Chapter 2

"Sign it now, Laura!" Jack exclaimed in a threatening tone.

"Jack, please," she pleaded, feeling the sorrow take hold of her words.

"Sign it now; let's go!" Jack insisted, growing impatient.

I look at my brother Jack with a pleading gaze, but I see that what I feel matters little to him, as we must sacrifice ourselves for the family. A tear runs down my cheek.

"I hate you," I whisper to Morgan, and I notice that he understands.

I walk to the table and sign that damned contract. I see my dreams slipping away. As soon as I sign the contract, he puts his hands on my waist and whispers in my ear, "Now there's no turning back, little princess."

"Who knows, maybe I'll be blessed by the universe, and you'll die at the hands of your enemies."

Pressing my body closer to his, he says, "That won't happen, and even if I die someday, you'll go with me."

"Oh, how romantic. Together forever," I say sarcastically.

As the speech is being made, I feel suffocated and need to breathe. I leave the room and head to the patio, needing fresh air to digest everything that's happening in my life. I enter a pleasant room and spot a bottle of whiskey. I open it and take a swig straight from the bottle. When I look back, I come face to face with Nick, DOM Morgan's brother.

"Wow, you startled me," I say, surprised.

"Sorry, it wasn't my intention," he replies, smiling.

Nick has a charming smile and is kind. If only Morgan were more like him, it would be easier to accept this marriage.

"What are you doing here alone?" he asks.

"Running away from your brother, I suppose," I reply.

"You're doing well. Even I would run. I should congratulate you, but I guess it's more appropriate to offer my condolences," he says, laughing.

"Well, I think that's about right." I smile back at him.

"And how are you feeling?" he asks.

"Like I'm being thrown into the fire," I answer.

He smiles.

"Ah, yes, like our ancestral witches?" he teases.

"Yes, exactly. Watch out, the Lancellotti family is descended from witches," I joke.

"I believe it. The world goes beyond what our eyes can see," he says, taking the bottle and taking a sip of whiskey.

"I think so, too." I agree.

"See? We have a lot in common, Laura," he says, looking intensely at me with a beautiful smile.

I return the smile, and he raises his hand to my face, brushing a strand of hair away from my eyes. At that moment, the door swings open violently, and before I can turn around, I see the reflection of a knife heading towards Nick's hands. I look at DOM Morgan, and he has a furious look on his face, directed at his own brother.

"If you touch my woman again, I'll rip your hands off," Morgan threatens.

"We were just talking; what's your problem?" Nick says, leaving the room.

"What's your problem?" I asked, confronting Morgan.

"My problem is you, Laura. I can't control myself when you're around. Why don't you obey me?" he says, holding me firmly by the waist.

"Because I'm not a puppy you can give orders to," I reply with determination.

"But you're my woman," he asserts.

"I'm not your woman until we get married," I retorted.

He grabs my neck with his hands, stealing a kiss from me. His tongue invades my mouth, exploring every inch. I find myself lost, trapped in his embrace. But soon I came to my senses and pushed him away.

DOM led me to one of his properties while my emotions remained tense after the altercation with his brother Nick. The next day, we planned to visit different properties to decide where we would live after the wedding. DOM had requested permission from my brother for us to spend the night together in the same house.

Lost in my thoughts, I recalled the comforting words of Fabian, my best friend, who promised to help me escape. However, upon arriving at the property, my vision was confronted by a frightening scene. It looked like a military fortress, awakening in me the realization that escape wouldn't be an easy option. Even if I hid underground, DOM would find a way to locate me.

We sat in the living room, and he offered me a drink. I accepted, needing to relax, so I had two glasses of gin and a few of whiskey.

"What are you thinking?" he asked.

"Nothing; I'm just quiet."

"I know you're scared of how I acted when I saw Nick near you. I don't want to hurt you or be rude, but there are two things I don't like you doing: confronting me and disobeying me."

"Obeying? I'm not one of your employees," I retorted.

"I just want to protect you. You know that once we're engaged, you're in danger," he affirmed.

"How dare you say you want to protect me? The most dangerous person I've ever met in my life is you. A psychopath who sowed chaos around me, killing anyone who got close to me. You can't protect me from yourself."

"You know the business I'm involved in. The first thing they'll want to attack is my family," he argued.

"I think, at least this time, they'll leave me alone. Because we're not a family, and a piece of paper won't make me consider you as such."

"Where are you going? I haven't finished talking," he questioned.

"I'm going to answer Jack; he's calling me," I replied, getting ready to leave.

I enter the bathroom to answer Jack's call, as always, trying to control every step of mine.

"You took a while to answer; are you busy, little sister?" he asks.

"What do you want, Jack?" I reply impatiently.

"Are you drunk?" he asks, concerned.

"No, I just had a few drinks," I respond shortly.

"Don't drink anymore; go to your room and lock the door. I know DOM's little game; he knows he can't turn you into one of his 'whores'," he shouts furiously.

"But what's your problem? You put me in this situation, and now you want me to lock myself in my room? I just had a drink; I don't intend to spend the night with those psychopaths," I retorted, irritated.

"Just do as I say. That bastard is giving you drinks, and you're falling for it," he insists.

"I'm not going to argue with you. I can take care of myself," I respond determinedly.

I hang up the phone on Jack. What is he thinking, forcing me to get engaged and then insulting me? With determined steps, I return to the living room, while the hallway seems like a dark maze in front of me. The sound of my heels echoes on the wooden floor, a rebellious soundtrack.

Suddenly, I feel a presence behind me.

"Lost, little princess?" a seductive voice whispers in my ear.

"You scared me!" I reply, startled.

"There is no need to be afraid. I won't do anything you don't want," he says, opening the office door and inviting me in.

"I don't want to get married."

If he wouldn't do anything I didn't want, why not take a risk?

He looks at me, serious and intense, while savoring a glass of whiskey, keeping his gaze fixed on me. There's a palpable tension in the air, and the influence of alcohol on my mind only makes everything more intense.

"You're going to keep staring at me like that?" I provoke him, challenging him.

"I could stare at you for my entire life," he says.

"I got it." I take a deep breath, feeling the adrenaline rushing through my veins.

He presses his body firmly against mine. His perfume exudes that captivating aroma that bewitches me. My body trembles as I feel his hand sliding over my bare back.

"You're so beautiful," he whispers, looking at me intensely.

"DOM Morgan," I call his name, hoping he'll stop looking at me that way.

"You have no idea how you affect me when you're this close. It makes me want to tear this dress off," he says with a tone loaded with desire.

His fingers continue caressing my skin, sending shivers down my spine. I try to pull away, but he holds me firmly by my waist and says, "You are so beautiful that I would kill anyone who looks at you," with a possessive tone in his voice.

In a swift motion, his lips meet mine, his tongue seeking entrance, and I give in. His hands glide down my hips, reaching my backside.

"Stop," I say, trying to regain some control over my body.

"Are you sure?" he murmurs, kissing my neck slowly.

"Yes, I am," I respond with a hoarse and breathless voice.

"You haven't convinced me," he whispers.

My body reacts to every touch, surrendering to his desires.

"Why do you run away from me?"

"Why this obsession with me?"

"Do you think it's just an obsession? What I feel for you goes way beyond that, beyond any feeling you can imagine. I can't resist you; you disarm me in every sense."