Chapter 5 Captive Bride

Anastasia's voice trembled as tears brimmed her eyes. "I won't do it. I refuse to marry a stranger, no matter the cost."

The mafia leader's gaze locked onto hers, his expression softening. "Don't say that, Anastasia. I'm offering you protection, a chance to live."

"Protection?" she whispered, her lip curling. "You call this prison protection?"

The leader stepped closer, his voice low and husky. "Alexander can keep you safe, Anastasia. Safer than anyone else."

Anastasia's heart raced as his proximity washed over her. "But at what price? My freedom? My soul?"

His eyes burned with intensity. "Miss Anastasia! He would do anything to keep your precious soul." His associate cleared his throat, breaking the spell. "Sir, the documents—"The leader's gaze lingered on Anastasia before he turned. "Not now, she doesn't seem ready yet"

Anastasia's resolve strengthened. "I won't sign. I'd rather die than belong to someone I don't love." The leader's face darkened. "Love?" he repeated, his voice laced with danger. "You don't even know me, Anastasia. But you will. And soon, you'll realize I'm the only one who can keep you alive. "

The leader's eyes blazed with fury as he closed the distance between them. His gun hovered near her face, his finger tracing the curve of her chin, forcing her gaze to meet his.

"Why refuse?" he growled, his voice low and menacing. "Is there someone else? Someone you love? And who is this mert?"

Anastasia's voice trembled, her eyes locked on his. "No...no one. Not even Mert."

The leader's gaze burned with intensity, his breath whispering against her skin. "Good. For their sake, they'd be wise to stay alive Otherwise..."His threat hung in the air, heavy with malice.Anastasia's defiance flared despite her fear. "What kind of monster are you? Heartless, soulless—"

The leader's lips curled into a snarl. "A very bad one, darling. And you're pushing me to be worse. Your stubbornness is...intriguing."

His voice dripped with danger, but a flicker of fascination danced in his eyes. Anastasia's voice rose, defying the trembling of her lips. "I won't sign. Kill me if you want, but I'll never surrender."

The leader's gaze lingered on hers, a spark of admiration igniting within the darkness. "You're brave, I'll give you that. But bravery can be...intoxicating."He leaned closer, his gun still pressed against her chin, his breath caressing her skin. "Perhaps I'll enjoy breaking you"The leader's gaze snapped back to Anastasia, his eyes blazing with fury. In one swift motion, he raised his gun, the muzzle pressed against her temple. Anastasia's breath caught in her throat as her heart plummeted.

With a sudden, deafening crack, the leader fired into the ceiling. The sound echoed through the room, leaving Anastasia's ears ringing. She let out a muffled scream, tears streaming down her face as her heart raced wildly.

The leader's voice dropped to a deadly whisper. "Sign it, Anastasia. Or vanish without a trace. Choose."Anastasia's trembling hands refused to cooperate. "Please...understand," she begged, her voice cracking. "I'm human, too. I have a life, hopes..."

The leader's gaze narrowed, his jaw clenched. "Hopes? You'll have none if you refuse. Only darkness."As he spoke, his thumb brushed against her cheek, wiping away a tear. The fleeting touch sent shivers down Anastasia's spine."Last chance," he warned, his voice low and menacing.

Anastasia's resolve wavered, but her fear of the unknown kept her rooted. "I won't...sign."

The leader's eyes flashed with anger, his face inches from hers. "Foolish girl," he whispered. "You'll regret this."

Leader ordered his front man, "Leave us. She needs persuasion."As the door closed, the leader's gaze pinned Anastasia. "It would've been simpler if you'd agreed." Anastasia's wariness deepened.

Leader: "You have a twin sister, don't you?"

Anastasia's eyes widened in terror. "What do you want with her?"

Leader: "Bring her here. A sibling reunion would be...enlightening."

Anastasia's face contorted in anguish. "No! Don't harm her. She's innocent."

Leader: "So are you? Sign now, or watch your sister die before your eyes."

Anastasia's pleas fell on deaf ears. The leader's resolve remained unshaken.

Crushed, Anastasia scribbled her signature on the contract. Tears streamed down her ravaged face; her wrists and ankles bore the marks of captivity, her eyes swollen from unrelenting fear.

Anastasia sat amidst the ruins of her shattered dreams, her imagination's castle laid waste by the leader's cruelty."Take her " the leader ordered, his voice devoid of emotion.As the guard grasped her arm, Anastasia's gaze lingered on the leader, her eyes pleading for mercy. But his expression remained unyielding, his eyes frozen like ice.

As she was led out, Anastasia felt the weight of her loss. Something precious, something integral to her being, had been ripped away.

To be continued....