Ethan’s fingers flew across the keyboard, the soft glow of multiple screens illuminating his sharp features. The air in his apartment was thick with tension, every click of the keys bringing him closer to the payday of a lifetime—or a death sentence. He wasn’t sure which yet.

“Come on… just a little more,” he muttered under his breath, eyes scanning lines of encrypted data. He had spent weeks planning this hack, gathering intel, and bypassing layers of security that would have made even government agencies sweat. But this wasn’t just any job—this was Liam Carter’s empire he was digging into.

Liam Carter wasn’t just a businessman. He was the kind of man whose name carried weight in every corner of the underworld. Some whispered he had government officials in his pocket. Others claimed he had made people disappear with nothing more than a nod. Ethan had never cared about rumors—until now.

A green prompt flashed on the screen. Download Complete.

His breath hitched. I did it.

He barely had time to revel in his victory before his system started crashing. One by one, his screens flickered to black, the power in his apartment cutting out entirely. Silence swallowed the room, save for his own ragged breathing.

No… no, no, no!

He yanked out his hard drive, stuffing it into his jacket pocket. His backup escape plan was already in motion—burner phones wiped, laptop set to self-destruct, and a bug-out bag waiting by the door. But as he reached for it, a sharp knock echoed through the darkened room.

Ethan froze.

Another knock. Firmer. More demanding.

His pulse thundered in his ears. They found me. Already?

He moved toward the window, heart pounding, but before he could make a move, the door burst open with a force that rattled the walls.

And there he was.

Liam Carter.

Tall. Impeccably dressed in a dark suit that barely concealed the raw power underneath. His eyes—cold, calculating—fixed on Ethan like a predator locking onto its prey. Behind him stood two men, both armed, both watching him like they were waiting for a reason to shoot.

Ethan swallowed hard. He had imagined meeting Liam Carter under many circumstances—none of them involved him standing in his own ruined apartment with nowhere to run.

Liam took a slow step inside, his polished shoes crunching over the shattered remnants of Ethan’s door lock. “You really should be more careful about whose files you dig into, Ethan.” His voice was smooth, almost amused, but the undercurrent of danger was impossible to miss.

Ethan forced himself to keep his expression neutral, even as his mind scrambled for an escape. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Liam chuckled, shaking his head. “Cute. But let’s not waste time with lies.” He reached into his coat pocket, and Ethan braced himself for a gun.

Instead, Liam pulled out a sleek tablet, tapping the screen a few times before turning it around.

Ethan’s stomach dropped.

It was his hack. His codes, his movements—all being tracked in real-time. He had thought he was the hunter, but Liam had been watching him the entire time.

Panic surged through him, but he forced himself to stay still. “So what now? You kill me?”

Liam smirked. “That depends.” He took a slow step forward, invading Ethan’s space until they were almost chest to chest. “You’re talented. A little reckless, but talented.”

Ethan’s breath hitched as Liam’s fingers ghosted over his chin before tilting it up ever so slightly. His touch was light, teasing, but his grip was firm enough that Ethan knew he wasn’t in control here.

“I could have you killed,” Liam murmured, his voice dropping to something almost intimate. “Or… I could make use of you.”

Ethan swallowed. “What kind of use?”

Liam’s smirk deepened. “You work for me now.”

Ethan should have been relieved. Should have taken the out and agreed. But something in the way Liam looked at him made it clear—he wasn’t just offering a job.

He was offering something far more dangerous.

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Ethan sat in the backseat of a sleek black car, wrists bound in front of him with zip ties. The moment Liam had made his offer—or rather, his demand—Ethan had been shoved into the vehicle, flanked by two of Liam’s men. No time to negotiate. No chance to run.

His stomach churned. How the hell did I end up here?

Liam sat beside him, legs crossed, fingers lazily tapping against his knee. His gaze drifted to Ethan every so often, sharp and unreadable. It was maddening.

Ethan exhaled sharply. “So, are you planning to tell me where we’re going, or should I just assume it’s somewhere I won’t be leaving?”

Liam chuckled, the sound rich and dark. “If I wanted you dead, Ethan, you wouldn’t be sitting in my car.”

That wasn’t exactly comforting.

The city lights blurred past as they sped down the highway, leaving behind everything Ethan knew. His apartment. His life. His freedom.

After what felt like an eternity, the car slowed, turning onto a long, private driveway lined with tall iron gates. The sight sent a chill down Ethan’s spine. This wasn’t just any property—this was a fortress.

The car stopped in front of a sprawling mansion.

Liam stepped out first, adjusting his cuffs before gesturing for Ethan to follow. The guards flanked them, making it clear there was no room for escape.

Inside, the mansion was just as impressive—cold marble floors, grand chandeliers, and a silence that felt deafening. Liam led him down a hallway, finally stopping at a heavy wooden door.

With a flick of his wrist, he opened it. “This will be your room.”

Ethan frowned. Room? Not a cell?

Liam smirked at his hesitation. “You’re not my prisoner, Ethan. Not yet.”

Ethan stepped inside, his breath catching. The room was luxurious—too luxurious. A massive bed, a fireplace, even a private bathroom.

He turned to Liam, suspicion tightening his chest. “What’s the catch?”

Liam stepped closer, fingers brushing against Ethan’s jaw before tilting his head up. “The catch?” he echoed, voice laced with amusement. “The catch, Ethan, is that from this moment on—you belong to me.”

A slow smirk played at Liam’s lips before he leaned in, voice barely above a whisper. “And I always take care of what’s mine.”

The weight of those words pressed against Ethan’s chest, a dangerous promise laced with something he couldn’t yet define.

Liam turned, walking away, leaving Ethan standing in the lavish room with nothing but the sound of the door locking behind him.

Freedom had never felt so far away.

---

Ethan paced the room, every step echoing in the unnatural silence. He tried the door—it was locked, of course. The windows? Reinforced glass. The bathroom had no hidden exits. Shit.

He sat on the bed, running a hand through his hair. This wasn’t how things were supposed to go. He was the hacker, the one who stayed in the shadows. He wasn’t supposed to get caught—especially not by him.

A soft knock startled him.

The door opened, and a tall man in a black suit stepped in, carrying a tray of food. Ethan narrowed his eyes as the man placed the tray on the table.

“Eat,” the man said curtly before turning to leave.

“Wait,” Ethan called out. “What does he want from me?”

The man didn’t answer. He just shut the door behind him, locking it once again.

Ethan stared at the food, stomach twisting. He didn’t trust Liam, but he also didn’t trust himself to think clearly on an empty stomach. With a reluctant sigh, he picked up a fork and took a bite.

As the warm food settled in his stomach, a disturbing thought crept into his mind.

Liam Carter wasn’t just keeping him here. He was preparing him for something.

And Ethan wasn’t sure he wanted to find out what.

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Ethan barely slept. Every time he closed his eyes, his mind replayed the moment Liam had locked him in this luxurious prison. You belong to me. Those words sent a shiver down his spine, a mix of unease and something he wasn’t ready to name.

By the time morning arrived, he was exhausted but determined. He needed to find a way out. He wasn’t about to let Liam Carter own him, no matter how powerful the man was.

A knock at the door made him jump. Before he could react, it swung open, revealing Liam standing there in a crisp dark suit, looking as infuriatingly composed as ever.

“Good morning, Ethan,” Liam said, stepping inside as if he owned the place—which, to be fair, he did. “I trust you slept well?”

Ethan scoffed, crossing his arms. “Like a baby. Locked in a gilded cage really helps with that.”

Liam’s smirk deepened as he moved closer. “You should be grateful. I could have thrown you into a cell, but instead, I’ve given you comfort.”

“Comfort?” Ethan gestured around the room. “Yeah, this is great. Real five-star service. Except for the part where I’m trapped.”

Liam studied him for a moment, then tilted his head slightly. “Walk with me.”

Ethan tensed. “Why?”

“I’d like to show you something.” Liam turned and walked out without another word, expecting Ethan to follow.

Ethan hesitated. He could refuse, but what good would that do? With a frustrated sigh, he stepped out of the room, his first time leaving since arriving last night. Two guards flanked them as Liam led him down the hallway. The mansion was even more massive than he had imagined. Grand staircases, expensive artwork, and a view of the sprawling gardens outside.

They entered a room that looked like a private study—floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, a bar stocked with expensive liquor, and a massive mahogany desk where Liam took a seat. He gestured for Ethan to do the same.

Ethan stayed standing. “I’m good.”

Liam merely chuckled. “Suit yourself.” He leaned back, fingers steepled. “You’re probably wondering why you’re still alive.”

“The thought crossed my mind.”

Liam tapped the desk. “You have skills, Ethan. Skills I need. Your little stunt last night proved that.”

Ethan frowned. “If you already knew I was hacking you, why let me get that far?”

“Because I was testing you.” Liam’s eyes gleamed with amusement. “And you passed. Barely.”

Ethan clenched his jaw. He didn’t like being played.

Liam continued, “You’re going to work for me now. I have enemies who think they can outmaneuver me. I want you to ensure they don’t.”

Ethan let out a sharp laugh. “You kidnapped me and expect me to just… do your dirty work?”

Liam stood, stepping around the desk until he was inches from Ethan. His cologne was subtle, intoxicating, and it made Ethan’s head swim for a second.

“I expect you to survive,” Liam murmured. “Because the people you stole from? They won’t be as forgiving as I am.”

Ethan’s blood ran cold. He had hacked into a lot of places before, but this was different. He had underestimated just how deep Liam’s connections ran.

“What if I say no?” Ethan challenged.

Liam smiled, slow and dark. “Then I’ll let my enemies know exactly where to find you. And trust me, Ethan, they won’t be nearly as gentle as I have been.”

Ethan swallowed hard. He was trapped. Either he worked for Liam or he ended up dead.

Liam leaned in slightly, lowering his voice. “I don’t expect you to trust me yet. But you will.”

Ethan hated the way his body reacted to Liam’s closeness. The warmth of his breath, the confidence in his stance. It was infuriating.

“Fine,” Ethan muttered. “But I’m not doing this because I want to. I’m doing it because I don’t have a choice.”

Liam’s smirk returned. “That’s good enough for now.”

As Liam stepped back, Ethan knew one thing for certain—he had just made a deal with the devil, and there was no turning back.

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