L A N A

The four men behind him are huge, all of them wearing the same matching black suits, all of them moving with the same precision, scanning the room suspiciously as they stick to the man in front of them. Are they... bodyguards?

"Don't stare for too long or you'll get yourself in trouble." I hear the voice of the bartender, and that's when I look back at him, curiously, noticing that even he is trying to keep his head low.

"Who is that...?" I suddenly find myself asking for God knows what ever reason. The bartender pauses what he's doing and looks back at me as if I've just asked the most absurd question on the planet.

A deep frown settles on his brows, and he glances around a few times as if to check if anyone is listening. "How can you be here and not know who that is...?" He asks, his voice quiet and low, and my heart won't stop racing in my chest. What is he not telling me?

"That's Ezio Benedetti." He whispers as if I'm supposed to know who that is. More confusion reigns on my face as I glance back at the man, watching as he strides through the club like he owns every inch of it. I look back at the bartender and find his expression fixed on someone, Ezio, I presume, and in a moment, his expression turns cold.

The bartender shifts closer to me, his voice still low. "Whatever you do, don't react. Just breathe." He tries to say, but all it does is make me even more nervous.

"Why, what's going on?" I whisper to him, feeling too scared to turn around.

"Don't make eye contact. Stay calm. You're just a guest." He says, refusing to answer my question, and I breathe slowly to try and calm myself, picking up my drink and taking a large gulp of it as I feel the alcohol slowly hit my body.

My hands suddenly go clammy, and I find it hard to keep still. I'm supposed to be ordering an Uber right now and getting out of here, not trying to figure out who this mysterious man with 4 bodyguards is...

I subtly turn back and watch as Ezio walks with effortless grace to the back of the lounge. His men, just as sharp, just as silent, move closely behind him. He stops beside a man sitting at a private corner booth. They don't shake hands. They don't smile. The man simply looks up at Ezio, staring as if he's seen a ghost, the men around him suddenly standing to their feet in pure terror.

Then, what happens next leaves me completely stunned...

It happens in a split second.

One second, Ezio is saying something to the man across from him, watching him seemingly plead for his life, the next, he is whipping out his gun faster than the eye can catch and shoots the man at point-blank.

I jolt, before my entire body freezes.

The gunshot is sharp. Not explosive or too loud. Instead, it's muffled and controlled through the silencer fitted at its tip. The music cuts for a second, the instrumentalists momentarily stunned, before they take a look at each other... and then... they continue playing... like nothing just happened.

What.. the actual... fuck...

The man Ezio was speaking to slumps sideways in the booth, with a gunshot wound to his forehead, blood spewing out the back of his head and spilling onto the floor.

I glance around the room and notice how no one else reacts; in fact, everyone is perfectly calm despite a man just getting shot and killed in front of them.

My throat closes up. My brain stops processing.

Did I just see that? Didn't everyone else see that?! Why am I the only one giving a normal reaction?

Ezio steps back, placing his gun back in his pocket and adjusting his jacket. Two of the men standing behind him step forward to carry the dead man out of the room, and more men pile in with cleaning supplies, moving towards the areas where the deceased man had spilt blood.

Okay, what the fuck is this place?!

People go back to their drinks. Slowly. Like this is routine. Like this is just another Tuesday night.

But me, on the other hand? I can't move.

I can't pretend I didn't see what I just saw. My breath catches in my chest, and that's when Ezio turns and locks eyes with me. That's when I feel the air sucked out of my lungs, my blood turning cold.

He smirks right at me, a slow, evil smile that says, 'You saw. I know you did.' Except he is not at all sorry that I did...

I try to look away, but I can't. I feel pinned to the seat, like a rabbit in a trap.

He lifts two fingers and gestures, ordering the remaining two men behind him to approach me.

No. No. No.

That's when I slide off the barstool without thinking, my heart pounding so hard, the fear causing a knot to form in my throat and my stomach. As I stand up, a wave hits me harshly, and that's when I feel the alcohol start to kick in. No... no, no, no, no... this can't be happening to me right now...

"Don't run," the bartender says under his breath, making an attempt to talk some sense into me.

But I'm already on my feet, with the only intention of getting the fuck out of here. I take off sprinting towards the lounge doors, watching them draw closer and closer. I'm almost completely through them, until I collide with two bodies in front of me, two large men who had been standing close to the entrance this whole time. 

I gasp as I stumble back, staring back at them fearfully and glancing around at where else I can go. I turn my head to the receptionist from earlier, hoping she would help me in some sort of way, but all she does is watch me with raised eyebrows, as if I'm the only strange one here. I continue backing away, my back bumps into something that makes me gasp, more men... more of his bodyguards. They all surround me, staring down at me with cold, robotic gazes. That's when two of them grab and turn me around, beginning to haul me back into the lounge as I begin struggling against their hold, exasperated breaths leaving my lips as I look up at them fearfully. 

"L-let me go... please!" I begin fighting them as they lift me off the ground effortlessly, holding me by my arms as if I weighed nothing. And that's when I realise that they're taking me right towards him... towards the man they call Ezio Benedetti...

L A N A

I can hear my heartbeat in my ears.

I'm terrified, my body vibrating with fear as I am dragged forward, my heels scraping the floor. The men lifting me have not a care in the world, and despite my cries for them to stop, they never do. Jazz continues to play in the lounge, as if I'm not screaming my lungs out. The music doesn't stop. No one else says a word. No one even looks concerned. They just... watch. They pretend and sip their drinks, as if I'm nothing but a mere spectacle. As if a man wasn't just shot in front of them and a woman isn't being dragged toward the murderer right now.

All of this feels unreal, like I've slipped through an invisible crack in the world and landed somewhere I was never meant to be... and now? Now I might potentially lose my life.

I try to fight them off, digging my heels into the floor, but they barely notice. They're way too strong. 

"Stop, let me go! Let go of me!!" I continue thrashing around, doing my best to fight them but all I feel is my arms getting more and more tired.

"Keep walking," one of them says without looking at me, his voice cold and flat as if I were boring him... 

And that's when I see him again...

Ezio Benedetti.

He's standing near the bar now, turning slightly as if waiting to greet me. The orange light hits his face, showing how devilishly handsome he is, his dark hair, his sharp jaw... everything about him screams danger. He looks so calm, so collected, like none of this touches him... like he didn't just kill a man in cold blood.

And as soon as his eyes meet mine, the air becomes even heavier.

They're dark, but not just in colour. He's studying me curiously, like I'm something strange, out of place. Like I don't belong here. And yet, I see something more sinister in his eyes, something that leaves me completely and utterly terrified.

I'm shoved forward, stumbling, almost falling, but one of the men steadies me roughly. I catch myself and look up, realising that Ezio is right in front of me, towering over me and standing only inches away.

"I haven't seen you here before," he says, voice smooth and deep, sending chills running along my skin. He sounds almost casual, as if we're meeting at a dinner party. "You're a new face... I would've remembered one as beautiful as yours..." he says softly with a sly smirk. He then takes a glove off one hand and steps even closer to me. His cologne reaches my nose, and it's powerful, masculine, and so intoxicating it blinds my senses.

But I am too petrified to speak. I can't even swallow properly. My mouth is dry and my heart is hammering so hard that I can barely think. I watch him step forward, staring down at me before placing his hand on my face tenderly, cupping my cheek in his hand and tracing my skin so delicately, I almost forget what he had done only a few minutes ago.

He tilts his head slightly, the faintest trace of a smirk forming at the corner of his mouth. "You don't seem to understand how things work around here, do you love?" He whispers to me.

I blink a few times, trying my best to gather the words before I finally speak.

"I-... I didn't know. I just walked in. I swear. I didn't mean to-..." I shake my head, tears now filling my eyes as I realise he might kill me at any moment...

"And yet, you stayed.. hm?" His tone doesn't change, but his eyes narrow, like he's dissecting every word as he keeps his hand on my face, continuing to caress my cheek.

"Please," I whisper, tears now dropping from my eyes. "Please don't hurt me. I won't say anything. I don't even know who you are..."

He smiles faintly, and that almost makes it worse. He takes a hand off my face and steps away from me, putting his glove back on.

"Clearly." He sighs, and that single word makes my heart sink to my feet.

He looks at me for a long time, and I feel stripped down and exposed. Like he's not just seeing me, but he's seeing right through me. My knees feel weak and I don't know where to look. I want to scream, to run, to do something, but I'm frozen. All I can simply do is stare back at him...

After what seems like forever, he sighs deeply and glances at one of the men behind me. 

"Bring her with us," he says, his voice calm. "I'd like to go home now."

For a second, I think I've misheard him. But no, he said exactly what I think he did.

"W-what?" I stutter, and before I even realise what's happening, the men start moving again, their grips returning to my arms and tightening around them.

"No, please-... no! You can't! Where are you taking me?!" I begin shouting once again. He simply ignores me walks past, towards another side of the club just as his men begin dragging me in that direction.

No one answers. Not him, not his men, not anyone.

I twist and thrash, panic returning to my body. I look around the room again, until my eyes find the bartender, the only person who looked remotely human tonight. But he's standing completely still, staring down at the counter like if he doesn't move, he won't be noticed. His jaw is tight, his eyes dark, but he doesn't speak.

He won't save me. No one will.

My stomach drops as they continue leading me away. I stumble after them, my heels clicking frantically against the polished floor, my breath coming in shallow exasperated bursts.

Ezio walks a few steps ahead, his hands in his pockets, his pace unhurried. He looks like a man on his way home from work, not someone who just murdered someone and ordered a kidnapping in the same ten minutes.

Every time I open my mouth to speak, the words die on my tongue. Every plea I left out falls on deaf, unbothered ears.

I keep thinking maybe this is a dream. Maybe I hit my head. From the moment I found out Tyler had been cheating on me with Elizabeth. Maybe I'm going to wake up in my bed, maybe still with Tyler, and none of this never truly happened.

But the closer we get to the end of the hallway, the clearer it becomes that this is all terrifyingly real.

We reach a door that leads to a private garage. It's sleek, silent, expensive, one where people like me never see unless it's in a magazine. A black car waits inside, its headlights cutting through the shadows and blaring right at me.

My pulse spikes. "Please," I whisper again. "Please, just let me go. I won't say anything. I'll forget all of this." I try to say to them.

Ezio turns his head slightly, his expression seemingly amused. "No one forgets their first night here, love," he says quietly. His words offer no comfort to me, and all I feel is my blood run cold. 

The car door opens, but I dig my heels into the ground, trying my best to resist. "I'm not going with you! You can't make me!" I scream at them. But it's all useless.

One of the men nudges me forward, harder this time. I stumble, and this time, Ezio catches me before I fall. His hands wrap around my upper arms, holding me steady as he looks down at me, watching the tears I can no longer control, stream down my cheeks.

"You're scared." He says to me.

How can he even say this to me right now? As if it's not blatantly obvious??

Then he leans forward slightly, moving his face to my ear, his voice low enough that only I can hear it. "You should be."

My breath catches and I feel my blood run completely cold.

He straightens, smiling down at me as if amused by my reaction, and gestures to his men. "In the car." He orders.

I want to scream, to claw my way out of this, but all I can do is move. My body obeys even when my mind doesn't want to. I sink into the leather seat, the cold pressing through the thin fabric of my dress as I wrap my arms around myself in an attempt to provide some sort of comfort.

Ezio slides in beside me, smooth and composed, as if this is routine. The doors shut, the locks click, and we begin driving out of the garage and into the city.

I stare out the tinted window, and though I can barely see a thing, I try to memorise the streetlights, the corners, anything that might help me find my way back. But the world outside only turns into streaks of colour and shadow.

During the ride, none of us speaks. The car hums quietly, a low vibration beneath my hands, and my reflection in the glass looks pale, ghostly.

Tears continue streaming down my cheeks as I cry quietly. I think about Tyler. About Elizabeth. About how, hours ago, I thought my heart was breaking. I didn't know what heartbreak was then.

I know now.

Because whatever this is, whatever world I've been dragged into, it doesn't care about hearts. It only cares about power. And as I glance at the man sitting next to me... calm, dangerous, and utterly untouchable, I realise I've just met the kind of power that doesn't need to raise its voice to destroy you.

And somehow, I think he knows it too...

L A N A

The drive feels like it's never going to end.

I watch the city pass me by, as if it's forgetting who I am, or simply doesn't care that I'm still here. Everything goes on like nothing happened, making me feel more insignificant than ever. Hours ago, I was preparing for my engagement party, and the only thing I had to worry about was decorations, my outfit, and making sure that everything was going according to plan. 

But that all went to shit.

Who knows what Tyler is telling all our friends and family by now? Probably something that suits the narrative of me being the unfaithful one. And Elizabeth... my so-called backstabbing, lying best friend... I'm sure she's loving every moment of it. Things are working out perfectly for them, and here I am sitting at the back of a stranger's car, kidnapped, and being taken to God knows where.

Just a typical evening, right?

He's still sitting next to me, the man who took me... Ezio.

I'm too terrified to look in his direction. His presence alone is enough to leave me on edge. As we continue to drive, the car hums quietly, a low mechanical growl that vibrates beneath my legs. 

I can feel his eyes on me. Every few minutes, Ezio glances my way, not saying a word, just... observing me, until I finally muster the courage to face him, and just as I had guessed, I find his eyes locked onto me.

He sits there like a man carved from stone – silent, still and composed. He holds my gaze for a few moments longer, right before he smiles and faces forward. It's chilling, and for some sick reason, I find myself blushing.

Get it together, Lana. Just because he's sexy doesn't mean you need to forget what he did at the club.

I refocus on what I see through the window. The city bleeds away behind us, replaced by long stretches of road, by tall black gates and manicured trees that flash past in the headlights. I can feel how far we're going, how far from normal life I'm being taken. The streets turn quieter, emptier, and my heart sinks lower with every curve of the road. I have no idea where we are.

When the car finally slows and I realise we're approaching something massive. The headlights catch large, black, iron gates taller than any I've ever seen. As we approach them, they slide open automatically with a slow metallic groan that makes my stomach twist. And then, beyond them, I see it.

A mansion.

Calling it a mansion doesn't even feel right. It's more like a palace hidden in shadows and gold – powerful stone walls, arched windows glowing with warm light, ivy crawling along the sides like veins. The driveway stretches in a perfect circle, lined with black cars and uniformed guards. It's beautiful and terrifying all at once, like something out of a dream that's about to turn into a nightmare.

My throat tightens as I take it in. I've never seen anything like it – not even in magazines, not even on the kind of shows where they showcase billionaires' homes. Every inch of this place screams power, control, danger. And all I can think is: What am I doing here? What does he want with me?

The car stops, and the air changes. Two of his men step forward immediately, opening the doors before I even move. The chill of night air hits my skin, and goosebumps rise across my arms. I don't move until one of them grips my arm again, not rough this time, but firm enough to remind me that I don't have a choice.

Ezio exits the car first, unhurried, his shoes clicking softly against the stone. He doesn't even look back to see if I'm following. He knows I will. He knows I don't have anywhere else to go.

When I finally step out, the scent of the night hits me. It's cold, sharp, and mixed with the faint smell of burning wood and expensive cologne. The mansion looms over me, silent yet magnificent. I tilt my head back, my breath catching as I take it all in. It looks like something ancient, like it's been here long before any of us existed, and I can almost feel the weight of its history pressing down on me.

"Bring her inside," Ezio says, his voice smooth, casual, as if he's talking about luggage.

The guards move instantly, and before I can process, I'm walking again, my heels clicking softly against the marble steps as we enter. The air inside is warm, scented with leather, smoke, and his cologne. This is all his... The floor gleams beneath chandeliers, and my reflection follows me across the polished marble. Everything looks too perfect – like a museum or a temple built to worship money.

My chest tightens. What is this place?

I want to ask, but my voice is buried somewhere in my throat.

We move through a long hallway lined with paintings as Ezio walks at the front, hands clasped behind his back, the perfect picture of authority. He doesn't even need to look around; he knows every inch of this place. This is his kingdom.

Finally, we reach a large sitting room with black leather furniture, gold-trimmed mirrors, and a fire crackling lazily in the hearth. He turns toward me then, gestures for his men to release me. They do, instantly, and my arms feel weightless without their grip, but my knees almost give out.

Ezio's gaze shifts down to my dress – the same one I wore to my engagement party, the one I haven't had the chance to take off. His eyes travel slowly, analytically, before meeting mine again.

"You're dressed for an occasion," he says softly, like he's commenting on the weather. "Where were you coming from, love?" He questions. His tone is calm, but the question feels like a test. Like, there's a right and wrong answer, and I don't know which is which.

I shake my head slightly. "I'm not telling you anything." My voice trembles, but I force the words out.

His mouth curves into the faintest smirk. "You can at least tell me your name."

Silence pressed between us, the only thing being audible in the room being the fire that crackles in the hearth. I stare at him, at those dark eyes that seem to pull every thought out of me, before whispering...

"Lana."

He smiles at me before taking a few steps forward.

"Lana..." He repeats it slowly, like tasting the word. The sound of my name in his accent makes my stomach twist. "Mm..." He tilts his head, watching me for a long moment. "You should get used to hearing it from me." He whispers, bringing his hand to my chin and holding onto it delicately as I look up at him in confusion.

I blink, confused. "What... what does that mean?" I say, tilting my head up to meet his gaze.

His eyes narrow slightly, but there's amusement in them now, like a cat watching a mouse try to make sense of its fate. "It means you're mine now, darling. I want you to understand that."

My breath catches. Mine. The word slams into me like a punch to the chest...

"I-...I'm not yours," I whisper, shaking my head. "You can't just–..." I try to protest, but instead he silences me by placing a bare thumb on my lips.

"I can." His voice is calm, certain and final. He steps closer, and I instinctively step back until I feel the wall behind me, my breath catching as I see how incredibly close he is to me.

"You saw something you weren't meant to see. That makes you mine until I decide otherwise. And, Lana..." He leans closer, his breath brushing against my skin, "I don't intend to change my mind."

I can feel my pulse racing under my skin... and somewhere else entirely. Every instinct in my body screams to run, but my legs won't move. His eyes are on me like a physical touch – tracing, claiming, consuming. He doesn't need to raise his voice, he doesn't need to threaten... he danger is all in his stillness.

"That scent..." He whispers before he brings his face to my neck, taking in a deep breath before groaning so deeply that it sends chills passing through my body.

"So sweet... Chanel? Vanilla and rose..." He whispers to me before I suddenly feel his lips press against my neck, making me whimper fearfully, but at the same time, my body doesn't exactly want him to stop.

"Ezio... please..." I find myself whispering, placing my hands on his chest in an attempt to push him off me. He pauses all his movements, keeping his head by me for just a moment before he exhales deeply, his breath fanning against my neck just as he pulls away and stares down at me.

"I think can get used to the sound of you begging me." He says to me, a smile grazing his lips as he stares down at me. I am too stunned to say anything to him, all I can do is stare back with my mouth slightly open, the words failing to leave my lips... There's a pulsating between my legs that I feel utterly ashamed of. I can't believe I've physically attracted to the man who has just kidnapped me...