Bound by a Deal

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.

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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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