Chapter 3 The Chains of Silence

Lina spent the rest of the day in a haze of confusion and unease. Every corner of the mansion seemed to close in around her, suffocating her with its grandeur and its secrets. Her mind kept returning to Giovanni's words-the chilling certainty in his voice, the dangerous undercurrent behind his casual tone. She had never known a man like him, and the realization that she now belonged to him, in every sense, was a bitter pill to swallow.

By the time the sun dipped below the horizon, the mansion had settled into a stillness that made Lina restless. Her room, once a place of comfort, now felt like a gilded cage. The walls, adorned with expensive art and soft lighting, only emphasized the distance between her and the outside world. There was no escape here. No way out of the life her father had condemned her to.

The silence was broken only by the occasional sound of footsteps in the hall. She could feel the eyes of the mansion staff on her, though they never spoke to her unless spoken to. She had been given a few hours to herself, but even in the solitude, she never felt truly alone. Giovanni's presence loomed over her every moment, a constant reminder that she was no longer the woman she once was.

She stood in front of the full-length mirror in her room, her fingers lightly grazing the edge of her collarbone. The dress she had worn to the dinner earlier still hung from the chair, its dark fabric a reminder of the night that had changed everything. She touched the fabric now, as if somehow, the act of tracing its seams could bring some comfort. But it didn't.

A knock on the door broke her thoughts, sharp and insistent. She glanced toward it, her pulse quickening. It was too early for dinner-Giovanni's orders hadn't said anything about a meeting. Yet, she knew who it was.

"Come in," she called out, her voice steady despite the tremor in her chest.

The door opened, and in stepped a man she had seen only in passing. His features were sharp, his build solid, and his eyes, dark as coal, were unyielding. His presence, like everything in this house, was a quiet force. His name was Luca-Giovanni's right-hand man. He was loyal, efficient, and intimidating, with an air of someone who had never been told no in his life.

"I've been asked to bring you to Giovanni," Luca said, his voice low, almost respectful.

Lina's heart skipped a beat at the mention of Giovanni's name. She had been avoiding him all day, trying to come to terms with what was happening, but she knew this moment was inevitable. She had no choice but to obey.

"Lead the way," she said, standing from the mirror.

As she walked past Luca, she caught the faint scent of his cologne-a sharp, woody fragrance that reminded her of smoke and leather. She didn't know why the smell unsettled her, but it did. It was as if it held some sort of danger, an unspoken warning.

Luca led her through the sprawling halls, the sound of their footsteps echoing off the marble floors. The house was eerily quiet, save for the occasional creak of the floorboards or the distant murmur of voices. She could feel the weight of his gaze on her, though he said nothing. It wasn't until they reached a large, imposing door that he finally spoke.

"Giovanni's waiting for you," Luca said, his voice betraying no emotion.

Lina's breath caught in her throat. She had never been this close to Giovanni's private quarters, and a knot of nervous anticipation twisted in her stomach. The door opened, revealing a room as lavish as the rest of the house. But this room held an intimacy, a sense of power that was undeniable. The heavy velvet curtains, the rich leather furniture, and the faint scent of expensive whiskey in the air all spoke of a man who had everything-and yet, still desired more.

Giovanni was standing by the window, his back to her, staring out into the night. The moonlight caught the edges of his profile, casting a sharp contrast against the darkness. There was a stillness to him, as if he were always calculating, always planning. His presence was magnetic, pulling her in even when she tried to resist.

"You've come," he said without turning, his voice smooth but commanding.

Lina took a hesitant step forward, unsure of what to do, but unable to turn away. "You asked for me," she said softly, her words hanging in the air like a fragile thread between them.

He turned slowly, his gaze locking onto hers with an intensity that made her heart race. His eyes-the same dark eyes that had held her captive the night before-seemed to see through her, as if he could read her every thought.

"I wanted to see you," Giovanni said, his voice almost a whisper. He moved closer, and the space between them seemed to shrink, his presence swallowing her whole. "I'm sure you have many questions."

Lina nodded, though her throat was dry, her words caught in the web of her own fear and uncertainty. "I don't understand. Why me? Why this?"

Giovanni's lips quirked into a smile, but it didn't reach his eyes. "You ask questions you already know the answers to," he said, his tone light but laced with something darker. "Your father's debts have been paid, and now you're mine. That's the reality, Lina. Nothing more, nothing less."

The words stung, sharper than any physical blow. She had known this was coming, but hearing it from him-hearing the cold finality in his voice-made it all the more real. She wanted to fight, wanted to scream, but something in her held her back, as if her body understood something her mind hadn't yet accepted.

Giovanni stepped closer, his hand reaching out to brush a strand of hair from her face, the touch sending a shiver down her spine. "I can see the fear in your eyes," he said, his voice a quiet murmur. "You're afraid of me."

"I'm not afraid of you," Lina managed to say, her voice barely above a whisper. But she knew it was a lie, and Giovanni seemed to know it too.

His smile widened, though there was no warmth in it. "You should be. But that's part of the game, isn't it?" He stepped back, his gaze never leaving hers. "You're going to learn, Lina. You'll learn how to play it, how to survive. And in time, you might even learn to enjoy the game."

Lina's heart pounded in her chest as she stood frozen, unable to tear her gaze away from Giovanni. She hated him-hated that he could make her feel so small, so powerless. But at the same time, she couldn't deny the pull between them. It was there, a dangerous undercurrent of desire and dominance that she couldn't escape, no matter how hard she tried.

"Now, go," Giovanni said, his voice cutting through her thoughts like a sharp blade. "Luca will show you to your new quarters."

As she turned to leave, she felt Giovanni's gaze follow her every step. She didn't know what her future held in this house, in this world. All she knew was that she was trapped-trapped in his game, with no way out.