Chapter 4 Terms of possession

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CHAPTER FOUR: Terms of Possession

Leonardo

Her file was thin-too thin.

Elena Hart. Age: 22. No parents. One younger brother, Michael Hart, age 10. Ill. Hospital records flagged under charity care. Two jobs, one at the gala catering company, another at a bookstore downtown. No criminal record. Clean. Too clean.

She was trying to survive in a world that chewed girls like her up.

I could respect that. But respect didn't stop me from circling her name like prey.

I snapped the file shut.

One visit.

One offer.

And if she refused?

She wouldn't.

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Elena

The knock came just as I was leaving for my second shift.

Michael was asleep on the couch, wrapped in my only thick blanket. The medicine had made him drowsy, but at least the pain was less now.

I opened the door expecting my landlord.

What I saw instead was a tall man in a dark suit and colder eyes.

He handed me a black envelope.

"This is from Mr. De Luca. He requests your presence."

My fingers trembled as I took it. "I-he can't just-"

"He can," the man said simply. "He does."

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The restaurant was closed. Private. Silent.

He sat at the far end of the table like a king waiting for a subject.

"You came," he said.

I didn't sit. "I didn't have a choice."

"There's always a choice, Elena." His voice was soft. "But some choices come with consequences."

I clenched my fists. "What do you want?"

"I want you to marry me."

The world spun.

He leaned back, as calm as if he'd offered to buy me a coffee.

"One year. Nothing more. You'll want for nothing. Your brother will be taken care of. And when the year ends, you're free."

I laughed. It came out hollow. "You're insane."

His gaze sharpened. "No. I'm in control. And I don't make offers twice."

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