The Don's Silent Obsession

Chapter 2:The Don's offer

Ariana Hale's POV

“Get in the car, Ariana Hale.”

His voice still hung in the cold air and my heart beat so fast that it hurts.

I took one small step back. “Why should I go anywhere with you?”

He watched me with calm eyes. “Because someone else already knows you saw me and they will not be as gentle as I am.”

“There is nothing gentle about you,” I whispered and a faint smile touched his lips, but it was not a warm smile. “Get inside.”

I looked at his hand reaching to open the back door and I knew I couldn't run and even if I tried, he would catch me and if he did not, someone worse would.

So I moved and my legs shook as I stepped into the car, he closed the door behind me, and then walked around and sat beside me and the car started moving at once.

As we drove, I kept my bag close to my chest. “Where are you taking me?” I asked.

“To my home.”

“I don’t want to go to your home,” I said and my voice trembled. “Take me to a police station.”

He turned his head slowly. “The police cannot protect you from men like mine.”

I gripped the seat. “I did not do anything.”

“You saw something you shouldn’t,” he said. “That changes everything.”

I felt his eyes on me and I looked down at my hands and asked, “Why didn’t you kill me that night?”

He was calm and then he said, “Because you looked at me like you still believed you would live.” “What does that even mean?”

“You are not a threat, not yet,” he said “And I do not kill what I find… interesting.”

I turned away and I couldn’t breathe right.

And after a few minutes' drive, the gates of a huge mansion appeared ahead of us.

The guards bowed when the car stopped, and they opened the doors quickly and he stepped out first and then he looked at me, waiting for me to follow.

I stepped out slowly and my legs were weak, the mansion was so large and cold and everything looked expensive and dangerous at the same time.

I whispered, “Why am I here?”

He walked ahead. “Come.”

I followed into a grand living room and I stood in the middle of the room while he poured himself a drink.

“Talk,” I said “Tell me why I am here.”

He looked up and his eyes locked on mine. “You stay close to me for a while, and I will make sure you live.”

“What does that mean?”

“The man you saw die was a traitor and he worked for me, he sold my secrets,” he said slowly.

“You were in the wrong place, wrong time, woman running in the rain, alone, they thought you were my mistress.”

“Mistress?” I almost choked. “I don’t even know your name!”

“Matteo Romano,” he said. “And now every enemy I have thought you belong to me.”

My heart stopped “No. No. I don’t belong to anyone.”

“Not true,” he said. “In their eyes, you do.”

I shook my head. “Then tell them you don’t know me!”

“That will not save you,” he replied. “If anything, it will make them come faster and they will try to use you to get to me.”

I felt sick and I held onto the back of a chair. “What do you want from me?”

He walked closer and his steps were slow and steady.

“You must pretend to be my fiancee.”

My mouth fell open. “Your what?”

“It is the only way to protect you,” he said “If you are beside me, no one touches you. You become untouchable and safe.”

“I am not doing that,” I said “I will not pretend to belong to you.”

His face did not change.

“You will, because if you walk out of this house, you will be dead before morning.”

Fear hit me hard. “Why should I trust you?”

He stepped close and I felt his breath on my skin.

“You should not trust me,” he said quietly.

“But I am the only man standing between you and death.”

His fingers touched my chin and he lifted my face gently and his eyes studied mine like he was deciding something.

“You belong to me now, Ariana,” he said in a soft, cold voice. “Even if it is just pretend.”

His words stayed in my ears, I felt them in my chest and I stepped back quickly. “Do not say that. I am not yours.”

He only watched me and his face stayed calm. “You will stay here and my men will watch you, no one comes close without my order.”

“I want to go home,” I said. “Please.”

“You have no home now,” he answered. “Not until this ends.”

My throat was tight and I tried to argue more, but he lifted his hand and signalled one of the guards. “Take her to the guest room.”

The guard stepped forward, and I followed him down a long hall, he opened the door of a room for me. “Stay here, someone will bring clothes.”

“I do not want clothes,” I said. “I want my life back.”

He did not answer, he just closed the door and I heard the lock click from outside.

I sat on the bed and held my head and then a soft knock came and then the door opened again and a young man stepped inside.

He held two dresses over his arm and his smile was warm. “You must be Ariana,” he said. “I am Adrian. Matteo’s brother.”

Brother.

He looked nothing like Matteo, Adrian had gentle eyes, softer features, a light smile that was almost normal.

He placed the clothes on the chair. “I am sorry my brother dragged you into this.”

I swallowed. “I want to go home.”

“I know,” he said “But he will not let you.”

“Can you help me leave?”

Adrian’s smile faded a little. “I cannot, not now, not when you are in danger.”

“Matteo said he is protecting me,” I whispered. “But I do not trust him.”

Adrian looked at the door, then at me and his voice dropped lower.

“Good, but do not trust him so fast.”

I stared at him. “Why?”

He stepped closer. “My brother does nothing without a reason. If he says he is protecting you, it means you are useful to him in some way.”

Adrian gave me a sad smile. “I will check on you later.”

He turned to leave, but before he went, he stopped..

“And Ariana… be careful around him. Matteo loves power, he only saves what he plans to keep.”

My stomach twisted and I couldn’t breathe for a moment.

Night came fast and Matteo’s guards knocked and told me to come for dinner and I walked down the stairs with them behind me.

The dining hall was full of people and Matteo sat at the head of the long table and he looked up when I entered and stood and then he offered his hand.

“Come here.”

I walked to him and he placed his hand on my back and guided me to sit beside him.

“She stays close to me,” Matteo said to everyone. “She is under my protection.”

Whispers rose around the table and one voice, in a low but clear, and it reached my ear. “So the Don’s weakness finally has a face.”

My heart jumped and I looked around, and tried to see who said it, but everyone pretended to eat.

Matteo’s fingers tapped lightly on the table, he heard it too and his jaw moved once, it was slow and sharp.

Dinner continued, but I couldn't eat and I heard small talks about money, enemies, business, betrayals and everything sounded dark and cold.

And then it happened, a loud pop, it was sharp and fast.

There was a gunshot, right outside the mansion and screams filled the room, chairs fell, glass broke on the floor and people rushed to hide.

Before I could move, Matteo grabbed my wrist and he pulled me down hard and we dropped under the table together.

“Stay down,” he said and his voice was steady, even now.

“Do n

ot move, Ariana.”

Chaos grew around us and the guards shouted, more shots echoed outside.