Days passed in a blur of silent tension and stolen glances.
Isa found herself walking a fine line between compliance and resistance, trying to navigate a world she didn’t fully understand.
Luca was everywhere and nowhere, a constant shadow that hung over her, even when she didn’t see him.
Each interaction with him was brief, yet charged, leaving her feeling as though she was suffocating under the weight of his expectations.
One evening, as Isa sat by the window in her room, staring out at the garden below, there was a knock at the door.
Before she could respond, the door opened, and Luca stepped inside. He didn’t ask permission; he didn’t need to.
This was his home, his kingdom, and in his mind, she was part of it.
Isa stood, heart pounding in her chest as Luca’s sharp gaze settled on her.
There was something different about him tonight—an intensity that made her stomach twist in knots.
“We need to talk,” he said, his voice low and commanding. “Come.”
Isa hesitated, her instincts screaming at her to refuse, but there was no point in resisting.
She followed him down the grand staircase, through the endless corridors, until they reached a part of the house she hadn’t seen before.
The walls were adorned with old, dark paintings, their subjects watching her with hollow eyes.
Luca led her into a room—a study, smaller than the office where they’d first spoken, but just as imposing.
The walls were lined with books, and a large fireplace crackled in the corner, casting flickering shadows across the room.
He gestured for her to sit in the leather armchair by the fire, while he took the seat opposite her.
For a moment, neither of them spoke, the only sound coming from the crackling of the fire and the steady ticking of a nearby clock.
Finally, Luca broke the silence. “You’ve been quiet these past few days.”
Isa didn’t respond immediately, unsure of where this conversation was leading.
Was this about her behavior, or was there something more sinister lurking beneath his calm exterior?
“I didn’t know what to say,” she admitted quietly, her hands clasped tightly in her lap.
Luca’s eyes narrowed slightly. “You’re not here to be silent, Isabella. I expect more from you than that.”
Isa’s gaze shot up to meet his, confusion flickering in her eyes. “More? What do you mean?”
Luca leaned back in his chair, his gaze never leaving hers.
“You think this is just about settling a debt? About control?” He paused, letting his words sink in.
“I chose you for a reason, Isa. There’s something in you that I need.”
Her breath caught in her throat. What was he talking about? Why her?
“What do you mean, something you need?” she asked, her voice trembling despite her best efforts to stay composed.
Luca’s expression remained unreadable, his gaze piercing.
“Power, Isa. Control isn’t just about having people obey you. It’s about leverage. And you—whether you realize it or not—are leverage.”
Isa’s blood ran cold. Leverage.
He was using her, but for what? What could she possibly offer him that was worth more than money, more than the power he already had?
“I don’t understand,” she whispered, shaking her head. “I’m nobody. I don’t have anything—”
“You have something that others want,” Luca interrupted, his voice dark and unyielding. “And that makes you valuable.
That makes you dangerous.”
Isa’s heart raced as his words sank in. Her mind reeled with possibilities, none of them making sense.
She had nothing. She had been nothing but a pawn in Antonio’s schemes, a victim of his cruelty. What could Luca possibly mean?
“You’re lying,” Isa blurted, her voice rising in desperation.
“You’re trying to manipulate me, to make me afraid so I’ll do whatever you want.”
Luca stood abruptly, his presence looming over her. He stepped closer, and Isa’s breath hitched as he knelt in front of her, his face inches from hers.
His eyes, dark and intense, locked onto her own, and she could feel the power radiating off of him.
“I don’t need to manipulate you,” he said, his voice low and threatening. “You’re already mine, Isa. Whether you like it or not.”
Her throat constricted as fear coursed through her, but she forced herself to hold his gaze, refusing to break under the pressure.
“What do you want from me?” she whispered.
Luca reached out, brushing a strand of hair away from her face, his touch both gentle and possessive.
“I want your obedience. But more than that, I want you to understand your place in my world. You’re not just a victim anymore. You’re a weapon.
A tool that I can wield to destroy those who would stand in my way.”
Isa’s mind raced. A weapon? What could she possibly do that would make a difference in Luca’s world? She was nothing more than a girl who had been passed from one monster to another.
How could she be a weapon?
Luca rose to his feet, his gaze never wavering. “You’re valuable, Isa. And in time, you’ll come to see that.”
He turned and walked to the door, but before he left, he glanced back at her, his expression dark and unreadable.
“Don’t fight me. You’ll only make things harder for yourself.”
The door closed behind him, leaving Isa alone in the flickering light of the fire. She sat there, her mind spinning, her heart pounding in her chest.
She had been wrong
This wasn’t just about control. It wasn’t just about settling a debt.
Luca had plans for her. Plans that went far beyond anything she had imagined.
And as much as she wanted to deny it, part of her knew that he was right.
She was dangerous.
And that terrified her more than anything else.
YOU ARE READING
Shattered Vows
Romance**Story Premise Isabella "Isa" Moretti has spent her entire life under the cruel thumb of her abusive stepfather, Antonio Moretti. After years of torment, Isa believes her only path to survival is silence and submission. But when Antonio's mounting...
