It felt like a trap.
The building in front of us was massive.
All glass and steel, gold lights like it was calling people in. Soft music drifted outside, the kind that sounded expensive.
I instantly had chills.
Nothing about this place felt welcoming.
The car door yanked opened and Dante slid a hand around my waist, pulling me out like I didn't weigh anything at all.
He didn't give me time to steady myself as he pressed his body into mine. His breath warm as it hovered near my ear.
"The moment we walk through those doors," his voice was low and lethal, "you are my fiancée."
Fiancée? My heart sank.
I froze. "W-what?" I croaked.
No. I must have misheard him.
"I want everyone inside to believe it," he continued. "Every single person."
It didn't sound like a joke.
His fingers tightened slightly at my waist.
"Do you understand?"
I nodded quickly, afraid that if I spoke my voice would betray me.
"Good girl."
The words sent a shiver straight through me.
His hand didn't leave my waist as we walked toward the entrance. Double doors opened immediately, guards stepped aside like he owned the ground beneath their feet.
Inside, the ballroom pulsed with life.
Crystal chandeliers. Men in tailored suits. Women dripping in silk and diamonds. The room was filled with laughter and music.
The moment we walked in it all quickly turned to…silence.
Every pair of eyes landed on us. Conversations cut off mid- laugh . The room went suddenly too quiet.
I suddenly felt conscious.
Dante leaned down and brushed his lips against my temple.
"Smile."
I did. Like a damn puppet.
People approached us almost instantly. Handshakes. Polite laughter. Curious glances that lingered too long. He introduced me smoothly, effortlessly.
"My fiancée, Amalia."
Every time he said it, his hand would tighten and his thumb would brush the bare skin of my back.
It was a warning. A reminder.
I played my part.
I'd taken drama class back in tenth grade…never thought it would save my life.
If acting in love with a stranger kept me breathing, I could do that.
It wasn't that difficult.
Just smile, laugh and pretend.
Just for tonight.
"Dante! A pleasure," a man in an ash-colored suit said, his pointed shoes almost comical. His gaze flicked to me. "And you brought company."
I smiled before Dante could answer. "I'm Amalia. His fiancée."
The man's eyes widened slightly as he turned to Dante.
Almost like Dante had told him his shoes were horrifying or something worse.
"A fiancée?" He chuckled awkwardly. "That's… unfortunate. I was hoping to introduce you to my daughter, Lily."
Dante laughed smoothly.
"Mr. Williams," he said calmly, "you're not the first to try."
His attention shifted to me. For a split second, something gentle softened his expression. It was almost convincing.
"This girl," he continued, "captured my heart."
Ha! I nearly scoffed.
More like I was captured.
Mr. Williams cleared his throat. "Well… congratulations to you both. Dante, if you don't mind, I need a word. Something important."
Dante nodded, but before leaving, he leaned in and pressed a soft but terrifying kiss to my cheek.
I shivered.
"I'll be back, sweetheart."
It sounded like a warning.
Then he was gone…swallowed by the crowd.
I released a breath I hadn't known I had been holding.
Okay. I had to think!
Think Amalia!
This was my chance. I couldn't miss it!
I scanned the room. There were too many guards everywhere. Men who looked like they carried guns as easily as phones. Women whose smiles didn't reach their eyes.
This wasn't a normal party.
Not at all.
It felt darker. Wrong.
Like I wasn't supposed to be here.
Was this some sort of ritual?
I didn't want to wait to find out if I was the scarifice for the night.
I slipped away quietly.
Okay. Okay. Don't panic.
Just walk.
Just act normal.
I moved towards a side door.
Blocked.
Another door.
Blocked.
Every exit had guards posted, their gazes were sharp the moment I got too close.
I tried to take in a breath but my lungs felt too tight like someone was squeezing them.
I quickly made my way to the bathroom, locking myself inside. My hands trembled as I gripped the sink, trying to breathe through my nose.
I couldn't have a panic attack. Not here. Not now.
I needed to calm down.
Dante would notice soon.
I couldn't let him find me.
The window caught my eye.
It was open.
Large enough for me to jump through.
Finally I had some hope.
I didn't waste another second. I climbed up, ignoring the pain that shot up my leg and squeezed through. My heels hit the concrete outside and pain shot up my ankles.
I bit the inside of my cheek to stop myself from screaming.
It's okay. I'm okay.
I couldn't stop now.
I spotted the large gate upfront and began limping.
I'm going to make it. I'm going to get out of here no matter what.
I had to moved carefully, my heart felt like it would explode in my chest. Every shadow made me flinch.
I was almost at the gate.
I was so close.
Then—
A hand grabbed me from behind.
I screamed, thrashing wildly.
"Going somewhere?" a voice sneered.
One of Dante's guards.
I bit down hard on his fingers and ran.
I didn't look back.
I didn't think.
I am going to leave this place. No matter what!
Two more hands caught me, wrenching my arms back painfully.
No!
"Let me go!" I screamed. "Let me go or I'll make you regret it!"
The double doors flung open.
Dante stepped out.
The music faded behind him, like the world itself had gone quiet.
His expression was calm.
Too calm.
I saw the dissapointment in his eyes followed by something colder.
God I'm done for.
He sighed slowly shoving both hands in his pocket as he studied me.
"I thought you were smarter than this, Amalia."
The guards shoved me forward. I stumbled but stayed upright.
"I saved your life," he continued, his voice even. "And this is how you repay me?"
Saved my life?! I glared at him.
"You didn't save my life, you kidnapped me! Forced me to be your fiancée! Brought me to this weird party! I never agreed to any of this!"
Dante tilted his head. "You sound very ungrateful"
Without warning, he reached inside his jacket and pulled out a gun.
Every muscle in my body tensed. The anger in my veins was quickly replaced with fear.
He raised it effortlessly, the barrel aimed straight at my chest.
I froze at the sight of the death machine.
One trigger. That was all it took for me to be erased from this world.
"You leave me no choice," he said quietly. "I can't have loose ends."
I wanted to scream. I needed to scream. But my throat had gone numb, like someone had sealed it shut with glue.
So this was it.
Again.
I squeezed my eyes shut.
It was almost laughable. My life truly amounted to nothing.
The trigger went off but pain didn't come. The sound of Dante's footsteps was the next thing I could hear after my beating heart.
He was close enough that the gun pressed against my dress.
His voice dropped, meant only for me.
"If you ever try to run again," he murmured, "I promise I won't miss."
The barrel slipped off my chest.
I let out a sigh of relief. My knees couldn't hold me up anymore. I fell to the ground and couldn't stop the tears that flowed.
He leaned down and brushed his lips against ear.
"You're mine for the year, Amalia," he whispered touching my head delicately causing a shiver to run down my spine.
"And you will learn to behave."
He stood up immediately.
"Take her back inside. We are not finished yet"
And just like that, I understood.
Escaping him wasn't just impossible, It was deadly.
And the worst part was…I had no idea what he'd do next.