Page 8 of Trapped By the Cartel

"I don't want to participate in anything!" I exclaimed, my voice rising slightly. "I just want to go home!"

"Home is where you are," he replied, his tone shifting to something softer, more persuasive. "And right now, home is with me." He paused, then added with a playful smirk, "Besides, your father will be quite relieved to know you're safe and sound."

I did not want to see my father.

Chapter 4

Damon

The forest thinned abruptly, opening into a clearing dominated by an imposing wrought-iron gate. It was enormous, easily twenty feet high, intricately designed with snarling wolves woven into the metalwork. Beyond it, I could glimpse manicured lawns, sprawling gardens, and a mansion that could only be described as opulent. It was a far cry from the wild, untamed beauty of the woods we'd been traversing, and it was home.

Elliot stopped dead in his tracks, his eyes wide with disbelief. "What is this place?" He whispered, his voice barely audible above the rustling leaves. He kept a respectable distance from me, which I found amusing given my current state of undress. He was definitely struggling, and I was more than happy to observe that struggle. I was enjoying it.

"Home," I replied, leaning casually against one of the gateposts. It felt good to finally be here. "My home. And as you can see, it's a pretty spectacular one."

I watched him survey the scene, his expression shifting from shock to something akin to… awe? He was easily impressed, Irealized. A dangerous quality in someone so vulnerable. Yet one more reason to be with me.

"You live here?" He asked, widening his eyes. "All alone?"

"Not entirely," I corrected. "I'm the first councilor of the Nightshade Wolves." The title rolled off my tongue easily. It meant I was second in command, advisor to the boss, the strategist, the enforcer. I was the one who kept the wheels turning smoothly, who ensured that everything ran like a well-oiled machine, and it did.

I watched Elliot's face as he processed that information, the subtle shift in his expression indicating a growing understanding of my position. He knew now. Really knew.

He knew I could assure his protection.

"The Nightshade Wolves?" He repeated. "You mean… you're part of that organization?"

"Part of it? I am it, in many ways," I responded, letting the words sink in. "We're a family, Elliot. A rather extended one."

He took a step back, his gaze darting around as if searching for an escape route. "What does your organization do?" He asked cautiously, as if expecting me to launch into a monologue about illegal activities.

And if that was really what he thought, then he was just being stupid.

"We provide services," I replied, deliberately vague. No point in saying much more than that, after all. "Let's just say we specialize in resolving conflicts and maintaining stability within the region." A fancy way of saying that we controlled everything, from trade routes to political influence, and crime, too.

"And what exactly do you want from me?" He pressed, his voice regaining a semblance of its earlier defiance, and repeating the same question he'd already asked me a few times.

I pushed myself off the gatepost, moving closer to him, deliberately invading his personal space. "You're starting to askall the right questions," I lied, letting my gaze linger on his face. He was radiating anxiety, and it was intoxicating.

I wanted all of it, no denying it. Although, at the same time, I wished he was less repetitive.

"But I'm not going to answer them just yet," I continued, tilting my head playfully. "Patience, Elliot. Everything in its time." And as a matter of fact, everything would happen when I said so.

He swallowed hard, his eyes darting over my naked body. He was still struggling with the whole situation, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of… triumph. It wasn't just about dominance; it was about control. And right now, I had complete control over him.

"Why are you… like this?" He blurted out all of a sudden, his cheeks flushed with embarrassment. The question was clumsy, awkward, but it revealed a vulnerability that I found surprisingly endearing.

I raised an eyebrow, feigning innocence. "Like what?"

"Naked!" He exclaimed, his voice rising in pitch. "You're just walking around naked!" I couldn't believe he said that. I'd never had to explain myself for something so simple.

However, maybe that said something about me.

I chuckled, shaking my head. "It's comfortable," I said with a shrug. "And besides, it's not exactly unusual around here. Most people get used to it." A silent admission of the eccentricities of the Nightshade Wolves.

"I doubt that," he mumbled, averting his gaze.

The gates creaked open, revealing a stern-faced guard standing watch. He nodded curtly in my direction before focusing on Elliot. I smiled at him, a gesture that conveyed both authority and familiarity.

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