The car ride was silent except for the hum of the engine. Aria sat wedged between Luca and the door, her palms damp against her knees.
Damien hadn't spoken since they left the alley. He sat across from her, legs stretched out, one hand resting casually on his knee, as if kidnapping a girl was nothing more than business.
His gaze never left her. Not once.
By the time the car slowed to a stop, her chest ached from holding her breath. Luca shoved the door open and jerked his chin. "Out, rabbit."
She stumbled into the night. A warehouse loomed in front of her, its windows blacked out, the air heavy with smoke and oil. Men lingered at the entrance, broad-shouldered, armed, their tattoos twisling under the harsh lights. Their eyes swept over her, some amused, some hungry, all dangerous.
Her pulse hammered. She wanted to turn and run, but Damien brushed past her, his presence dragging her forward like gravity. The men straightened at once, parting for him without a word.
Inside, the warehouse smelled of iron and gunpowder. Wooden crates lined the walls. A poker table sat in the center, cards scattered, chips piled high. And slumped over that table, pale and trembling, was Ethan.
Her stomach dropped.
"Ethan!" She ran forward, ignoring the sharp gasp of the men around her. Her brother lifted his head, blood staining his lip.
"Aria?" His voice cracked, thin and weak.
She grabbed his shoulders, shaking him lightly.
"What did you do?….Why are you here?"
Before he could answer, Damien's shadow fell over them both.
"Move," he said quietly.
Aria froze. Ethan's eyes darted between her and Damien, terror flickering across his face.
"Mr. Moretti," Ethan stammered. "I….I, I can get the money, I swear. Just give me…."
Damien's hand shot out, gripping Ethan's jaw so hard his words cut off. "You've been saying that for weeks." His voice was calm, almost bored. "And yet, here you sit. Empty pockets. Empty promises."
Ethan whimpered, his gaze flicking to Aria. "Please. Just one more chance."
"Pathetic," Luca muttered behind them. "You had chances. You gambled them away."
Damien released Ethan with a shove. He staggered back, knocking chips to the floor.
Aria's heart raced. She threw herself between them, arms spread wide. "Stop it! He made a mistake, but you don't have to…"
Damien's eyes snapped to hers, sharp as glass. "Do not speak when I'm deciding his fate."
Her lips parted, words dying on her tongue. The weight of his gaze pinned her harder than his hand had in the alley.
Damien leaned back against the edge of the table, folding his arms. "Do you know how much your brother owes me?"
She shook her head, throat tight.
"Two hundred thousand dollars," he said smoothly. "Money I gave him, expecting it back with interest. Instead, he sat at my tables, drunk, betting money that wasn't his. Betting against me."
Her knees weakened. Two hundred thousand. There was no way Ethan could ever pay it.
"He'll pay you back," she whispered, though even she didn't believe it.
Damien's lips curved into something between a smile and a snarl. "No. He won't. Because I've decided another payment will do."
The room stilled. Men glanced at one another, smirks tugging their mouths. Luca's chuckle broke the silence, low and cruel.
Aria's stomach twisted. "What are you talking about?"
Damien pushed off the table, closing the space between them in two steps. His hand lifted her chin again, just as it had in the alley.
"You," he said simply.
The word hit like ice water.
Her breath caught. "No…"
"Yes." His tone was final, his eyes burning into hers. "From this moment, your brother's debt is yours.
You'll stay where I can see you. You'll obey when I speak. You'll learn my world."
Aria jerked back, but his grip held. "I'm not…. I'm not some possession you can just take!"
Damien's expression didn't change, but his voice dropped lower, colder. "Everything is possession. Money. Power. Blood. You will learn that."
"Boss," Luca interrupted with a smirk, "maybe the rabbit needs a demonstration. Show her what happens when debts go unpaid."
Damien's gaze lingered on her a moment longer before he finally released her chin. He turned back to Ethan, who shrank against the table.
"Shall I?" Damien asked softly, though the menace in his tone made Aria's blood run cold.
"Please," Ethan begged. "Not in front of her…"
Aria grabbed Damien's arm before she could think, nails digging into his sleeve. "Don't touch him! If you want someone to punish, take me instead."
The warehouse went silent. Even Luca raised a brow.
A slow, dangerous smile curved Damien's lips.
"Careful, Aria. Offers like that… I take seriously."
Her chest heaved. She forced herself not to back down. "Then take me. Leave Ethan alone."
Damien studied her in silence, his gaze unreadable. The seconds stretched like knives. Then he leaned close, his breath warm against her ear.
"Very well," he whispered. "You've just sealed your own fate."
Her heart slammed.
Damien straightened, turning to his men. "Take Ethan out. Keep him breathing. For now."
Two soldiers grabbed her brother and dragged him from the room, his protests echoing.
Aria tried to follow, but Damien caught her wrist, pulling her back against him.
"You wanted his punishment. Now you'll carry it." His voice was velvet wrapped around steel.
"And by the time I'm finished with you… you'll wish I'd chosen him instead."