In a world where shadows whisper secrets and danger lurks behind every corner, Amelia finds herself ensnared in a web of manipulation and desire. The daughter of the notorious crime lord, Victor DeLuca, she lives a life dictated by her father's ruth...
As I lay in Kallis's bed, my back to his chest, our legs tangled together in a knot of sheets and sweat, I feel a sense of unease creeping over me. His lips brush against my shoulder, sending shivers down my spine, but I'm too lost in my thoughts to fully appreciate the gentle touch.
He leans forward, his lips tracing a path up the side of my neck, causing goose bumps to sprout along my body like a rash. But even the tender caress can't shake me from my reverie.
"What's wrong?" he growls, his voice low and husky, as he notices my distraction.
I hesitate, unsure of how to articulate the restlessness that's been building inside me. "I want to go out," I say finally, my voice barely above a whisper. "I want to buy food, go to Target, maybe the bookstore. I need to get out of this house, Kallis."
He groans, his annoyance palpable as he lays on his back, his arm shoving behind his head as he rubs his other hand up and down his muscular stomach. "You can't go out, Amelia," he says, his voice firm, unyielding. "It's not safe."
I look at him, my eyes narrowing in frustration. "I'm bored, Kallis," I say, my voice rising. "I need the outside. I need to feel the sun on my skin, to smell the fresh air. I need to be alive."
He shakes his head, his eyes glinting with a sinister light. "It's not an option, Amelia," he says, his voice dripping with menace. "You're safer here, with me."
I feel a surge of anger, of resentment, and I throw off the covers, getting out of bed with a huff. "Fine," I say, my voice cold, detached. "I'll just go to my cave, then."
Kallis's eyes narrow, his gaze following me as I stalk out of the bedroom. "Where are you going?" he growls, his voice low, husky.
"The basement," I say, my voice barely above a whisper. "My cave."
I can feel his eyes on me, boring into my skin, as I make my way downstairs, the darkness closing in around me like a shroud.
The basement is my sanctuary, my prison. It's where I go to escape the world, to escape Kallis's suffocating grip. But as I descend into the darkness, I know that I'm not alone. Kallis's presence follows me, his eyes watching me, his mind controlling me.
I'm trapped, caught in a web of his making. And I don't know if I'll ever be free.
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I wake to the sound of Lena kicking the mattress that lays on the floor of the basement. I groggily open my eyes to find Lena standing over me, her piercing blue eyes gleaming with a mischievous light. She's a beautiful woman, with a light, almost caramel-colored complexion and short, spiky black hair that frames her heart-shaped face. But despite her petite stature, Lena is rough around the edges, with a tough, no-nonsense attitude that's both intimidating and intriguing.
Lena kicks the mattress again, her eyes never leaving mine. "Rise and shine, princess," she says, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "We've got a date with Target."
I slowly sit up, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. Lena smirks, her eyebrow raised and her hands pressed to her hips as she surveys me with a critical gaze. She's dressed in a leather vest, leather pants, and boots to match, looking every inch the tough, capable woman she is.
"I've got orders from K to take you shopping," she says, her voice impatient. "And I'm the only girl who won't cause a distraction. So let's get this over with."
I nod, still trying to shake off the remnants of sleep. Lena looks me up and down, her eyes lingering on my disheveled hair and rumpled clothes.
"Dress in five," she says, her voice curt. "That's all I'm giving you."
I scramble to my feet, still feeling a little dazed. But as I make my way to the makeshift closet in the corner of the basement, I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror and realize that I look like a mess. My hair is tangled and knotted, my eyes are puffy from lack of sleep, and my skin is pale and wan.
I quickly throw on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt, trying to make myself look presentable. But as I emerge from the closet, Lena just rolls her eyes.
"You look like you just rolled out of bed," she says, her voice dripping with disdain. "But I guess it'll have to do."
As we make our way upstairs, I can hear the sound of voices coming from the dining hall. Kallis and his teammates are gathered around the table, surrounded by papers, computers, and other equipment that I don't understand.
When Kallis sees me, he looks almost scared, his eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that makes my heart skip a beat. He walks over to me, his hand resting on my face as he caresses my cheek with his thumb.
"I'll be right back," Lena says, her voice impatient. "Try to keep your hands to yourself, K."
But Kallis just ignores her, his lips descending onto mine in a long, intimate, passionate kiss. I feel a rush of excitement, my heart pounding in my chest as I wrap my arms around him, deepening the kiss.
But before we can get too carried away, Lena hauls me away, her hand closing around my wrist like a vice.
"Time to go, princess," she says, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "We've got shopping to do."
As we leave the house, I catch a glimpse of Kallis's face, his eyes watching me with a mixture of longing and concern. I smile, trying to reassure him, but he just nods, his expression serious.
I don't know what's going on, but I have a feeling that this shopping trip is going to be a lot more than just a simple excursion to Target.
