"Kidnapped by the man I left behind..." At twenty-five, Eleanor's world shatters when she wakes up in an unfamiliar room-luxurious, cold, and far from home. Her kidnapper? Alex Adams, the most feared and dangerous mafia boss in Golden City... and the boy she once loved. Years ago, they shared a fleeting, secret romance during a summer at her grandmother's house. Back then, Alex was quiet, sweet, and hopelessly in love. But when Eleanor vanished without a word, she left him heartbroken-and obsessed. He swore he'd find her again. And he did. Now Alex isn't the boy she remembered-he's possessive, powerful, and dead set on never letting her go again. Eleanor fights to keep her freedom, but the past won't stay buried. As old feelings resurface and dark truths come to light, she must confront the man she once knew... and the terrifying love he still holds for her.
Chapter 1 Kidnapped by the Past
Eleanor Pov
The first thing I noticed was the scent-rich leather, faint traces of expensive cologne, and something else, something dark. My body ached, my wrists felt raw, and my throat was parched. I forced my heavy eyelids open, blinking against the dim golden light flickering from a chandelier overhead.
This wasn't my hotel room.
Panic surged through me like wildfire as I tried to move, only to realize my wrists were bound. My breath hitched. I wasn't alone. I could feel it-the weight of someone's gaze pressing against me, even in the silence.
Think, Eleanor. Think.
The last thing I remembered was stepping out of the resort with Sofia. We were supposed to meet up for drinks, but I had lagged behind, checking my phone for messages. Then... nothing. A blur of shadows. A hand clamping over my mouth. And darkness.
My heart pounded violently as the door creaked open.
I stilled. My fingers curled into trembling fists.
And then, he stepped in.
Tall. Broad shoulders. Dark hair slicked back with precision. The glint of an expensive watch on his wrist. His presence alone made the air in the room feel suffocating, like an invisible force pressing against my chest.
I recognized him instantly.
Alex Adams.
The most feared mafia boss in Golden City.
The man who kidnapped me.
The man I had left behind nine years ago without a word.
His icy blue eyes locked onto mine, and for a split second, something flickered in them-something unreadable. Then, his lips curled into a smirk.
"Hello, Eleanor."
His voice sent a shiver down my spine. It was deeper than I remembered, rougher, like a blade honed to perfection over time.
I swallowed hard. "What the hell is this?" My voice came out hoarse, weaker than I wanted.
He took a slow step forward, his gaze never leaving mine. "It's been a long time."
I yanked at my restraints. "Untie me."
He tilted his head, amusement dancing in his eyes. "You disappeared on me, Eleanor."
My stomach twisted. "That was nine years ago."
"And yet," he murmured, stepping closer, "I never stopped looking for you."
My breath caught.
No.
No, this wasn't happening.
I forced myself to hold his gaze, even though my entire body screamed at me to shrink away. "You're insane."
His smirk deepened. "Maybe."
I shook my head, trying to make sense of it all. "You kidnapped me because... what? You missed me?" My voice dripped with sarcasm, but my heart was hammering.
His eyes darkened, the amusement flickering away like a dying flame. "You left without a word, Eleanor. You didn't even say goodbye."
I scoffed. "We dated for a week. A damn week, Alex. And I was sixteen!"
He exhaled through his nose, the muscle in his jaw tightening. "And I was twenty-one. And even back then, I knew what I wanted."
I let out a hollow laugh. "That's insane."
He stepped forward, closing the distance between us. I pressed myself against the headboard, but there was nowhere to go. He leaned in, his face inches from mine.
"You never gave me a chance," he murmured. "You just vanished. Like I meant nothing to you."
I swallowed hard. Guilt twisted in my gut, but I pushed it down. I had been young. Naïve. I hadn't known how to deal with the intensity of him.
"You meant something to me," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. "But I was a kid, Alex. I didn't know how to handle-" I gestured around me, "-all of this."
His eyes softened, but only for a second. Then, just as quickly, the steel returned.
"Well, you're not a kid anymore."
A chill ran down my spine.
I clenched my fists. "So what's the plan, then? Keep me locked up here forever?"
He studied me for a long moment before finally speaking. "I won't hurt you, Eleanor. But I'm not letting you go."
My breath hitched.
"What?"
"I lost you once. I won't lose you again."
Panic clawed at my throat. I had to get out of here.
But as I stared into the cold, determined eyes of the man I once thought I knew, I realized something terrifying.
Alex Adams wasn't the same person from my past.
And I had no idea what he was truly capable of.
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