Chapter-3

Raine didn’t sleep that night. She sat on the edge of the bed in the room they’d locked her in. The room was big and beautiful, but it wasn’t hers. It wasn’t home. The silence was heavy, and every creak of the floor made her jump.

She replayed everything Damon Voss had said. You’re going to repay his debt. This is your new life. His words echoed in her mind, over and over again.

Her hands trembled as she looked around the room. It had everything—a soft bed, expensive furniture, even a chandelier. But it felt like a cage. A golden cage.

She was scared to death.

Morning came too soon. The light pouring through the tall windows was bright and sharp. A knock on the door made her jump.

“Get dressed,” a voice said from the other side. It was one of the men from the night before. “The boss wants to see you.”

Raine swallowed hard. She was scared to death, but she didn’t have a choice. She found a simple dress in the closet and put it on. Her hands shook the whole time.

The door opened, and the man led her down a long hallway. The house was even bigger than she’d realized. It was quiet, too quiet, like no one else lived there.

They stopped at a set of double doors. The man pushed them open, and there he was. Damon Voss.

He was sitting behind his desk, just like last night. His suit was perfect, his hair neat, and his blue eyes cold. He looked powerful. He looked dangerous.

“Miss Bennett,” he said, his voice calm. “Sit.”

Raine sat in the chair across from him, her heart pounding.

“Did you sleep well?” he asked.

“No,” she said quickly. She didn’t want to pretend everything was fine.

He smirked, but it wasn’t a kind smile. It was sharp, like a warning. “I didn’t think you would.”

Raine clenched her fists. “What do you want from me? You said I have to repay my father’s debt, but I don’t even know how.”

Damon leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk. “Your father owed me a lot of money. He didn’t pay, and now he’s gone. Someone has to pay, and that someone is you.”

Her voice trembled. “I told you, I don’t have any money!”

“I don’t want your money,” he said, his voice calm but firm. “I want your time. Your loyalty. You’ll work for me, and when I say the debt is paid, you’re free to go.”

Raine’s chest tightened. “Work for you doing what?”

“Anything I need,” he said simply.

His words sent chills down her spine. She was scared to death.

“What if I refuse?” she asked, even though she already knew the answer.

“You won’t,” he said, leaning back in his chair. “Because if you do, the people you care about will pay instead.”

Her heart stopped. “I don’t have anyone,” she said.

Damon raised an eyebrow. “Your mother. Your little brother. Don’t make me involve them.”

Raine’s breath caught. She hadn’t seen her mother or brother in years, but the thought of them being hurt because of her made her stomach twist.

“You’re a monster,” she whispered, her voice shaking.

Damon’s expression didn’t change. “Maybe,” he said. “But I keep my promises. If you do what I say, no one gets hurt. That’s the deal.”

She was trapped. She was scared to death. But she couldn’t risk her family.

“What do I have to do?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.