Chapter one

"Sarah, please, you have to understand, I had no choice!" Richard Parker's voice trembled, the desperation thick in his tone. He paced back and forth in the dimly lit workshop, the pungent smell of oil and metal clinging to the air, mixing with the scent of fear that had settled between them like an unwelcome guest.

Sarah, standing rigid with a mix of anger and disbelief, struggled to control the tremor in her voice. "Dad, you stole from Adrian DeLuca. Do you have any idea what that means? He's not just some petty criminal. He's the most feared mafia lord in New York. People get hurt because of him."

Richard's face crumpled, a pitiful blend of guilt and terror etched into his features.

"I know, Sarah. I know what I've done, but I thought… I thought I could put it back before he noticed. I was desperate. The debts… they are suffocating me."

Sarah's heart ached with a mix of pity and rage. She glanced around the small workshop, the clutter of unfinished projects and unpaid bills a stark reminder of the life they had been barely holding together since her sister Emily's tragic death. But now, everything was unraveling. Her father's desperate gamble had entangled them with a man whose name alone could freeze blood.

The harsh sound of knuckles rapping against the workshop door snapped her out of her thoughts, sending a jolt of fear through her. Richard flinched, his eyes wide as they darted to the door. They both knew who it would be. When Richard hesitated, Sarah stepped forward, a lump forming in her throat.

The door creaked open, revealing a tall man dressed in a tailored suit, his cold, calculating eyes sweeping over them with a detached interest. "Mr. Parker," he began, his voice smooth yet carrying a quiet menace, "Mr. DeLuca requests your immediate presence."

Richard swallowed hard, casting a desperate, apologetic glance at Sarah before nodding. "I'm coming," he whispered, his voice barely audible.

"No," Sarah interjected, her voice firmer than she felt. "I'm coming with him too."

The ride to Adrian DeLuca's mansion was silent, the atmosphere in the car as tense as a coiled spring. Sarah's mind raced, grasping for any thread of a plan that could save them. She had heard enough about Adrian DeLuca to know that he was a man who took what he wanted without remorse, a man who thrived on power and control. But there had to be something she could do, something she could offer that would keep her father safe.

The mansion loomed before them like a fortress, its sleek lines of glass and steel cutting into the night sky, reflecting the cold, harsh world Adrian DeLuca had built for himself. Inside, the grandeur of the place did little to mask the chill that seeped into Sarah's bones. They were ushered into a vast, dimly lit room where Adrian DeLuca sat behind a massive desk, his presence dominating the space.

"Mr. Parker," Adrian's voice was smooth, almost polite, but with an undercurrent of danger that made Sarah's blood run cold. "I hear you've had some difficulty managing your finances....Is what I'm hearing about you dipping your filthy hands in my drawer true ?."

Richard's voice cracked as he stammered, "Mr. DeLuca, I—I swear, I was going to return the money before weekend."

Adrian's dark eyes, sharp and unyielding, shifted to Sarah, a spark of interest flickering in their depths. "And who might this be?"

Summoning all her courage, Sarah stepped forward. "I'm Sarah Parker, his daughter." She met Adrian's gaze, trying to project a confidence she didn't feel.

Adrian's lips curled into a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Ah, the daughter. Tell me, Miss Parker, are you aware of the severity of your father's actions?"

"I am," Sarah replied, her voice steady, though her heart pounded in her chest. "But please, Mr. DeLuca, give him another chance. I'm willing to do whatever it takes."

Adrian leaned back in his chair, regarding her with an almost predatory curiosity. "Whatever it takes?" he echoed, his tone laced with intrigue.

A knot tightened in Sarah's stomach, but she nodded resolutely. "Yes, anything."

The silence that followed was thick with unspoken possibilities. Adrian's gaze never left her, as if he were weighing her words, calculating her worth. "Very well," he finally said, his voice a cold, precise blade. "Your father's debt will be forgiven, but there is a price."

A cold dread crept over Sarah. "What kind of price?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper, yet it hung in the air like a challenge.

Adrian stood and moved around the desk with deliberate slowness, stopping just inches from her. He was taller than she had expected, his presence overwhelming. "You," he said simply. "For one year, you will belong to me. My pet, my possession. In return, your father's life and freedom will be assured."

The words hit Sarah like a physical blow. She glanced at her father, who stood ashen and broken beside her. This was the only way. If she refused, there would be no saving him. Slowly, she met Adrian's gaze, her voice trembling as she uttered, "I accept."

Adrian's smile widened, a cruel satisfaction gleaming in his eyes. "Good. You'll start tonight."

The weight of her decision crashed down on her as Adrian's men led her and her father out. Richard was taken home, but Sarah was directed to a separate car, a fresh wave of dread washing over her.

"Sarah, you don't have to do this," Richard's voice was raw with desperation as he tried to reach for her, but the men kept him back. "I'll find another way."

Tears burned at the corners of her eyes, but she held them back, her voice steady. "It's done, Dad. Promise me you'll stay safe, that you'll be here when I come back."

The car door slammed shut before he could respond, and as the vehicle pulled away, Sarah felt the reality of her new life closing in around her like a vice. The mansion reappeared, a dark silhouette against the night sky, a place of shadows where she was now bound for the next year.

When the car stopped, she was led inside once again, this time to an ornate, richly decorated room that exuded luxury and control. The man who had escorted her knocked on a heavy wooden door before opening it, revealing a lavish bedroom, complete with opulent furnishings that seemed to mock her situation.

"Welcome to your new life," Adrian's voice came from behind her, smooth and authoritative. "You'll find everything you need here. Remember, you're mine now."

Sarah turned to face him, a spark of defiance still flickering in her eyes. "I won't be broken," she said, the words more of a promise to herself than to him.

Adrian's smile was slow, confident, and dangerous. "That's what they all say, Miss Parker. But everyone breaks eventually." He stepped closer, his hand brushing a strand of hair from her face with a touch that sent chills down her spine. "The real question is how much you'll enjoy it."

Sarah's heart pounded, her thoughts a chaotic mix of fear and determination. She had made her choice, but the battle had only just begun. As Adrian's gaze bore into hers, she knew this was the start of something darker than she could have ever imagine.

Adrian's chilling promise echoed in Sarah's mind, leaving her questioning the depths of her own strength and how far she'll have to go to survive the year ahead.