Chapter 2: The Cage

Aurora's body trembled as Lorenzo's words sank in.

"You belong to me now."

No.

No, this had to be a mistake.

She tried to back away, but there was nowhere to go. The guards behind her blocked any escape, and Lorenzo's imposing presence felt like a wall pressing in on her.

Her breathing turned shallow. Her mind screamed at her to fight, to run—but where?

Lorenzo watched her with cold amusement, as if enjoying her struggle.

"Nothing to say?" he mused, picking up his whiskey glass again. "Not begging for your life?"

Aurora clenched her fists. She wouldn't beg.

She was terrified—but she wouldn't break.

"What do you want from me?" Her voice was barely above a whisper, but she forced herself to meet his gaze.

Lorenzo took a sip of his drink before answering. "That depends. How much do you know about your father's business?"

Aurora blinked. "What?"

Lorenzo stepped closer, the scent of whiskey and something darker—something dangerous—filling the space between them.

"Your father," he said, his voice slow, measured. "Vincent Moretti. What do you know about his work?"

Aurora hesitated. "He… runs an import-export company."

Lorenzo chuckled. It wasn't a pleasant sound.

"Is that what he told you?"

Aurora's stomach twisted.

She had never questioned her father's business before. He was strict, distant, always speaking in clipped words whenever she asked about his work. But wasn't that normal for men in power?

Lorenzo's silver-gray eyes studied her carefully.

"You really don't know," he murmured.

Aurora swallowed. "Know what?"

Silence stretched between them. Lorenzo's expression darkened, and for the first time, she saw something dangerous flash in his gaze.

He took another step toward her, closing the distance completely.

Her pulse raced.

"I should kill you."

Aurora's breath caught.

His tone was casual, as if he were discussing the weather. But there was nothing casual about the way he looked at her—like she was a problem that needed solving.

She forced herself to speak. "Then why don't you?"

Lorenzo's lips curved into a smirk. "Because dead hostages don't make good leverage."

The air left her lungs.

This wasn't just about her. It was about her father.

Lorenzo wasn't going to kill her—not yet.

He was going to use her.

Aurora's mind raced. "If you think my father will give you what you want just because you have me—"

"I don't think," Lorenzo cut in smoothly. "I know."

He tilted his head, watching her struggle to process the situation.

"You're his only daughter, aren't you?" His voice was almost mocking. "The golden girl. Protected. Sheltered."

Aurora's nails dug into her palms.

He wasn't wrong. Her father had always been overprotective. He kept her away from anything remotely dangerous, refused to let her work outside the family company, and always made sure she was surrounded by guards.

Guards that hadn't been there tonight.

Why?

The realization hit her like ice.

"Did you… kill them?" Her voice wavered.

Lorenzo raised an eyebrow. "Who?"

"My father's guards."

A flicker of something unreadable passed through his expression. Then he smirked. "No. If I wanted them dead, they'd be dead."

Aurora exhaled shakily.

Lorenzo gestured toward the guards standing behind her. "Take her to the east wing."

Aurora stiffened. "Wait—"

One of the men grabbed her arm.

She struggled, twisting in his grip. "Let me go!"

Lorenzo's gaze hardened.

"Aurora."

Her name rolled off his tongue like a warning.

She froze.

Lorenzo stepped closer, towering over her. "You have two options. Walk on your own, or be dragged."

Aurora's jaw clenched.

The rational part of her knew that resisting wouldn't help her escape. Not now. Not yet.

So she swallowed her pride and lifted her chin.

"I can walk," she said, voice steady.

Lorenzo's smirk returned.

"Good girl."

Aurora's stomach twisted with anger, but she said nothing as the guards led her away.

The Cage

The room they shoved her into was massive.

A luxurious prison.

The bed was enormous, draped in silk sheets. A chandelier hung above, glittering like something out of a dream. The windows were large—but the metal bars across them shattered any illusion of freedom.

Aurora turned to the guards. "At least tell me how long you plan to keep me here."

No response.

The door slammed shut.

She was alone.

Aurora let out a shaky breath.

Her hands trembled as she paced the room, trying to think. She needed a plan. She needed to escape.

But how?

The windows were useless. The door was locked. The entire estate was probably crawling with guards.

Her mind raced.

Her father would notice she was missing. He'd come for her—wouldn't he?

Doubt crept in.

How far was her father willing to go for her?

Lorenzo seemed so certain that she was valuable. But if her father had really betrayed him, would he be willing to trade his business—his empire—for her?

Aurora sat on the edge of the bed, her throat tight.

She didn't know.

But she wasn't going to just sit here and wait.

She refused to be a pawn in their game.

Even if Lorenzo De Luca thought he had won

She would find a way out.