Ian's POV

“Oh dear, you are way too useful for me to kill you,” he said, his voice laced with a dark amusement that sent chills down my spine. I could feel him smirking, that same dangerous allure making my breath hitch.

“Please, let me go. I won’t say anything to anyone,” I pleaded, desperation creeping into my voice as I tried to mask the terror bubbling inside.

“Now, now,” he murmured, his tone turning cold and calculating. “I’m not that dumb to leave a police officer’s brother who just saw a dead human. I would rather use you to my liking.” His words hung in the air like a threat, and before I could process them, he turned me around with a firm grip.

We were now face-to-face, and I couldn’t hide my shock. How does he know about my brother? My mind raced, trying to piece together the puzzle. Did his guards tell him while I was running for my life, or did he know all along? If he could pull my entire life history in minutes, what else was he capable of?

As these thoughts swirled in my head, he suddenly pointed a gun at my face. The cold metal against my skin sent a jolt of fear through me, snapping me back to the present.

“1...2...3…” he counted slowly, his gaze unwavering.

“Okay! Yes, fine! I’ll do whatever you want, just please don’t kill me,” I stammered, my voice trembling. Tears welled up in my eyes, spilling over as the reality of my situation crashed down on me. Never in my wildest nightmares did I imagine agreeing to a marriage proposal under such circumstances—and certainly not by the man who had just killed someone.

“Don’t ruin your pretty eyes by crying,” he said, almost mockingly. “It’s good you have a brain that works. If you’d said no, I would’ve definitely killed you and your brother. So, from now on, do what I say and don’t tell anyone what happened here. Understand?” His voice was sharp, cutting through the air like a blade.

I didn’t respond immediately, the gravity of his words sinking in. But he wasn’t a man to be kept waiting.

“FUCKING UNDERSTOOD?” he barked, his voice echoing through the room.

“Y-Yes, yes,” I replied, my voice small and defeated, still sobbing softly.

With that, he led me back to the mansion, his grip on my wrist never loosening. I was shown to a large room by one of his guards, a space that seemed designed to imprison me with its beauty. The room was grand, with an entire wall of glass overlooking the lush greenery outside and the dark, star-studded sky. But the breathtaking view did nothing to calm the storm raging inside me. I was too terrified to appreciate it, and too exhausted to think clearly.

I sank onto the edge of the bed, my mind racing as I tried to plan my next move, but the day’s events had drained me. My body gave in to the exhaustion, and I fell into a restless sleep.

I awoke suddenly to the sound of the door opening. My heart leaped into my throat as I recognized him—the man who now held my fate in his hands. He stood in the doorway, shirtless, his chiseled body catching the faint light filtering through the window. I couldn’t help but stare. Those defined abs, those biceps that looked like they could crush steel, and that sharp collarbone—it was almost inhuman how perfect he was. But I had to stop thinking like this. He was dangerous. He was my captor.

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“Like what you see?” he asked, a smirk playing on his lips as he raised an eyebrow.

I quickly averted my gaze, trying to remember that this man had just killed someone. That I was here against my will. But the memory of his body lingered in my mind, making it harder to focus.

Before I knew it, he was sitting beside me on the bed, his presence overwhelming. His scent—musky, with a hint of something darker—filled my senses, clouding my thoughts.

“Don’t hate me for being your husband and for forcing you into marrying me,” he said, his tone almost taunting. “But it’s all your fault, Ian. If you hadn’t seen anything, you’d be home right now, eating dinner and living your normal life.”

I stared at him in disbelief, my mind reeling. He said my name so casually, as if we were old friends. But I didn’t even know his name, and yet he was to be my husband? My life was spiraling out of control.

“We aren’t married yet, so don’t call yourself my husband,” I snapped, unable to hold back the bitterness in my voice.

He chuckled, a sound that sent shivers down my spine. “We’re going to be married in just an hour, so be ready. Your suit is over there by the door. Don’t be late, pretty boy—I don’t have time to waste.”

And with that, he left the room, leaving me in a daze.

An hour. I had an hour to prepare myself for a life I didn’t want, with a man I didn’t know. I had always imagined my wedding would be a grand affair, filled with love and joy. But now, I was about to marry a stranger, in a situation more terrifying than anything I could have dreamed.

As I sat on the bed, staring at the suit hanging by the door, my heart sank. Could this get any worse than it already was?

The minutes ticked by agonizingly slow, and every second felt like an eternity. My thoughts raced, bouncing between the horror of my situation and the unsettling attraction I felt toward Massimo. There was no escape. I was trapped, both by my circumstances and by the confusing emotions that tangled within me.

Finally, the door opened again, and my heart skipped a beat. He was back, this time dressed in a sharp black suit that only accentuated his dangerous allure. His dark eyes bore into mine, and I felt my breath catch in my throat.

But then, something shifted in the air, a tension so thick it was almost suffocating. He walked toward me, his gaze never leaving mine, and I could feel the heat radiating off his body.

“Ian,” he murmured, his voice low and intimate as he stood just inches away. “You don’t know what you’re in for.”

I swallowed hard, my throat dry as sandpaper. There was something in his eyes, something dark and possessive that made my pulse race.

He reached out, his hand brushing against my cheek, and I flinched at the contact. But he didn’t pull away. Instead, he leaned in closer, his breath warm against my skin.

“You’re mine now,” he whispered, his lips so close I could almost feel them. “And I’m going to enjoy every minute of it.”

I didn’t have time to respond before he was gone, leaving me trembling in his wake. My heart pounded in my chest as the weight of his words settled over me like a shroud.

There was no escape. No way out. And in just a short while, I would be bound to this man, this dangerous, magnetic force of nature who had already turned my life upside down.

As I stood there, staring at the door he had just walked through, the realization hit me like a ton of bricks. This was only the beginning. The darkness that surrounded him was just beginning to seep into my life, and I had no idea how deep it would go.

But one thing was certain—I wasn’t sure if I would ever be able to escape his grasp.