Chapter 23: A Fool’s Escape

Elena didn't sleep that night.

She lay in the massive bed, staring at the ceiling, her body tense with restless energy.

Alessio had let her go.

But for how long?

She knew men like him. He wasn't the type to truly give her freedom—this was just another one of his games. A way to make her come back on her own, to let her believe she had a choice when, in reality, she never did.

But she wasn't going to play by his rules.

Not this time.

She was going to run.

And she wasn't going to stop.

The Plan

She waited until the house was silent.

The dim glow of security lights cast long shadows across the marble floors as she moved cautiously, heart hammering in her chest.

She had no idea what time it was, but it didn't matter.

All that mattered was that she got out.

And if she had learned anything in the time she had spent trapped in Alessio's world, it was this:

Every cage has a weakness.

Elena had spent the past few days watching, studying. Mapping every detail of the estate.

The guards rotated shifts at irregular intervals. But between the changeovers, there was a small window of vulnerability.

Not much.

But just enough.

She padded down the hallway, forcing her breaths to remain steady. The security cameras were a problem, but she had counted the blind spots. If she stayed low, moved fast—she could make it.

Her stomach clenched as she neared the side entrance.

Just a few more feet.

A few more seconds, and she would be free.

She pressed her back against the cold wall, waiting for the last guard to disappear around the corner.

Then—

She ran.

The Cold Night Air

The wind hit her like a slap the second she pushed through the door, her breath coming fast, sharp.

She didn't stop.

Didn't hesitate.

She sprinted across the darkened grounds, her bare feet slapping against the pavement.

The estate was massive, but she had studied the perimeter, had memorized where the fence was weakest.

She just needed to reach it.

Her muscles burned as she pushed forward, every instinct screaming at her to move faster.

Faster.

She could do this.

She could finally be free.

The edge of the property loomed ahead—the back gate.

So close.

Her fingers brushed against the cold iron—

And then a hand closed around her wrist like a vice.

No.

A brutal yank sent her spinning, crashing into something solid.

Someone solid.

Elena gasped, heart slamming against her ribs as she looked up—

And met Alessio's cold, silver gaze.

He wasn't out of breath.

He wasn't angry.

He looked amused.

Like he had known this would happen.

Like he had been waiting for her to try.

She jerked against his grip, but it was useless. His hold was unrelenting, fingers like steel wrapped around her skin.

Elena swallowed hard, trying to keep the rising panic out of her voice.

"Let me go."

Alessio didn't move. His grip didn't tighten, didn't loosen.

He just stared.

For a long, agonizing moment, the only sound was their ragged breathing and the distant rustle of leaves in the wind.

Then—

He laughed.

A low, dark sound that sent a shiver down her spine.

"Did you really think I wouldn't catch you, piccola?"

Her stomach twisted.

Because she had.

She had actually thought she could outrun him.

How stupid.

How naïve.

Alessio took a slow step forward, forcing her back against the iron gate. The cold metal bit into her skin, a sharp contrast to the burning heat of his body.

His voice was soft. Deadly.

"Tell me," he murmured, tilting his head. "What were you running from?"

Elena clenched her jaw.

You.

But she didn't say it.

Because it wasn't entirely true, was it?

She wasn't just running from him.

She was running from herself.

From the way he made her feel.

From the way her body had betrayed her.

From the way she had already started to fall.

Alessio's fingers brushed against her throat, his touch deceptively gentle.

"You can fight all you want," he said, his tone almost bored. "You can lie to yourself. Pretend you still have a choice."

His thumb pressed against her pulse, feeling the rapid beat beneath her skin.

"But we both know the truth."

Elena's breath hitched as his lips ghosted over her ear, his voice sinking into her like a slow, venomous poison.

"You belong to me."

Her pulse spiked.

Not with fear.

But with something far more dangerous.

Something she wasn't ready to name.

Her fingers curled into fists, her breath shaking as she forced herself to speak.

"I will never belong to you."

Alessio chuckled.

A dark, knowing sound.

"You already do, Elena."

And then—

He threw her over his shoulder.

A startled gasp tore from her throat as she kicked, fought, clawed at his back.

It didn't matter.

His grip didn't falter.

He carried her effortlessly through the estate, as if she weighed nothing.

As if she was just another thing that belonged to him.

And as the door slammed shut behind them, sealing her fate once again—

Elena knew.

She had lost.

Again.

And this time—

Alessio wasn't going to let her forget it.