Kiera Westbrook never imagined that the night of the gala would be the night her life unraveled. Her father had always told her to smile, to be the perfect daughter, the perfect woman. She was supposed to marry well, stay out of trouble, and never, ever cross paths with the mafia.

But the Vieri family was a law unto itself. The moment Kiera stepped into the ballroom of the grand hotel, she felt like an outsider. Her designer dress clung to her body, the soft fabric shimmering under the chandeliers. Guests in black tuxedos and sparkling gowns moved like shadows—elegant, untouchable, dangerous.

Luciano Vieri was different. At six-foot-four, he stood out like a dark god among mere men. His suit—perfectly tailored to fit his frame—was sharp, intimidating. His jet-black hair was slicked back, and the glint of cold eyes surveyed the room as if he were the king of it all.

He wasn't just any mafia boss. He was a legend in the underground world, the kind of man who made even the most powerful men in the room nervous. And Kiera… Kiera was about to find out just how small her world had become.

As the evening wore on, the music softened and the chatter dimmed. That's when Luciano's eyes found hers.

It was like the room suddenly stopped. His gaze cut through the crowd and locked on her. A shiver ran down her spine as she felt the weight of his stare. No one had ever looked at her like that—like she was something to be conquered. Kiera's pulse quickened. There was something in his eyes—a hunger, a darkness—that made her feel like prey.

The moment his eyes met hers, she knew her life had just shifted. Everything was about to change.

He didn't need to say anything for Kiera to understand. His commanding presence made everyone else fade away. The world around them dimmed as if only she existed. The other guests were nothing but ghosts to him.

And when he moved toward her, it felt like the air got thick, suffocating.

"Miss Westbrook," he said, his voice smooth, deep, and laced with something dangerous. He reached out, taking her hand in his with a force that made her body freeze. "I've been waiting for you."

Kiera's breath hitched as his thumb traced the back of her hand. The warmth of his touch contrasted with the coldness in his eyes. There was something terrifying about his calm demeanor. He wasn't trying to charm her; he was trying to claim her.

"Your father owes me something," Luciano continued, his grip tightening. "And I'm here to collect."

Kiera's mind raced. Her father had always been a man of secrets. She had never asked too many questions about his business dealings, but now she wished she had.

"What do you want from me?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Luciano's lips curled into a predatory smile. He leaned in, his breath warm against her ear. "You'll marry me, or I'll destroy everything you hold dear. I'm not asking. I'm telling you."

Kiera's heart slammed against her chest. She wanted to protest, to scream, but something in the way he spoke, the way he dominated the space around them, kept her frozen.

"Why me?" she asked, her voice trembling with the weight of the decision he had just placed in her hands.

Luciano's eyes darkened, and for a moment, she thought she saw something more—something deeper, a pain that he never let anyone see. But it was gone as quickly as it came.

"Because I can make you mine," he said simply, "And once I do, there will be no escaping me."

As the night wore on, Kiera found herself trapped. Luciano kept her close, never letting her out of his sight. Every time she tried to step away, he was there—his presence looming like a shadow, suffocating her.

And as much as she hated him for what he was offering—marriage to the most dangerous man she'd ever met—she knew that rejecting him wasn't an option. The consequences of defying him were too grave. Too many people depended on her father's ability to handle his debts.

Luciano didn't seem to care about her family. In fact, he seemed to enjoy the power he held over her. The more she resisted, the more he seemed to savor it.

It was inevitable. As the night drew to a close and the last song played softly in the background, Luciano led her out onto the balcony. The cool night air was a stark contrast to the heated tension between them.

Kiera could feel her heart thundering in her chest. She was angry. She was scared. She wanted to scream and fight, but her body betrayed her. There was something about this man—about Luciano—that made her feel weak and alive at the same time.

Without warning, Luciano cupped her face in his hands, and Kiera's breath caught in her throat.

His lips were hard against hers, demanding, possessive. It wasn't a gentle kiss. It was a claim. A mark. And as he pulled her closer, she felt a rush of something she couldn't identify. It wasn't just lust. It was power. It was hunger. It was everything he wanted her to be.

And then, just as quickly as it had started, he pulled away, his eyes darkened with something she couldn't understand.

"I'll see you soon, Kiera," he whispered, his voice hushed, dangerous. "We have a lot to talk about."