the people you care about. And I know that right now, you’re wondering what it would be like to let go. To stop fighting and just … feel.”

His words were a challenge, and Bianca felt the tension between them thickening. She knew she should be scared, should be running as far from him as possible, but instead she found herself leaning closer, drawn to the darkness in him, the danger that thrilled her even as it terrified her.

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