The aftermath of the attack left the mansion buzzing with tension. Guards patrolled every corridor, weapons in hand, eyes scanning the shadows. The Don stood at the center of it all, his usual calm replaced by an intensity that made the air feel charged.
I stayed close, my fingers brushing his as we moved through the halls. "Who were they?" I asked, my voice low, though the fear behind it trembled.
"They're not just rivals," he said, eyes narrowing. "They know me… and they know you."
My stomach tightened. "Know me? How?"
He didn't answer immediately. Instead, he led me to the study, locking the door behind us. The room smelled of leather and faint smoke. He moved to the window, peering out at the darkened gardens, where the remnants of the attack still lingered.
"They're connected to the auction," he said finally, voice low, almost a growl. "The one where you were… sold. Some of the buyers didn't like the outcome. They wanted you gone, but I protected you. Now, they've returned."
I swallowed hard, the memory of the auction—the humiliation, the fear, the unknown—rising in me. And now, it seemed, the past was reaching forward to claim me again.
"You mean…" I trailed off.
He turned, his eyes dark and stormy, but still soft on me. "Yes. You're more than just my responsibility. They see you as leverage… as a pawn. And I will not allow anyone to touch what belongs to me."
The weight of his words sank in, and despite my fear, I felt a strange warmth. Belongs to him. It wasn't just a promise; it was a warning.
The mansion felt smaller now, a gilded cage hiding threats that lurked just beyond the walls. I realized that surviving the last battle had been only the beginning. There were secrets yet to uncover—about my past, about the Don, and about the enemies who would stop at nothing to take me from him.
He stepped closer, brushing a strand of hair from my face, his gaze locking with mine. "You're mine," he whispered, possessive and tender at once. "And I'll keep it that way, no matter the cost."
I shivered, part fear, part desire, knowing that the coming days would test us both. But in that moment, I also knew one thing: with him, I was ready to face whatever shadows lay ahead.