L SAN

But just three months ago, I started college and found myself surrounded by next-level delusional girls. The kind who squealed over their ridiculous fantasies abo

that's wha

ding a mansion that belongs to the very thing I thought was a joke-a mafia D

as I raised my fist for a third try, I heard the faint click of a lock at the far-right end. Hurrying over, the gate creak

I spoke loudly, ho

peak to Raff

then exchanged a glance with his partner before a

l. Hazel

der his breath. "Santoro..." He stepped back, murmuring into a w

g it beautiful didn't even come close. It was unreal. But I wasn't here to gaw

hey finally let me through to the mansion. Left Monster man told me to wait on the patio whil

wai

wa

ght of the late afternoon fading to gray. I paced, sat, then stood, unable to

I'd had

n front of two enormous, floor-to-ceiling doors. Muffled voices filtered through from the other side. Let's hope

nt si

e hard to make out in the dim light, but his presence hit like a freight train. The air around him seemed heavier,

d my fists, and marched t

! I'm here on beh

be even 6'3". Omg, is this what I'm really thinking about?! I mentally shook myself as he began walking

e was built, but not excessively so, with broad shoulders that looked like they could hold the weight of the world-or cradle me for years. The perfectly tailored suit clung to him in a way tha

nt, are

made my stomach flip. Why is everything about this ma

u here?" "N...no, sir" I stammered, feeling myself fading but then I forced myself to breathe, to

h me and a pool of heat between my thighs. "A mistake? No, Hazel. You

, their hands moving to their weapons. I wasn't armed. I wasn't a thre

, more confident than I felt. "I'll pay off his debt," I i

low smirk curling on

, though I had no idea how.

me as though I were some kind of

ed my fists tighte

ou're brave, Hazel. I'll give you that. But bravery alone doesn't fix problems like these.

opping to a whisper. "And I

t I forced myself to meet his ga

just stared at me, his eyes searching mine, as if trying to unravel the thought

ear. In exchange, your father wal

ying to make sense of what he was s

'll belong to me. Do as I say. Go where I say. You'll live under m

at least. The ones that demanded complete commitment. Yet ironically I'm now faced with a choice

couldn't quite place. Amusement? Desire? Control? He knew

t commanding. "Are you willing to make the sacrifice?

barely a whisper as I final

and he reached out, brushing a stray l

but didn'

away from me. "You'll come t

hey might give out at any moment, and I just wanted to get

, the sound of his v

and H

ping a beat as I looke

yes locking onto mine, "I'll find you. And

f what I had agreed to pressed down on me like a suffocating blanket, a

old my soul