: A Caged Bird
The walls of Alexander's mansion were beautiful, but they might as well have been prison bars.
Eva spent most of the day wandering through the massive estate, trying to understand the world she had been thrust into. The halls were lined with expensive paintings, the floors polished to perfection. Every corner of the mansion screamed power and wealth, yet there was a suffocating silence that followed her everywhere she went.
She wasn't free. She knew that much.
The guards stationed at every exit made sure of it.
After breakfast, Alexander had disappeared without another word, leaving her alone with the weight of her thoughts. The man was a mystery. He had saved her from James, given her a lavish room, and allowed her to eat like a queen. But his words from earlier still haunted her.
"You belong to me now."
What did that mean? Was she just another possession to him? Another pawn in his dangerous world?
She didn't want to find out.
By the afternoon, she found herself standing in front of the grand double doors leading to the outside gardens. The fresh scent of rain lingered in the air, and for the first time in days, she longed to feel the sun on her skin.
Taking a deep breath, she reached for the handle.
"Miss Eva."
She froze.
Turning slowly, she found herself face-to-face with a tall, intimidating man in a black suit. He had sharp features, cold eyes, and a gun strapped to his side. One of Alexander's men.
"You're not allowed outside," he said, his tone firm but not unkind.
Eva swallowed hard. "Why not?"
His expression remained blank. "Orders."
Her fingers tightened around the door handle. "I just want fresh air. I'm not trying to run."
The guard didn't move.
Frustration bubbled inside her. "This isn't freedom," she snapped. "I'm just in a different kind of cage."
The guard didn't reply, but the look in his eyes told her everything she needed to know.
She was trapped.
Defeated, she stepped away from the door and turned back down the hallway. She had nowhere to go, no one to turn to. And the worst part? She wasn't sure if Alexander had saved her or just claimed her for himself.
---
Later That Night
Eva was lying on the bed, staring at the ceiling when the door suddenly opened.
Alexander.
He stepped inside, his presence sucking the air from the room. Dressed in a black shirt, the sleeves rolled up to reveal the tattoos lining his forearms, he looked as untouchable as ever.
"I hear you tried to leave," he said, his voice smooth yet sharp.
Eva sat up. "I wanted fresh air."
He studied her for a long moment. Then, to her surprise, he reached into his pocket and tossed something onto the bed.
A key.
She blinked. "What's this?"
"For the garden," he said. "You're not a prisoner, Eva. But you don't leave this property without me." His eyes darkened. "Not until I know you're safe."
Her heart pounded. She wasn't sure whether to feel relieved or more trapped than before.
"You don't trust me," she murmured.
Alexander smirked. "I don't trust anyone."
He turned to leave, but before he stepped out, he glanced over his shoulder. "The world you were in before? That was hell. This?" He gestured around the room. "This is your second chance."
With that, he walked away, leaving Eva with nothing but questions.
Was he her captor? Or her savior?
And why did heis heart race every time he looked at her?