Chapter 5 BOUND BY CONTROL

"Get the doctor!" Luca shouted.

Marco immediately called Dr Nacho, their family physician. He had treated the Moretti family for years, even performing surgery on Luca six years ago when he was hit by the same bullet that killed his father. He understood his job, so no questions asked.

Luca lifted Sophie into his arms and gently carried her inside the mansion, heading straight to his room.

"Why did you go there? The estate is massive. You could have gone anywhere else, but you chose the south side. I waited so long to finally meet you. I won't let anything happen to you."

The fear of losing her had made him spill thoughts he normally kept buried.

If only Sophie could hear all his confessions, she might have said, "How is the mafia boss so worried about anybody?"

The doctor arrived twenty minutes later and examined her. Luca still hadn't let go of her hand.

"She will be fine," Dr Nacho reassured him. "It was just a shock. She will be back on her feet soon."

Luca remained at her side, unmoving, his grip on her hand gentle but firm. He didn't care about anything else. He had developed feelings for her long before he even laid eyes on her. Marco walked the doctor out, knowing Luca wouldn't leave Sophie for a second.

...

Sophie opened her eyes. Morning sunlight streamed through the window. The room was unfamiliar.

As flashes of last night returned to her, she gasped and sat upright.

That was when she noticed him: Luca, lying beside her. His chest was bare, the sheets tangled around his waist. She froze, part of her instinctively wanting to run. But she didn't. Maybe, deep down, she wasn't afraid of the man lying half-naked next to her.

She couldn't help but admire him. The light poured over his torso, casting shadows across every sculpted line, the taut muscles of his abdomen, the trail of stubble along his jaw, and a faint line leading from his navel down beneath the sheets. He looked like he ruled even in sleep, radiating quiet power.

Her breath caught. He was beautiful. Dangerously so.

"Kiss me already," he murmured without opening his eyes, "those eyes have burnt holes into my skin."

Sophie turned away quickly, pretending not to have been caught.

Luca opened his eyes, stretching lazily. "Get ready. We are going shopping."

He didn't bring up the events of last night. He didn't want to, he wasn't sure how she would react. Safer not to mention it.

Sophie hesitated. A part of her was scared of him, but another part, the part she refused to acknowledge, felt... safe. Still, she didn't want to go anywhere with him.

"Last night... who?" she asked, signaling with her eyes. She noticed the nightwear she had on, it wasn't the same cloth she had on yesterday.

"Don't worry," Luca teased. "I didn't see anything I wasn't supposed to. The maid helped."

Sophie said nothing more. Just as Luca didn't want to talk about the incident of last night, neither did she.

He stood and walked toward the bathroom. Sophie's gaze followed him. He pulled off his pants and stepped into the shower. The bathroom doors were transparent glass; he knew she could see him. He did it on purpose.

As soon as she realized what he was doing, she turned her head away before the pants were off his waist, pulling the sheets over her arm and burying her face into the pillow.

After his shower, Luca got dressed. Before leaving, he said, "Get ready. I will be waiting in the dining room. Don't take too long."

He shut the door behind him.

...

Thirty minutes passed. Sophie still hadn't gone downstairs. She was fully dressed in the clothes the maid had brought, but she sat frozen on the edge of the bed.

The door opened again. Luca stepped in; his expression darkened. "Get up," he ordered.

"I'm not going," Sophie replied.

He didn't wait for another word. He strode over, grabbed her arm, and pulled her to her feet.

Sophie resisted, but Luca was stronger. He lifted her effortlessly onto his shoulder.

"Put me down! Let go! I'm not going anywhere!"

Outside, the guards opened the back door of his Rolls-Royce. Luca set her down gently in the back seat and fastened her seatbelt. Then, without a word, he tied her hands so she couldn't get out.

Luca walked around and slid into the car beside her. "Start the car," he said coldly.

Sophie kept struggling. But eventually, she realised she was only hurting herself. She slumped against the seat in defeat.

Marco and the driver sat up front, while two black SUVs trailed behind them; bodyguards in formation. Ever since his father's assassination, Luca never moved without heavy security. If it were a business meeting, Uncle Tony would have joined too.

"This is what happens when you disobey," Luca muttered, voice low and firm.

Sophie didn't respond. She stared out the window in silence.

Luca reached over to untie her hands. He brushed a loose strand of hair from her face, but she smacked his hand away.

He only smiled. "You look more beautiful when you are angry."

The car pulled up in front of a boutique. Marco stepped out and opened the door, waiting.

Luca didn't move. "Do I need to carry you inside too?"

Sophie huffed and stepped out on her own. She paused, unsure where to go.

St. Louis was quieter than usual; it was a few minutes past rush hour, but this part of the city was mostly corporate. The streets emptied quickly once people reached their offices.

Marco led the way and held the boutique door open.

"After you," Luca said smoothly.

Sophie walked in reluctantly.

"Welcome, Mr Moretti," the attendant greeted. "We have prepared our best selection."

Luca had instructed Marco to call them ahead of time.

"Show her your best-selling dresses," Luca instructed.

The attendant ushered Sophie toward the dressing rooms.

She tried on several outfits. Luca rejected anything too revealing; dresses that showed her thighs or cleavage were immediately dismissed. Sophie quickly learnt to hide the ones she liked most, knowing he would reject them.

She was slipping into the last dress when she noticed a door in the corner labelled "Emergency Exit Only".

Her heart skipped.

A thought sparked.

What if she left through that door?