Page 9 of The Price of Mercy

“Stop,” Julian snapped, cutting him off. “Just… stop. I don’t need you to cheer me up, okay? I don’t need you to pretend this is some great opportunity. I know what this is. I’m not an idiot.”

Luca held up his hands in surrender. “Alright, alright. I’m just trying to help.”

Julian didn’t respond. He just kept packing, his movements stiff and mechanical. Luca didn’t try to make conversation again, and the silence between them was heavy and uncomfortable. By the time they finished, the apartment was empty, the boxes stacked neatly by the door. Julian took one last look around, his heart aching as he realized he might never see this place again.

“Let’s go,” Luca said, picking up a box and heading for the door.

Julian followed, his steps slow and reluctant. The black SUV was parked outside, its engine idling softly. Luca loaded the boxes into the back while Julian climbed into the passenger seat, his hands clenched into fists in his lap. The drive to the Morettiestate was silent, the tension in the car almost unbearable. Luca glanced at Julian a few times, clearly wanting to say something, but he seemed to think better of it.

When they finally arrived at the mansion, Julian felt a fresh wave of dread wash over him. The estate was as imposing as ever, the iron gates and stone walls a stark reminder of the life he was being forced into. Luca pulled up to the front entrance, where Enzo was waiting, his hands in his pockets and his expression unreadable.

“Welcome back,” Enzo said as Julian stepped out of the car. His tone was calm, almost casual, as if this were just another day.

Julian didn’t respond. He just stood there, his arms crossed over his chest, as Luca unloaded the boxes. Enzo watched him for a moment before gesturing toward the door.

“Come on. I’ll show you to your room.”

Julian followed him inside, his footsteps echoing in the grand foyer. The mansion was even more intimidating up close, the opulence of the decor and the sheer size of the place making him feel small and out of place. Enzo led him up the sweeping staircase and down a long hallway, stopping in front of a set of double doors.

“This is yours,” Enzo said, pushing the doors open.

Julian stepped inside and froze. The room was massive, easily twice the size of his entire apartment. A king-sized bed dominated the center of the space, its dark wood frame and crisp white sheets looking like something out of a luxury magazine. A sitting area with a plush sofa and armchairs sat near the floor-to-ceiling windows, which offered a stunning view of the estate’s grounds. There was a desk in one corner, a bookshelf the size ofan entire wall, and a door that led to what Julian assumed was a private bathroom.

“This… this is too much,” Julian said, his voice barely above a whisper.

Enzo shrugged. “You’ll get used to it. Make yourself at home. Luca will bring your things up.”

Julian turned to face him, his eyes narrowing. “Why are you doing this? Why go through all this trouble just to keep me close?”

Enzo stepped closer, his dark eyes locking onto Julian’s. “Because I owe you. And because I need you. But mostly…” He paused, his gaze lingering on Julian’s face. “Because I can.”

Julian’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t respond. He just turned away, walking over to the window and staring out at the grounds. Enzo watched him for a moment before turning to leave.

“Dinner’s at seven,” he said as he reached the door. “Don’t be late.” And with that, he was gone, leaving Julian alone in the massive room.

The silence was deafening, the weight of his new reality settling over him like a suffocating blanket. He sank onto the edge of the bed, his head in his hands.

What have I gotten myself into?he thought, his chest aching with a mix of fear and resignation.

But deep down, he already knew the answer. He had stepped into Enzo’s world, and there was no going back.

Chapter 7

The Gilded Cage

The luxury of the Moretti estate did little to soothe Julian’s resentment. His new room was a palace compared to his old apartment, but it felt more like a gilded cage than a home. The plush furniture, the expansive windows, the private bathroom with its marble countertops and gold fixtures; it all felt like a cruel joke, a reminder of the life he’d lost and the one he’d been forced into.

He was financially free now, his debts wiped clean with a single word from Enzo, but the cost was his freedom. And his captor? A cold, unreadable man who viewed emotions as weaknesses.

The first few days passed in a blur. Julian spent most of his time between hospital and his room, avoiding Enzo and the rest of the household. He tried to read, to distract himself with the books Enzo had provided, but the words blurred together, his mind too restless to focus.

When at the mansion, he ate meals alone; the food delivered to his room by a silent housekeeper who never made eye contact. The only time he left his room except to go to work, was to wander the grounds, the sprawling gardens and manicuredlawns offering a temporary escape from the suffocating opulence of the mansion.

But even the gardens couldn’t quiet his mind. He thought constantly about Enzo, about the man who had upended his life with a single offer.

Enzo was a mystery, a man who seemed to exist in shades of gray. He was ruthless, yes, but there were moments, fleeting, almost imperceptible, when Julian caught a glimpse of something else. A flicker of humanity beneath the cold exterior. But those moments were rare, and Julian wasn’t sure if they were real or just his mind playing tricks on him.

???

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