Chapter 5 The Chains Tighten

Valentina sat on the edge of the bed, her breathing still uneven, her pulse drumming against her ribs. The key was gone. Her freedom, snatched away in an instant. Adrian had caught her, and now she was back where she started.

No, not quite. She was worse off. Because now, he knew she would try to run. And he would be watching her even closer.

The air in the room felt heavier, suffocating. Adrian had left her with one final warning, his voice still echoing in her head.

Try to escape again, and you'll find out just how ruthless I can be.

A shiver ran through her, but she clenched her fists. She wouldn't give up. She couldn't.

The lock on the door clicked, and her head snapped up. The heavy door swung open, and Adrian stepped inside, his expression unreadable. He was dressed impeccably, as always, black shirt, sleeves rolled up to his forearms, veins prominent along the back of his hands. He looked every bit the predator he was.

But this time, his eyes weren't just cold. They were furious.

"Get up," he ordered, his voice quiet but sharp as a blade.

She hesitated.

He stepped closer, his presence overpowering. "Don't make me repeat myself."

Valentina swallowed hard and rose to her feet. She refused to cower, but her body was rigid with tension.

"You want to run?" Adrian murmured, tilting his head. "You think you can outplay me?"

She lifted her chin. "I have to try."

Something flickered in his gaze... annoyance, amusement, something darker. "You misunderstand, Valentina. This isn't a game. You don't get to run."

Her jaw clenched. "Then what do I get, Adrian? A gilded cage? A life dictated by you?"

He studied her for a long moment before exhaling. "Come with me."

She didn't move. "Where?"

"You'll see."

She wanted to refuse, but she knew that was pointless. So she followed, her footsteps light as she trailed behind him. He led her through the grand corridors of the estate, down a staircase, until they reached a large set of double doors.

Adrian pushed them open, revealing a vast underground training room. The space was lined with various weapons, guns, knives, even swords. A boxing ring sat at the center, and along the walls were shelves filled with ledgers and maps.

This was more than a training ground. This was a war room.

Valentina's pulse quickened. "Why did you bring me here?"

Adrian stepped toward a table, picking up a sleek dagger. He turned it in his hand before flicking his gaze to her. "Because if you insist on fighting me, then you should at least learn how to do it properly."

She frowned. "What?"

He strode toward her, closing the distance between them in seconds. Without warning, he pressed the handle of the dagger into her palm.

"Fight me."

Valentina stiffened. "Are you serious?"

His lips curved slightly, but there was no humor in his expression. "You wanted to run. You think you can take me down? Show me."

She hesitated, her fingers tightening around the dagger. She could end this right now. Drive the blade into him. Free herself.

But she knew better. Adrian Costa wasn't a fool. He wouldn't have handed her a weapon if he wasn't in complete control of the situation.

Still, she wasn't about to back down.

She shifted her stance, her grip adjusting on the dagger. Adrian observed her, a flicker of approval in his dark gaze.

Then, he attacked.

His movements were swift, precise. Valentina barely had time to react before he struck, disarming her in seconds. The dagger clattered to the floor, and she found herself shoved against the nearest pillar, Adrian's forearm pressing against her collarbone.

"Too slow," he murmured, his breath fanning against her skin. "Again."

Her chest heaved as he released her, stepping back. Valentina's pride burned hotter than her fear. She wouldn't let him humiliate her.

She lunged, aiming to catch him off guard. But Adrian sidestepped her effortlessly, twisting her wrist just enough to make her drop the dagger again. This time, he didn't let her go. He grabbed her, pulling her against him, her back flush to his chest.

His lips brushed her ear. "You have spirit, bella, I'll give you that. But spirit alone won't save you."

She shoved at him, but he didn't budge. Instead, he turned her to face him, his grip still firm. "If you ever want to stand a chance, you need to learn how to play the game."

Her breath was uneven, her frustration mounting. "And what game is that, Adrian? The one where you always win?"

His gaze flickered, something unreadable passing through it. "No. The one where you stop being the prey."

She stilled.

Adrian reached down, retrieving the dagger and pressing it back into her palm. "You want freedom? Then earn it. Learn how to fight. Learn how to survive."

Valentina's fingers curled around the weapon. For the first time since she had been taken, she saw something other than captivity.

She saw an opportunity.

***************

Over the next week, the underground training room became Valentina's battlefield.

Adrian pushed her harder than she had ever been pushed before. Every lesson was brutal, every failure punished by another round. He showed no mercy, no softness. But she adapted. She learned.

She took the hits, the bruises, the exhaustion. But she never surrendered.

And slowly, she got better.

One evening, Adrian observed her from the sidelines, his arms crossed. Valentina was practicing with a knife, her movements sharper than before. He said nothing as she lunged at the training dummy, slicing through the air with precision.

When she finally paused, sweat trickling down her temple, she turned to him. "Well?"

He studied her, then walked over. "Better."

She scoffed. "That's all you have to say?"

He smirked. "Would you prefer a gold star?"

She rolled her eyes, but there was a spark of something in her gaze, pride. For the first time, she felt like she had control over something. Over herself.

Adrian moved closer, his voice lower. "Tell me, Valentina. If I let you go now, would you still run?"

She froze.

He stepped even closer, his breath mingling with hers. "Or would you stay and fight?"

The air between them thickened, tension crackling like a storm about to break. Valentina's heart pounded as she stared up at him, at the man who was both her captor and her teacher.

She didn't answer. Because for the first time, she wasn't sure what the truth was.

Adrian's smirk deepened. "Think about it, bella." Then, he turned and walked away, leaving her standing in the dim light of the training room, dagger still in hand.

Valentina exhaled slowly, gripping the weapon tighter.

The chains around her weren't broken yet. But for the first time, she felt the weight of them shifting.

And maybe, just maybe, she was the one holding the key.