The rain had not stopped.
It poured heavily against the windows of the black luxury car as it sped through the empty streets. Water streaked across the glass like silver lines, blurring the city lights outside.
Inside the car, Elena Rossi sat frozen.
Her hands were clenched tightly in her lap, her fingers trembling slightly.
Across from her sat the man who had just destroyed her life.
Luca De Santis.
Even thinking his name made her chest tighten.
The most feared mafia king in the city.
And now he had just forced her into a marriage proposal she never wanted.
Elena swallowed hard.
She glanced at him cautiously.
He sat calmly beside her, leaning slightly back against the leather seat, as if nothing unusual had happened tonight.
His posture was relaxed.
Too relaxed.
The faint glow of passing streetlights highlighted the sharp lines of his face. His dark hair was still slightly damp from the rain, and his grey eyes stared ahead, cold and unreadable.
How could someone look so calm after killing a man?
Elena's stomach twisted again.
She quickly looked away.
The silence inside the car was suffocating.
Two of Luca's men sat in the front seats, their large figures blocking most of the view of the road.
No one spoke.
Finally, Elena couldn't take it anymore.
"You can't force me to marry you."
Her voice came out shaky, but she forced herself to sound firm.
Luca didn't react immediately.
For a moment, the only sound was the rain hitting the car.
Then he slowly turned his head toward her.
His eyes locked onto hers.
"You're still thinking about that?" he asked calmly.
Elena stared at him in disbelief.
"Still thinking about it?!" she repeated.
"You just threatened to kill me if I refuse!"
His gaze remained steady.
"That wasn't a threat."
Her heart skipped.
"It was a fact."
Elena felt anger rising inside her chest.
"You're insane!"
One of the guards in the front seat chuckled quietly.
Luca raised a finger slightly.
The guard immediately fell silent.
Then Luca looked back at her.
"You witnessed something tonight that no outsider should ever see."
"I told you I wouldn't tell anyone!"
"That's not the problem."
"Then what is?!"
His expression darkened slightly.
"My enemies."
Elena frowned.
"They are always watching," he continued calmly. "Always looking for weakness."
She didn't understand.
"And?"
"And if they discover that someone saw me execute a traitor tonight," Luca said quietly, "they will hunt that person."
A chill ran down her spine.
"They'll hunt me?"
"Yes."
"But I don't even know them!"
"That won't matter."
Elena's heart began racing again.
He continued.
"They will kidnap you."
Her throat tightened.
"Torture you."
Her breathing grew shallow.
"And when they finally break you…"
His voice dropped dangerously low.
"They will use you against me."
The car suddenly felt much colder.
Elena wrapped her arms around herself.
"So your solution is marriage?" she asked bitterly.
"Yes."
"That's ridiculous!"
"Not in my world."
She shook her head quickly.
"No. Absolutely not. I won't marry a murderer."
For the first time, something dangerous flickered in Luca's eyes.
He leaned slightly toward her.
"You're already sitting in my car," he said softly.
Her breath caught.
"And my men already know your face."
Her heart started pounding harder.
"There is no going back to your old life."
Elena's chest tightened.
"No…"
"Yes."
She shook her head again, tears beginning to gather in her eyes.
"I just want to go home."
Luca studied her carefully.
Then he asked quietly,
"Where is home?"
The question caught her off guard.
"My apartment."
"Small?"
She hesitated.
"…Yes."
"Cheap building?"
"…Yes."
"Thin walls?"
Elena frowned.
"What does that have to do with anything?"
Luca's gaze hardened.
"People like my enemies can easily break into places like that."
Her stomach twisted again.
"You're lying."
"Am I?"
She didn't answer.
Because deep down…
She wasn't sure anymore.
The car slowed down suddenly.
Elena looked out the window.
They were no longer in the city center.
Instead, they were driving through a quiet area filled with massive mansions hidden behind tall gates and walls.
Her heart began beating faster.
Where were they?
The car turned through a large iron gate.
Elena gasped softly.
In front of her stood a huge mansion.
It looked like something out of a movie.
Tall white pillars.
Massive glass windows.
Elegant stone steps leading to enormous wooden doors.
Armed guards stood around the property.
Her mouth slowly opened.
"This is your house?"
"Yes."
Her mind struggled to process it.
This place looked more like a palace.
The car stopped.
One of the guards stepped out quickly and opened Luca's door.
Luca exited first.
Rain dripped from the roof as he stepped onto the driveway.
Then he turned back and looked at Elena.
"Come."
She didn't move.
"I'm not going in there."
His expression didn't change.
"You don't have much choice."
"I do."
"You don't."
"I can walk away."
Luca sighed quietly.
Then he said something that made her blood run cold.
"Three men are currently following your apartment."
Elena froze.
"What?"
"They've been watching you for weeks."
Her eyes widened in shock.
"That's impossible."
"They're connected to the man I killed tonight."
Her heart started racing again.
"They suspect someone close to him may expose them."
Elena's voice trembled.
"Why would they watch me?"
Luca looked directly into her eyes.
"Because your father used to work for them."
The words hit her like a slap.
"What?"
Her father?
"No… that's not true."
"Isn't it?"
"My father was a mechanic!"
Luca remained silent.
The silence was worse than any answer.
Suddenly doubt crept into her mind.
Her father had always avoided talking about his past.
There were nights he returned home late.
Sometimes injured.
But he always said it was nothing.
Elena's breathing grew uneven.
"You're lying," she whispered.
Luca turned away from the car.
"Believe whatever you want."
Then he added coldly,
"But if you walk away tonight, you'll be dead within a week."
Fear wrapped around her chest like a tight rope.
Dead?
Her legs suddenly felt weak.
Luca began walking toward the mansion.
Halfway to the door, he stopped and spoke without turning around.
"You have five seconds to decide."
Elena's heart pounded loudly.
"One."
Rain soaked through her clothes.
"Two."
She looked back at the gate.
Freedom was right there.
"Three."
But what if he was telling the truth?
"Four."
Her chest tightened painfully.
"Five."
"Wait!"
The word escaped her mouth before she could stop it.
Luca paused.
Slowly, he turned around.
His eyes met hers again.
Elena felt like she was standing at the edge of a cliff.
"If… if I go inside," she said weakly, "does that mean I agree to marry you?"
His lips curved slightly.
"Not yet."
She blinked.
"What?"
"It means you're smart enough to survive the night."
Elena hesitated.
Then slowly…
She stepped out of the car.
The guards watched her carefully as she walked toward the mansion.
Her shoes splashed through small puddles.
Each step felt heavier than the last.
When she reached the stairs, Luca was waiting.
He studied her face carefully.
"You made the right decision."
"I'm not marrying you," she said quickly.
"We'll see."
The massive doors opened.
A group of staff members stood inside.
They bowed their heads slightly when Luca entered.
"Good evening, sir."
Elena stared in shock.
This man truly ruled this place.
Luca removed his coat and handed it to a servant.
Then he looked at Elena again.
"You'll stay here tonight."
Her eyes widened.
"WHAT?"
"You need protection."
"I can't stay here!"
"You can."
"No!"
Luca stepped closer.
His voice became dangerously soft.
"Would you prefer sleeping in your apartment while my enemies break down your door?"
Elena's mouth snapped shut.
Fear crawled back into her chest.
He turned toward the stairs.
"Maria."
An older woman stepped forward.
"Yes, sir."
"Prepare the guest room."
"Yes, sir."
Maria smiled gently at Elena.
"Come with me, dear."
Elena looked helplessly at Luca.
"This is crazy."
Luca's eyes softened slightly.
Only slightly.
"Get some rest, Elena."
She hesitated.
Then asked quietly,
"Why are you really helping me?"
Luca didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he looked toward the rain outside the large windows.
His voice came out lower than before.
"Because your father died protecting me."
Elena's heart stopped.
"What?"
But Luca had already turned away.
Leaving her with more questions than answers.
And the terrifying realization that her life would never be the same again.