The hum of the car engine was the only sound in the spacious vehicle, but it felt like a storm was brewing in the air. The weight of the silence pressed against Bella's chest, making it hard to breathe, hard to think. Her fingers gripped the edge of the seat, and she kept her gaze fixed on the night passing by outside the window, trying to ignore the man sitting just across from her.
Vladimir hadn't spoken a word since they had left the mansion, but his presence was a constant, overwhelming force. His eyes, those cruel red eyes, flickered toward her once, and in that moment, Bella felt the coldness of his gaze penetrate her very being.
"You're wondering what happens next," Vladimir finally spoke, his voice low, a dangerous whisper that seemed to vibrate through the car. "I don't care if you're scared. You'll learn soon enough."
He leaned back in his seat, his eyes locking with hers, and Bella instinctively recoiled, as if she could feel the coldness radiating off him.
"I don't need you to be afraid of me," he said, his voice a dark promise. "I need you to obey me. To understand what it means to be mine."
His words were like a brand, searing through her consciousness, and Bella could feel the intensity of the heat rising in her body despite the fear gnawing at her insides. This was no simple arrangement. This was no ordinary marriage. Vladimir wasn't looking for a wife in the traditional sense.
He was looking for something darker. A possession. A prize.
Her stomach twisted in revulsion, but before she could collect her thoughts, the car came to a sudden stop, jerking her forward in her seat. The heavy silence that had surrounded them broke as the driver's voice came through the intercom.
"We've arrived, sir."
Vladimir didn't acknowledge the driver. Instead, his gaze never left Bella. He studied her, taking in every flicker of emotion, every movement of her body as though he could read her like an open book.
The door to the car opened with a smooth, calculated motion. Vladimir stepped out first, his imposing figure looming over the vehicle. He extended a hand toward her, but this time there was no warmth, no gentleness—only a cold command.
Bella hesitated, her heart pounding, but the weight of the situation bore down on her like a physical force. She placed her trembling hand in his, and he pulled her out of the car with a firmness that left no room for protest. Her breath hitched as he led her up the steps to a massive, black iron gate. The gates creaked open as they passed, revealing the sprawling estate that lay behind them.
The mansion loomed like a fortress, its cold, sleek architecture offering no warmth, no comfort. Inside, the world of the Castillo family was one of power, violence, and control.
As they stepped inside, Bella was immediately struck by the stark contrast to her father's mansion. The walls were adorned with weapons, old and new—guns, knives, and other instruments of power. This was no place for the faint-hearted. Every inch of the space reeked of danger, as though violence had bled into the very foundation of the building.
"This is where you'll stay," Vladimir said, his voice indifferent, as he led her into a large, luxurious room. It was beautiful, but the beauty felt suffocating. The bed was massive, dark silks draped over it like shadows waiting to consume her. The air smelled faintly of leather and the faintest trace of gunpowder.
Vladimir stepped closer, his presence closing in like a vice. "This room," he murmured, his voice suddenly low, "will be your prison. You'll learn to stay in your place. And when I come for you…" His gaze flickered over her body, lingering for a moment too long. "…You will know what it means to belong to me."
Bella felt her stomach turn at his words, but she refused to show him how much they affected her. She would not let him see her weakness.
"I won't be your toy," she spat, her voice trembling despite her best efforts to remain strong.
Vladimir's lips curled into a wicked smile, but it was empty of any mirth. His gaze darkened, and he took a step forward, pushing her back toward the bed with a single, powerful movement.
"You don't have a choice," he said, his voice cold and final. His hand shot out, grabbing her wrist with bruising force, and in an instant, he had her pinned against the bed, his body hovering above hers.
The chill in his eyes sent a jolt of fear through her veins, but there was something else, too. Something dangerous, something raw.
His lips were inches from hers, and for a moment, Bella was paralyzed by the intensity of his presence. His breath was cool against her skin, and she could feel the tension radiating off him, like a predator about to strike.
"You will learn to obey me," he whispered again, this time his voice thick with something darker, something more primal.
Bella's heart raced, her pulse thundering in her ears as his grip tightened around her wrist. He leaned in, his lips brushing against her ear.
"And when you do, Little Dove," he said, his voice a low growl, "you'll understand that no one else can have you."
Bella's heart raced as Vladimir's breath fanned against her ear, his presence overwhelming and suffocating. The weight of his body above her felt like a constant pressure, his every movement deliberate, as though he were savoring the power he held over her. His grip on her wrist was unyielding, and she knew in that moment that there would be no escape.
Her mind screamed for resistance, but her body betrayed her. His touch, though cruel, was magnetic. The scent of him—cold, like iron and smoke—was intoxicating, and it clouded her thoughts, leaving her dizzy with confusion.
"Don't look at me like that," Vladimir murmured, his voice dark and amused as he finally pulled back just enough to meet her eyes. "You think you can resist me. You think you can fight me."
Bella's chest rose and fell rapidly as she tried to push the fear down, to find her voice. "I won't be your prisoner."