UNDER HIS PROTECTION
1172 Words
The silence after chaos was always the loudest.
Seraphina stood frozen in the hallway, her chest rising and falling slowly as the weight of what had just happened settled into her bones.
They had come for her.
Not to scare her.
Not to warn her.
To kill her.
Her fingers curled slightly at her sides, but her face remained calm.
Controlled.
Because that was who she was now.
“Are you hurt?”
Dante’s voice cut through the tension.
Low.
Sharp.
Focused.
She turned slightly.
He was still standing between her and the men, his presence filling the space like a shield made of something far more dangerous than steel.
Seraphina shook her head.
“No.”
But her voice was quieter than usual.
Not weak.
Just… different.
Dante noticed.
Of course he did.
His eyes scanned her briefly, checking for injuries anyway.
Satisfied, he turned back to the intruders.
“Leave,” he said coldly.
One of the men hesitated.
Big mistake.
Dante stepped forward.
Slow.
Deliberate.
The air shifted instantly.
“Do you need me to repeat myself?” he asked.
The threat in his voice wasn’t loud.
But it didn’t need to be.
The men backed off immediately.
Because they knew.
Everyone knew.
You didn’t challenge a man like Dante twice.
Within seconds—
They were gone.
Just like that.
But the danger?
Still lingered.
Seraphina exhaled slowly, her body finally relaxing just a little.
“They won’t stop,” she said quietly.
Dante turned to her.
“No,” he agreed.
His gaze darkened slightly.
“They’ve already crossed the line.”
Silence fell between them.
Heavy.
Real.
Then—
“You’re not staying here tonight.”
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
“That wasn’t a question,” he added.
Seraphina straightened.
“I didn’t say it was.”
Dante watched her carefully.
“You’re coming with me,” he said.
Her lips curved faintly.
“Is that an order?”
He stepped closer.
“Yes.”
The word landed between them.
Firm.
Unshakable.
Seraphina held his gaze for a moment.
Then—
“Fine.”
The answer surprised him.
Just slightly.
But he didn’t show it.
Within minutes—
They were in the car.
The city lights blurred past the window as silence filled the space between them.
But this silence wasn’t empty.
It was charged.
Seraphina leaned her head slightly against the seat, her gaze fixed outside.
For the first time—
She allowed herself to feel it.
Not fear.
But realization.
She had truly stepped into something dangerous.
There was no going back now.
“You’re quiet,” Dante said.
She didn’t look at him.
“I’m thinking.”
“About?” he asked.
Seraphina finally turned her head.
“They sent people into my house,” she said calmly.
Her eyes held his.
“That means they’re desperate.”
Dante nodded slightly.
“And dangerous.”
A pause.
“But predictable,” he added.
That caught her attention.
“Explain.”
His lips curved slightly.
“Desperate people make mistakes.”
Seraphina studied him for a moment.
Then nodded slowly.
“Good,” she said.
“Because I plan to use that.”
A faint smirk appeared on his face.
“I know you do.”
The car finally stopped.
Seraphina stepped out—
And paused.
The place in front of her wasn’t just a house.
It was a fortress.
Tall gates.
Guards.
Surveillance.
Power.
She turned slightly to Dante.
“You live here?”
He glanced at her.
“Problem?”
Her lips curved faintly.
“Not at all.”
Inside—
Everything was sleek.
Dark.
Controlled.
Just like him.
Seraphina walked slowly, taking it in.
“You’re safe here,” Dante said.
She turned to him.
“I was safe in my own house too.”
A pause.
“Until I wasn’t.”
Dante’s expression hardened slightly.
“That won’t happen here.”
Something about the way he said it—
Made her believe him.
And that?
Was dangerous.
A maid approached quietly.
“Prepare a room,” Dante instructed.
Seraphina raised a brow.
“A room?”
He looked at her.
“You’re not leaving.”
Her lips curved slightly.
“Sounds like I don’t have a choice.”
“You don’t,” he said simply.
Later—
Seraphina stood in the guest room, staring at her reflection in the mirror.
Same face.
Same elegance.
But everything else?
Different.
Behind her—
The door opened.
She didn’t turn.
“I didn’t say you could come in,” she said calmly.
Dante stepped inside anyway.
“I didn’t ask.”
Of course he didn’t.
Seraphina turned slowly.
Their eyes met instantly.
Too close again.
Always too close.
“You should rest,” he said.
She crossed her arms slightly.
“And you should stop giving orders.”
A faint smirk touched his lips.
“Not happening.”
Silence stretched.
Then—
Seraphina stepped closer.
“Tonight changes things,” she said quietly.
Dante’s gaze darkened.
“It does.”
A pause.
“They tried to kill me,” she added.
Her voice was steady.
But her eyes?
Colder.
“And now,” she continued—
“I won’t hold back.”
Dante stepped closer too.
Now there was barely any space between them.
“Good,” he said softly.
“Because neither will I.”
Their eyes locked.
The tension?
Explosive.
Seraphina’s breath slowed slightly.
Dante’s gaze dropped—
To her lips.
Then back to her eyes.
Again.
That moment.
That dangerous, almost crossing-the-line moment.
“You’re playing a dangerous game,” he murmured.
“So are you,” she replied.
A pause.
Then—
He reached out.
This time—
Slower.
Giving her time to stop him.
To pull away.
She didn’t.
His fingers brushed lightly against her jaw.
Warm.
Controlled.
Her breath caught—
Just slightly.
But she didn’t move.
Didn’t stop him.
Permission.
That was all it took.
Dante leaned in slightly—
Close enough to feel her breath.
“Careful,” he whispered.
“Or you’ll forget your own rules.”
Seraphina’s eyes darkened.
“I don’t forget anything.”
Their lips were inches apart now.
So close—
Too close.
And yet—
Neither of them closed the distance.
Not yet.
Because this?
This tension?
Was far more powerful.
After a moment—
Seraphina stepped back.
Breaking it.
Not weak.
In control.
“I need rest,” she said calmly.
Dante watched her for a second.
Then nodded.
“Lock the door.”
She smirked slightly.
“Worried about me?”
His gaze held hers.
“Always.”
He turned and left.
And just like that—
The room felt different.
Quieter.
But heavier.
Seraphina walked to the door slowly—
And locked it.
Then leaned back against it.
Closing her eyes briefly.
Her heart was beating faster now.
Not from fear.
But something else.
Something far more dangerous.
She exhaled slowly.
“This changes everything,” she whispered.
And deep down—
She knew.
It really did.
- Writer
