The car rolled past the ck wrought iren gatesmedi


    golden insignia an intricate “G” entwined with the


    A towering post stood beside it with bold silver letters etched across a dark que GARCíA ESTATE, TOESPASSERS WILL NOT BE WARNED TWICE


    Nivera’s heat plunged and she gulped hard, her fingers tightening around the seatbelt


    Why was he bringing me here? The thought rang like an rm. Her pulse spiked


    Was this where he killed people who crossed him? Maybe he’s going to lock her in the basement Ocease her Or worse, make i


    rumors said they did with traitors and threats…


    Nievera began to hyperventte, her breaths sharp and shallow. She tried to mullie the sods, mping her mouth shut and biting her bottom lip. He palmas turned nymy as her gare darted out the window.


    The car finally slowed to a stop on the long stone paved driveway. Nivera nced outside–and gasped softly.


    The mansion was massive. <b>Colossal </b>A Spanish–styled architectural masterpiece that looked like it belonged on a private ind. ivy coiled up the walls like royal embroidery, windows gleamed like polished obsidian, and the front doors wererge enough to swallow ten <b>people </b>at once. The estate was quiet, and somehow beautiful,


    Even as fear wed at her insides, Nivera couldn’t help the awe that flickered in her chest. She came from wealth–her family home w was a sprawling mansion too—but this? This was another league. This was the kind of wealth that dictated nations.


    She turned toward Alejandro to ask why–why the hell <b>are </b>he has brought her there but the driver’s door clicked open before she could speak, and he was already stepping out.


    Then her door opened too


    Alejandro stared down at her, one brow lifted. “Out.”


    There was no room for negotiation. Not in his tone, not in his eyes,


    Nivera hesitated only a moment before slowly unclipping her belt and climbing out, wrapping her arms around herself <b>like </b><b>a </b>shield.


    She followed him silently up the steps. No words needed to be exchanged–she knew better than to question him now.


    Wether


    massive double doors creaked open as they approached, revealing <b>a </b><b>tall</b>, elegant woman in a crisp ck uniform. A housekeeper?


    Get a first aid kit,” Alejandro ordered without sparing her a nce.


    Nivera blinked. First aid kit? Her eyes trailed to his back and bloody shirt. He’s the one injured, right? <b>Was </b>it <b>from </b>those men back there?


    She barely had time to wonder more before they <b>stepped </b>into the mansion’s cool, airy foyer. Everything looked like <b>it </b>came from a billionaire’s ever dream–high celings, velvet curtains, chandeliers made of actual crystal. It was too perfect. Too silent


    It didn’t feel like a home.


    It felt like <b>a </b><b>pce </b>of secrets


    “Sit Alejandro <b>said</b>, nodding toward the leather couch in the living room to the left.


    Still stunned, Niveraplied, sinking into the buttery leather.


    Her fingers trembled slightly as she watched him walk toward the marble firece, removing his jacket with a wince. There was a cut on his side, stained slightly through his white shirt.


    A momentter, the housekeeper returned with a sleek ck box – more of i without a word and turned back to her.


    <b>She </b>blinked “You’re going to treat yourself?” she asked hesitantly


    “No,” he said, dropping the kit beside her on the couch, “you are”


    Nivera’s mouth fell open slightly. “Seriously?”


    cease than a médical kit – and handed it in Aheardre. He bank


    He didn’t answer, just raised a brow and gestured at the box. She narrowed her eyes but opened it, muffering under her breath, “What kind of psych makes the injured person give instructions?”


    She took out the antiseptic <b>wipes </b>and bandages, but as she reached for the small bottle of healing cream for her own i wak. Alejandro moved lightning


    He snatched it from her hand. “Hey!” she said, startled.


    He didn’t speak, Instead, he turned to her filly, dipped his fingers into the cream, and leaned forward


    Nivera froze


    His thumb gently touched the corner of her bruised cheek, and she hissed slightly at the sting


    “You flinch too easily,” he murmured, voice too low, too intimate


    “Gee, I wonder why,” she bit out, But her <b>voice </b>wasn’t as steady <b>as </b><b>she </b>wanted it to be…


    with sut


    She expected him to snap back, but he didn’t. His eyes focused on her face as he dabbed the cream gently, smoothing it <b>over </b>the purpling skin with softness that it made her chest ache.


    Why is he being gentle now?


    She was confused. Angry. Grateful Terrified. Everything <b>at </b>once.


    And for a brief moment, there was a silence between them that wasn’t heavy. <b>It </b>wasn’t hostile. Just quict. Intense.


    Then, as fast as it came, it vanished.


    Alejandro pulled back, wiping his fingers on a nearby cloth, “Don’t get used to it,” he muttered


    And there it is. Nivera almost rolled her eyes. The real Alejandro. The one with the sharp <b>tongue </b>and sharper smirks. The one who could melt you or murder you, and you’d never know which one wasing.


    Right then<b>, </b><b>a </b><b>younger </b>woman in uniform entered the room carrying a medium–sized duffel bag. She ced it gently on the ss table before them.


    “Mr Martins just sent these.”


    Alejandro reached over and grabbed it, tossing it into Nivera’sp with zero ceremony.


    She started, opening it up with anxious fingers. Her clothes. Her phone. Even her makeup <b>pouch</b>.


    But no passport. No cash


    Her <b>eyes </b>shot up, wide and using. “Where’s my passport? My money?”


    Alejandro leaned back into the couch, legs spread in that confident way men like him always sat


    “You’re not petting them back,” he said coolly


    Nivera’s mouth dropped. “Excuse me?


    “I don’t like repeating mysell.


    “You-“She stood, trembling “You can’t just hold my stuff hostage! That’s the–no, that’s illegal”


    esmirked, unbothered. “Sweetheart, you’re in my house. With my name, with my gun flothing that happens here is illegal –


    She stared at him, breathless. “Why? Why are you doing this?”


    He tilted his head, eyes dark and glinting. “Becausel.can.


    Slence dropped like a hammer.


    You want your freedom?” he contused, voice low. “You’ll have to earn it.”


    “Earn it” she spat. “You’re sick.”


    i’ve been called worse,” he said easily, rising to his feet, “Now be a good girl and sit down before rethink returning your clothes too


    She nearly threw the bag at his head.


    But something in his eyes–dangerous, unpredictable<b>–</b>made her slowly sit back down, jaw clenched.


    Alejandro smiled then, almost fondly “See? You’re learning.”


    Nivera hated that her hands shook. She hated that part of her didn’t want to <b>look </b>away from him, even when he was being cruel.


    She had stepped into the devil’s car…and now she was inside his fair.


    And something told her, he wasn’t letting her leave anytime soon


    <b>AD </b>