Page 8 of The Price of Mercy

The Ultimatum

Enzo watched Julian carefully, his sharp eyes missing nothing. The doctor’s face was a mask of conflict, his jaw clenched and his hands trembling slightly as he sat in the chair across from Enzo’s desk. Julian’s acceptance had been reluctant, barely more than a whisper, but it was enough. Enzo had gotten what he wanted, and now it was time to lay down the rules.

“Good,” Enzo said, his voice calm but firm. “But there’s one more condition.”

Julian’s head snapped up; his blue eyes wide with alarm. “What now?”

Enzo leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers as he studied the man in front of him. Julian was a puzzle; a mix of defiance and vulnerability that intrigued Enzo more than he cared to admit. The doctor had saved his life, and for that, Enzo owed him. But he also couldn’t afford to let Julian walk away. Not now. Not ever.

“You’ll move into the mansion,” Enzo said, his tone leaving no room for argument. “I need you close in case of an emergency.You’ll have your own quarters, of course. Everything you need will be provided.”

Julian stared at him, his expression shifting from shock to anger. “Move in? Are you serious? I have a life, Enzo. A job. I can’t just…”

“You can, and you will,” Enzo interrupted, his voice hardening. “This isn’t a negotiation, Julian. You work for me now, and that means you’re on call 24/7. I can’t have you across town when I need you.”

Julian shot to his feet; his hands clenched into fists at his sides. “You can’t just dictate my life like this! I agreed to work for you, not become your prisoner!”

Enzo stood as well, his movements slow and deliberate, like a predator closing in on its prey. He stepped around the desk, his dark eyes locked on Julian’s. “You think you have a choice? You’re in my world now, Doctor. And in my world, I make the rules.”

Julian took a step back, but Enzo followed, closing the distance between them. The tension in the room was palpable, a crackling energy that made the air feel heavy. Julian’s chest rose and fell with quick, shallow breaths, his eyes darting around the room as if searching for an escape. But there was none. Enzo had him cornered, and they both knew it.

“I’m not your property,” Julian said, his voice shaking with anger. “You can’t just…”

Enzo cut him off, slamming his hand against the wall beside Julian’s head. The sound echoed through the room, and Julian flinched, his back pressing against the wall. Enzo leaned in, his face inches from Julian’s, his breath hot against the doctor’s skin.

“You don’t get it, do you?” Enzo growled, his voice low and dangerous. “You’re mine now. Every breath you take, every move you make, it’s because I allow it. You think you can walk away? You think you can say no? Try it, and I’ll show you just how wrong you are.”

Julian’s eyes were wide, his pulse racing as he stared up at Enzo. The mafia boss was close, too close, his presence overwhelming. Julian could smell the faint scent of his cologne, something dark and expensive, and feel the heat radiating from his body. It was intoxicating and terrifying all at once, a heady mix that left Julian’s mind reeling.

“You’re evil,” Julian whispered, his voice barely audible.

Enzo smirked, a cold, humorless smile that sent a shiver down Julian’s spine. For a moment, they just stood there, the tension between them crackling like a live wire. Julian’s heart pounded in his chest, his mind racing as he tried to figure out what to do. He wanted to fight, to push Enzo away and run as far as he could. But he knew it was pointless. Enzo had him trapped, and there was no way out.

Finally, Enzo stepped back, releasing Julian from the intensity of his gaze. “You’ll move in by the end of the week. Luca will help you pack your things. And Julian?” He paused, his eyes narrowing. “Don’t make me regret this.”

Julian didn’t respond. He couldn’t. His mind was a whirlwind of fear and anger, his body still trembling from the encounter. He watched as Enzo turned and walked back to his desk, his movements calm and controlled, as if nothing had happened.

“You’re dismissed,” Enzo said, his tone casual, as if he hadn’t just turned Julian’s world upside down.

Julian hesitated for a moment, his eyes lingering on Enzo’s back. Then, without a word, he turned and walked out of the office, his legs unsteady beneath him. The hallway seemed to stretch on forever, the walls closing in around him as he made his way to the front door.

As he stepped outside, the cool night air hit his face, sharp and refreshing. But it did little to calm the storm raging inside him. He had made a deal with the devil, and now he was paying the price. There was no going back. Not now. Not ever.

And as he climbed into the waiting car, Julian couldn’t shake the feeling that he had just signed away his soul.

???

Julian stood in the middle of his apartment, a half-filled cardboard box in his hands. The place felt hollow now, the walls stripped of the few personal touches he’d managed to accumulate over the years. A framed photo of his mother sat on the kitchen counter, her smile frozen in time, a reminder of the life he’d lost. He picked it up, running his thumb over the glass before gently placing it in the box. His chest tightened as he looked around the room, the weight of what he was about to do pressing down on him like a physical force.

This is my life now,he thought bitterly.All because I saved a man’s life.

The knock at the door startled him, and he turned to see Luca standing in the doorway, his hands in his pockets and an awkward smile on his face. The youngest Moretti brother looked out of place in Julian’s modest apartment, his designer clothesand confident demeanor a stark contrast to the worn furniture and faded walls.

“Hey,” Luca said, stepping inside. “Enzo sent me to help you pack. You ready to go?”

Julian didn’t answer. He just turned back to the box, shoving a stack of books inside with more force than necessary. Luca watched him for a moment before sighing and grabbing another box.

“Look, I get it,” Luca said as he started packing up the kitchen. “This isn’t exactly how you saw your life going. But it’s not all bad, you know? The mansion’s nice. You’ll have your own space, and Enzo’s not as bad as he seems. Once you get used to him, he’s actually…”

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