CHAPTER Eight - THE WARNING
679 Words
Elena couldn’t shake the weight in her chest. Even hours after Alessandro had left her in that abandoned warehouse—after the adrenaline faded, after the terror loosened its grip—she still felt the echo of his anger, his touch, his voice.
She sat curled on the couch in his penthouse, wrapped in a blanket she didn’t remember grabbing, staring at the city lights like they could answer the million questions racing through her head.
He was mafia.
He killed for control.
He threatened her.
He protected her.
He kissed her.
And that was the problem.
The kiss shouldn’t have meant anything. Not after everything she’d seen. But her mind kept replaying it—his fingers gripping her waist, the command in his breath, the way her body responded like it had been waiting for him its whole life.
She buried her face in her hands.
“What’s wrong with me…”
The elevator chimed.
Her heart stopped as Alessandro stepped out. He was still in the same dark suit, unbuttoned now, the sleeves rolled up, exposing the veins on his forearms. His jaw was tense. His hair slightly disheveled. He looked like he had spent the entire night fighting wars she would never understand.
He walked toward her slowly.
“Elena.”
She stood. “I don’t want to talk about—”
“You need to,” he cut in. His voice was low, controlled, but something wild simmered beneath it. “Earlier today wasn’t just an accident. It was a warning.”
Her breath stilled. “What do you mean?”
He stepped closer, eyes fixed on hers.
“There are people watching you now. Watching us. You’re no longer invisible.”
Fear crawled up her spine.
Alessandro continued, voice steady but dark.
“My enemies think you matter to me.”
“I don’t,” she blurted. “I shouldn’t.”
His jaw clenched. “But you do.”
The words shattered the air between them.
He ran a hand through his hair, frustrated.
“I didn’t want this. I didn’t want you dragged into my world. But now that they’ve seen you with me—now that they think you’re mine—they will use you to get to me.”
Elena swallowed hard. “So what happens now?”
Alessandro lifted her chin with two fingers, forcing her to meet his gaze.
“Now, Elena…” His voice dropped to a dangerous whisper.
“I protect you. Whether you like it or not.”
Her breath trembled. “And if I want to leave?”
He didn’t blink.
“You won’t survive a day on your own.”
Silence pressed between them.
Then he added, softer but no less possessive:
“You stay here. With me. Where I can keep you safe.”
Her heart pounded uncontrollably.
“Is that protection,” she whispered, “or control?”
“Both,” he said without hesitation.
“Because I don’t lose what’s mine.”
Her lips parted, a shaky gasp escaping her—but before she could speak, his phone vibrated sharply.
He glanced at the screen, and his expression hardened into something lethal.
“What is it?” she asked, dread rising.
He answered without looking at her.
“Another message. This time… they left something outside the building.”
“What kind of something?”
His jaw tightened.
“A threat. For you.”
Her blood ran cold.
“Alessandro—”
He grabbed his jacket, already heading toward the elevator.
“Lock the doors. Don’t move. Don’t speak to anyone.”
“El—Alessandro!” she called after him.
He stopped, turning his head just enough for her to see the storm in his eyes.
“I swear,” he said softly, dangerously,
“I will burn this city to the ground before I let anyone touch you.”
The doors closed.
And Elena was left standing in the silence, realizing that her life had just changed again—only this time, there might be no escape at all.
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