Chapter 2: He Found Her
1018 Words
Aria didn’t sleep that night.
Not even for a second.
Every time she closed her eyes, she saw it again—the flashing lights, the sound of gunshots, the chaos… and him.
Dante Moretti.
Even thinking his name made her chest tighten.
She turned in bed, pulling the blanket closer around her as if it could somehow protect her.
It didn’t.
Nothing about last night felt like something she could simply forget.
It clung to her.
Heavy. Unshakable.
Her phone lay beside her, the screen dark.
She stared at it for a long moment before finally picking it up.
No new messages.
But that didn’t make her feel better.
If anything, the silence felt worse.
Like something was waiting.
Watching.
Her fingers tightened slightly around the phone.
“Get it together,” she whispered. “You’re overthinking.”
But deep down… she knew she wasn’t.
By noon, Aria forced herself out of the house.
She couldn’t stay trapped in her thoughts all day.
She needed normal.
Something real.
Something safe.
That’s how she found herself back at the café, tying her apron with slightly trembling hands.
“You look exhausted,” Mia said, leaning against the counter.
Aria let out a small breath. “I didn’t sleep well.”
“That obvious?”
“Very.”
Mia studied her for a moment.
“Did something happen?”
Aria hesitated.
Her mind flashed back to the night before.
The gunshots.
The men.
Him.
“…I think I got caught in something,” she said slowly.
Mia frowned. “What kind of something?”
Before Aria could answer—
The bell above the door rang.
A simple sound.
But it sent a sharp chill down her spine.
She turned without thinking.
And froze.
He was standing there.
Dante Moretti.
Like he had every right to be.
Like this small café was just another place he could walk into without effort.
The room shifted instantly.
Not loudly.
Not obviously.
But people noticed.
They always would.
Power like his didn’t go unnoticed.
Aria’s breath caught.
No.
This couldn’t be happening.
“Okay…” Mia whispered beside her. “Who is that?”
Aria didn’t answer.
Because Dante’s eyes had already found hers.
Direct.
Unavoidable.
Like he had come here for only one reason.
Her.
“I’ll handle it,” she said quickly, even though every part of her wanted to run.
But she couldn’t.
Not here.
Not in front of everyone.
So she walked toward him.
Each step felt heavier than the last.
Her heartbeat echoed loudly in her ears.
When she finally stopped in front of him, she forced herself to speak.
“What do you want?”
No greeting.
No pretending.
Just truth.
Dante’s gaze lingered on her for a moment before his lips curved slightly.
Not a smile.
Something colder.
“You,” he said simply.
Her stomach dropped.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“That’s unfortunate,” he replied calmly. “Because I know exactly who you are.”
Fear crept into her chest.
“How?”
“I make it my business to know things.”
Of course he did.
Men like him always did.
Aria swallowed hard.
“If this is about last night,” she said quickly, lowering her voice, “I didn’t see anything.”
“I know,” he said.
That caught her off guard.
“Then why are you here?”
He stepped closer.
Too close.
Her breath caught as his voice dropped.
“Because you’re in danger.”
Her heart skipped.
“What?”
“Those men last night,” he continued calmly. “They don’t leave witnesses.”
A cold wave of fear washed over her.
“No… I wasn’t involved,” she said quickly.
“It doesn’t matter,” he replied.
Silence fell between them.
Heavy. Suffocating.
“They saw you,” he added. “Which means they’ll come for you.”
Her hands trembled slightly at her sides.
This couldn’t be real.
It couldn’t.
“So what am I supposed to do?” she asked quietly.
Dante didn’t hesitate.
“You come with me.”
Her head snapped up.
“No.”
“It’s the only way you stay alive.”
“I’m not going anywhere with you,” she said firmly, even though her voice wasn’t as steady as she wanted.
Dante’s expression didn’t change.
“You don’t have a choice.”
Anger pushed through her fear.
“I always have a choice.”
For a moment, silence stretched between them again.
Then Dante reached into his jacket.
Aria tensed immediately.
But instead of a weapon, he pulled out a file and placed it on the table.
“Your mother,” he said.
Her heart stopped.
“What about her?”
“She’s in the hospital,” he continued. “Private care.”
Her breath caught.
“How do you know that?”
Dante didn’t answer.
He didn’t need to.
“You can’t afford it,” he added calmly.
Tears burned behind her eyes.
That was true.
And he knew it.
“What do you want from me?” she whispered.
Dante looked at her, his gaze steady and unreadable.
“Marry me.”
The world seemed to stop.
“What?”
“A contract marriage,” he said. “You stay under my protection. Your mother’s bills are covered.”
Her heart pounded wildly.
This was insane.
Completely insane.
“No,” she said immediately, shaking her head.
“Think carefully,” Dante replied.
He leaned slightly closer, his voice lower now.
“Because next time they find you…”
Her breath caught.
“…I won’t be there.”
Silence.
Heavy. Crushing.
Aria felt trapped.
Like her life had just split into two impossible paths.
Freedom…
Or survival.
Dante straightened, adjusting his sleeve like nothing had happened.
“I’ll give you time,” he said.
Then he turned and walked away.
Just like that.
Leaving her standing there—
Frozen.
Shaken.
Completely overwhelmed.
And knowing one thing for sure.
This wasn’t over.
Not even close.
Because now—
He had found her.
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