Chapter Two: The Cage

Sienna woke with a sharp gasp, her heart pounding violently in her chest.

The room around her was unfamiliar—vast and opulent, yet suffocating. A king-sized bed with silk sheets surrounded her, the scent of something dark and masculine lingering in the air. Heavy velvet curtains blocked out any sign of the outside world, and the soft glow of a chandelier cast eerie shadows across the walls.

But it wasn’t the grandeur that sent terror clawing up her throat.

It was the silence.

Panic surged through her veins as she scrambled out of bed, her bare feet hitting the cool marble floor. She ran to the nearest window, yanking the curtains apart. Her stomach dropped. Thick iron bars covered the glass, and beyond them, nothing but darkness stretched into the distance.

She was trapped.

Her breathing turned ragged as she spun around, searching for an escape. The room had only one door, tall and heavy, made of thick mahogany. Without thinking, she sprinted toward it, her pulse hammering against her ribs. She grabbed the handle and twisted.

Locked.

A whimper escaped her lips.

No, no, no.

She pounded on the door with both fists, her voice breaking as she screamed.

“HELP! SOMEBODY HELP ME!”

The sound echoed in the emptiness, swallowed by the walls. She had no idea where she was or who might be listening. Was she underground? In a mansion? Was she even in the city anymore?

She kept pounding, harder, until her hands ached. “LET ME OUT!”

Silence.

And then—

A click.

Sienna froze as the door unlocked from the outside. The handle turned slowly, deliberately, and the door swung open.

Luca Moretti stepped inside.

Dressed in a crisp black shirt with the sleeves rolled up to reveal his strong forearms, he moved with effortless control, his expression unreadable. His presence filled the space, suffocating her even more than the locked door had.

Sienna stumbled back, pressing herself against the wall as fear wrapped its cold fingers around her throat.

His dark eyes roamed over her, taking in her disheveled hair, her trembling form, the panic burning in her gaze.

“You’re awake,” he said, his voice calm, as if this were nothing more than a casual conversation.

Her body tensed. “Where the hell am I?”

Luca exhaled, tilting his head slightly. “Safe.”

The single word sent a fresh wave of rage through her. “SAFE?” she hissed, her voice shaking. “You kidnapped me! You locked me in here like an animal! HOW IS THAT SAFE?”

His lips twitched, but it wasn’t quite a smile. It was something else—something unreadable. “Would you rather be out there, alone? Unprotected?”

“I’d rather be free.”

A long silence stretched between them.

Sienna’s breath came fast and uneven, her pulse drumming against her skin. Luca, in contrast, remained maddeningly composed, his gaze steady, his posture relaxed. It was as if her fear, her anger, her entire world falling apart didn’t affect him at all.

That terrified her more than anything.

“What do you want from me?” she whispered.

Luca stepped closer, his dark gaze pinning her in place. “Nothing you aren’t already giving me.”

Her stomach twisted. “I’m not giving you anything.”

A shadow of something dangerous flickered across his face. “You’re here,” he murmured. “That’s enough.”

Her chest tightened. She needed to fight. She needed to make him feel her anger, her defiance. She refused to be some helpless victim, cowering before a man who thought he could own her.

Sienna clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms.

“Let. Me. Go.”

Luca’s jaw tensed, but he remained silent.

A spark of desperation ignited inside her, turning into reckless fury. Without thinking, she lunged at him, swinging her fists wildly.

Her attack barely lasted a second.

Before she could land a single hit, Luca moved.

Fast.

In one fluid motion, he caught her wrist and twisted her around, pressing her back against the wall. His grip was firm but not painful, his body caging hers with ease.

Sienna gasped, struggling against him, but he didn’t budge.

His breath brushed against her ear. “That was a mistake.”

She went still, her heart pounding so hard it echoed in her skull.

Luca didn’t tighten his hold, didn’t hurt her—but the sheer force of his presence was suffocating.

“Get off me,” she rasped, her voice shaking.

He didn’t move.

Instead, he leaned in slightly, his warmth seeping through the thin fabric of her shirt. “Listen to me, dolcezza,” he murmured, his voice quiet, deadly. “Fighting me is useless. Running is useless. You will never escape me.”

Tears burned in her eyes, but she refused to let them fall.

He held her there for a moment longer before finally releasing her.

Sienna stumbled forward, her breath coming in ragged gasps as she turned to face him.

Luca’s gaze swept over her, unreadable once more. Then, as if nothing had happened, he adjusted his cuffs and took a step back.

“Dinner will be brought to you shortly,” he said. “I suggest you eat.”

“I won’t eat anything you give me.”

A flicker of amusement passed through his eyes. “You will.”

She clenched her jaw.

Without another word, Luca turned and walked toward the door.

He didn’t lock it this time.

But when she ran to it, desperate to escape, she found two armed guards standing outside.

Waiting.