Elena stared at him as if the world had suddenly tilted beneath her feet.
Rain slid down her face, cold and relentless, but she barely felt it. Her heart was pounding so violently she wondered if the man standing in front of her could hear it.
You belong to me.
The words echoed inside her mind.
"What?" Her voice came out shaky, barely louder than the rain.
The man didn't repeat himself.
Instead, he studied her as though she were something unusual he had discovered by accident.
Up close, Elena could see his features clearly now. He was striking—dangerously so. Dark hair, sharp jawline, and eyes so deep and unreadable they made her uneasy.
Those were not the eyes of a man who hesitated.
Those were the eyes of a man who decided things and the world simply obeyed.
"You're shaking," he observed calmly.
"Of course I'm shaking!" Elena burst out. "You just— you just shot someone!"
The two men holding her arms stiffened, clearly offended by her tone.
But the tall man raised a hand slightly, silencing them.
His gaze never left Elena.
"That man betrayed me," he said.
His voice carried the quiet authority of someone who expected no arguments.
Elena swallowed hard.
"That doesn't give you the right to kill him."
For a moment, silence fell between them, then something unexpected happened.
The man smiled. It wasn't warm, nor kind.
It was the faint, amused smile of someone watching a bird argue with a storm.
"You're either very brave," he said softly, "or very foolish."
"Or maybe I just have morals," Elena replied.
She immediately regretted the words. The air around them grew heavier.
One of the men holding her muttered something in Italian under his breath.
The tall man stepped closer, so close she could smell the faint scent of expensive cologne mixed with rain.
"Do you know who I am?" he asked quietly.
Elena hesitated, then shook her head.
His expression didn't change.
"Lucian Moretti."
The name meant nothing to her at first. But the reaction of the men around him said enough.
Respect, fear, and absolute loyalty.
One of the men straightened immediately when the name was spoken.
Another lowered his gaze slightly.
Elena's stomach twisted.
"Look," she said quickly, panic beginning to creep into her voice. "I didn't see anything, okay? I swear. I won't tell anyone. I just want to go home."
Lucian tilted his head slightly.
"You won't tell anyone?" he repeated.
"Yes."
"And I'm supposed to trust that?"
"I—"
She stopped.
Because she realized how ridiculous it sounded.
Lucian exhaled slowly.
"Trust," he said, almost thoughtfully. "That's a rare commodity in my world or in this world in general."
His eyes moved over her face again, studying every detail.
She felt exposed under that gaze.
Like he was trying to read her thoughts.
"Kill her," one of the men suddenly suggested.
Elena's heart lurched violently. Her head snapped toward the man.
"No!"
Lucian didn't even look at the one who spoke.
But the temperature of the moment changed instantly.
"Did I ask for your opinion?" Lucian said quietly.
The man froze.
"N-No, boss."
Lucian's gaze returned to Elena.
For several long seconds, he simply watched her.
Rain dripped from his dark hair onto the collar of his coat.
Finally, he spoke again.
"You're an inconvenience."
Elena's chest tightened.
"But…" he continued slowly, "you're also interesting."
"That's not comforting," she muttered.
To her surprise, Lucian's mouth twitched again.
"You witnessed something that could destroy several powerful people," he said. "Which means I have two options."
Elena held her breath.
"Kill you," he said simply.
Her stomach dropped.
"Or keep you where I can see you."
"What does that mean?"
"It means," Lucian said calmly, "that from tonight onward, your life is no longer your own."
Panic surged through her chest.
"You can't just decide that!"
"I already did."
His confidence made her furious.
"You're insane!"
Lucian turned slightly toward the men beside him.
"Bring the car."
"Yes, boss."
One of them immediately walked away.
Elena struggled against the grip on her arms.
"Wait! You can't just kidnap me!"
Lucian looked at her with mild curiosity.
"Kidnap?"
"Yes!"
He considered the word for a moment.
"I prefer to think of it as protection."
"Protection from what?"
"From the consequences of witnessing something you were never meant to see."
"That's ridiculous!"
Lucian stepped closer again.
This time his voice dropped lower.
"Let me make something very clear, Elena Rossi."
Her breath caught.
How does he know my name?
"I have enemies," he continued calmly. "Dangerous ones. If they discover that a witness exists…"
His eyes darkened slightly.
"They will come for you."
Fear prickled along her spine.
"So congratulations," Lucian finished quietly. "Your life just became very complicated."
Headlights suddenly flooded the alley as a sleek black car pulled up nearby.
One of the men opened the back door.
Lucian gestured toward it.
"Get in."
Elena stared at him.
"No."
The word slipped out before she could stop it.
Lucian's eyebrow lifted slightly.
"You're refusing me?"
"Yes!"
For the first time, something sharp flashed in his eyes, then he leaned closer.
So close she could feel his breath near her ear.
"You misunderstand the situation," he murmured.
His voice was soft, dangerously soft it made her ears tickle.
"This was never a request."
Her heart slammed violently against her ribs.
Lucian straightened and nodded once.
The men holding her began guiding her toward the car.
Elena struggled desperately.
"Let me go!" But it was useless she was pushed gently but firmly into the back seat.
Lucian followed and sat beside her.
The door shut.
The car began moving.
Elena pressed herself against the opposite door, breathing fast.
Lucian simply watched her. He's so calm and composed as if none of this was unusual.
As the city lights of Milan blurred past the window, Elena realized her normal life was suddenly gone...completely. And it terrified her.
And the man sitting beside her…
Was the man everyone feared.