Trapped

The door slammed open with a deafening BANG!

Vincenzo stormed into the room like a beast unleashed, his eyes burning with fury. His chest rose and fell rapidly. Without hesitation, he raised his hand and slapped Seraphina across the face.

SMACK!

She gasped in shock, stumbling backward with the force, crashing onto the edge of the bed. Her palm flew to her stinging cheek as tears welled up instantly.

“You think you can just walk out?” he growled, his voice low and venomous. “Up till now, everything has gone the way you wanted. But that ends now.”

His breath was hot and uneven. “From this moment on, I've decided to decide what you do, where you go, and how you breathe. Maybe you need a reminder…” He reached into his coat and pulled out a thick file, tossing it onto the bed beside her. “You signed this, didn’t you? That contract. That was your mistake.”

Her hand trembled as she flipped open the file, her eyes scanning the document. Her mouth fell open. “No… No, you’re lying,” she whispered, her voice cracking as tears streamed down her flushed cheeks. “This wasn’t part of it…”

He crouched beside her, his face inches from hers, his lips curled into a wicked smirk. “Oh, it was exactly part of it. You just didn’t read it…..poor little naive Seraphina,” he said mockingly. “This was my game from the beginning; my setup….my rules.”

He stood tall and proud. “I’m Vincenzo De Luca, the Mafia Lord of Manhattan; I don’t lose, I don’t beg. Let me bust your bubble…. I take whatever I want…. And in my games I always win.”

Her throat tightened. Her eyes, wide with disbelief, began to glisten even more. “You’ve trapped me,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. Her lips quivered. “Why… why me? What did I ever do to you?”

Vincenzo’s expression darkened. He reached forward and grabbed her by the collar, dragging her up until her eyes were level with his. “Because I like you,” he said in a chilling tone. “Because I only surround myself with the best. You’re beautiful, smart, innocent... everything I shouldn’t want, but I do. So I kept you here.”

He released her roughly. She stumbled backward, breathing hard, and wiped her tears furiously.

“Please…” she sobbed. “Enough of this, I can’t do this anymore. Just let me go. I’ll disappear…. I promise, I’ll never come back. I’ll give up everything, just let me leave.”

He stared at her coldly. “I’m sorry,” he replied flatly. “You can’t.”

She looked at him, her eyes filled with pleading and despair. “I had a life before this,” she cried. “I had love… I had dreams… please don’t destroy that, I beg you.”

He stepped closer. “I don’t care. I’m not a man who understands love. I’m not built for it. I’m a devil wrapped in a tailored suit…. I’m heartless, and I have no interest in your fairy tales.”

She backed away, but he followed.

“You want your boyfriend? You can have him… after a year and that depends on my mood, if you’re lucky, and I happened to be in a good mood,” he sneered. “Until then, you’re mine.”

“You’re a monster!” she shouted, slapping her hand against his chest, and pushing him away. “You think money gives you power over people’s lives? You think you can own someone just because you want to?”

He grabbed her wrist midair and pulled her close, his lips brushing her ear. “I don’t think, sweetheart. I know… I always get what I want. Make me happy, and I’ll make you rich beyond your dreams. Fight me, and I’ll break you,” he whispered, his tone like acid. “Think wisely. Your next decision determines whether you live in heaven or hell.”

His fingers brushed down her cheek again, this time slower. She jerked her face away, disgusted. But Vincenzo didn’t let go.

His hand clamped around her jaw, tilting her head up with chilling command. His voice dropped to a razor-sharp whisper. “You keep talking like you have a choice,” he murmured, venom curling around each word. “Let me remind you who owns your mouth.”

And before she could even blink…..SMASH!

His lips crashed into hers, punishing and forceful. That wasn’t a kiss but domination. Her breath caught in her throat as her body stiffened, her heart thudding violently in her chest.

His grip held her still….his mouth moving over hers with raw and arrogant control. The sound of their lips colliding, wet and aggressive filled the space like a slap to the silence.

"Mmmph!" she whimpered, her fists pressing against his chest, trying to push him away. But he didn’t budge.

His tongue parted her lips without apology, claiming her mouth with a fierce, possessive growl.

SLURK! The sound was obscene.

He pulled back only when he decided, not when she resisted.

A string of spit clung between their mouths for a second before he wiped his lips slowly with his thumb, a dangerous smirk tugging at the corner.

Her body shook violently, her lips red and bruised, her eyes glassy with rage and disbelief.

 “I own you now,” he whispered in a low and final voice. “Never forget that.”

He smiled darkly and walked out of the room, leaving her standing there, shaking.

Her knees gave out, and she sank onto the bed, sobbing into her palms.

‘What have I done?’

Suddenly, her phone buzzed in her pocket.

Unknown Number.

With trembling hands, she answered. “Hello?”

“Hi, darling,” came a familiar voice.

Her heart leaped with joy. “Jarvis…” she breathed, her voice cracking under the weight of relief.

“Sweetheart! How are you? "I’ve been trying to reach you forever, Babe, what’s going on?” he asked with concern.

She forced a small smile. “I’m fine,” she lied. “Just… work…. Argg! Long hours.”

“I miss you, my princess,” he whispered lovingly. “I finally got my visa. I’ll be flying out soon. We need a little more money, and we’ll disappear from this cruel world together. Our dream will come true.”

She closed her eyes, tears rolling silently down her face. “Yes… it will,” she whispered in a shaky voice.

He paused. “Is something wrong? You don’t sound okay.”

“I’m just… tired,” she said quickly. "We’ll talk later. Goodnight.”

“Okay, I love you,” he said softly.

“I love you more,” she whispered and hung up.

The moment the call ended, she broke down in full silent sobs that shook her shoulders.

But just then, click. The doorknob turned.

She froze, her blood going cold.

Vincenzo entered, slowly, casually; his devilish grin plastered on his arrogant face. “Oops! I almost forgot,” he said in a low, mocking voice.

Her teary eyes met his. “What now?” she asked bitterly.

He leaned against the wall, hands in his pockets. “If you ever…ever for one second, think about escaping, or even thinking of betraying me…” he paused, stepping forward. “I will kill that little boyfriend of yours in front of you. And I won’t make it quick. I’ll torture him in ways your mind can’t even imagine.”

Her heart dropped. She gasped. “Wh…..what?” she choked out. “Why are you dragging him into this? He has nothing to do with us!”

Vincenzo’s grin deepened. “Oh, but he does. Because you belong to me now; so everything connected to you belongs to me. And I protect what’s mine… violently.”

“Stop it!” she cried, fists clenched at her sides. “Don’t you dare touch him!”

He chuckled, unbothered. “Don’t make me angry, Seraphina. Just be a good girl. Stay in your lane, and nobody gets hurt.”

She stared at him, hatred blazing in her eyes. “I hate you,” she hissed through gritted teeth. “You disgust me.”

He raised a brow. “Good. Hatred makes you strong. But don’t forget…hatred alone won’t save him.”

With that final threat, he turned to leave.

She lunged forward and grabbed his collar, her fingers tight. “I swear to God, if anything happens to him because of you, I will burn your empire to the ground.....I’ll destroy everything you’ve ever built; you may be the devil….but I’ll be the fire that consumes you,” she spat, tears pouring, eyes blazing with raw rage.

Vincenzo smirked. “I’ll be waiting,” he whispered before exiting the room like a storm.

The door clicked shut. Seraphina stood there, breathing heavily, staring at the door with clenched fists and trembling lips.

Her knees gave in once again, and she sat on the edge of the bed, arms wrapping around herself.

‘This isn’t over,' she thought. 'He may have power now….but he has no idea who he’s messing with.’

She picked up the contract again and stared at it. Her tears continued to fall silently as she whispered into the dark:

“This devil may have trapped me, but he can’t break me.”