: A Dangerous Man
The night was restless.
Even with the key to the garden lying on her nightstand, Eva couldn't shake the feeling that she wasn't truly free. Alexander's words echoed in her mind.
"This is your second chance."
Second chance at what? A life of being owned by another man?
She turned onto her side, staring at the moonlit window. Despite the luxury surrounding her, she felt just as lost as before. But one thing had changed—Alexander Ricci.
He was unlike any man she had ever encountered. Powerful, dangerous, unreadable. One moment, he was her captor; the next, he was offering her a key to freedom—limited, but freedom nonetheless.
And the worst part? A small part of her didn't want to run.
She hated herself for it.
The Next Morning
Eva wandered through the garden, inhaling the scent of fresh roses. The air was crisp, the sun warm against her skin. It was the first time she had been outside in weeks without fear.
But the feeling didn't last long.
She sensed him before she saw him.
Alexander stood a few feet away, leaning against a stone pillar, watching her. He had a way of appearing out of nowhere, his presence filling the space like he owned it.
Which, of course, he did.
Eva straightened. "Are you here to check if I ran?"
Alexander smirked. "If you were going to run, you would have done it already."
He wasn't wrong.
His eyes moved over her, assessing. "You look better."
She glanced down at herself—at the silky blouse and fitted jeans that had replaced the ragged dresses James forced her to wear. She looked like a different person.
But deep inside, she still felt like the broken girl trapped in a nightmare.
Eva folded her arms. "Are you going to keep me here forever?"
Alexander's smirk faded. "I don't know yet."
The honesty in his voice unsettled her.
"You don't have to be afraid of me, Eva," he added, stepping closer.
She tensed but held her ground. "I'm not afraid of you."
His gaze locked onto hers, sharp and knowing. "Liar."
Eva's breath caught. His presence was overwhelming, suffocating, yet intoxicating at the same time. She hated how easily he got under her skin.
Before she could reply, a man appeared from the mansion. "Boss."
Alexander's expression darkened. "What?"
The man leaned in, whispering something that made Alexander's jaw tighten. A flash of something dangerous flickered in his eyes before he turned back to Eva.
"Go inside." His voice was different now—colder, sharper.
Eva frowned. "What's going on?"
"Inside, Eva."
The authority in his tone sent a shiver down her spine. But before she could argue, she caught a glimpse of something beyond the garden walls—two black cars pulling up to the estate.
Something was happening.
And for the first time, Eva realized she wasn't just living in Alexander's world.
She was now a part of it.