Chapter 4 BREAKING POINT

Serena's wrists burned.

The skin was raw where the ropes had bitten in, a constant reminder of how far she'd fallen. Of how much he had already taken.

But no matter how tight his hold on her, he would never own her.

The grand bedroom, his bedroom was cold and unwelcoming. She paced the floor, restless, her mind working through every possible escape. Guards patrolled the grounds. Windows reinforced. Doors locked from the outside.

No easy way out.

But Serena De Luca wasn't the kind of woman who needed things to be easy.

The click of the lock snapped her focus to the door.

He was here. Adriano.

He moved like a shadow cold, deliberate. The kind of man who didn't ask for power he took it. And tonight, he was coming for her.

She should've been afraid. But all she felt was hatred.

"You're pacing," he said quietly, shutting the door behind him. "You're not planning to run, are you?"

She glared at him, every muscle in her body coiled tight. "I'm not stupid. There's no way out of your little prison."

Adriano chuckled, low and dangerous. "You're smarter than I gave you credit for."

"Let me go," she demanded.

His smile faded. "Not a chance."

Serena's heart pounded in her chest, but she didn't back down. "What's your plan, Varela? Keep me locked away forever? You think you'll break me?"

His eyes darkened, and in one swift move, he was on her pushing her against the wall, his hand gripping her jaw.

"You don't understand," he murmured, his voice like ice. "I don't want to break you. I want to ruin you."

Serena struggled against his hold, her breath catching as his body pressed against hers. "I'll kill you before that happens."

Adriano laughed softly. "Such fire," he mused, dragging his thumb along her lower lip. "I wonder how long it will last once I'm finished with you."

"You're disgusting," she hissed.

"And you," he said, his voice a dangerous whisper, "are mine now."

---

His patience snapped.

Adriano had tried to keep his composure-to treat her as nothing more than a pawn. But every time she fought him, it stirred something darker inside him.

He was done waiting.

Grabbing her wrists, he spun her around and shoved her onto the bed.

Serena thrashed beneath him, fire blazing in her eyes. "Get off me, you bastard!"

"You talk too much," he growled.

He pinned her wrists above her head, his weight pressing her into the mattress. She was struggling, but it only made his blood burn hotter.

She wanted to fight? Let her.

Because he'd already won.

---

Down the hall, Camila waited.

Her nails dug into her palms as she sat in the leather chair, one leg crossed over the other. She knew where Adriano was with her.

And it was driving her insane.

For years, she had been the one by his side-the one he trusted. And when the anger burned too hot inside him, she had been the one to quench it.

But now?

Now, there was Serena De Luca, poisoning everything.

The door to Adriano's private study creaked open, and Santi stepped inside. His usual cocky expression was gone, replaced by a tension that mirrored her own.

"He's still with her?" Santi asked quietly.

Camila didn't look at him. "Yes."

A beat of silence stretched between them before Santi spoke again. "You don't have to let this happen."

His words were soft too soft. And when Camila finally turned toward him, she caught something in his gaze that made her stomach twist.

Desire.

"You think I'm weak?" she snapped.

Santi shook his head, stepping closer. "I think you're better than this. Better than being his second choice."

For a moment, something flickered in her chest-a temptation. But it vanished just as quickly.

"I don't need your advice," she said coldly, brushing past him.

And as she walked away, she didn't see the way Santi's expression darkened how jealousy twisted into something dangerous.

---

Elsewhere in the city, Diego knew he was making a mistake.

But as Isla De Luca slid into the passenger seat of his car, her lips swollen from their stolen kiss, he didn't care.

"You shouldn't be here," she whispered.

Diego reached over, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "I couldn't stay away."

She bit her lower lip. "If my father finds out"

"I'll handle him," Diego promised, though they both knew it was a lie.

Because if Luciano De Luca found out his daughter was in bed with Adriano's street boss, he wouldn't just kill Diego.

He'd kill her too.

---

In the weapons room, Val and Javier were at each other's throats.

"That's not how the system works," Val snapped, adjusting a rifle sight. "Do it my way, or blow yourself up for all I care."

Javier laughed under his breath. "Such a sweet mouth. Wonder what it'd feel like wrapped around-"

"Finish that sentence," Val warned, "and I'll shoot you myself."

Javier leaned closer, his voice dropping to a taunting whisper. "I love it when you threaten me, Chiquita."

Val rolled her eyes, but her pulse quickened despite herself.

---

Back in the bedroom, Adriano watched Serena.

Her skin was flushed, and her breathing was uneven. He had taken everything still, she hadn't broken.

It should've satisfied him.

It didn't.

Because no matter how much he punished her, he wanted more.

And that scared him more than anything.