I wore a stunning floor-length gown made of pale gold satin fabric. It showed my cleavage or lack thereof since I had small breasts, and it was completely backless.

The dress didn't hug my body, but it accentuated my curves. It was scandalous enough to catch the attention of all the guests, but modest enough that people wouldn't say I was dressed like a slut.

I had my hair in a low, elegant bun, not a single strand out of place, and minimalist makeup.

For the jewelry, I chose a golden back necklace that cascaded down my spine to where the backless design of the dress stopped. It went well with my golden stilettos.

I walked into the ball, and all eyes were on me. They were all wondering who I was and where I came from, and I was eating it up. I had always loved attention since I was young. Besides, I was beautiful.

My mother had been a model before she married my father. I had inherited most of her features, and I embraced them wholeheartedly. She would have wanted me to bask in my beauty.

The Governor's ball was an event to host dignitaries. Only the richest people in New York were able to attend, like political figures, wealthy donors, corporate sponsors, celebrities, philanthropists, socialites, and members of high society.

They said it was a way for wealthy people to network, but it was just a show of wealth and influence. If you weren't invited, you weren't rich or powerful enough.

There were cameras everywhere, photo ops, designer gowns, and orchestras. It was impressive, but it was also boring and meant for older people. I didn't know how I had survived through such events when my parents were still alive.

I was already thinking of leaving, and I had just arrived. If it wasn't for my uncle, I would have been at home watching a movie.

"Zio," I greeted my uncle Lorenzo when I approached.

He was speaking to two men, an older one and a younger one.

"Cara mia," he greeted as he kissed both of my cheeks.

Lorenzo was a very affectionate man. He was short, he had dark hair like my father's, and he had brown eyes. He was a replica of my father. Maybe that was why I was so fond of him, besides the fact that he treated me like his daughter.

He was the one who sent me to France to get away once my parents died. He enrolled me in school and helped me make contact with my mother's side of the family in France.

"How are you, Zio?" I asked him.

"I'm doing well, cara mia. I would like you to meet my friend, Alexei Orlov. This is his son, Viktor Orlov."

I turned to the pair, impressed with what I saw. They were very handsome with dark hair and blue eyes. But something about the two of them didn't sit well with me. I couldn't place it, but something was off.

"Nice to meet you, Serena," Viktor said as he took my hand and kissed the back of it.

He seemed charming, but it would take more than that to impress me.

"Why don't the two of you get to each other as the grownups talk?" Lorenzo asked as he ushered us away.

Viktor grabbed a glass of champagne from a waiter and handed it to me.

"I have to admit it, when my father told me he wanted me to meet a girl, I didn't expect her to be the most beautiful woman I have seen in my lifetime."

I blushed and smiled.

"Thank you. You don't look so bad yourself."

I heard his slight Russian accent. I couldn't lie, it was hot, and coming from a handsome man made it all the more alluring to listen to.

"What do you do for a living?" He asked.

"I'm an interior designer," I replied.

"Maybe you should come to my place sometime and design my walls. I need a change."

I giggled and gave him my number. I had to say, it had been a good idea for Zio Lorenzo to get me a date with Viktor. He was definitely my type, and he was twenty-seven and successful.

"What do you do?" I asked the question back.

"I'm the CEO of Orlov Energy. It's a European Energy Conglomerate. I am currently overseeing operations in New York. There's a lot to do here."

He was trying to tell me that he would be in New York for the foreseeable future, and it brought me delight. What I needed was a distraction from my plans for uncovering my parents' murder.

"I would love to take you to dinner sometime-"

Viktor was cut off when a business associate approached him, and he excused himself. He promised to find me so we could dance.

I interacted with a few people that my uncle introduced me to, but overall, the party was boring. That was until the whole room went silent when someone walked in.

All eyes were on him as he walked in like he commanded the room. Everyone whispered when they saw him, wondering why he was at a Governor's Ball when he never attended such events.

It was Nero DeLuca in an all-black tux that fit his body perfectly. He was a huge man, and he had an aura of power about him that made everyone want to bow down and kiss the ground he walked on.

This time, his neck was in view, and you could see some tattoos peeking through the parts of him that weren't covered by his collar.

I was scared of seeing him again. What if he recognized me? No. I was wearing a disguise. There was no way he realized it was me that night.

Dominic was standing next to him as usual. He looked like the dangerous one out of the two, but a smart person would tell that glasses didn't make DeLuca a nice guy.

I stayed as far away from him as possible. I knew I should have been making moves to make sure he noticed me, but I was scared of him. There was something about him that screamed silent danger.

After a few minutes, I excused myself to go to the bathroom. I needed a break from everyone, even for a few seconds. As I was reapplying my makeup, I caught movement in the mirror. Before I could react, I felt an arm around my waist.

Nero was suddenly behind me, his body pressed into me, and his hand holding my waist firmly to keep me in place. He was taller than me, even in heels, which gave him an advantage.

"This is the women's bathroom...you...you're not supposed to be here." I stuttered.

What was he doing?

"Hello, Piper. I personally think the blonde hair and blue eyes don't suit you. Brunette is more your thing. And I have to say, those mesmerizing green eyes are hypnotic, birichina."

Nero knew who I was and that I had lied to him about my name. How did he recognize me? My disguise had been solid. I had even changed my nose and worn more dramatic makeup.

It had worked so well for me in my past.

"I..."

I didn't manage to get a word out before I saw a knife pressed into my neck. My heart raced in fear because I thought I was going to die. There was no way out of the situation. Nero knew who I was.

Even if I managed to run away, he would find me.

He knew my name, and he probably knew my family background. If he and his family had anything to do with my parents' death, he was going to kill me for even being in New York.

Zio had made it clear that it wasn't safe for me in New York, and yet, I had insisted on coming back to solve my parents' murder like the stubborn person I was.

"You have five seconds to tell me what you were doing at my house, Serena Marino, before I end you, right here. And trust me, your body will be gone in ten minutes maximum. No one will even know you were here."

I saw my life flash before my eyes when he said that. I didn't want to lose my life so easily. My brother would be all alone in the world with no one to rely on.

I had to come up with a believable lie. It was a life-or-death situation, and I didn't want to die so soon. I had so much to live for.

So, I told him the first thing I could think of, keeping in mind how he had barely glanced at my naked body before. He wasn't attracted to me at all.

"I'm attracted to you, and I heard your preference was blonde women, so I decided to wear a disguise to see if I could have you, even if it was just for one night," I said weakly.

I almost gagged, having to say such a thing to an arrogant man like Nero. He clearly wasn't above murder. Who was he really? Was he just a billionaire? I didn't know many billionaires who openly threatened to kill people.

"Do you expect me to believe you're obsessed with me?" He asked.

I nodded my head, and he chuckled. I couldn't tell if he was that narcissistic that he believed I was obsessed with him, or if he was laughing at my audacity to lie to him.

He let me go and stepped back.

"Look at me."

I slowly turned to look at him. I wasn't sure what would happen, but I hoped the universe was on my side for once in my life.

"Serena Marino, or Serena Ricci, daughter of the late Giovanni and Estelle Ricci. You recently inherited a fortune from your grandparents. You could be traveling the world right now, and yet, you're here. What do you want from me?"

"I told you-"

"Liar. I saw the look of horror on your face when I asked you to take off your clothes. You weren't there for sex. Besides, I caught you trying to break into my office. Don't insult my intelligence."

Either he didn't know what happened to my parents, or he assumed I was weak and I couldn't find out what really happened to them. Either way, he didn't seem to have a clue about why I was at his house.

My uncle told me their murder was linked to the DeLuca family, and since Nero was the head of the American part of their dynasty, he had to be involved in some way. I had to find out the truth.

"I was lost. I was there to seduce you. Look at you. You're handsome, rich, and I hear your skills in bed are unmatched."

"Okay. I'll give you what you want. You want to have me? You can."

I thought he wasn't attracted to me. When I told him I wanted him, I was hoping he would be disgusted and leave me alone.

"What?" I asked, not believing what I heard.

"As I'm sure you've heard, I have certain...tastes in bed."

What did he mean by that? I hadn't heard anything.

"You look surprised, birichina. Haven't you heard? I'm dominant in bed, and I require my sexual partners to be very submissive."

I heard about BDSM, and I had always been curious about how it worked. Hearing Nero mention it so casually was concerning.

"I don't..."

He grabbed my chin and smiled, but for some reason, that smile didn't reach his eyes. It was almost taunting or condescending.

"I can already tell you'll be the perfect submissive."

He walked towards the exit and stopped when he reached it.

"At 8 p.m., a car will be waiting outside this building. You'll know it by the driver. Black suit, no name. Do not bring anyone with you. Do not ask where you're going. When you arrive, the concierge will hand you a key card. Take the private elevator to the top floor.

"Don't knock. Just come in. I don't like delays, Serena. Be on time."

The only question that remained was how far I was willing to go to find out the truth.

"Oh, and I don't have a preference for blondes. I'm much more taken with sexy brunettes with green eyes."

I became more nervous when the clock read five minutes to eight. Nero left as soon as he told me to find a driver outside. When I came out of the bathroom, I had been shaken, but I couldn't bring myself to tell my uncle what had happened.

Would I have to sleep with Nero? Would he hit me during sex? Was BDSM sex more painful than it was pleasurable? And most of all, what was I willing to do to get to the truth?

When I found myself walking towards the exit, I knew the answer-anything. My brother deserved closure, and so did I. We needed to be known as the children of a couple that taught them how beautiful love was.

Not how ugly it could get.

"Where are you going?" Viktor asked as he blocked my way to the exit. Three minutes were left. I couldn't afford to be late and make a man who had put a knife to my throat angry.

I was already shaken as it was, and alcohol had done nothing to ease my fear.

"Not now, Viktor," I snapped as I pulled my hand from his grasp. I immediately felt bad for snapping at him when his only fault was asking me a simple question.

"You're shaking. Is everything okay? You don't seem okay, and I would love to help you if you let me." He said softly, making me feel even more like a dick.

"I'm just tired. I'll text you later tonight." If I could walk after Nero was done with me.

"Are you sure?"

One minute.

"I'm sure. Have a lovely night, Viktor. It was nice to meet you."

I walked away before he could say anything. I didn't want to be late. When I went outside, a car pulled up to the curb. I immediately knew it was Nero's car based on the tinted windows.

The backseat door opened, and I stepped in. There was no one else inside but the driver and me. He didn't speak to me or even look at me. He locked the doors as soon as I was in, like I was going to try and run away.

This was the opportunity Lily told me I needed to have to figure out the truth. Getting close to Nero would be difficult, but it needed to be done. I just hoped I could handle sex with him.

We came to a halt in front of the most luxurious hotel in all of New York. My door automatically opened, and I took that as a sign to get out. As soon as I was out, the door closed and the car sped away.

"Ms. Serena, I was asked to give you this key card. The private elevator is this way." A man said.

He had a smile on his face, but I could smell his fear. He led me to the private elevator, and I used the key card to get in. It opened into the penthouse suite at the very top of the floor. It had floor-to-ceiling windows, glass walls, and an infinity pool.

It must have been worth millions. It probably cost more than my inheritance.

"You're late," Nero said.

He was standing by the minibar with a glass of an amber liquid in his hand. The jacket of his suit was off, and his sleeves were rolled to his elbows. I could see a sleeve tribal tattoo on his left hand.

I couldn't deny how hot it made him look. The other arm was devoid of any tattoos except for a few Roman numbers on his fingers. Those long and powerful fingers had black rings.

He had a mafia vibe to him. Even the penthouse had dark walls and black leather couches.

"I wasn't-"

"Don't lie to me, Serena. It's distasteful."

If it was so distasteful, why was I in his penthouse? Besides, I was only two minutes late. He had serious OCD if he took offense to that.

"I'm sorry," I said to keep the peace.

"Insincerity is also distasteful."

I couldn't help but roll my eyes. He took an issue with everything, and it was honestly unbelievable.

He walked towards me with slow and deliberate steps that made me step back a little. I was afraid of what he would do. It dawned on me that he had asked me not to tell anyone where I was going.

Was he going to kill me?

When we were only inches apart, he grabbed my neck and pulled me close.

"That's ten strikes with my belt on your ass. I don't appreciate your attitude. Don't roll your eyes at me, apologize sincerely, and when I tell you to be on time, don't disappoint me."

For some reason, the power in his voice had me nodding. And then I realized that he had promised to hit me on the ass with his belt.

Like a fucking child.

"I'm an adult. Why would you spank me?" I asked.

"I will forgive you this time because you don't know me. I don't like being questioned." He said as he trailed his thumb up and down my neck.

He was running a strict programme like I was in summer camp, but the intensity in his eyes had me speechless. It was as though I had forgotten how to formulate any words. It must have been because of his commanding tone.

"Come," he said as he let go of my neck and led me to the couch. "Sit."

When I sat down, he sat down opposite me. Dominic appeared from nowhere and handed him some documents.

"Read the contract, and we can talk about it. You can either accept or decline if you want to be my property. Remember, if you decline, you have to explain to me what you were doing at my house yesterday night."