Bound to the Mafia King

The air was thick… suffocating.

Every step inside this grand, dimly lit ballroom felt like dragging invisible chains behind me—chains that tightened around my chest, heavier with each breath.

I thought the dance… was the worst thing that could happen tonight.

How naïve I was.

He didn't let go of my hand.

Unlike the others, who courteously stepped away the moment the music faded, he remained still… fingers tightening around my wrist as if a deal was yet to be sealed.

I whispered, my voice barely audible amidst the swelling music and the cruel laughter around us,

"Let me go."

But he smiled.

That same calm, cold smile—crafted solely to tear me apart, piece by piece.

He leaned closer, his words a soft threat that slid down my spine like ice:

"Tonight… no one lets go of anything."

Before I could even grasp the meaning behind his words, he had already pulled me toward him, dragging me mercilessly through the crowd.

I couldn't fight back.

My body… followed his lead, helpless, stripped of will.

Behind the heavy curtains, a narrow passageway awaited, cloaked in shadows and leading us farther and farther from the shimmering music and blinding lights of the ballroom.

Faint light flickered… struggling to stay alive.

Then… he stopped.

With a chilling gentleness, he pinned my back against the icy wall, trapping me between his arms, his body closing in until there was nothing left between us but heat and breath.

His gaze…

That gaze alone robbed me of every ounce of air in my lungs.

Then he whispered—his voice soft, low, yet sharp enough to cut straight through bone:

"Your name."

I froze.

How could I speak?

My knees barely held me up.

His hand, cold as winter's kiss, reached for my face, brushing a lock of hair away with terrifying tenderness.

"Your full name."

My lips trembled… no words came out.

He smiled again—sideways, with no hint of amusement, just coldness.

"Rina Kagawa… daughter of Haru Kagawa. Orphaned at sixteen. A simple employee, with a clean record… but a dangerously curious heart."

My voice finally broke through, trembling, unsteady,

"How… how do you know?"

His eyes never blinked.

"No face crosses my path without me knowing it… especially someone bold enough to sneak into my room."

I staggered back, desperate to escape.

But his hands… gripped my arms—not violently, just firmly enough to freeze me in place.

Then, his breath ghosted along my skin, venom dripping from every syllable:

"You know what your problem is, Rina?"

I swallowed hard.

He leaned closer, his lips inches away from my ear,

"You still don't realize… how far past the point of return you are."

Suddenly—

A foreign sound shattered the suffocating silence.

Muffled murmurs filtered through the very walls around us—faint whispers, followed by the deep, commanding voice of an old man,

"Ladies and gentlemen, the private auction shall now commence. Only authorized guests may enter the Red Room."

I felt the blood drain from my face.

Aren… didn't flinch.

He smiled—slowly, wickedly.

He whispered, his voice laced with lethal finality,

"It seems your time… has just run out, my little curious guest."

Then, with a subtle motion, he pressed against the wall beside him.

A hidden door creaked open, revealing a secret passageway bathed in an eerie crimson glow.

I instinctively stumbled back—but he caught my wrist again, this time his grip like iron, yanking me after him.

"There's no choice left for you now."

I couldn't breathe.

It felt like my heart had plummeted straight to my feet.

The narrow hallway wrapped around me, its walls drenched in deep scarlet, as if I was walking through the veins of a dead beast.

At its end… a room appeared.

A circular chamber, cloaked in darkness, with towering seats arranged like an ancient coliseum—faceless men sat in silence, their identities hidden by masks.

In the center…

A black platform.

And upon it…

A glass cage, illuminated in haunting white light.

✦ ✦ ✦

Zoe:

My hands still trembled…

It was as if the ghost of his cold touch lingered on my skin.

I yanked my hand away from him with force, as if I were tearing off a curse.

I glared at him, my hatred unmistakable, my voice gritting through clenched teeth.

"Don't touch me again."

But… he smiled.

That calm, cold smile that skinned my nerves without even grazing me.

"You seem rather… flustered, Miss Zoe."

His words struck like a slap.

I snapped, unable to contain myself, my eyes blazing with fury.

"Flustered?! Don't you dare twist this, you bastard!"

My voice was sharp, but I knew… oh, I knew he could hear the faint tremor underneath each word.

He didn't budge. He simply leaned in, eyes locking with mine, his voice soft… cold… slithering around me like venom.

"I didn't know… a mere touch could awaken so much fear inside you."

I felt my heart sink.

How—how could he read me so easily?

I couldn't take it. I turned abruptly, tearing my gaze away from him, my voice cracking as it slipped out.

"I… hate men like you."

I let the words fly, then stormed away, my steps swift and desperate, struggling to catch my breath.

I walked down the long corridor, every cell in my body trembling.

I couldn't even focus on my own footsteps.

I was just… running away.

I slipped into the restroom, slamming the door shut behind me, leaning my back against it, gasping as if I'd just escaped a monster.

I lifted my head toward the mirror.

I stared at my reflection…

I didn't recognize myself.

My face was pale, my eyes brimming with terror, like a little girl trapped in a nightmare.

I whispered, feeling my blood boil in my veins.

"What… have I done? What was I thinking?"

I knew myself…

I hated men.

I hated them with every ounce of rage within me.

And that man… Raine.

He wasn't just an ordinary man.

His touch alone was enough to resurrect every filthy memory… every nightmare I had buried for years.

My hands began trembling again as I tried to fix my makeup with shaking fingers.

"I need to leave… I need to get Rina out of this hell."

My voice was low… but steady.

I had made my decision.

I wiped away my tears before they could fall.

I stared into the mirror, my eyes now burning with resolve.

"That's enough. I won't be the weak one tonight."

I turned, opened the door, and walked out.

My steps were steady along the corridor, even though my heart still pounded like a storm inside my chest.

I kept walking, every fiber of my being screaming at me to run away…

But no—I wouldn't run.

I kept my steps firm… or at least, I convinced myself they were.

Then suddenly…

My heart stopped for a beat.

Whispers.

Two deep voices leaking from behind a small wall near the corner.

They were speaking softly, as if they knew no one was meant to hear them.

But I heard.

I stopped instinctively, pressing my back against the wall, listening… against my will.

The first voice—gruff, like an old man in his late sixties—spoke:

"Will they succeed?"

The second man chuckled lightly, younger by a few years, but his voice dripped with lethal malice.

"Of course they will. We're not dealing with amateurs here. They're the two most dangerous men in Rome. Seizing that one they call 'Skull'… it'll be nothing for them."

My stomach twisted painfully.

'The Skull'…?

What were they talking about?

I kept listening, barely daring to breathe.

The first man's voice grew tense, almost scolding:

"But… who came up with this insane idea? An entire party… just for two girls? One's famous and arrogant… and the other? No one even knows her."

The second man chuckled coldly, as if amused by the absurdity.

"That's precisely why it's brilliant. One's known, the other's a ghost. We use the unknown one… as bait."

He continued, his tone dark, as if announcing a wicked bargain.

"We chose the unknown girl. No one will ask questions if she vanishes. And if the plan fails or something happens to her… we'll simply bury it."

My limbs went numb… every part of me crumbled from within.

The unknown girl…?

That's… Rina.

The first man sighed, as if remembering something crucial:

"You're right. That famous girl… she'd be a disaster if something happened to her. Her father's a well-known businessman, and she's got plenty of admirers. We'd be digging our own grave if we touched her. But the unknown one? Her father's drowning in debts. We won't lose anything by using her."

Then they laughed together… a cold, heavy laugh, like knives slicing into my flesh.

I could barely breathe.

My hand clamped over my mouth, my eyes widening with pure horror.

"Rina…"

Her name escaped my lips in a trembling whisper.

My body froze for a second.

Then suddenly… as if I had woken from a deep coma.

I ran.

I ran without thinking, without hesitation.

The heels of my shoes struck the floor violently, my breath ragged, tears burning down my cheeks.

I wasn't thinking anymore.

There was only one thing that mattered…

Rina.

"Rina… Rina…"

I kept repeating her name in frantic hysteria, rushing through the crowd like a madwoman.

I bumped into everyone in my way—I didn't apologize, didn't even look back.

"I have to find her… I have to find her!"

My mind screamed relentlessly.

I dashed in every direction, searching wildly.

Then—I saw that corridor.

The same one where I saw her disappear… with that vile man, Aren.

I ran toward it.

But… before I could reach it—

A strong hand suddenly grabbed me.

I froze in place.

And then… that voice came.

That voice I knew far too well.

The one that sent chills racing down every nerve in my body.

His voice, dripping with mockery:

"Where do you think you're going… my lovely?"

He whispered by my ear, with a taunting, playful lilt, as if this were nothing more than a game.

I tried to yank my hand away, but his grip was iron.

I slowly lifted my gaze to him, my eyes burning, my heart pounding violently.

"Let me go… you bastard."

I hissed through clenched teeth, trying to hide the trembling in my voice.

He smiled.

That terrifying smile—the kind that freezes the blood in your veins.

"What's the rush, Zoe?"

He purred wickedly, leaning closer.

I shoved against his chest with my trembling palm, but he didn't budge an inch.

"Where is Rina?!"

I screamed, my voice breaking beyond my control.

He chuckled softly, as if I'd just told him the funniest joke in the world.

"Oh… Rina?"

He murmured coldly, leaning in until I could feel his breath against my skin.

"I didn't imagine… you'd be this worried about her."

I cut him off sharply, my tears burning hot trails down my cheeks.

"Tell me where she is, or—"

I didn't realize how badly I was shaking as I threatened him—but I still forced the words out, trembling:

"Or else… I swear I'll—"

He suddenly raised his hand, lifting my chin slowly with his finger, wearing a crueler smile than ever.

"Or else what, Zoe?"

He whispered, his eyes gleaming with a dark, dangerous glint.

I couldn't answer.

I couldn't lie—I had no weapon against him.

All I had… was my fear.

Yet still, I lifted my chin in defiance, my voice barely above a breath:

"I'll expose you… I'll make sure everyone here knows exactly what you're doing."

His eyes narrowed for just a heartbeat… before his relaxed smile returned.

"So confident… even when your legs can barely keep you standing."

He whispered with a voice that burrowed into my mind.

Then suddenly—he yanked me into him with brutal force.

I was completely trapped between his arms, my body trembling, my heart thundering inside my chest.

"Listen closely, Zoe."

He whispered against my ear, like a spell being woven around me:

"You have nothing here. No power. No allies. No escape."

I tried to fight back—but his voice was like a drug, drowning me.

"You're nothing more than a little toy at this grand party. And your biggest problem… is that you don't even know the rules."

My blood ran cold.

I had crossed a line.

I knew it… but my tongue had been faster than my brain.

And the moment I saw the shift in his gaze—I realized instantly…

I had stepped on the forbidden ground.

In a blink—before I could even react—I found myself trapped in his grip.

He seized me with brutal force, his hands locking around my arms like steel cuffs.

I screamed, struggling wildly, panic burning through me.

"What… what are you doing?!"

I shouted, thrashing in terror.

His face showed no expression—utter calm—but those dark eyes… glimmered with deadly fire.

"I gave you a chance, Zoe."

He whispered coldly, his voice devoid of any warmth.

He shoved me forward, forcing me to walk, pressing harder whenever I resisted, merciless.

"Let go of me! You're insane!"

I screamed, trying to plant my feet.

But it was useless.

I glanced around in despair—no one noticed.

Everyone else was inside the grand ballroom, the music drowning out everything.

He pulled a small keycard from his suit, and with a single swipe, opened a hidden side door—like a dark cellar tucked away from prying eyes.

Then, without warning, he shoved me inside, the force nearly sending me to the floor.

Before I could even scream—he slammed the door shut.

A scream caught in my throat.

I bolted to the door, pounding on it furiously with my fists.

"Open it! Open this damn door! Raine!!"

But all I heard was his voice—soft, slithering from the other side, dripping with icy calm.

"Stay here… before things get worse for you."

And then—silence.

His footsteps faded away.

And with them… every shred of hope I had left.

I spun around, desperate for any exit.

The darkness was suffocating—I could barely see.

A narrow room. No windows. No exits.

Only dead walls… and a single locked door.

I collapsed to the floor, trembling, my tears threatening to fall.

I muttered, my voice breaking apart:

"I've doomed myself… and Rina… oh God, Rina's out there alone…"

I buried my face in my hands, whispering in frantic despair:

"I need to get out… I need to get out… I need to—"

But my voice shattered.

I was trapped.

Alone.

Helpless.

And Rina… was still out there.

——————

What are your predictions for the next chapter? What do you think will happen to Zoe and Rina 👀?