Chapter 5 The First Crack In His Ice

I signed it.

Not because I trusted him.

Not because I wanted to be here.

But because when I closed my eyes, all I could see was what he said-

There are already people asking about you.

And I knew, deep down, that walking away from his protection wasn't freedom.

It was a death sentence.

The pen felt heavier than it should have in my hand.

My signature looked shaky. Foreign. Like it belonged to someone else.

Elena Rossi.

Still me.

But not really.

The moment the ink dried, something inside my chest tightened.

Like a door had closed.

Or maybe opened.

I didn't know which was worse.

A knock sounded at my door barely five minutes later.

Of course it did.

Like he somehow knew.

"Come in," I said, voice quiet.

The door opened.

And he stepped inside.

My pulse betrayed me instantly.

His gaze went straight to the folder on the bed.

"Did you sign?" he asked.

I nodded once.

He walked closer slowly, picking up the contract, flipping to the last page.

His jaw tightened slightly when he saw my signature.

Not satisfaction.

Not triumph.

Something deeper. Quieter.

"Good," he said finally.

The word sounded... relieved.

And that unsettled me more than if he'd looked pleased.

"What happens now?" I asked.

He closed the folder carefully.

"Now," he said, "you are officially under my protection."

"And the marriage?"

"Soon."

My stomach twisted.

"How soon?"

"A few weeks," he said. "We prepare. We make it public. We make it... undeniable."

I swallowed hard.

"And if I panic and run?"

His eyes lifted to mine.

"You won't."

The confidence in his voice made heat rise in my chest - anger, fear... something else.

"You don't know that."

He stepped closer.

"I do."

"Why?"

His voice dropped.

"Because you are stronger than you think."

The words hit harder than they should have.

I looked away.

Silence settled between us.

Then-

"You haven't eaten," he said.

"I'm not hungry."

"That wasn't a question."

I glared at him. "You're insufferable."

"And you are stubborn."

"Maybe I wouldn't be if I wasn't kidnapped into an arranged marriage."

Something flickered in his eyes.

Guilt?

No.

Regret.

It vanished too fast to be sure.

"Come," he said. "Dinner."

"I don't want-"

"Elena."

Just my name.

Low. Controlled.

And my stupid body reacted like it recognized authority.

I hated that.

But I followed him anyway.

The dining room was enormous. A long dark table. Candles flickering softly. Food already laid out like we were royalty or something equally ridiculous.

I hesitated in the doorway.

"This is insane," I whispered.

"This is normal for me."

"Well it's not normal for me."

He pulled out a chair beside the head of the table.

"Sit."

I sat.

Because fighting every moment would destroy me faster.

Dinner started in silence.

I picked at the food, barely tasting it.

His phone buzzed once. He ignored it.

Buzzed again.

Ignored.

On the third time, he silenced it and set it face down.

My chest tightened strangely.

"You can answer it," I said quietly.

"It's not important."

"You run an empire."

"And right now," he said calmly, "you are more important."

My fork paused mid-air.

I stared at him.

"Why?" I whispered.

He met my gaze evenly.

"Because you are my future wife."

The words should have felt like chains.

Instead, they felt... heavier.

Real.

Dinner continued quietly.

Then-

A man entered suddenly, stopping near the doorway.

"Sir. There's been movement near the east perimeter."

Everything in Alessandro changed instantly.

Cold. Sharp. Deadly.

"Handle it," he said.

"Yes, sir."

The man left.

I swallowed hard.

"Is that normal?" I asked quietly.

"Yes."

"People trying to break in?"

"Sometimes."

Fear crawled up my spine.

"You're not safe," I said before thinking.

His eyes flicked to mine.

"I am safer than most."

"That's not what I meant."

Silence.

Then he said quietly-

"You're worried about me?"

Heat rushed to my face. "I didn't say that."

"You implied it."

"I just- I don't want to live in a war zone."

His expression softened just a fraction.

"You won't."

"How can you promise that?"

He reached across the table suddenly.

My breath caught when his fingers brushed mine.

"I promise," he said quietly.

The room felt too small.

Too warm.

Too charged.

I pulled my hand back quickly.

But the imprint of his touch stayed.

Dinner ended shortly after.

I stood quickly, needing space.

"I'm tired," I said.

"Of course you are."

I turned to leave.

"Elena."

I stopped.

Turned slowly.

He stood now, watching me like I was something fragile he didn't trust himself to touch.

"You did the right thing," he said quietly.

Signing.

Choosing survival.

Choosing him.

My chest tightened painfully.

"I didn't do it for you," I said.

"I know."

"But..."

I hesitated.

Then said softly-

"Thank you... for not killing me."

Something raw flashed across his face.

"I was never going to kill you."

"You don't know that."

His voice dropped lower.

"Yes," he said. "I do."

Silence stretched.

Heavy.

Then I turned and walked away, my heart pounding too fast.

Upstairs, inside my room, I leaned against the door once it shut.

And finally let myself breathe.

Because tonight, something had shifted.

Not just legally.

Not just physically.

Emotionally.

And that terrified me more than guns, enemies, or contracts ever could.

Because the man I was supposed to fear...

Was starting to look at me like I was something precious.

And the worst part?

A small, dangerous part of me...

Liked it.