Elena stared at him as if the world had suddenly tilted beneath her feet.
Rain slid down her face, cold and relentless, but she barely felt it. Her heart was pounding so violently she wondered if the man standing in front of her could hear it.
You belong to me.
The words echoed inside her mind.
"What?" Her voice came out shaky, barely louder than the rain.
The man didn't repeat himself instead, he studied her as though she were something unusual he had discovered by accident.
Up close, Elena could see his features clearly now.
He was striking—dangerously so. Dark hair, sharp jawline, and eyes so deep and unreadable they made her uneasy.
Those were not the eyes of a man who hesitated. Those were the eyes of a man who would kill without hesitation. A man who decided things and the world simply obeyed.
"You're shaking," he observed calmly his voice was low.
"Of course I'm shaking!" Elena snapped. "You just— you just shot someone!" her eyes were wide.
The two men holding her arms stiffened, clearly offended by her tone but the tall man raised a hand slightly, silencing them. His gaze never left Elena.
"That man betrayed me," he said. His voice carried the quiet authority of someone who expected no arguments.
Elena swallowed hard. "That doesn't give you the right to kill him." she was still shaken by what she saw. How could he be so cruel.
For a moment, silence fell between them, then something unexpected happened. The man smiled. A cold and amused smile It was the faint, like someone watching a bird argue with a storm.
"You're either very brave," he said softly like he hadn't just shot someone, "or very foolish."
"Or maybe I just have morals," Elena replied.She immediately regretted the words.
The air around them grew heavier, the already cold weather became colder sending chills through her.
One of the men holding her muttered something in Italian under his breath.
The tall man stepped closer, so close she could smell the faint scent of expensive cologne mixed with rain.
"Do you know who I am?" he asked quietly.
Elena hesitated, then shook her head. His expression didn't change.
"Lucian Moretti."
The name meant nothing to her.
Elena had always been too focused on her life. Her work, her quiet routines—Too busy to even date a single person to care about dangerous men in the shadows.
But the reaction of the men around him said everything.
They reek of respect, fear, and absolute loyalty. One of the men straightened immediately when the name was spoken and another lowered his gaze slightly.
Elena's stomach twisted. She didn't know who he was…but she knew he was trouble and it was better to stay far from him.
"Look," she said quickly, panic creeping into her voice. "I didn't see anything, okay? I swear. I won't tell anyone. I just want to go home."
Lucian tilted his head slightly. "You won't tell anyone?" he repeated.
"Yes."
"And I'm supposed to trust that?"
"I—" She stopped because she realized how ridiculous it sounded.
Lucian exhaled slowly. "Trust," he murmured. "That's a rare commodity in my world or in this world in general." His gaze swept over her face again, slow and assessing.
Elena felt exposed. Like he could see straight through her. .
"Kill her," one of the men suddenly suggested.
Elena's heart dropped. Her head snapped toward him.
"No!"
Lucian didn't even look at the one who spoke.But the temperature in that moment changed instantly.
"Did I ask for your opinion?" Lucian said before he shifted his gaze to glare at him. He looks terrifying
The man froze. "N-No, boss."
Lucian's gaze returned to Elena.For several long seconds, he simply watched her.
Finally, he spoke again.
"You're an inconvenience."
Elena's chest tightened.
"But…" he continued slowly. A flicker of amusement crossed his expression."You're also interesting."
"That's not comforting," she muttered
To her surprise, his lips twitched slightly.
"You shouldn't have been here," he continued. "You've stumbled into something that could destroy very powerful people."
Elena held her breath.
"Which leaves me two options."
Her pulse spiked.
"Kill you,"
Her stomach dropped.
"Or keep you where I can see you."
Her throat went dry. "What does that mean?"
"It means," Lucian said calmly, "that from tonight onward, your life is no longer your own."
Panic surged through her. There was still so much she wanted to do—so much she hadn't even begun.
"You can't just decide that."
"I already did."
"You're insane!"
Lucian turned slightly toward the men beside him. "Bring the car."
"Yes, boss."
One of the men moved immediately.
Elena struggled against the grip on her arms. "Wait! You can't just kidnap me!" she glared at him, clenching her fists.
Lucian looked at her amusely. "Kidnap?" he raised his eyebrow, for all he knows people don't get kidnapped like this.
"Yes!"
He considered the word.
"I prefer to think of it as protection."
"Protection from what?"
"From the consequences of witnessing something you were never meant to see."
"That's ridiculous!"
Lucian stepped closer again this time his voice dropped lower. "Let me make something very clear, Elena Rossi."
Her breath caught, her eyes widened. .
How does he know my name?
"I have enemies," he continued calmly. "Dangerous ones. If they discover that a witness exists…" his eyes darkened. "They will come for you." and you you won't love long enough to see another sun rise. He said as he drag his eyes over her.
Fear gripped her.
"So congratulations," Lucian finished quietly. "Your life just became very complicated."
Headlights suddenly flooded the alley as a sleek black car pulled up nearby. One of the men opened the back door.Lucian gestured toward it.
"Get in."
Elena stared at him."No."The word slipped out before she could stop it.
Lucian's eyebrow lifted slightly.
"You're refusing me?"
"Yes!"
Something sharp flashed in his eyes, then he leaned closer, so close she could feel his breath near her ear.
"You misunderstand the situation," he murmured. His voice was soft, dangerously soft it made her ears tickle.
"This was never a request."
Her heart slammed violently against her ribs.
Lucian straightened and single nodded.
The men holding her began guiding her toward the car.
Elena struggled desperately."Let me go!" But it was useless, she was pushed gently but firmly into the back seat.
Lucian followed and sat beside her before the door shut.
The car began moving.
Elena pressed herself against the opposite side, breathing fast, panic clawing at her chest.
Lucian simply watched her. He was so calm and unbothered as if none of this was unusual.
As the city lights of Milan blurred past the window, Elena realized her normal life was suddenly gone...completely. It terrified her.
And the man sitting beside her…
was the reason why.