Bound by love and betrayal

Evelyn

The sound of my father's voice echoed through the empty hallway, sharp and desperate. I paused outside his study, my hand hovering over the doorknob. I wasn't supposed to be here. He'd made that clear the last time I'd interrupted one of his "business meetings." But something about the way he was speaking, frantic, almost pleading-made me stay.

"I'll pay you back," he said, his voice trembling. "I just need more time."

I pressed my ear to the door, my heart pounding. Who was he talking to? And why did he sound so afraid?

"Time?" a cold, unfamiliar voice replied. "You've had enough time, Marco. The debt is due. And if you can't pay it, I'll take what's mine."

I froze. The voice was calm, almost bored, but there was an edge to it that sent a shiver down my spine. I didn't need to see the man to know he was dangerous.

"Please," my father begged. "I'll do anything. Just don't-"

"Anything?" the man interrupted, his tone sharp. "Then you'll give me your daughter."

My breath caught in my throat. No. He couldn't mean me. He couldn't.

"Evie?" my father said, his voice barely a whisper. "But she's just a girl. She has nothing to do with this."

"She's the only thing of value you have left," the man replied. "Either you give her to me, or I take everything. Your business. Your home. Your life. The choice is yours."

I stumbled back from the door, my mind racing. This couldn't be happening. My father wouldn't- he couldn't- agree to this. But deep down, I knew the truth. He'd already made his choice.

The door swung open, and I came face-to-face with the man who'd just sealed my fate. He was tall, with broad shoulders and a sharp jawline that looked like it had been carved from stone. His dark eyes swept over me, cold and calculating, as if I were nothing more than a piece of property.

"Evie," my father said, his voice shaking. "This is Don Alessandro Romano. He's... he's here to help us."

I wanted to laugh. Help us? This man wasn't here to help. He was here to take.

Alessio stepped closer, his gaze never leaving mine. "You'll come with me," he said, his voice low and commanding. "Tonight."

I shook my head, my throat tight. "No. I won't."

He tilted his head, a faint smirk playing on his lips. "You don't have a choice."

I looked at my father, hoping he'd say something-anything-to stop this. But he just stood there, his eyes downcast, his hands trembling at his sides. He couldn't even look at me.

"Pack your things," Alessio said, turning away. "We leave in an hour."

I wanted to scream. To fight. To run. But I knew it wouldn't make a difference. In this world, men like Alessio always got what they wanted. And right now, he wanted me.

I stormed up the stairs to my room, my hands clenched into fists. My mind was a whirlwind of anger, fear, and disbelief. How could my father do this? How could he just hand me over to a stranger like I was some kind of bargaining chip?

I threw open the door to my room and leaned against it, trying to catch my breath. The walls around me felt like they were closing in, the weight of what was happening crushing me. I glanced around at the familiar space with soft pink walls, the bookshelf overflowing with novels, and the window that looked out over the garden. This was my sanctuary, the one place where I could escape from the chaos of my family's world. But now, even that was being taken from me.

I grabbed a suitcase from the closet and began throwing clothes into it, my movements frantic and uncoordinated. I didn't know what to pack. I didn't know where I was going or how long I'd be gone. All I knew was that my life as I knew it was over.

A knock at the door made me freeze. I turned to see my father standing there, his face pale and drawn. He looked like he'd aged ten years in the past few hours.

"Evie," he said softly, stepping into the room. "I'm sorry."

"Sorry?" I spat, my voice trembling with anger. "You're sorry? You just sold me to a mob boss, and all you can say is you're sorry?"

He flinched, but he didn't deny it. "I didn't have a choice," he said, his voice breaking. "If I didn't agree, he would have killed me. He would have destroyed everything."

"And what about me?" I demanded, tears stinging my eyes. "Did you even stop to think about what this would do to me? Did you even care?"

"Of course, I care," he said, reaching out to touch my arm. I jerked away, not wanting his comfort. Not now. "But this is the only way to protect you. To protect our family."

"Protect me?" I laughed bitterly. "You're sending me to live with a man who terrifies you. How is that protecting me?"

He didn't have an answer for that. He just stood there, staring at me with a look of helpless guilt that made me want to scream.

"Get out," I said, my voice low and shaking. "Just... get out."

He hesitated for a moment, then turned and left, closing the door softly behind him. I sank down onto the bed, my legs giving out beneath me. The tears came then, hot and uncontrollable, as the reality of my situation sank in.

I didn't know what Alessio wanted from me. I didn't know what kind of life awaited me in his world. But one thing was clear: I was no longer in control of my own destiny.

As I stood there, numb and helpless, Alessio paused at the door and glanced back at me. "One more thing," he said, his voice like ice. "Don't think about running. If you do, I'll make sure your father pays the price."

And with that, he was gone, leaving me alone in the silence of the hallway. My future life is no longer my own. And the worst part? I had no idea what Alessio Romano had planned for me.