The Syndicate

Chapter Four

  Allen Carson walked through the dimly lit corridors of his stronghold, his boots echoing off the cold, hard floor. His men stood at attention as he passed, their expressions a mix of fear and respect. Allen thrived in this atmosphere of dominance, his every movement exuding confidence and authority.

But tonight, something different caught his eye, something that momentarily flickered through the hardened exterior he had built around himself.

As he turned a corner, he saw her.

  Rosy Charms, a young woman with an ethereal beauty that seemed out of place in the midst of so much devastation. Her long, auburn hair cascaded over her shoulders, and her eyes, a striking shade of green, held a mixture of defiance and vulnerability. She was speaking quietly with an older man and a younger boy, who Allen assumed were her father and brother.

  For a moment, Allen's cold demeanor softened as he admired her. There was something about Rosy that stirred a long-forgotten feeling within him, a spark of desire that he hadn't felt in years. He approached her, his eyes never leaving her face, and his presence immediately commanded attention.

"You," he said, his voice smooth but firm. "What's your name?"

  Rosy turned to face him, her expression wary but unyielding. "Rosy," she replied, her voice steady. "Rosy Charms."

  Allen nodded, his gaze sweeping over her. "Rosy Charms," he repeated, savoring the sound of her name. "How did you end up here?"

  Rosy hesitated, glancing at her father and brother. "We were trying to find shelter," she explained. "My father is old, and my brother is just a child. We didn't have anywhere else to go."

  Allen's eyes flickered with interest. "And your father? Your brother?" he asked, looking at the older man and the boy who stood protectively beside Rosy.

"My father's health is failing," she said quietly. "And my brother is young and scared. We just want to survive."

  A slow smile spread across Allen's face. "Well, you're in luck," he said. "I can provide you with everything you need—food, medicine, protection. But everything comes with a price."

Rosy's eyes narrowed, suspicion coloring her features. "And what price would that be?"

  Allen stepped closer, his gaze locking onto hers. "You," he said simply. "You will be mine, Rosy Charms. You will live here, by my side. In return, your family will be cared for."

  A chill ran down Rosy's spine at his words. She had heard tales of Allen Carson's ruthlessness, and now she was face-to-face with it. "I won't be your prisoner," she said defiantly.

Allen chuckled, a dark, humorless sound. "Prisoner?"

  Allen's smile vanished, replaced by a cold, menacing look. He nodded to one of his men, who swiftly grabbed Sam, Rosy's younger brother. The boy struggled, his eyes wide with fear as the enforcer pressed a gun on his head.

"Please!" Rosy cried, panic rising in her voice. "Let him go!"

The enforcer looked to Allen, who remained silent for a moment, his gaze fixed on Rosy.

"You think you have a choice?" he said quietly. "Agree to my terms, or your brother pays the price."

  Sam whimpered, and the enforcer cocked the gun, pointing it to the sky before firing a shot. The loud bang echoed through the corridors, and Rosy screamed, her hands flying to her ears.

"Stop!" she yelled, tears streaming down her face. "I'll do it. Just don't hurt him."

Allen's smile returned, cold and triumphant. "Good," he said softly.

"You've made the right decision, Rosy Charms. Welcome to your new home."

  As Allen walked away, his mind raced with thoughts of his new acquisition. Rosy Charms was unlike anyone he had encountered, and he was determined to make her his. For Rosy, the corridors of Allen's stronghold became a gilded cage, her fate intertwined with that of a man whose ambition and ruthlessness knew no bounds.