Chapter 1

The night air carried a biting chill, but it wasn’t the cold that made Sienna Carter’s skin prickle. It was something else—something unseen, yet undeniably there.

She quickened her steps, her boots clicking softly against the pavement as she made her way down the narrow street toward her apartment. The dim glow of the streetlights barely cut through the darkness, leaving deep shadows stretching along the buildings. She had walked this path dozens of times before, but tonight, something felt… different.

A hollow unease coiled in her stomach, warning her that she wasn’t alone.

Sienna stole a glance over her shoulder, scanning the empty street. Nothing. No one. Just the usual rows of parked cars and the distant hum of the city beyond. But the sensation of being watched lingered, pressing against her like an unseen force.

She shook her head, scolding herself.

You’re just exhausted. That’s all.

It had been a long day at the clinic, filled with back-to-back sessions, each patient unloading their burdens onto her. It was rewarding work—helping people navigate their pain—but it drained her. And exhaustion could play tricks on the mind.

Still, her fingers tightened around her keys, pressing the metal edges into her palm as she reached her apartment complex. The motion-sensor light above the entrance flickered to life, washing the space in an eerie yellow glow.

She exhaled, forcing herself to relax.

See? You’re fine. Nothing is wrong.

But she couldn’t see him.

Luca Moretti stood cloaked in the shadows across the street, his sharp gaze locked onto her every move. He had been watching her for months—long enough to memorize her routine, to know exactly what time she left for work and when she returned home. Long enough to know that she always carried a book in her bag, that she liked her coffee with two sugars but never finished the cup.

Long enough to know that he couldn’t stay away from her.

Sienna was unlike anyone he had ever met—not that she had met him yet. There was a quiet strength about her, a kindness that radiated from her like warmth on a winter morning. She had no place in a world like his. She belonged somewhere safe, somewhere untouched by the violence and corruption that stained his hands.

Yet, he couldn’t stop himself.

He had started by watching her from a distance, convincing himself it was nothing more than curiosity. But curiosity had long since twisted into something deeper. Something darker.

Obsession.

Tonight, he would take her.

Sienna pushed her key into the lock, her movements slow, distracted. The hair on the back of her neck still stood on end, as if warning her that danger was near. But before she could turn—before she could react—everything went black.

A powerful arm wrapped around her waist, yanking her backward against a solid, unyielding chest.

A gloved hand clamped over her mouth, cutting off the scream that threatened to escape.

Panic exploded inside her, a wild, frantic thing that sent her body into overdrive. She thrashed against her captor’s grip, her heels scraping against the ground as she struggled to break free.

But he was too strong.

“Shh, dolcezza,” a voice murmured against her ear, deep and smooth, like silk wrapped around steel. “Don’t fight me.”

Sienna’s breath hitched, her pulse hammering so violently she could feel it in her fingertips. She didn’t recognize the voice, but there was something terrifyingly intimate about the way he spoke—as if he knew her.

She twisted in his hold, trying to force his hand away from her mouth, but he tightened his grip, effortlessly keeping her still.

“Calm down,” he murmured, his tone almost gentle. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

Liar.

If he didn’t want to hurt her, why was he doing this? Why was he taking her?

Tears burned in her eyes as she thrashed harder, her body driven by pure survival instinct. But it was no use. He was too strong, too controlled—every movement calculated, as if he had anticipated her resistance.

Luca exhaled through his nose, adjusting his grip. She was fighting him with everything she had, but it didn’t matter. He had planned for this. He had planned for everything.

With a silent command, two men stepped out of the shadows, their dark suits blending seamlessly with the night. They moved quickly, opening the back door of a sleek black SUV.

Sienna barely had time to register what was happening before she was lifted off her feet.

Pure terror flooded her veins as her captor carried her effortlessly toward the waiting vehicle. She kicked, twisted, her muffled screams swallowed by the night, but he didn’t falter. He slid inside, pulling her in with him, and the door slammed shut.

The SUV surged forward, leaving behind the only life she had ever known.

Sienna’s breaths came in sharp, frantic bursts as she pressed herself against the leather seat, her mind racing. She forced herself to think—What do I do?

She could barely see his face in the darkness of the car, but she could feel him beside her. His presence was overwhelming, radiating a quiet, restrained power.

“Please,” she choked out, her voice raw, desperate. “Let me go.”

Luca turned his head toward her, his gaze unreadable. “I can’t do that, dolcezza.”

“Why?” Her voice broke. “Why are you doing this?”

He didn’t answer right away. For a moment, he just studied her—her wide, terrified eyes, the way her hands trembled in her lap.

Then he reached out, his fingers brushing over a loose strand of her hair, tucking it behind her ear with a tenderness that sent ice through her veins.

“Because you belong to me now.”

Sienna’s stomach twisted, bile rising in her throat.

No.

This wasn’t happening. This couldn’t be happening.

Her breaths came faster, chest rising and falling with panic as she turned her head toward the window. Buildings blurred past in a streak of city lights, but she had no idea where they were going.

She had to escape.

She had to get out before it was too late.

But deep down, beneath the fear, beneath the terror clawing at her chest, a chilling thought crept into her mind.

Something in his voice told her that there would be no escape.

Not tonight.

Maybe not ever.

This version keeps the tension high, expands on Sienna’s fear and Luca’s obsession, and builds a strong foundation for their dynamic. Let me know if you’d like anything tweaked!........

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