Chapter 3: Bound by Blood
POV: Isla Moretti
The moment I shook Luca DeLuca's hand, I knew I had made a deal with the devil.
A man like him didn't do favors. He collected debts. And I had just signed my name in blood.
Luca didn't waste time. The second the deal was struck, he turned to Matteo—the enforcer who had nearly put a bullet in my skull—and gave a single command.
"Take her upstairs."
Matteo didn't question it. He simply grabbed my arm—too tight, too sure of himself—and started leading me away.
I didn't resist, not yet.
As I followed him through the dimly lit halls of Luca's estate, my mind raced through the options. If I tried to run, how far could I get? I was unarmed, unfamiliar with the layout, and—let's be real—outnumbered.
No. Running wasn't an option. Not yet.
But I wasn't going to be Luca DeLuca's prisoner either.
I'd find a way to turn the game on him.
Matteo stopped in front of a heavy wooden door and pushed it open, nodding for me to go inside.
I stepped in cautiously, my muscles tense. The room was big—bigger than I expected—luxurious but understated. A king-sized bed sat against one wall, the dark silk sheets crisp and untouched. Across from it, a fireplace flickered with low-burning embers. A leather armchair rested near the window, and a desk sat against the far wall, the surface clean and empty.
Not a cage, but not exactly freedom either.
Matteo leaned against the doorframe, watching me with an amused smirk. "Boss wants you here. Said he'll call for you when he's ready."
I folded my arms. "And if I try to leave?"
His smirk widened. "Try it and find out."
I met his gaze, unflinching. "I'll take my chances."
Matteo chuckled, shaking his head. "Suit yourself." He turned and left, shutting the door behind him.
The lock clicked into place.
I was alone.
For now.
The Game Begins
I moved to the window first. Locked, as expected. The glass was thick, bulletproof most likely. Outside, the estate's grounds stretched into the night—tall iron fences, security cameras, armed guards patrolling the perimeter.
Escape wouldn't be easy.
I turned back to the room, scanning for anything useful. No obvious weapons. The desk drawers were empty. Even the nightstand held nothing but a glass of water and a fresh towel.
They weren't underestimating me.
Good. That meant they knew I was dangerous.
I sat on the edge of the bed, my mind working through possibilities.
Luca hadn't killed me. That meant he wanted something.
But what?
Before I could dwell on it, the door unlocked.
I tensed as it swung open, and Luca DeLuca walked in.
He looked at ease, dressed in dark slacks and a crisp white shirt, the top button undone. His sleeves were rolled up, revealing strong forearms. He had the presence of a man who didn't need to prove his power—he simply was power.
He shut the door behind him, leaning against it as his sharp eyes studied me.
"Already planning your escape?"
I met his gaze evenly. "Wouldn't you?"
His lips twitched in something almost resembling amusement. "I don't run from things that belong to me."
I clenched my fists. "I don't belong to anyone."
Luca pushed off the door, closing the distance between us in a few measured steps. He reached out, brushing a strand of hair from my face, his touch deceptively gentle.
I forced myself to stay still.
"Let me explain something to you, thief," he murmured. "You walked into my world, stole from me, and now you wear my mark."
I frowned. "Your mark?"
His fingers ghosted over my wrist where his men had tied me earlier. "Your choices led you here. And until I decide otherwise, you belong to me."
A slow, burning anger settled in my gut.
"I don't break easily," I said.
Luca's smirk returned, but there was something darker beneath it.
"We'll see."
A Dangerous Proposition
Luca stepped away, walking toward the desk. He opened a drawer and pulled out the ledger—the very thing I'd risked my life to steal. He flipped through it casually, like he had all the time in the world.
"You were willing to die for this," he said. "Tell me, Isla, why?"
Hearing my name from his lips sent a strange shiver down my spine.
I crossed my arms. "I was hired for a job."
"By whom?"
I didn't answer.
Luca looked up, his expression unreadable. "You're smart enough to know that if I really wanted to, I could make you talk."
I met his gaze defiantly. "You could try."
He chuckled, shaking his head. "So reckless."
Closing the ledger, he set it down and leaned against the desk, considering me.
"You have two options," he said. "You can tell me who hired you and what they want with this ledger…" His voice darkened. "Or I can find out myself, and you won't like my methods."
I swallowed hard but didn't break eye contact.
Silence stretched between us, thick with tension.
Then, finally, I spoke.
"I don't know their name," I admitted. "It was a contract job. Anonymous. But they wanted your ledger badly enough to pay a fortune for it."
Luca studied me, searching for any sign of a lie.
After a moment, he nodded. "Then you're going to help me find out who they are."
I stiffened. "That wasn't part of the deal."
He smirked. "It is now."
I opened my mouth to argue, but Luca was already turning toward the door.
"I'll have Matteo bring you something to wear," he said. "Tomorrow, we start working together."
His dark eyes met mine one last time before he left.
The door clicked shut.