The Moretti mansion was not a house. It was a fortress. It sat high on a hill, surrounded by stone walls and iron gates. When the SUV pulled up the long driveway, Elias saw guards with dogs walking the perimeter. This was a place where people disappeared.
Dante didn't wait for the guards to open the door. He stepped out and pulled Elias with him. "Welcome to your new life, Doctor."
The inside of the mansion was full of marble, gold, and dark wood. It was silent and cold. Dante led Elias up a grand staircase and down a long hallway. At the very end, there were two large oak doors.
"This is your wing," Dante said, pushing the doors open.
Elias gasped. It was a perfect medical suite. It had the newest scanners, a surgery table, and a wall full of the research books Elias had always wanted. It was a dream come true, but it felt like a trap.
"Your bedroom is through that door," Dante pointed to a smaller door on the right. "And my bedroom is the one on the left. They are connected by a shared bathroom."
Elias turned around, his face turning red. "We are sharing a bathroom? Dante, that is too much! I am your doctor, not your... your lover."
Dante walked toward him, his boots clicking loudly on the marble floor. Elias backed away until he hit the edge of the new surgical table. Dante put a hand on each side of Elias, pinning him in place.
"Rule number four, Elias," Dante said. He was so close that Elias could feel the heat of his breath. "In this house, there are no locked doors between us. If I want to see you, I see you. If I want you to check my bandages at three in the morning, you will be there."
"I need privacy," Elias argued, his voice shaking.
Dante leaned in, his nose brushing against Elias's. "You had privacy at the hospital. Now, you have me. You will eat every meal with me. you will travel in my car. And you will never, ever leave this estate without my permission. Do you understand?"
Elias looked into Dante's dark eyes. He saw a deep, burning hunger there. It wasn't just about medicine. Dante wanted to consume him.
"Yes," Elias whispered. "I understand."
"Good," Dante said. He pulled away and checked his watch. "Go change. My tailor left some clothes on your bed. We have dinner in an hour. And Elias? No white coat tonight. I want to see the man, not the doctor."
Dante walked out, leaving Elias alone in the high-tech silence. Elias walked into his new bedroom and saw a suit laid out on the silk sheets. It was dark blue and looked like it cost more than his entire year's salary.
He touched the fabric. He was a smart man, a man of science. But as he looked at the door to Dante's room, he knew the science couldn't explain why his heart was beating so fast. He was a prisoner, yes. But for the first time in his life, someone was looking at him like he was the only person in the world.