Chapter 7

Grace's POV

I had no choice but to obey Elio. For now, at least. There were so many questions I wanted to ask him—questions about my father, about the betrayal. But I knew better than to ask. God knows what price Elio might demand for that kind of information. So, I decided to keep my mouth shut. I wasn’t going to make my stay here more unbearable than it already was.

“I see you’re a smart girl,” Elio remarked, settling into an armchair with an air of casual dominance. “Perhaps you won’t be the headache I initially thought you’d be.”

I could feel the weight of his gaze on me, assessing, calculating. My patience was wearing thin, but I refused to show it.

"Is there anything else you need to tell me, or can I return to my room?" I asked, my voice steady despite the anxiety bubbling beneath the surface. I just wanted to escape the intensity of his stare.

“What’s the rush, cara mia?” he said, his lips curling into a teasing smile. “Do you have pressing matters to attend to in the morning? Perhaps an important meeting I don’t know about?”

The bastard. He was doing this on purpose, trying to provoke me. He knew perfectly well that thanks to him, I had absolutely nothing to do. My life was on pause, and he was enjoying it.

“I’m just tired. Tonight has been… long,” I replied, keeping my tone as neutral as possible.

Elio shrugged, his dark eyes never leaving mine. “Va bene, then. Go. But to keep you from getting too bored while you’re here, you’ll assist Eleonor with the household tasks.”

Household tasks? Was this a test? Was he trying to see just how much I could endure before breaking? He had no idea how much patience I could muster.

“Good night, Mr. Domenico,” I said simply, not bothering to hide the edge in my voice. I could see the flicker of displeasure in his eyes when I used his formal title instead of addressing him more intimately.

Perfect. If he didn’t like it, I’d keep addressing him that way.

He raised an eyebrow, but his expression remained composed. “Buona notte, Grace." There was a softness to his words, but the underlying threat was unmistakable. “And remember, piccola, everything you do here is being watched. Non dimenticare. Don’t forget that.”

I held his gaze for a moment longer before turning on my heel and heading toward the door. My pulse raced as I exited the room, and the moment I was out of his sight, I let out a breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding.

Walking back to my room, my mind swirled with thoughts. Elio’s games were clear—he enjoyed pushing me, seeing how far I would bend. But I wasn’t going to break. Not for him. Not for anyone.

As I entered my room, I closed the door behind me and leaned against it, taking a moment to collect myself. The air in the house felt stifling, thick with tension. This place was nothing like home, yet I couldn’t deny that everything here was meticulously tailored to make me comfortable. Even the clothes in the wardrobe, the soft linens on the bed—it was all meant to make me feel at ease. But how could I, knowing the circumstances?

Elio wasn’t just keeping me here for fun. He had a plan—a reason for everything he did. And if I was going to survive this, I needed to figure out exactly what that was.

But for now, I needed to rest. Tomorrow, I’d deal with whatever new challenge he threw my way. With a heavy sigh, I climbed into bed, sinking into the impossibly soft sheets.

As I lay there, staring up at the ceiling, I couldn’t help but wonder what my father had done to bring us to this point. How had he, the man who’d always warned me about men like Elio, ended up betraying one of the most dangerous men in the world? And why did I have to pay the price?

Sleep didn’t come easily that night.

The hours seemed to stretch endlessly as I tossed and turned in the massive bed, my thoughts racing. I couldn’t get Elio’s words out of my head—the way he had said I "belonged" to him, as if I were some possession, a pawn in a game far bigger than myself. The cold reality of my situation had settled deep into my bones.

What was I to him? Collateral? Leverage? Or something worse?

The silence of the night was heavy, broken only by the occasional distant murmur of voices or footsteps outside my door. I wondered if Elio’s men were guarding me even now, ensuring that I wouldn’t try to run. Not that I had anywhere to go. I didn’t know the layout of this place well enough, and even if I did, I had no doubt Elio had every possible exit covered. He wasn’t stupid. Men like him never left anything to chance.

I sat up in bed, the frustration gnawing at me. I hated feeling powerless, like a puppet on a string. But what options did I have? Elio had made it clear that my every move was being watched. Still, I couldn’t just sit here and wait for whatever was coming next.

I needed to learn more—about him, about this place, and most importantly, about why my father had gotten us into this mess. My father wasn’t reckless, but he had always been driven by ambition. It wasn’t hard to imagine him making a risky move, thinking he could outsmart Elio. But what had he done that was so unforgivable? And why had Elio decided that I was the one who had to pay the price?

As I lay back down, a new plan began to form in my mind. I couldn’t escape—at least, not yet. But I could play Elio’s game. If he thought he could manipulate me, use me to hurt my father, then I’d let him believe it. I’d give him exactly what he wanted: compliance. At least on the surface.

But beneath that, I’d watch. I’d listen. And I’d wait for the perfect moment to turn the tables.

Tomorrow, I’d start with Eleonor. If I was going to be forced into “household tasks,” then I’d use that time to gather information. Eleonor had been with Elio for a long time, and if anyone knew the inner workings of this place, it would be her. She had to know something—whether she’d be willing to share it was another matter, but I’d find a way.

I stared up at the ceiling, the faint moonlight casting shadows across the room. This was my life now. At least for the time being. But if there was one thing I knew for sure, it was that I wouldn’t let Elio win.

Tomorrow, I’d start my fight back. I just had to be patient.