"Elena, we need to discuss the marriage arrangement," Ryan said, his voice firm but laced with a hint of darkness.

"Arrangement?" Elena spat, her eyes flashing with defiance. "You mean coercion. You're forcing me into this".

His gaze narrowed, his eyes gleaming with an otherworldly intensity. "Call it what you want, Elena. But know this: it's the only way to keep you alive."

"But at what cost?" she protested, her voice trembling. "You're taking away my freedom, my choice. I won't be bound to you against my will."

His smile twisted, revealing a hint of sharp teeth. "You already are bound to me, Elena. By circumstance, by necessity. And soon, by law."

Elena shuddered at the sinister undertones in his voice. "You're not the man who saved me. What's happened to you?"  Something seems to be fishy , this is not the men she known in a few hours . Her instinct told her to be away from his as much as she can.

Ryan's eyes seemed to darken, like coal igniting into embers. "I am what I've always been, Elena. A protector, a warrior. And now, your husband." Her heart recoiled at the word. "No, I won't accept this. I won't marry you." Ryan's laughter sent chills down her spine. "You will, Elena. And soon. The ceremony will be tomorrow. Elena's eyes widened in horror. "Tomorrow? That's impossible!"

His gaze pinned her, unyielding. "It's necessary. Russo's men are closing in. We must act quickly." She felt her world spinning out of control, Ryan's demonic presence suffocating her. 

Elena's determination hardened. "I won't do it, Ryan. I won't marry you." She took a step back, eyes locked on the door. His expression didn't change, but his voice dropped to a low warning. "Elena, don't be foolish."

With a burst of adrenaline, Elena darted toward the door, but Ryan was faster. He grasped her wrist, spinning her back around.

"Let me go!" Elena struggled, twisting her arm.

Ryan's grip tightened. "You're not going anywhere."

Elena's free hand swung, aiming for his face. Ryan caught it effortlessly, holding her in place.

"You're not thinking clearly," Ryan said, his voice low and even.

Elena's eyes blazed. "I'm thinking perfectly clearly. I won't be trapped." With a surge of strength, she wrenched herself free and made another dash for the door. Ryan swiftly blocked her path.

"You're putting yourself in danger," Ryan warned, his eyes flashing with frustration having enough of the conversation which was not reaching anywhere.

Elena stood tall, chest heaving and jaw ticked . "I'd rather die than marry you."

Ryan's expression darkened, his jaw clenched. "Fine. Have it your way."

He pulled out his phone, dialing a number. "Alan, secure the perimeter. She's trying to escape."

Elena's heart sank as the door locked with an ominous click. Her eyes darted around the room, searching for an escape route. Ryan's gaze never left hers, his stance unyielding. Seizing the moment, she sprinted toward the window. Ryan lunged, catching her mid-stride. With a swift motion, he pinned her to the wall, his hands gripping her shoulders. Elena's chest heaved with exertion, her eyes blazing defiance. Ryan's gaze burned with intensity, his jaw clenched. "You're making this harder than it needs to be," he warned, his deep voice low and husky.

The city skyline outside seemed to fade into the background as their standoff intensified.

"Let me go!" Elena struggled, kicking his shin. Ryan's grip tightened not letting her move . "You're not going anywhere."

In a flash, she spotted a vase on the nearby shelf. With a swift swing, she grabbed it and slammed it into his head.

Ryan's eyes widened, stunned, as he stumbled backward, He didn't see that coming not even in his wild dreams he would face something like this. seizing this opportunity she quickly dashed towards the door. But Ryan recovered quickly, his face darkening with anger.

"You shouldn't have done that," he growled, advancing toward her. Elena's heart raced as she frantically turned the door handle.

Locked.

Ryan's hands closed in around her, spinning her back around. The room tilted as Ryan's lips brushed her ear. "You're making this harder than it needs to be." Elena shuddered, adrenaline fueling her resistance. With a fierce cry, she shoved him away, creating space between them. For a moment, they stood panting, eyes locked in a fierce standoff.

Then Ryan's phone buzzed, breaking the tension between them. 

"Alan," Ryan answered, his voice cold.

Her gaze never left his face.

"What?" Ryan listened intently.

Alan's voice echoed through the line. "Russo's men are closing in."

Ryan's gaze never left Elena's as he spoke into the phone. "Make the move, Alan. It's time. Use all resources."

Elena's eyes narrowed, sensing a shift in his demeanor. Alan's voice echoed through the line. "Understood"

Ryan's eyes seemed to burn with intensity as he ended the call. Elena took a step back, her instincts screaming warning. Ryan's gaze pinned her, his expression unyielding.

"I've changed my mind, Elena," Ryan said, his voice low and husky.

Elena's heart skipped a beat.

"You're not just a pawn to be protected," Ryan continued, his eyes burning with possessiveness. Her  eyes flashed defiance. Each passing minute things were getting more serious and intense . Even in the air conditioned room things were getting heated up.

"You're mine now." he said with such intense making her sweat , face paled .

Ryan's determination had shifted from saving her to possessing her.

"No!" Elena spat, backing away. Ryan's smile twisted listening to protest which is of no use 

"You can't escape me princess" He said , intimidating her with his husky voice which sent chills down her spine.

With a burst of adrenaline, Elena turned and sprinted toward the door. Ryan was hot on his heels. The door slammed shut behind Elena, but Ryan swiftly opened it. Elena dashed down the corridor. Ryan's footsteps echoed behind her. 

Elena stumbled into the living room, her legs trembling. She collapsed onto the plush sofa of his luxurious mansion , panting. Ryan strode in, his eyes blazing with intensity. Blood dripped from the gash on his forehead, staining his crisp white shirt. His gaze never left her as he approached. He leaned in, his dark tone sending shivers down her spine.

"You're making this harder than it needs to be," Ryan whispered making her terrified 

Ryan's fingers touched the gash on his forehead. He gazed at the blood-stained fingers, a sly smile spreading.

"I love playing with fire," Ryan murmured. Elena's heart skipped a beat, all she wanted was to go home as soon as possible . This is not her world , things happening to her are not at all what she wanted. His intense and dangerous greyish eyes where like challenge to her.

"And more than that, I'd love to burn you," Ryan continued. His eyes locked onto Elena's, burning with desire. Her breath hitched. His face hovered inches from hers.

"You're a flame that refuses to be extinguished," he whispered making her pulse raced. "I'll consume you, Elena," he promised, boring his grey orbs to her hazel brown like eyes

His lips brushed against Elena's ear. "You'll be mine, body and soul." her eyes widened, fear clouding Ryan's hot breath sent shivers down her spine.

Ryan swooped in, harshly lifting Elena into a bridal carry. She protested, kicking and punching with all her might. "Put me down!" she shouted but he  ignored her struggles, striding toward the guest room, he kicked the door open, dropping Elena onto the bed. She bounced, rage and fear mixing on her face. Ryan leaned over her, his eyes blazing.

"Don't get yourself into trouble, sweetheart," he whispered.

Elena's eyes blazed with anger.

"You're something I'm possessing now," Ryan continued.

Tears of fury streamed down Elena's cheeks thinking how in just few hours her life become a roller-coaster. 

"You disgust me," she spat. Ryan's smile twisted. "That's what makes this so thrilling," he said. Her hands trembled, fists clenched. His gaze roamed her face, drinking in her anger. "I'll enjoy taming you," he whispered. Her lips curled. "Never," she hissed. Ryan chuckled, low and husky. "We'll see about that." With a fluid motion, Ryan turned to leave . Elena's eyes blazed with fury. She launched herself at Ryan, fists flying. Ryan quickly sidestepped, his eyes flashing anger. He caught Elena's wrists, spinning her around but she kicked backward, connecting with his shin. His grip tightened.

"You're making this harder than it needs to be," he growled.

She struggled, twisting and turning but held her firm, his strength overwhelming. She bit his hand, and Ryan's eyes narrowed. With a sudden movement, He pinned her to the wall. Her breath came in ragged gasps. Ryan's face hovered inches from hers.

"Stop fighting me," he snarled.

Elena's eyes flashed defiance. She kicked again, but he dodged. He slammed her against the wall, his body pressing hers. Elena's energy waned, her struggles weakening. He sensed his  victory, tightening his grip on her. Elena's punches slowed, her kicks faltering and finally, she collapsed, exhausted. Afterall it was lot for to take in a single day. Ryan caught her and laid her on the bed. Ryan's gaze burned with intensity.

"You can't escape me," he whispered.

Elena's eyes fluttered closed, heaviness clouding her mind and body.

Ryan adjusted her position, his touch surprisingly gentle.

"Get some rest," he said.

Elena didn't respond.

Ryan watched her, his expression softening.

With a quiet nod, he adjusted the comforter for her and moved the hairs from her face  which were messed up badly. Tugging her hair strands he made his way out. 

Cleaning the wound on his forehead, Ryan made his way out of the mansion, the cool night air enveloping him. The sound of his footsteps echoed through the deserted hallway as he pulled out his phone and dialed Thomas's number.

"Thomas," Ryan's deep voice resonated through the line, "take care of Elena. Ensure she doesn't leave."

Thomas's reassuring voice echoed back, "Understood, sir."

Ryan ended the call, his piercing gaze sweeping the mansion's facade. With a final glance, he turned and walked away, disappearing into the darkness. The spare house loomed before him, its nondescript exterior belied by the tense atmosphere within. Alan awaited, his expression grim, eyes sunken from lack of sleep.

Russo and his men cowered, battered and bruised, their terrified eyes darting between Ryan's men. The air reeked of sweat and fear. Ryan's men moved with swift efficiency, securing the area. Some dragged Russo's men, tossing them into darkness, while others combed the premises for hidden evidence.

The metallic odor of blood permeated the room, yet no one seemed to care except the person whose blood was being shed.

Ryan's eyes locked onto Russo, his gaze piercing the dim light. Russo's eyes pleaded for mercy, but Ryan's face twisted in disgust.

"You took advantage of my patience," Ryan's low tone dripped venom.

Russo's eyes widened as Ryan approached, his deliberate strides eating up the distance. Ryan's hand grasped Russo's jaw, fingers digging deep into the flesh.

"Confess," Ryan growled, his breath hot against Russo's ear.

Russo stuttered, words tumbling out in a desperate bid for survival. Ryan's men produced records, tapes, and documents, evidence of Russo's crimes piling up like indictment.

Ryan's anger simmered, a potent mix of fury and disgust. Russo's face contorted, tears streaming down his cheeks.

Ryan's grip tightened." I let you go only because you were a fucking piece of shit yet helpful but without my knowledge you tried outsmarting me , now spill every  damn thing  that you have done behind my back and who all were involved " he demanded

Russo's voice cracked, words barely audible. Ryan's gaze never wavered, his eyes burning with intensity.

"Drug mafia and their leader Luice Drake," Russo begged.

Ryan's smile twisted, a cold, calculated curve. "Everyone will fall. Specially that son of bitch Luice" In a flick, his men moved, seizing Russo's assets, uncovering illicit goods, and destroying them. Russo's operations dismantled, his empire crumbling.

Ryan stood tall, unyielding, his dominance over the shattered room absolute.

" So we are now getting into the Real Game" Ryan said a crisp yet a hidden tone

"Passing him to you Daniel, take care of him however you want." Ryan said to Daniel in a  devil manner , Daniel exactly knew what he meant. 

Ryan's merciless gaze lingered on Russo, his eyes burning with an unquenchable thirst for vengeance as he uttered the devastating words that would seal Russo's fate.

"You have brought this upon yourself, Russo, and now your empire will crumble, and your very existence will be reduced to a mere shadow of its former self."

Russo's pleas for mercy fell on deaf ears as Ryan's men dragged him away, disappearing into the darkness, leaving behind a trail of shattered dreams and ruined lives.

The sound of Russo's desperate screams echoed through the deserted corridors, a haunting reminder of the consequences of crossing Ryan, the ruthless mastermind who would stop at nothing to protect his interests.

As the darkness consumed Russo, Ryan's thoughts turned to Elena, her fragile beauty and fierce spirit igniting a fire within him that threatened to consume them both.

 He returned to the mansion, his footsteps echoing through the deserted hallways. He entered the room, expecting to find Elena still recovering from their earlier confrontation. But the bed was empty.

Elena was gone.

Ryan's gaze swept the room, his mind racing.

Thomas.

He dialed the number.

"Thomas, where is she?" Ryan's voice was low and menacing.

"Sir, I swear she was here. I checked on her just minutes ago," Thomas replied.

Ryan's anger simmered.

"Find her. Now."

Ryan's eyes scanned the room, searching for any sign of Elena's whereabouts.

A faint scent of perfume lingered.

A whispered promise echoed in his mind.

"Never try to escape me."

Elena's defiance sparked Ryan's determination. He would find her and when he did...The consequences would be devastating.

Ryan's phone buzzed.

"Sir, we've found something," Thomas said.

"What is it?" Ryan demanded.

"A hidden passage. It leads out of the mansion."

Ryan's face darkened. Elena had outsmarted him but only for now. Cause after all he is  Ryan and  would always have the upper hand.

"Seal all exits. I want her found, alive." He ordered 

Thomas's voice echoed through the line. "Understood, sir."

His men scrambled to secure the perimeter. The mansion became a prison. Elena's escape route vanished making his thoughts turn cold. She would pay dearly for underestimating him for thinking she could flee.

Ryan's phone buzzed again. "Sir, we've tracked her to the gardens."

 Ryan navigated the garden's twisting paths, the moonlight casting eerie shadows on the walls, he finally caught sight of Elena, her slender figure swaying precariously against the backdrop of manicured hedges. With a few swift strides, he closed the distance between them, his determination fueled by her attempted escape, and in one seamless motion, he reached out and pulled her to him, her exhausted body molding to his as if drawn by an unseen force. Elena's pleas to let go were muffled against his chest, her words lost in the folds of his shirt, but Ryan's grip only tightened, his fingers digging deep into her skin as he whispered gentle reassurances in her ear, his warm breath sending shivers down her spine despite her fury.

"Please..... please Ryan i beg pls just let me go please" Elena's puffed eyes shed more tears as she begged him. She was really done with all the happenings. She was left with no energy yet she begged him with whatever was left.

"Don't cry, Elena," he urged, his voice low and husky, his fingers tracing the contours of her face, wiping away tears that fell like diamonds in the moonlight. "It won't change anything. You're mine now, and nothing will ever change that." Elena's eyes blazed with defiance, her small hands balling into fists as she struck out at Ryan's chest, the slap echoing through the garden, but Ryan absorbed the blow, his expression unyielding, his arms holding her fast as she fought him, her struggles weakening with each passing moment until finally, she stilled, her body sagging against his. It was then that Ryan's lips brushed against hers, soft and gentle, the kiss a whispered promise of possession, and Elena's shock silenced her, her tears falling unstoppable as Ryan's kiss deepened, his tongue tracing the curves of her mouth, claiming her as his own. He held her tight ,one hand wrapped around her slender waist while another holding her nape. He gently nibbled her petal like lips.

As the kiss lingered, Elena's resistance crumbled, her body melting into Ryan's, her heart pounding in time with his, until finally, she had no energy left to protest, her body surrendering to the exhaustion that had been building for what felt like an eternity. Ryan caught her as she sagged, sweeping her into his arms, and strode back to the mansion. Gently, he laid her  down, her eyelids fluttering closed as sleep's refuge claimed her, and for a moment, Ryan's gaze lingered on her peaceful face, a mix of emotions churning in his chest - possessiveness, protectiveness, and something more, something he couldn't quite define.