Just then, the door burst open and Ryder's men walked in, their faces stern. "Boss, we have a situation."
Ryder's gaze never left mine. "What is it, Viktor?"
Viktor, a tall, imposing man with a scar above his left eyebrow, stepped forward. "We've received intel on the rival family, the Petrovs."
My ears perked up at the mention of a rival family. Ryder's eyes narrowed, his jaw clenched. "What do you know?"
Viktor began to pace the room, his eyes locked on Ryder. "The Petrovs are a powerful family from Moscow. They have ties to the Russian mafia and are known for their ruthless tactics."
Ryder's grip on my hand tightened. "What do they want?"
Viktor stopped pacing and turned to face Ryder. "They're looking to expand their operations into our territory. They think they can take us down."
Ryder's laughter was cold and calculated. "They have no idea who they're dealing with."
Viktor nodded in agreement. "We have reason to believe they're being led by Ivan Petrov himself. He's a dangerous man, Ryder."
Ryder's eyes never left mine. "I'll take care of it, Viktor. Thank you for the information."
As Viktor and the other men left, Ryder turned to me. "You see, Aurora, my life is complicated. But with you by my side, I know I can face anything."
I shook my head, trying to process the information. "Ryder, I don't know if I can handle this."
Ryder's smile was soft and reassuring. "You don't have to handle anything, Aurora. I'll take care of everything."
And with that, he pulled me close, his lips claiming mine in a fierce and passionate kiss again.
"Ryder my lips are burning" I protested after pulling from him
"Come downstairs for breakfast my love" he said and with that, he left and almost immediately, a group of maids walked in.
"What are you doing here??" I asked them as they stood in front of me.
"We're here to get you ready my lady" one if them said
"Don't worry, I can do that myself" I said
"No I'm sorry my lady but we cannot allow that. We'll loose out job" they declared and I nodded. They took off my clothes and bathed me. I felt Soo embarrassed. They dressed me in an off shoulder knee length blossom red gown. Applied some make up on my face. I was BEAUTIFUL. I never thought I could look so pretty.
They left me alone in my thoughts.
I couldn't take it anymore. Being trapped in Ryder's mansion, surrounded by his men and his secrets, was suffocating me. I had to escape.
I waited until nightfall, when the house was quiet and Ryder was distracted. I slipped out of bed, my heart racing with anticipation. I had to be careful, I knew Ryder's men were always watching.
I made my way to the door, my hand on the handle. I took a deep breath and turned it, slowly opening the door. The hallway was dark and empty. I slipped out, my bare feet making no sound on the carpet.
I made my way to the stairs, my heart pounding in my chest. I was almost there, almost free.
But as I reached the bottom step, I heard a voice behind me. "Aurora, where do you think you're going?"
I spun around, my eyes locking on Ryder's. He was standing in the shadows, his eyes glinting with amusement.
"Ryder, please," I whispered, trying to sound convincing. "I need some fresh air."
Ryder chuckled, his eyes never leaving mine. "You're not going anywhere, Aurora. You're mine now."
I shook my head, trying to clear the fog. "No, Ryder. I won't be held captive."
Ryder's smile grew wider. "You're not a prisoner, Aurora. You're a guest. And guests don't leave without their host's permission."
I felt a surge of anger, but Ryder's men appeared out of nowhere, surrounding me. I was trapped.
"Aurora, don't make this harder than it has to be," Ryder whispered, his eyes burning with intensity.
I shook my head, defeat washing over me. "Fine. I'll stay."
Ryder's smile was triumphant. "Good choice. But let me make one thing clear: if you ever try to escape again, you'll be punished. Do you understand?"
I nodded, feeling a shiver run down my spine.
Ryder's eyes seemed to bore into my soul. "Good. Now, let's get some sleep."
And with that, he swept me up in his arms, cradling me like a bride. I felt a flutter in my chest as he carried me back to bed, his eyes never leaving mine.
As he laid me down, his lips brushed against my ear. "Sleep tight, Aurora. You're mine now."
And with that, he pulled me close, his arms wrapping around me like a vice. I was trapped, but somehow, I felt safe.
