𝓗𝓲𝓼 𝑅𝑒𝑖𝑔𝑛

37

The dim light flickered softly in the room as Kailani curled up on her small cot. The silence was thick, punctuated only by the distant echo of Salvatore’s heavy footsteps as he approached.

Her heart quickened in her chest. She knew him—knew his intensity, his unpredictable nature. Yet this time, when he entered the room, there was no anger in his dark eyes, only his usual warmth for her.

Salvatore bent down slightly, in front of her, his massive frame somehow gentle in the moment. He reached into his jacket pocket and retrieved a small, intricately wrapped box. He placed it delicately in her lap.

Kailani blinked, unsure of what to expect. She unwrapped the gift slowly, her fingers trembling slightly. Inside was a platinum bracelet, set with diamonds that shimmered like captured stars. The bracelet was heavy in her hands, a stark contrast to her fragile state, and she felt a pang of surprise.

❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀

In the days that followed, Salvatore seemed intent on showing her tenderness, almost as if he were apologizing for the pain he’d caused. Each morning, he would enter the room with lavish gifts. One day, he arrived with an oversized teddy bear made of the finest cashmere, its fur so soft it felt like a cloud when she hugged it. He stood there, watching her with a small tilt of his head, waiting for her reaction.

Kailani couldn’t help but giggle as she hugged the bear to her chest. It was enormous, nearly the size of her, and utterly ridiculous in the best way. The absurdity of such a luxurious, plush toy in her small, isolated world made her smile. Salvatore’s lips twitched upward beneath his mask, his eyes crinkling slightly at the edges.

Today, beside the diamonds, there was a new addition—an ornate vanity, made of the richest, darkest wood she’d ever seen, adorned with intricate carvings and inlaid with gold. On it sat dozens of bottles of perfume, the kind you’d only find in the most exclusive boutiques. Each scent seemed more intoxicating than the last, a luxury that felt foreign to her simple, sheltered world.

Kailani looked back at Salvatore, her eyes wide with uncertainty, her lips parting to form a question she couldn’t quite ask. Why? Why was he doing all of this? She didn’t understand his obsession—how could she? She was just an ordinary girl, naïve and innocent. She wasn’t special.

But to him, she was everything.

As if sensing her thoughts, Salvatore’s hand reached out, gripping her chin gently, but firmly enough to make her understand—he owned her. His thumb brushed over her bottom lip, tracing its softness as his dark eyes bored into hers. She could see the hunger there, the madness. He didn’t need to speak for her to feel the weight of his obsession.

He stood up, towering over her, and without a word, turned and left the room, leaving her alone once again.

❀❀❀❀❀❀❀❀

The days following his punishment had shifted into something softer but no less intense. Salvatore’s overwhelming presence lingered around her, but now it was laced with a strange kind of care. Every morning, when she woke up, there was something new for her—another lavish gift, another token of his obsession. The room had begun to fill with items she could have never imagined owning in her old life. Designer shoes lined the wall, dresses crafted from the finest fabrics hung in the wardrobe, and jewels sparkled from every surface.

But it wasn’t the gifts that occupied her mind. It was the way he looked at her, the way his eyes followed her every movement, how he seemed to devour her with his gaze alone. He was always so silent, but his body spoke volumes. He was everywhere, always looming, always watching.

One afternoon, as she sat quietly by the window, Salvatore entered the room with something new. She looked up, her breath catching in her throat as he held up a pair of golden anklets, dripping with diamonds. Without waiting for permission, he knelt in front of her, taking her delicate ankle in his massive hand. His touch was firm, yet strangely gentle, as if he feared she might break under his grip.