🖤 MARKED BY MIDNIGHT

THE THREAT

CHAPTER 6 — THE THREAT

The silence of the Glass Room shattered with a faint but distinct noise,a shadow against the glass that didn’t belong.

Eliana’s heart jumped into her throat. She pressed herself against the chair, eyes wide, fingers trembling.

Rafe was already moving before she even realized it. Every step was deliberate, controlled, a predator in his element. He crossed the room in a heartbeat, hand resting lightly on the wall as he assessed the situation.

“Eliana, stay down,” he instructed, voice low and calm, but every inch of him radiating danger.

A man’s silhouette appeared outside the tinted glass—just beyond the lobby. He paused, then reached for the door handle.

Rafe didn’t hesitate. The air seemed to thrum as he moved with impossible speed, intercepting the figure before the door even clicked. One subtle motion, and the man staggered back, the strength of the Marchesi leader clear without a single punch being thrown.

“Eliana,” Rafe said, standing just behind her now, placing a protective hand near her shoulder but not touching, only letting her feel the heat of his presence. “Do not move.”

Her pulse hammered. Fear collided with something else...something magnetic, impossible to ignore. He didn’t need to touch her to claim her attention completely.

The man outside didn’t try again. Whatever fear Rafe instilled in people worked without words. He slumped back into the shadows, disappearing as silently as he had come.

Rafe’s gaze softened, just slightly, as he turned back to her. “It’s not over. This is only the beginning. If anyone thinks they can touch you… they’re wrong.”

Eliana swallowed hard. “I… I don’t know what to say.”

“You don’t have to say anything,” he murmured, stepping closer, his presence filling the space around her like a physical force. “Just understand this: you’re mine. And I’ll make sure no one ever harms you. Ever.”

Her stomach twisted, nerves alive with the mixture of fear and fascination. She wanted to step closer. Wanted to reach out. But something told her that Rafe Marchesi didn’t allow careless movements. Not yet.

He watched her for a heartbeat longer, then turned, scanning the room again, ensuring there were no other threats. Only when he was satisfied did he return to his spot against the glass, arms crossed, eyes sharp.

Eliana let out a shaky breath. She realized, finally, what it meant to be under his protection. Danger wasn’t something he avoided, it was something he controlled. And being near him meant living on the edge of that control, aware of every heartbeat, every movement.

” He said softly, voice low and controlled, “you’ll see why the Marchesi name commands respect. And why choosing you… was inevitable.”

Alone now, Eliana pressed her hands to her chest, feeling the weight of the night. Fear, exhilaration, and something else...something undeniable swirled together.

She understood, in that moment, that life in Rafe’s world was dangerous. But she also knew… she couldn’t walk away.

Because the Midnight Ghost had chosen her.

And chosen people didn’t get to run.