Escaping Into The Dangerous Devil's Arms

Gianna stopped on the third step of the grand staircase.

The thick carpet absorbed the sound of her boots, but the voices drifting from the living room were sharp enough to cut through the heavy silence of the Conrad mansion.

"Yes, of course. The Vaughn family's proposal is exactly what we need."

Kayden's voice was sickeningly sweet. She was pacing near the massive leather sofa, her phone pressed to her ear.

Gianna gripped the wooden banister. The wood was cold against her palm.

Kayden ended the call and turned around. Her eyes locked onto Gianna standing in the shadows of the staircase. A slow, mocking smile spread across Kayden's face.

Before Gianna could move, the heavy oak door of the study clicked open.

Desi Conrad walked out. His face was a hard mask of lines and authority. He did not look at Kayden. His eyes went straight to Gianna.

"Come down here," Desi ordered. His voice left no room for argument.

Gianna forced her legs to move. She walked down the remaining steps, her stomach tightening with every inch she closed between them.

"The Vaughn family has extended an offer of marriage," Desi said. He stood in the center of the room, his hands clasped behind his back. "You will accept it."

Gianna stopped breathing for a full second. The air in the room suddenly felt too thin.

"Me?" Gianna asked. Her voice shook, just slightly. "Why not Kayden? She is the one dating Asa Hogan. She is the one who wants to play the high society wife."

Kayden let out a short, cruel laugh. She crossed her arms over her chest.

"Are you crazy?" Kayden said. "The Vaughn family is cursed. I've heard their heirs don't live long. You will just be a young widow. I am not going to waste my life planning a funeral."

The words hit Gianna like a physical blow to the chest.

"You are selfish," Gianna said, her voice dropping low. "You are selfish and vicious."

Desi slammed his hand down on the glass coffee table. The loud crack made Gianna flinch.

"That is enough," Desi snapped. He took a step toward Gianna, towering over her. "You will marry into the Vaughn family. If you refuse, I will take your mother's ashes from the mausoleum and throw them into the city dump."

All the blood drained from Gianna's face.

Her hands dropped to her sides. She curled her fingers inward, digging her nails so hard into her palms that the skin broke. The sharp sting of pain was the only thing keeping her standing.

"You would not," Gianna whispered. Her throat felt like it was lined with sandpaper.

"Try me," Desi said. His eyes were dead, completely devoid of any fatherly warmth. "You are a third-tier actress struggling in Hollywood. You have no money. You have no power. You have no choice."

Kayden stepped closer, standing right behind her father's shoulder.

"You are not even fit to carry my shoes, Gianna," Kayden sneered. "Just do what you are told."

Gianna shifted her weight. Her feet planted firmly on the floor. She lunged forward, closing the distance between her and Kayden in a fraction of a second.

Kayden gasped and stumbled backward, her eyes wide with sudden fear.

"Shut your mouth," Gianna said. Her voice was a low growl.

Kayden swallowed hard, pressing her back against the wall, but her arrogant smirk quickly returned as she looked at her father for backup.

"You will accept this arrangement," Desi said, ignoring the near-physical altercation. "Or you can walk out that door and never call yourself a Conrad again."

Gianna took a deep breath. Her lungs burned. She turned her back on them and walked toward the stairs.

"If you walk out that door, do not ever come back!" Desi shouted at her back.

Gianna stopped on the first step. She turned her head slowly. She looked at the man who was supposed to be her father. There was nothing but a hollow ache in her chest.

"She will come crawling back," Kayden said loudly. "She always needs our money."

Gianna paused on the step, a flicker of cold pity flashing in her eyes. They still thought money was the only chain that could hold her. How little they knew. She did not say a single word to justify her independence. She turned around and walked up the stairs, her spine perfectly straight.

She reached her bedroom and pushed the door closed. She twisted the lock until it clicked.

Her knees gave out. She slid down the solid wood of the door until she hit the floor. The tears she had been holding back finally spilled over her eyelashes, hot and fast down her cheeks.

She reached under her bed and pulled out a small, worn wooden box. Inside was a faded photograph of her mother.

Gianna traced the edges of the photo with a trembling finger.

"I will not let him win," Gianna whispered to the empty room. "I promise you."

She wiped her face with the back of her hand. The tears stopped. A cold, hard knot formed in her stomach.

She pulled her phone from her pocket and opened her messages. She typed a quick text to Brenna.

"I need everything you know about the Vaughn family. Now."

Brenna replied almost instantly.

"The Vaughns? Stay away from them. I heard a rumor the heir is sick, really sick. They're trying to arrange a marriage to find a... solution. Super secretive. Military background. Why?"

Gianna stared at the screen. She needed to flip this situation. She could not just be a pawn in Desi's sick game.

She remembered what Kayden said. The Vaughn heir does not live long.

Gianna opened her browser and typed Algot Vaughn IV into the search bar. The results were sparse. No clear photos. Just articles about corporate takeovers and massive wealth.

She locked her phone screen. She needed to see Brenna in person.

Gianna stood up and walked to her bed. She lay down on top of the covers and stared at the white ceiling. Her heart beat a slow, steady rhythm against her ribs.

She was going to fight back.

Gianna stood on the sidewalk outside the upscale restaurant. The night air was chilly, but she was sweating under her thin jacket.

Dani Haynes, her agent, grabbed her arm and pulled her toward the heavy glass doors.

"Smile, Gianna," Dani hissed. Her nails dug into Gianna's skin. "This is a major investor. You need this role."

Gianna pulled her arm away. Her stomach churned with unease, but she walked inside.

Dani led her to a private booth in the back. A man was already sitting there. He was heavy-set, with thinning hair and a suit that looked too tight around his neck.

"Gianna, this is Gus Kowalski," Dani said, her voice dripping with fake enthusiasm.

Gus looked Gianna up and down. His eyes lingered on her chest. Gianna felt a wave of nausea hit the back of her throat.

She sat down on the leather bench, keeping as much distance between them as possible.

The dinner started, and it was a nightmare. Gus kept leaning into her space. He placed his sweaty hand on her knee under the table.

Gianna shoved his hand away. She shot a desperate look at Dani.

Dani just narrowed her eyes and gave a tiny, threatening shake of her head. The message was clear. Play along, or your career is dead.

Gianna pushed her chair back.

"I need to use the restroom," Gianna said. Her voice was tight.

She stood up and walked quickly out of the booth. She needed air. She needed to leave.

Dani caught up with her in the narrow hallway near the kitchens. Dani grabbed her shoulder and spun her around.

"Do not ruin this for me," Dani snarled. "You go back out there and you be nice to him."

Gianna clenched her jaw. She walked back to the booth and sat down.

She looked at her water glass. It was moved slightly to the left. The condensation on the outside was smeared.

Her heart kicked against her ribs. She picked up the glass and brought it to her lips, pretending to take a long drink, but she only let a tiny drop touch her tongue.

"Drink up," Gus said. He was smiling, showing small, yellow teeth.

Gianna set the glass down. The tiny drop she swallowed tasted bitter.

Within minutes, the room started to tilt. A heavy, unnatural heat bloomed in her stomach and rushed through her veins. Her vision blurred at the edges.

Gus slid closer to her. His arm wrapped around her waist.

"You look tired," Gus whispered, his breath hot against her neck. "Let me take you to a hotel room upstairs. You can rest."

Gianna tried to push him away, but her arms felt like they were filled with lead. Her muscles refused to obey her brain.

Gus stood up and hauled her to her feet. He pressed her body against his.

Adrenaline cut through the drug haze for one split second. Gianna reached out, her fingers closing around the neck of a heavy wine bottle on the table.

She swung it with all the strength she had left.

The thick glass connected with the side of Gus's head. He let out a loud, wet scream and dropped his hands.

Gianna did not look back. She stumbled out of the booth. Her legs wobbled like jelly. She hit the wall of the hallway and bounced off, pushing herself toward the back exit.

She burst through the heavy metal door into the alley. The cold air hit her face, but the heat inside her body was burning her alive.

She took two steps and crashed directly into a solid wall of muscle.

Gianna let out a small cry as she started to fall backward. Two large, strong hands gripped her upper arms, stopping her fall instantly.

She looked up. Her vision was swimming, but she saw sharp jawlines and dark, intense eyes.

It was Algot Vaughn IV.

The drug was fully in her system now. It was not just a sedative. It was an aphrodisiac.

Gianna's hands acted on their own. She grabbed the lapels of his expensive suit coat and clung to him. Her body pressed flush against his chest.

Algot frowned. He smelled the alcohol, but underneath it, a faint, acrid chemical scent clung to her-a smell he associated with the dirty tricks used in dark alleys and back rooms. His eyes turned instantly cold.

"What happened to you?" Algot asked. His voice was a low rumble that vibrated against her chest.

"Help me," Gianna gasped. She could not form any other words. The heat was unbearable.

A man in a dark suit stepped out of the shadows. It was Alex Stone, Algot's assistant.

"Sir, there is a commotion inside," Alex said quietly.

Algot did not hesitate. He bent down and scooped Gianna up into his arms. He carried her down the alley toward a sleek black car waiting at the curb.

He placed her in the back seat and climbed in beside her. The door shut, sealing them in the quiet, dark space.

Gianna was panting. She twisted on the leather seat, kicking her shoes off. She crawled toward Algot, driven by a blind, chemical need.

She threw her leg over his lap and straddled him.

Algot grabbed her wrists. His grip was like iron.

"Stop moving," Algot commanded.

Gianna whimpered. She leaned down and pressed her hot face into the crook of his neck.

The moment her skin touched his, Algot froze.

For the last week, a deep, agonizing pain had been building in his bones. It was the genetic curse of the Vaughn family. But right now, with her body pressed against his, the pain simply vanished.

It was replaced by a profound, shocking relief.

Gianna squirmed against him, crying out softly. The drug was torturing her.

Algot looked down at her flushed face. He felt the absence of his own pain. He made a decision.

He let go of one of her wrists. His hand slid down her waist, moving under the hem of her skirt.

Gianna gasped loudly as his long, cool fingers found exactly what she needed.

Algot kept his face completely blank, his jaw clenched tight, as he moved his fingers with precise, rhythmic pressure. He watched her fall apart in his arms.

Gianna cried out, her body arching violently before collapsing against his chest, completely drained.

She passed out instantly, her head resting heavily on his shoulder.

Algot sat perfectly still in the dark car. He looked down at the woman sleeping in his arms. The pain in his bones was completely gone.

The harsh fluorescent lights of the emergency room burned through Gianna's closed eyelids.

She groaned and turned her head. The pillow was stiff and smelled like bleach. Her throat felt like it was coated in dry sand.

She forced her eyes open.

A man was standing at the foot of her hospital bed. He was tall, dressed in a dark suit that looked entirely out of place in the sterile room. His hands were tucked into his pockets.

It was the man from the alley.

Gianna's breath hitched. She pushed her hands against the mattress and scrambled backward until her back hit the headboard.

"Who are you?" Gianna asked. Her voice cracked.

Algot did not move. His dark eyes studied her face with an intensity that made her skin prickle.

A doctor walked into the cubicle, holding a clipboard.

"You are awake," the doctor said. "You had a mild dose of a date-rape drug in your system. We flushed it out with IV fluids. You just need to rest."

"Is she going to have any lasting effects?" Algot asked.

Gianna looked at him, surprised. His voice was smooth, but it carried a weight that demanded answers.

"No," the doctor said. "She was lucky she did not ingest more. She can be discharged soon."

The doctor left. The silence in the room grew heavy.

Alex Stone walked in. He held a clear plastic bag containing Gianna's purse and her ID card.

Alex handed the bag to Algot. Algot looked down through the plastic. He saw the driver's license.

Gianna Romero.

Algot's thumb brushed over the plastic right above her name. A muscle feathered in his jaw.

He turned his head slightly toward Alex.

"I need a full background check on her," Algot said, his voice so low Gianna almost did not hear it. "Everything. Focus on her medical history and any connection to the Conrad family."

Alex nodded once and stepped out of the cubicle.

Algot walked around to the side of the bed. He picked up a plastic cup of water from the tray table and held it out to her.

Gianna hesitated, then took it. Her fingers brushed against his. A jolt of electricity shot up her arm. She pulled her hand back quickly, spilling a few drops of water on her blanket.

"I am just a guy who was in the right alley at the right time," Algot said. It was an answer to her earlier question.

Gianna took a slow sip of the water. The memories of the car ride crashed into her brain. The heat. The desperate touching. His fingers.

A deep, burning flush crept up her neck and covered her cheeks. She looked down at her lap, unable to meet his eyes.

"Thank you," Gianna mumbled. "For getting me out of there."

"Who drugged you?" Algot asked. The question was flat, but it felt like an interrogation.

Gianna gripped the plastic cup tightly. The plastic crinkled under her fingers.

"It was a business dinner," Gianna said carefully. "My agent set it up. It went wrong."

Algot watched her. He saw the way her knuckles turned white. He knew she was holding back, but he did not push.

"What do you do for a living?" Gianna asked, trying to shift the focus away from herself.

"I run a business," Algot said.

Gianna looked at his expensive suit, his custom watch, and the cold authority in his posture. He did not look like a regular businessman. He looked dangerous.

Algot's phone vibrated in his pocket. He pulled it out and walked toward the curtained doorway.

Gianna strained her ears.

"Sir," Alex's voice came through the phone. "I'm still digging, but initial records show she is Desi Conrad's eldest daughter. There are rumors floating about a marriage arrangement with our family - something about Prescott."

Algot stood perfectly still. He looked back over his shoulder at Gianna sitting in the hospital bed.

"Keep digging," Algot said quietly. "I want the full picture before I make any decisions."

He ended the call and slipped the phone back into his pocket. He walked back to the bed.

"Have you ever heard of the Vaughn family?" Algot asked casually.

Gianna's stomach dropped. Her heart skipped a beat. Why was he asking about them?

She forced her face to remain blank.

"I have heard the name," Gianna lied smoothly. "They have a lot of money, right?"

Algot stared at her. He saw the tiny pulse beating rapidly at the base of her throat. She was lying.

"Right," Algot said softly.

"I want to go home," Gianna said, pushing the blankets off her legs. "I hate hospitals."

"I will drive you," Algot said.

Gianna wanted to say no. She wanted to run away from this man who made her feel entirely too exposed. But her legs were still shaking, and she had no money for a cab.

She nodded.

The ride to her apartment was silent. Gianna sat in the passenger seat, staring out the window. Every time the streetlights illuminated the inside of the car, she stole a glance at his sharp profile.

He pulled up to the curb outside her rundown apartment building.

Gianna opened the door and stepped out. The cold air felt good. She turned back to look at him.

"I never got your name," Gianna said.

Algot did not answer. He just looked at her for a long moment, his eyes dark and unreadable. Then he pressed a button, and the tinted window rolled up, cutting off her view.

The black car pulled away from the curb, leaving Gianna standing alone on the sidewalk, her heart pounding in her chest.