Chapter 4 Four

{Elena's POV}

The days blurred together. I'd lost track of time, imprisoned in Nico Moretti's world. He'd abandoned me after that night, leaving me eerie silence, an empty room, and the haunting awareness of my detention.

I'd tried everything. Windows were sealed, doors locked, and the guards ignored me. I hated this feeling. The powerlessness. The waiting.

I refused to be a helpless captive. When Alessa, the blonde woman, brought breakfast, I seized my chance.

She set the tray down without a word, like always, and turned to leave.

I stood abruptly. "Wait."

She hesitated, her back stiff.

I took a slow step forward. "Tell me something, Alessa. Why does Moretti keep me locked up like this? If he went through all that trouble to buy me, why hasn't he done anything yet?"

Her expression flickered, revealing a hint of hesitation or perhaps even pity.

"That's not for me to answer."

I narrowed my eyes. "But you know, don't you?"

Silence.

I took another step. "Is he planning to kill me?"

Her lips parted slightly, then pressed into a thin line. "No."

I let out a slow breath. That should have been a relief. It wasn't.

"Then what does he want from me?"

Our eyes met, and I caught a glimpse of emotions in hers, a departure from her usual indifference.

"Don't make him your enemy, Elena."

A chill crawled up my spine.

Before I could say anything else, she turned and walked out, the door locking behind her.

I sat on the edge of the bed, my fists clenched.

Don't make him my enemy?

He bought me. Locked me away. And she's telling me not to make him my enemy?

I let out a humorless laugh. Too late for that.

I needed to get out of here.

Nico Moretti didn't intend to kill me, he must have had a plan. And I had no intention of waiting around to find out what it was.

That night, my opportunity came.

I pretended to sleep as footsteps approached. The lock opened, and I held still, controlling my breath. The door creaked open.

A shadow moved inside.

I waited.

The moment he got close enough, I struck.

I sprang up, grabbing the lamp from the nightstand and swinging it hard.

He dodged at the last second, but the lamp shattered against his shoulder, sending shards of glass flying.

I didn't stop.

I lunged for the door, but a strong arm yanked me back. I elbowed him in the ribs, but he barely flinched.

"Enough."

The deep, commanding voice froze me.

Nico.

His grip tightened, but not painfully. Just firm. Controlled.

I struggled anyway, twisting in his hold. "Let me go, you son of a-"

"You're not going anywhere, Elena."

His voice was calm, but there was a deadly edge to it.

I turned my head, glaring up at him. Big mistake.

His face was inches from mine, his sharp jawline and blue eyes gleaming with cold intensity in faint light.

There was no amusement there. No patience.

Only control.

A dangerous kind of control.

I swallowed hard, my pulse racing with a betraying intensity.

"Let Me Go."

His grip loosened slightly but didn't release me.

"You're a fighter." His voice was low, almost thoughtful. "That's good."

I stiffened. What the hell did that mean?

He finally let go, stepping back. I stumbled slightly but caught myself.

Nico studied me for a long moment, then sighed, shaking his head.

"I was going to wait until you were ready," he said, almost to himself. "But it seems you need answers now."

I narrowed my eyes. "What answers?"

His gaze met mine, and something flickered there-something unreadable.

"The truth about why you're here."

A chill ran through me.

I crossed my arms. "Then start talking."

Nico didn't react to my defiance. If anything, he almost looked... amused.

"Sit," he said, nodding toward the chair by the window.

I didn't move.

His lips curved slightly. "That wasn't a request."

I hesitated, but I knew pushing him now wouldn't get me anywhere. So I sat.

He moved to the opposite chair, leaning back like he had all the time in the world.

"You don't remember much about your past, do you?"

I froze.

My fingers dug into my arms. "What do you know about my past?"

His gaze was steady. "Everything."

A cold wave of nausea rolled over me.

He leaned forward slightly, resting his elbows on his knees.

"You weren't sold at that auction by accident, Elena. You were meant to be there."

I shook my head. "That doesn't make sense-"

"It does." His voice was firm. "You were being delivered to someone."

I stilled.

Delivered?

Nico's dark gaze never wavered. "Dante Romano wasn't just bidding against me for fun. He was supposed to take you that night."

I felt like the floor had just dropped beneath me.

Dante... was supposed to take me?

Then why didn't he?

Why had Nico stepped in?

I swallowed, my throat dry. "Why do you care?"

A long silence stretched between us. Then, finally, Nico spoke.

"Because you were never meant to survive that auction."

I sucked in a sharp breath.

His words hit me like a punch to the gut.

I gripped the armrests of the chair, my knuckles white.

"You're lying."

His expression didn't change. "Am I?"

My breathing was too fast, my thoughts spiraling.

If what he was saying was true-if I was never meant to leave that place alive-then that meant...

Someone wanted me dead.

And Nico Moretti had stopped that from happening.

But why?

Before I could speak, Nico stood.

"That's enough for tonight."

I shot to my feet. "No. You don't get to just drop that on me and walk away-"

He moved fast. Too fast.

One second, I was glaring up at him. The next, his fingers gripped my chin, tilting my face up.

His touch wasn't rough. But it was final.

"You want answers?" His voice was low, lethal. "Then we have to get married, that's the only way."

His eyes burned into mine for a long, breathless second.

Then he released me and turned away.

Married, that's the last thing I will ever do with this monster.

The door clicked shut behind him.

I stood there, my heart racing, my mind spinning.

I wasn't just some random girl sold at an auction.

I was a target.