The city lay sprawled out beneath him like a living organism—pulsing, moving, breathing. He watched from his window, high above it all, his hands resting lightly on the back of the leather armchair in his office. The lights of Los Angeles twinkled in the distance, and from here, it looked almost peaceful. But he knew better. Beneath that glittering surface lay a darkness, a web of connections and secrets that only he was truly aware of.

In the silence of the room, he took a deep breath, savoring the quiet. This was his domain—this city, these people, this game he had been playing for so long. And now, the pieces were finally falling into place. He had always known it would come to this, that one day Mae—Seraphina—would return to him. Even if she didn't know it yet, she had never truly escaped his grasp.

Charlie—Father Charlie—smiled to himself, though the smile held no warmth. He was no longer the man she had known, the priest with kind eyes and a gentle touch. That man had been a mask, a role he had played for years. The Charlie who had stood in the village chapel, offering words of comfort and salvation, was gone. In his place stood the man behind Hell's Angels, the architect of a far darker empire than anyone could imagine.

And now, the final act of his plan was about to unfold.

Mae had always been special, from the moment he first laid eyes on her in the village of St. Mary's. Even back then, when she was an innocent nun, devoted to her faith, there had been something about her—something that drew him in. He had watched her, studied her, until he understood her every move, her every thought. She had been his in ways she didn't even realize, bound to him by threads too delicate for her to see.

When she had left, when she had run from the convent and from her life as a nun, he had been patient. He had allowed her to believe she was free, that she could build a new life away from him. But all the while, he had been watching, waiting. He had built Hell's Angels with her in mind, created a world where she would thrive, where she would rise to the top. And when the time was right, he had made sure she found her way there.

It had taken time, of course. Mae had fought against the darkness he offered, clinging to the light she thought would save her. But no one could resist forever. Not when the world was designed to break them. And now, as she stood on the brink of ruin, questioning everything, doubting everyone around her, she was closer to him than she had ever been.

Charlie moved away from the window and sat down at his desk, the smooth surface gleaming under the low light of the room. He pulled a file from a drawer, flipping it open to reveal a photo of Mae—her stage name, her new persona. She was different now, but in all the ways that mattered, she was still Seraphina. Still the same woman he had coveted, the one who had sparked something inside him that he hadn't felt in years.

She had been made for this world, even if she didn't know it yet. And soon, she would realize that she belonged to him.

The phone on his desk buzzed, and Charlie glanced at the screen. It was a message from one of his associates, confirming that Mae had met with Frank in the alley and that the warning had been delivered. Good. That would keep her in line for now, at least long enough for him to bring her closer.

He had anticipated her rebellious streak, her need to question things. That was part of what made her so captivating—her fire, her refusal to be controlled. But even the strongest flames could be extinguished if you applied the right pressure. And Charlie knew exactly how to apply that pressure.

He leaned back in his chair, his fingers tapping lightly on the armrest. It was time to move the next piece into position. He had allowed Mae to believe she still had some control, that she could escape if she wanted to. But now, it was time to tighten the net. She had run far enough.

With a few taps on his phone, Charlie sent the order. The message was simple, a single word that would set everything in motion.

"Prepare."

He watched the screen for a moment before setting the phone down. His associates would handle the rest. They would remind Mae of the consequences of disobedience, of the cost of stepping out of line. And when she came to him—because she would—he would be there, ready to offer her salvation once again. Only this time, it would be on his terms.

Charlie stood and walked back to the window, his eyes scanning the city below. So much had changed since his days in the village. He had left behind the façade of Father Charlie, left behind the man who had once believed in redemption. In its place, he had built an empire, a kingdom of shadows and power. He had become the man behind the curtain, pulling the strings of lives he had carefully ensnared.

Mae was just the latest in a long line of those who thought they could escape him. But she was different. She was special. And that made this game all the more thrilling.

He had been patient, waiting for the right moment to reveal the truth. And now, that moment was approaching. Soon, Mae would see who he really was, see the man behind the mask. And when she did, she would have no choice but to surrender to him.

Because there was no escaping him. Not anymore.

Charlie smiled again, his eyes gleaming with a dark satisfaction as he looked out over the city. He had always known this day would come, always known that he would have Mae exactly where he wanted her.

And now, all he had to do was wait.