Alexander’s POV

My instincts never fail me.

I’ve been watching Emily for days, waiting for her to crack. She’s stubborn, but that only makes this game more thrilling. She won't submit easily—not yet. But she will.

She thinks she outsmarted me. I knew she would try to escape. That’s why I left the back gate unguarded—to see how far my little kitten could get before she realized she was just a mouse in my maze.

She surprised me, I’ll give her that. She fought harder than most. But in the end, she ended up right where she belongs—back in my arms.

Now? Now, it’s time for her punishment.

I’ve prepared a place just for her. A room in my basement, stripped of everything but four white walls. No windows. No warmth. Just her, her thoughts, and the sound of her own breathing.

She will learn. She will break. And I will remake her.

I stepped into the hall, where one of my men, Daniel, hesitated before speaking.

"Boss, the basement is ready… but isn’t this a bit much? I mean, she’s just a girl—”

I turned to him slowly. “Just a girl?” My voice was calm, but he paled instantly.

“I— I didn’t mean any offense, boss.” His hands shook. Weak. Pathetic.

I ignored him and entered the basement. The medicine box was waiting. I placed Emily on the cold bench, staring down at her fragile form. Her ankle was swollen, her palms scraped, her face streaked with dried tears. She was a mess.

A beautiful, defiant mess.

I cleaned her wounds carefully. She didn’t stir. Good. She would need the rest—because once she woke up, the real lesson would begin.

After tending to her, I carried her to her new room. The door sealed behind me with a soft click, locking her inside. Soundproof. Escape-proof. Mine.

Leaving her there, I returned to my office. I had business to handle. The annual Mafia Ball was in two months, and I had Italian scum to deal with.

Hours passed. When I checked the surveillance feed, she was waking up. Perfect.

I let her sit in silence for a while, let her mind play tricks on her. Let her feel the isolation creep in. Then, after an hour, I brought her food.

When I stepped inside, her wide eyes locked onto mine. Fear. Confusion. And something else… something darker.

"Hope you like your new room, kotenok," I said, dragging a chair into the middle of the empty space. I sat down, stretching out my legs. "You see, when pets misbehave, they get locked in cages. This is yours… until you learn to behave."

She tensed, but quickly masked her fear. Ah. My little kitten is learning.

I smirked. "Now, you’ll come here and eat from my hands like a good little girl. Or… I’ll force-feed you. Crawl."

Her lips parted in shock. But after a few seconds, she obeyed. Smart girl.

When she reached me, she sat on her knees. My jaw clenched. Fuck. The sight of her like this—submissive, fragile, waiting—it did something to me.

I patted her head. "Good girl."

One by one, I fed her pieces of fruit. Strawberries, mostly. Her favorite. I knew that already—I had watched her long enough to know everything.

When she hesitated, I raised a brow. "You're making a mess, kotenok. Clean it up."

I held out my fingers, sticky with fruit juice. She hesitated again, but then… she leaned forward and parted her lips.

I pushed two fingers into her mouth.

"Suck."

Her tongue swirled over my skin as she obeyed. A sharp hunger coiled in my stomach.

When she finished, I pulled my hand away. "Good girl. Now, tell me what you want as a reward."

She blinked up at me, surprised. "Anything… except freedom?"

I smirked. "Except that."

Her face fell for a second, then she whispered, "Painting supplies."

Huh. I expected something else. But I liked this answer.

"Done. I’ll have someone bring them to you."

I stood, ruffling her hair. "Behave, and you’ll get out sooner. Disobey… and you’ll stay here longer."

With that, I left.

Hours later, after a meeting, I checked the feed again. She was sitting on the floor, sketching something with the supplies I had given her. Interesting.

A bark echoed from the hall. Her dog.

I sighed, picking up the tiny beast. It whined, staring at me with innocent eyes. "What do you have that she loves so much?" I muttered.

Storm licked my hand. Stupid animal. But Emily loved him. I’d keep him close—a perfect tool to keep her in line.

After feeding the dog, I returned to my office. Unlike the fools I deal with, I don’t just rule the underworld—I own a legitimate empire too. A company, clean and polished, to mask the blood that stains my hands.

The government? They’re like my pets. Feed them well, and they stay loyal.

The world sees me as a businessman. The underground sees me as a king. But the truth?

I am a monster.

And Emily? She is mine.

Author’s Note:

So, what do you think? Alex is getting darker, and Emily is starting to break. Do you think she’ll escape next time? Or is she already too far gone?

Let me know in the comments! I love reading your thoughts, and your support means everything.

And to anyone leaving hate—I curse your WiFi to never load again. Just kidding… or am I?

Stay dark, my loves.