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"Because there has to be another way," I insist, trying to distance myself from him on the couch. "Something we can do to end this madness."
"Alright, then. What do you propose we negotiate?" Alejandro asks, his fingers trailing along my arm as if he's claiming ownership. I try to shift away from his touch, but his persistence is unnerving.
"An end to the violence," I say with determination. "There has to be a way to make this city safe without all the bloodshed."
"Ah, but the violence is so much fun," he drawls, a wicked grin on his face. "Why not let it play out a little longer?"
"Fun? How can you say that when innocent children and citizens are dying? When you're lacing drugs so that people die?" I ask in disbelief, feeling sickened by his cavalier attitude.
"Relax, Lulu. I'm only teasing." His grin doesn't falter. "The truth is, I need to secure my power. Your father was a force to be reckoned with, and in this world, showing mercy is a sign of weakness. I can't afford that."
"Then there must be another way," I insist, trying to ignore the increasingly bold strokes of his hand on my arm. "Something that doesn't involve more senseless death."
"Perhaps there is," he murmurs, leaning closer. My heart races as I feel trapped under his gaze. "You've always been highly sought after, haven't you? Abelardo's precious little virgin daughter."
I tense at his words, anxiety clawing at my throat. "What do you mean?"
"Give yourself to me," he proposes, his eyes dark with lust. "Your virginity for an end to the violence. It's a fair trade, isn't it?"
Panic swells within me, knowing that I'm no longer the untouched prize he imagines. I struggle to hide my fear, choosing my words carefully. "That's not a real offer, because I have no way to guarantee your word. You could take me here and still continue the bloodshed."
"Ah, you're a smart one," he says, his grin growing wider. "I suppose that's true. But it does make for an interesting negotiation, doesn't it?"
His laughter sends a chill down my spine, his eyes gleaming with dark amusement. "You're smart enough that I might consider something a little more."
"Like what?" I ask, trying to ignore the wave of dread washing over me.
"Agree to marry me and belong to me," he proposes, brushing a strand of hair from my face. His touch makes my skin crawl. "Your father's men would be loyal to you, and our union would bring the two families together. No more bloodshed."
I consider his words, weighing them against the lives at stake. He continues touching me, fingers trailing along my neck and shoulder; every instinct screams for me to pull away, but I force myself to stay still. As he leans in to kiss my neck, I feel the ghost of Giovanni's loving touch, and the contrast is unbearable.
"Fine," I say, my voice barely above a whisper. "I'll marry you. But I won't consummate this marriage until you treat me as an equal."
He stands abruptly, his hand gripping my throat, his breath hot on my skin. His expression is violent, his eyes burning with rage. "If you become my wife, you will learn your place. You will be my property, and I will treat you however I wish. Remember that."
Just as suddenly, he releases me, and his mood shifts back to playful. I'm left reeling, my heart pounding in my chest. "Now, go back to your 'safehouse,'" he says with a laugh, revealing that he knows where my mother and sister have been hiding all along. He assures me not to worry, that we've worked things out. The wedding will be in three days, and someone will come for me tomorrow to take me to my new temporary home until the ceremony.
He leads me to the elevator and kisses my hand, his eyes filled with lust. "I can't wait to experience your body," he murmurs before squeezing my ass so hard that I gasp. The doors open, and a guard is waiting inside. As I'm escorted downstairs, the weight of everything that's just happened overwhelms me, and darkness closes in.
Before reaching the lobby, I faint.
* * *
I blink my eyes open, the world around me a hazy blur. My mother and Carlos are hovering over me, their faces etched with concern as they help me sit up on the cold steps of the safehouse. The chill from the stone seeps through my clothes, grounding me in the moment.
"Are you okay?" Carlos asks, his voice tense.
"Let's get her inside," my mother insists, her voice trembling as she wraps an arm around me. Together, they help me to my feet, guiding me into the living room. I can feel my legs wobble beneath me, the strength slowly returning as I take each step.
My vision begins to clear, but as it does, the memories of my encounter with Alejandro come flooding back, hitting me like a tidal wave. A wave of nausea washes over me as the weight of what I've agreed to settles in my chest.
"Was your meeting successful?" Carlos's question breaks through the fog in my mind.
I swallow hard, my voice barely above a whisper. "I'm engaged to marry Alejandro."
The room goes still. My mother's face crumbles, her eyes filling with tears as she cries out, "No! This can't be!"
Carlos stands quietly, obviously deep thought. "What happened?" he asks, his gaze never leaving mine.
