Chapter 5

Chapter Five

Ellie

Dante reached out, took my upper arm in his grasp and gently guided me out of the bedroom. He led me down the hall, down the stairs, then out the back entrance of the old mansion. My steps were cautious yet defiant as I walked beside him.

I was a prisoner, yet I refused to feel defeated.

The sleek, black car waiting outside felt like a chariot about to take me down into the seven circles of hell. Dante’s presence was commanding, even in silence, while Rafael’s occasional glances in my direction didn’t go unnoticed.

When Dante opened the door, I slipped into the backseat, the cool leather stark against the warmth of my fingertips. I tried to hide how I flinched as my backside brushed against the seat, but it was nearly impossible because it still stung quite fiercely. I hoped they hadn’t seen it.

My pussy pulsed a bit harder at the thought that they might have.

Dante glided in beside me while Rafael sat in the driver’s seat, and I tried not to let their close proximity get to me.

Neither man said a word for a long moment.

Dante’s voice broke the silence as we started to move. “The Rossi brothers have been dealt with, but this is far from over,” he said, his tone indicating a world of trouble I was only just beginning to understand. “You and I both know there will be consequences. We need to be ready for whatever comes next.”

Rafael seemed to agree, his voice steady and confident. “We’ve always been a step ahead. We’ll manage the fallout as we always do.”

“They won’t take this lightly and we need to consider how Marco’s alliance with the Rossis complicates this,” Dante continued, his gaze fixed on the passing city lights. “With the Rossi brothers gone, Marco will be looking to retaliate, especially if he finds out we have Ellie.”

A chill ran down my spine at the mention of Marco. The thought of being caught between these two powerful forces was overwhelming. I wrapped my arms around myself, trying to quell the rising anxiety, but it was nearly impossible.

Rafael nodded, his eyes never leaving the road. “Marco’s always been ambitious, and with the power vacuum we’ve created by eliminating the Rossi heirs, he might see this as his chance to rise and take their place in the city.”

Dante turned slightly, glancing back at me. “That means we need to tighten our security even more now,” he said.

Rafael’s voice was grim as he responded. “Agreed. We’ll need to reinforce our defenses, keep a closer eye on our borders. The works. You can count on me, boss. I’ll handle it.”

The car finally slowed down, pulling into a garage that seemed more like a fortress than anything else. One heavily fortified door slid open to allow us entry, then shut and locked behind us with a heavy thud. We moved through a series of similar locking garages, each one opening and then securing us in, layer by layer, deeper and deeper into their world of secrecy and security.

It was sobering to say the least.

After Rafael parked the car, the two men led me out and toward an elevator. Rafael punched in a code on the keypad beside the doors. I watched his fingers closely, memorizing the combination in case I needed it in the future. He glanced at me knowingly.

“The code changes every twenty-four hours,” he explained, his tone matter of fact. “It’s designed to be impossible to break into or escape without knowing it.”

The doors slid open, and we stepped inside. The elevator hummed to life, ascending smoothly.

I couldn’t help but wonder how deep into their world I was being taken.

Would I ever be able to get out?

We rose higher and higher. Finally, the elevator came to a stop at the 52nd floor, high above the sprawling city of New York. The doors opened to reveal an incredible penthouse suite, with floor-to-ceiling windows offering a panoramic view of the city below. The lights of the city twinkled like stars in a dark sky, and for a moment, it took my breath away.

The penthouse was expansive and lavishly furnished, but my eyes were drawn to the vast windows in the room, the glimmering city laid out before us like a kingdom waiting to be ruled.

It was breathtaking and terrifying all at once.

Dante motioned for me to follow him, and I went along with him until we reached a spa-like bedroom. The room was large, with a plush king-sized bed taking over the whole space. The luxurious creamy white linens covering the surface were as inviting as they were intimidating, and I looked at them longingly before I went rigid.

What was going to happen next?

“You’ll stay here,” he said, his voice a mix of command and an odd gentleness I hadn’t expected. Before I could respond or ask any questions, he closed the door behind me, and I heard the unmistakable sound of it locking from the outside.

Fuck.

Now I really was a prisoner.

I was trapped in a gilded cage, high above the city in the clutches of men who were as dangerous as they were mysterious.

Alone, I leaned against the door, my mind racing. Fear and confusion warred within me. What was I going to do now? I closed my eyes. I felt drained, both physically and emotionally. With a heavy sigh, I stripped down to my bra and panties and slipped into bed, relieved that I was at least sleeping alone even if I was an unwillingly captive.

And that neither man was going to rape me tonight.

I closed my eyes, and despite the fear and the million thoughts racing through my mind, sleep enveloped me quickly.

As the morning light filtered through the windows, I woke up in the unfamiliar room, and for a moment, I was completely disoriented. Without warning, though, the events of the previous night came flooding back, and I quickly got out of bed, a sense of urgency driving me to get the fuck out of dodge.

I needed to find a way out of here. I couldn’t remain their prisoner forever, but I needed time to think.

Plus, I desperately wanted a shower.

I made my way to the adjoining bathroom, which was as luxurious as the bedroom with marble tiles and heated floors. There was a heated towel rack by the shower, and when I brushed my fingertips against the fabric of the towel, I found it deliciously warm.

I turned on the shower and stripped out of my bra and panties, waiting until the stall was full of steam. Then, I stepped inside.

As the hot water cascaded over me, I sighed, trying to piece together my thoughts and feelings and how I was going to get a handle on the reality of my situation.

What was I going to do?

I’d be lying to myself if I said that I wasn’t drawn to both men and even though Dante had spanked me last night, he hadn’t raised a hand to hurt me.

Not like Marco.

He had done so in the past, more than once. I would have liked to say that it was a rare occurrence for me to wear his mark across my face, but then I would be lying.

It was one of the biggest reasons why I’d run.

Somehow though, Dante had still been gentle, and my thighs still squeezed tight at the thought of his hand dancing over my clit. The hot water beat onto my shoulders, and I had to fight the urge to slide my own fingers between my legs and touch myself all while thinking about last night.

That would be far too shameful.

With a sigh, I tried to put thoughts of the two men out of my head and after I was done showering, I wrapped myself in a warm towel and sighed at the luxurious feeling of it.

Then, I found clothes in the attached closet—surprisingly all in my size. Maybe it had been here already, or maybe he’d had it delivered overnight while I was sleeping, I couldn’t be certain.

My chest squeezed tight.

Hopefully they didn’t belong to another woman.

Shaking my head at the ridiculousness of my thoughts, I put on a pair of new lacey blue lingerie that fit my body like a glove and picked out a simple dark green wrap dress. Dressed and somewhat more composed, I tested the doorknob, half expecting it to be locked. To my surprise, it opened, and my breath caught in my throat.

Tiptoeing out, I followed the sound of voices to the kitchen, pausing just outside when I recognized Dante and Rafael engaged in a serious conversation.

Dante seemed overly tense. “Vargas is making moves on the east docks.”

Rafael replied, his tone just as serious, “Do you think he knows about the Rossi brothers already?”

“It’s likely. Marco has been waiting for an opportunity like this for a long time. With the Rossi brothers gone, he’ll want to move into their place,” Dante said, a note of frustration in his voice. “I need to handle this personally. We can’t afford to lose control of the docks. It’s a critical point for our operations.”

Rafael’s chair scraped against the floor. “What about Ellie? We can’t leave her unguarded, not with the current threats.”

Dante paused. “You’ll stay here. It’s the safest place for her. And make sure security is tight. I don’t want anyone getting in or out without our knowledge.”

“I’ll handle it,” Rafael assured him. “But you need to be careful, Dante. Marco isn’t going to play fair.”

“He never does. We know this, but we don’t play fair either. I’ll settle this before it escalates any further,” Dante replied, his voice icy cold.

My sharp intake of breath must have given me away because both men turned their heads and instantly settled their attention right on me.

“Good morning, Ellie,” Dante breathed, his gaze warm and cold at the same time. The heat of it drifted up and down my body and I bit the inside of my cheek.

I hated how I wanted to feel the heat of his body against mine.

How I wanted to feel his fingers between my thighs again.

“Morning,” Rafael echoed, his gaze ten times warmer.

I found myself blushing even though I couldn’t really figure out why.

Fuck me.

“Morning,” I replied cautiously, my eyes darting between the two men before I looked around the room. There was a plate full of steaming pancakes in the center of the island and my stomach growled just seeing them. I blushed again, thinking they’d probably heard it too.

When was the last time I had eaten?

Rafael seemed to notice and without a word, he moved toward the pancakes. He fixed a plate for me, buttering the breakfast treat with a deft touch before generously pouring syrup over them. Then, he slid it in front of me.

I accepted the plate guardedly, my hands trembling as I sat down at the table. As I took a bite of the pancake, the sweetness of the syrup couldn’t mask the bitterness of my current situation.

I’d accidentally gotten myself into the middle of a war between my ex and one of the most powerful mob bosses in the city and now I was trapped. I was their captive and from what I could tell, there was no way out.

“What happens now? What do you plan to do with me? Kill me?” I asked, unable to keep the tension from my voice.

“We’re not going to kill you, Ellie. This is your home now. You’re not going anywhere,” Dante replied.

His declaration sent a chill down my spine.

“You mean I’m a prisoner here?” I blurted out.

Rafael interjected softly, “It’s for your safety. We can’t risk you being out there, not with the current threats.”

“So, I’m just supposed to be your willing prisoner because it’s dangerous?” I couldn’t mask the discontent in my voice.

Dante’s gaze was steady. “You’re involved now, whether you like it or not. And we take care of our own.”

“I’m not yours,” I snarled.

Dante simply leveled me with a look that said anything but. I glared back at him but didn’t say a word.

“I need to leave,” Dante announced, his tone authoritative. “Rafael, manage things here.”

With that, Dante exited the room, leaving a tangible shift in the atmosphere. Rafael seemed to tense up in Dante’s absence, his body language rigid as he gazed back at me.

Why?

After a moment of silence, I gathered the courage to speak. “You don’t have to stay here, you know. I’m not going to run,” I lied, attempting to break the ice, and hoping he’d leave me alone so I could figure out a way to get out of here.

Rafael shifted his gaze to me, his expression softening slightly. “All of this is just about keeping you safe,” he replied, his voice betraying a hint of concern.

I sighed, setting down my fork. “Safe,” I muttered, the word leaving a bad taste in my mouth.

His eyes searched mine, a silent question lingering in them.

I hesitated, then decided to confide in him. I didn’t know why. He just seemed like someone I could tell things to, so I did.

“Marco… he used to hit me,” I said, the words tasting bitter. “I was always walking on eggshells around him, never knowing when he’d explode.”

Rafael’s jaw clenched, his eyes darkening. “I’m sorry you had to go through that. No one deserves to be treated that way,” he said, his voice firm with conviction. “You’re safe here, Ellie. I promise you, Marco won’t ever lay a hand on you again and if he tries, he’s as good as dead.”

His words were oddly comforting, and I found myself wanting to believe him.

“Thank you,” I whispered, feeling a strange sense of relief in sharing my burden.

Rafael nodded, a trace of a protective instinct flickering across his features. His comforting gaze held mine and my core flickered with heat. His warmth drew me in, and I found myself in a sudden state of confliction.

What was happening right now?

Dante, commanding and mysterious, intrigued me with his intense authority and icy demeanor.

In contrast, Rafael’s warmth and expressive eyes offered a comforting, approachable presence, his charm and protective nature starkly different from Dante’s coldness.

How could I be interested in both of them at once? They were my fucking enemies, for god’s sake.

I shook my head. I shouldn’t be thinking about them like this. I should be thinking about how the fuck I was going to get out of here.

Rafael cleared his throat, breaking the silence that had settled between us. “I’ve got some work to do,” he said, his voice bringing me back to reality. He stood up, leaving the room with a sense of purpose, heading off to what I assumed was his office.

I didn’t follow.

Alone now, my mind began to race with thoughts of escape. I considered a few possibilities—trying to find a phone to call for help, or even attempting to blend in with a staff member and slip away unnoticed. Each option seemed fraught with its own set of risks.

After mulling over my limited choices, a bold plan formed in my mind. The elevator. I remembered watching Rafael punch in the code the night before.

The code was four digits: seven, nine, six, one.

With my heart pounding in my chest, I made my way to the elevator, my steps quick but cautious. I reached the keypad and, taking a deep breath, entered the code I had committed to memory. I didn’t know if the twenty-four-hour time slot would be up yet. I hoped it wasn’t. To my utter amazement, though, the doors slid open. My heart leapt with a mix of fear and exhilaration.

I stepped inside and pressed the button for the garage. The elevator descended smoothly, and as the doors opened, I stepped out. I was so close to freedom that I could practically taste it.

Now I just needed to figure out how to get out of this fortress.

With my heart racing, I dashed through the garage, the cool air whipping past me as I desperately searched for an exit. The array of cars seemed to blur into one as I weaved between them, the echo of my footsteps loud in the vast, empty space. Adrenaline surged through me, every fiber of my being focused on escape.

Suddenly, strong arms wrapped around my waist from behind. I gasped, caught off guard. Twisting around, I found myself face to face with Rafael, his expression a complex mix of surprise and an unreadable emotion.

“You didn’t really think it would be that easy, did you?” Rafael’s voice was a low murmur, tinged with both amusement and something else, something much darker.

Something that I distinctly didn’t like.

It sounded dangerous.

Rafael’s hold on my arm was firm but not harsh as he guided me back to the elevator. I jerked against his grip, but I gained no leverage.

I was trapped.

As we entered the elevator, Rafael punched in the code with a resigned expression. “You see, the elevator sends an alert to my phone every time it’s used,” he explained, his voice carrying a hint of regret. “There’s no chance of escape. Not now. Not ever.”

The finality in his words sent a chill down my spine.

As the elevator ascended, I stood silent.

When the doors opened back into the penthouse, the luxurious space felt more like a prison than ever.

He let go of my arm and I went to walk back inside the suite.

I only made it about two steps before his hand whipped out and he grabbed the back of my neck. Without apology, he spun me around, and pinned me up against the wall. In that moment, I felt the chemistry between us flare and the desire between us was like a living, breathing entity seconds away from imploding.

“I shouldn’t,” he whispered.

I sucked in a breath.

I should have told him that he shouldn’t too, but I couldn’t bring myself to. Not now, not in this moment, because I wanted Rafael.

I’d deal with the consequences of wanting two men later.

“Why not?” I said, my voice just barely audible.

He brushed his lips over mine with a kiss that was as light as it was absolutely electric.

The first kiss was gentle.

The second one was not.

Rafael growled as his lips crashed down onto mine.

A deep moan escaped me as his tongue plunged into my mouth, taking, claiming. His kiss was demanding, his hunger evident, and it lit a raging fire inside me. My lips parted eagerly, welcoming the onslaught of his tongue, and a rush of arousal flooded between my thighs.

Rafael kissed like he meant it, with everything he had. He kissed me like I was the very air he breathed, his fingers threading through my hair and holding me close. The heat from his body enveloped me, his masculine scent surrounding me, and his lips on mine were the only thing I could think of.

I wound my arms around his neck as he pressed his body into mine. He was devouring me, his kiss hard and bruising enough to leave me knowing that my lips would be sore long after it was over.

It was wonderful.

Until he broke it off.

My lips were still tingling when he pulled back and stepped away. My cheeks flushed and my heart raced, the sudden distance between us like a gaping chasm.

I didn’t want him to stop. I opened my lips to tell him that, but the look on his face gave me pause.

He looked conflicted, his dark eyes clouded, and his brows furrowed. He clenched his fists at his sides, his jaw set, and his breathing ragged.

For a moment, we just stared at each other, the tension between us thick and palpable. My chest rose and fell, our eyes locked and then his face tightened into a mask of pure darkness.

“You tried to run, didn’t you?” he said purposefully, and I took a step back.

My stomach fluttered with butterflies at the same time that my core squeezed tighter.

“I…” I answered, my voice shaking slightly.

“Naughty little girls who try to run from the men that are trying to protect them should be punished,” he growled, and I opened and closed my mouth.

My pussy clenched down hard.

“You can’t mean that,” I breathed.

“I meant every word,” he snarled, and I would have taken a step backward, but with the wall at my back, there was nowhere to go. I gritted my teeth and leveled him with a look, trying to stay brave, but then he took a step toward me, and my breath left my lungs in a loud rush.

With his eyes locked on mine, he leaned over me and boxed me in. The proximity of his body, the intensity of his gaze, all of it served to heighten the tension that crackled in the air between us. I could feel the heat radiating from him, his breath a whisper across my skin, sending shivers down my spine.

In that moment, confined by his presence, I realized how much I wanted him.

He reached out and cupped my face, tracing his thumb across my cheekbone. My body pulsed at his threat, and I swallowed hard.

“And how exactly do you intend to punish me?” I breathed.

His chest rose and fell, and I could see the indecision written all over his face.

Did I want this?

Did I want to push him?

I leaned forward, lifted my face, and brushed my lips against his cheek. He stiffened, but his shoulders bowed in toward me which only seemed to spur me on. My lips lightly grazed against his ear and the scent of him surrounded me.

There was a hint of fresh, woody cedar, mingled with the subtle spice of cardamom, creating a comfortingly inviting aroma. Underlying these was a gentle note of vanilla, soft and reassuring, adding a layer of warmth and familiarity that only seemed to draw me in closer.

It drove me crazy.

“Tell me,” I breathed.

“Naughty girls who try to run get the belt,” he whispered, and a shiver of desire coursed down my spine. I didn’t understand it, but I didn’t question it either.

“The belt,” I echoed, my fear and arousal mixing together into one inexplicable feeling. My entire world had turned upside down in a matter of minutes.

“Yes,” he murmured.

Then I did something without thought.

“Then you should deal with a certain naughty girl, shouldn’t you?” I responded softly, watching with perplexing fascination as a shudder of his own arousal shook his chest.

“Go to your room,” he growled, and he moved backward a step, taking his looming presence away from me. The loss of the heat of him made me shiver once more as I stared up into the dark mystery of his gaze.

In them, I saw a depth that I hadn’t noticed before, a glimpse into a soul that had weathered storms that I could only imagine. Yet, instead of deterring me, this glimpse into his being only pulled me in closer. There was something irresistibly seductive about him and I couldn’t turn away.

It held me captive in his gaze.

“Yes sir,” I whispered, and his back went ramrod straight. I slipped to the side, my eyes never leaving his. Even when I turned, I hesitated, looking over my shoulder and watching him until I finally turned away.

As soon as I reached my bedroom, I let out a breath. What was I doing? What was I getting myself into?

I knew two things.

I wanted Rafael. I also wanted Dante.

I waited for Rafael, but he never came. So, I went looking for him.