ELENA'S POV
I swallow.
I'm not sure if it's the man making me nervous or the papers, which makes no sense.
And him glaring at me with those blue eyes instead of answering isn't helping either.
"Are you going to explain, or am I expected to read your mind?"
"What is there to explain? I'm sure you can read." He takes a step toward me, and I retreat mine, willing my legs not to shake.
"Marriage between you and me? You see that—how it sounds? A B S U R D."
"It's either that or you go back to Markel. And trust me, you don't want to find out what he will do to you." The back of my knees hit the chair. His arm snakes around my waist, catching me. "Have you heard of Ravens?"
I nod.
Who doesn't know about the five deadly mafia lords who rule the world with an iron fist?
And I know he is one of them.
Lorenzo once tried to set me up with one of the Ravens at a party, but they are like gods, aristocrats. That guy didn't even bother to look at me or Lorenzo, like we were invisible. That night, after returning home, Lorenzo beat me with his belt until I passed out.
"We have a peace treaty with other mafia lords to not meddle in their business and family until they stay away from our territory. And since you are a daughter of a mafia lord, it applies to you as well."
Hope shines in my eyes.
"Does that mean I'm free to go?"
"Did I say that?"
"But the peace treaty—" wait, I'm still in his arms, and he doesn't look like he is going to let me go. So I push against his chest, feeling all the hard muscles under my palm and stabilizing myself. "—according to the peace treaty, you can't keep me here."
"Markel has approached the Ravens through your father—"
"Don't call him my father."
"—has approached the Ravens through Lorenzo, asking for you back."
Shit.
Lorenzo has sold me to Markel, and according to the code, I belong to Markel and he has full rights over me, no matter what I want.
A woman has no say in this brutal world.
"But you bought me at the auction." Stupid argument. Isn't that saying I belong to him? Him or Markel? Death is inevitable. But my chances here are better, right? At least he hasn't caged me in a dark room like Markel. And I can elope from here easily. Ok, not easily, but still…
"Does that mean you don't want to go back to Markel?"
I look away. "Yes."
"Lorenzo and Markel have put the argument that I took you against your will. According to the treaty, I should return you. But…" He sits down on the couch, crosses his legs, and leans back, making him look more predatory. "The only way out—you have to say in front of the Ravens that you were my woman when Lorenzo sold you wrongly, and that you are staying by my side willingly. This will nullify their argument."
God. I'm so stuck.
The options are so bad. Where is the option for my freedom and Japan?
"Elena," Adrian says to get my attention back on him. When our eyes meet, he pats the space next to him, "Come here."
I don't move. I won't move.
"I said come here!"
I dart to his side and sit down with my butt half hanging out, ready to bolt. But the next second, a warm, large jacket comes down on my shoulder.
I yank it off me.
"Listen, I don't know what's going on in that head of yours. But you are safe here. I'm known for a lot in the criminal world, but I don't hurt women and children. And certainly don't force myself on a woman. The same goes for my men."
Liar.
I'm sure the other four Ravens are riding his ass, and this is just him trying to get them off by making me do his bidding.
"I can do as you said, and you let me go in return. I get my freedom, and you get to keep your position between the Ravens. Win-win, right?"
A hysterical laugh escapes him, and I'm left staring at the man whose second name is Butcher.
"Cute of you to think my position as one of the Ravens is in danger. And that I'll let you go." He says, "I don't do charity, piccolo gatto selvatico. Remember, I paid five million dollars for you?"
Which I can easily pay ten times. But too risky and can expose my identity.
"Then?"
"Stay. Pay me ten million, cash or service."
My brows shoot up, "Ten million?"
"Principal + interest. Once it's done I'll let you go."
This is insane. He is insane.
My breath comes broken as I gasp. Alarm shudders through me; he is trapping me here forever. I have no way to earn that much money without exposing myself, and exposing myself means slow and painful death.
Panic hits me.
Survival mode kicks into me. I reach for the gun strapped to his waist, but a strong hand grips my wrist, and I'm yanked to him, slamming against his solid chest. I struggle, but he locks my hands behind my back, easily holding me imprisoned. I'm no match against his strength.
Like an animal on its last breath, I fight against him, reaching to kick him in the crotch, but in an easy move, he throws me onto the couch, straddles me, pressing me with his body weight, and the air whooshes out of my lungs. With one hand, he keeps my hands locked behind me and wraps the other around my throat.
"Do you think you stand a chance against me?"
I try to breathe.
My heart flutters against my chest as he stares at me with eyes that promise a torturous death.
"You are having a panic attack, calm the fuck down, Elena." He releases the grip on my throat.
"I—I have no way to pay you ten million. Instead of being a lifetime prisoner, you better kill me."
"Be Sophia's nanny and my wife for a year."