**Noah’s POV**

It’d been a week since I got dragged into this nightmare. A week since Enzo pulled me away from his creepy friend Dean, his eyes cold as he told him to stay away. I still didn’t get why I was here, stuck in this huge, dark house, cleaning rooms and following rules like some kind of prisoner. Every day was the same—sweep the floors, dust the shelves, keep my head down. I was doing nothing, just existing, and it was driving me crazy. What did Enzo want from me? Why keep me here if all I did was chores?

I stood in Enzo’s office, my school uniform scratching my skin. It was the same one I’d worn before my dad sold me out, faded and a little tight, but it was all I had. Enzo sat behind his desk, his eyes locked on me, sharp and unreadable. Ren, the guy with the scar, stood behind him, his face as cold as ever, like he didn’t care about anything happening around him. I shifted on my feet, my heart racing. Being in the same room as Enzo always made me feel like I was standing on the edge of a cliff, waiting to fall.

Enzo stood, slow and deliberate, and walked toward me. I froze, my breath catching as he stopped right in front of me, so close I could smell the whiskey on him, mixed with something sharp, like danger. I looked up, my voice shaking. “What’s going on?” I asked, trying to sound braver than I felt. “Why am I here?”

He chuckled, a low, rough sound that made my skin prickle. “You’re going back to school,” he said, his eyes glinting. “But you look scared, kid. Like you’ve seen a ghost.”

I blinked, my head spinning. School? After everything? I didn’t know whether to feel relieved or suspicious. “What does that mean?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Enzo glanced at Ren, who stepped forward, his face still blank. “There are rules,” Ren said, his voice flat. “One: you don’t tell anyone you were sold. If you do, they die before they can spread it. Two: you don’t get comfortable with anyone except Master Enzo. Three: never come home late.”

I stared at him, my mouth dry. Master Enzo? Die? The words hit like punches, each one heavier than the last. They weren’t just rules—they were chains, tying me to this place, to him. I looked at Enzo, hoping for something, anything, to make this make sense. He just smiled, a small, smug smile that made my stomach twist.

I nodded, not because I agreed, but because I didn’t know what else to do. My throat was tight, and my hands shook at my sides. Enzo’s smile widened, like he knew he had me trapped. “Good,” he said, turning back to his desk. “Go.”

Ren grabbed my arm, not hard but firm, and led me out of the office. My head was a mess as we walked through the house, down the long hallways with their dark walls and heavy air. I kept thinking about those rules. Don’t talk. Don’t get close to anyone. Don’t be late. It was like Enzo wanted to control every part of my life, even outside this house.

We stepped outside, and a sleek black limo waited in the driveway. Ren opened the door, and I slid in, the leather seats cold against my legs. The ride to school was quiet, just the hum of the engine and the sound of my own breathing. I stared out the window, watching the city blur by, my heart heavy. I used to walk to school, my sneakers scraping the pavement, dodging bullies like Jake. Now I was in a limo, like some rich kid, but I’d never felt more like a prisoner.

When we pulled up to the school, I felt every eye on me. Kids stopped, staring as I climbed out of the limo, my faded uniform looking out of place next to the shiny car. Whispers followed me, sharp and curious, like I was some kind of freak show. A poor kid like me didn’t belong in a ride like that. I kept my head down, my face burning, and started toward the school building.

Ren stayed in the car, his eyes on me. “Remember the rules,” he said, his voice cold. I nodded, my throat tight, and watched as he drove away, the limo disappearing around the corner.

I took a deep breath and walked inside, the hallways loud with kids laughing and talking. It felt so normal, but I didn’t belong here anymore. Not really. I kept my eyes on the floor, trying to blend in, when a hand landed on my shoulder. I jumped, turning to see James, my friend, grinning at me like nothing had changed.

“Dude!” he said, his voice loud. “It’s been a week! Where you been? What’s with the limo? You finally snag a rich boyfriend or something?”

I stopped, my chest tightening. James didn’t know anything—about my dad, the debt, Enzo. He was just joking, like always, but his words cut deep. I looked at him, his goofy smile so out of place with the mess in my head. “If you knew what my life was like,” I said, my voice low, “you’d feel sorry for me.”

His grin faded, and he called after me. “Hey, come on, Noah! Don’t be mad! I was just kidding!”

I kept walking, not stopping, not looking back. My heart pounded, and my hands shook in my pockets. I couldn’t talk to him, not really. Not with Enzo’s rules hanging over me. Don’t get comfortable. Don’t tell anyone. I felt like a ghost, moving through the halls, surrounded by people but completely alone.