Chapter 1: The Fluorescent Lights

The harsh fluorescent lights buzzed overhead, making her already pounding headache worse.

Ellie Morgan’s fingers trembled as she clutched her worn leather purse against her chest like a shield.

The metallic taste of fear coated her tongue.

She stood in the cavernous office, feeling smaller with each passing second.

“Sit down.”

The voice cut through the silence like a blade.

Dante Castellano didn’t look up from his phone.

“You’re not leaving until you tell me the truth.”

Her legs nearly buckled.

She lowered herself into the plush leather chair across from his massive mahogany desk.

How had her life spiraled to this point?

Three weeks ago, she was Ellie Morgan, twenty-six-year-old single mother, working double shifts at Bellini’s, an upscale Italian restaurant on the city’s east side.

Stretching every dollar to provide for her four-year-old daughter, Lily.

Lily had inherited her late mother’s blue eyes and her absent father’s dark curls.

Every night, after putting Lily to bed, Ellie would sit at their tiny kitchen table, spread out the bills, and cry silently.

The medical bills from Lily’s last asthma attack had drained what little savings she had.

Rent was due in three days.

She had exactly forty-seven dollars in her checking account.

So when Mrs. Patel, the elderly neighbor from next door, agreed to watch Lily for a few hours, Ellie promised to bring back tiramisu from the restaurant.

She needed the double-shift money desperately.

Now she sat here, facing the most dangerous man in the city with nowhere to run.

She should have called in sick that night.

The thought had crossed her mind when Lily’s babysitter almost canceled.

But she couldn’t afford to lose the tips.

Not when Dante Castellano had been her regular for the past week.

Not when his thousand-dollar tips had single-handedly paid for Lily’s new inhaler.

Dante finally looked up from his phone.

His dark eyes pinned her in place.

“Why did you meet with Detective Riley?”

His voice was soft.

That made it infinitely more terrifying.

“I… he approached me,” she stammered.

“You didn’t tell me.”

“It wasn’t important.”

“Everything about you is important to me, Elliana.”

He said her full name like a curse and a prayer wrapped together.

No one called her Elliana except her late grandmother.

But Dante had used it from the first night they met.

Like he had known her for years.

Like she already belonged to him.

She shifted in her chair, the diamond bracelet on her wrist catching the light.

Another gift from him.

Another shackle.

“You’re not leaving this room until I have the truth,” he said.

“I can wait all night.”

A knock on the door made her jump.

Dante’s head of security, Enzo, entered without waiting for permission.

“Boss, the girl is settled. Maria gave her ice cream. She’s watching cartoons.”

Lily.

They had taken Lily.

Ellie shot to her feet.

“You took my daughter?”

Dante stood slowly, circling the desk with predatory grace.

“I ensured her safety while her mother was meeting with the police behind my back.”

“She’s four years old.”

“And she’s mine to protect now.”

He stopped inches from her.

“You agreed to that the moment you accepted the first gift.”

Her heart hammered against her ribs.

“Take me to her.”

“After we finish our conversation.”

“Please.”

The word escaped before she could stop it.

Dante’s expression softened almost imperceptibly.

He reached out and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

“Then tell me the truth, cara mia.”

“Tell me why I shouldn’t have you both locked away where no one can ever use you against me again.”

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