Dangerous Attraction
1176 Words
Chapter 5: Dangerous Attraction
Isabella had begun to notice things about Alessandro that she wished she hadn't.
The way his jaw tightened when someone challenged him.
The way he became completely still when he was angry.
The way everyone in the mansion watched him before deciding how to react.
And, most dangerously, the way her own body reacted whenever he came too close.
She hated that part the most.
Because attraction was the last thing she needed.
Not with him.
Not here.
Not when her family was still in danger.
She stood in the kitchen that afternoon, trying to make sense of the ingredients spread across the counter.
She needed something to occupy her mind.
Instead, she was thinking about him.
Again.
“You're going to burn it.”
His voice came from behind her.
Isabella jumped.
She turned.
Alessandro stood in the doorway.
“You have a habit of appearing without making a sound.”
“You have a habit of getting distracted.”
She looked at the pan.
The food was smoked.
“Oh.”
She hurried to turn off the stove.
Alessandro walked over and opened a window.
Cold air entered the room.
Isabella folded her arms.
“You could have just told me.”
“I did.”
“You could have sounded less amused.”
“I wasn't amused.”
“You were.”
The corner of his mouth lifted.
“There.”
She stared at him.
“What?”
“You almost smiled.”
“I didn't.”
“You did.”
She shook her head.
For a few seconds, neither of them spoke.
The tension between them returned.
That strange, invisible thing that seemed to exist whenever they were alone.
Isabella looked away at first.
“You shouldn't be here.”
“This is my house.”
“You know what I mean.”
“Yes.”
He moved closer.
She immediately became aware of every inch between them.
“Then why are you here?” she asked.
“To see you.”
Her pulse jumped.
She hated how easily he could do that.
“You shouldn't say things like that.”
“Why?”
“Because you know what it does.”
His expression changed.
“And what does it do?”
She swallowed.
“It makes this complicated.”
“It was complicated before I met you.”
“That isn't what I mean.”
“I know.”
He stopped in front of her.
Close enough that she could feel his warmth.
“This can't happen, Isabella.”
“Then why do you keep coming back?”
His eyes darkened.
“Because I'm trying not to.”
The honesty in his voice frightened her more than any threat could have.
She looked away.
Alessandro reached toward her.
She froze.
His fingers stopped just beside her face.
“There.”
“What?”
“Your hair.”
A loose strand had fallen across her cheek.
He tucked it gently behind her ear.
The contact lasted only a second.
But it was enough.
Isabella's heart raced.
Alessandro noticed.
His gaze dropped briefly to her lips.
Then he stepped away.
“We need to talk about something else.”
She knew immediately that something was wrong.
“What happened?”
“Someone tried to get information about you this morning.”
Her stomach tightened.
“Who?”
“We don't know yet.”
“Then why are you telling me?”
“Because you need to understand what happens if people discover how important you've become to me.”
She stared at him.
“How important?”
He didn't answer.
“Alessandro.”
His voice dropped.
“You are becoming a weakness.”
The words hurt more than she expected.
She folded her arms around herself.
“So that's all I am?”
“That isn't what I said.”
“It sounds like it.”
He stepped toward her again.
“A weakness is something an enemy can use against you.”
“And you think I'm going to be used against you?”
“Yes.”
She looked away.
“Then send me home.”
His expression hardened.
“You know I can't.”
“Why not?”
“Because the people looking for you aren't interested in you.”
She frowned.
“They're interested in what you mean to me.”
Silence.
Isabella's heart sank.
“You mean they'd hurt me to hurt you.”
“Yes.”
“And my family?”
“They could use them too.”
Her anger disappeared, replaced by fear.
For the first time, she understood what being close to Alessandro really meant.
She wasn't simply attracted to a dangerous man.
She was standing inside his line of fire.
A sharp sound suddenly came from outside.
A gunshot.
Isabella flinched.
Alessandro moved instantly.
He grabbed her and pulled her behind him.
His entire body changed.
The gentle man from moments before disappeared.
The Don returned.
“Stay here.”
“What happened?”
Another shot sounded in the distance.
Isabella grabbed his arm.
“Alessandro!”
He looked down at her hand.
Then at her face.
His expression softened for only a moment.
“Go upstairs.”
“I don't want to be alone.”
The words escaped before she could stop them.
Something changed in his eyes.
He stepped closer.
“That's exactly why you have to.”
“I'm scared.”
“I know.”
“I'm scared of my mother.”
“I know.”
“And Matteo.”
“I know.”
She stared at him.
“How can you be so calm?”
“Because somebody has to be.”
He gently removed her hand from his arm.
“Trust me.”
She almost laughed.
“I've been trying.”
His gaze held hers.
“Then keep trying.”
He turned toward the door.
Isabella caught his sleeve.
“Come back.”
He stopped.
For a second, neither moved.
Then he looked down at her hand.
“When this is over,” he said quietly, “you need to decide whether you still want to be near me.”
“Why?”
“Because I don't know if I can keep pretending that I don't want you near me.”
Her breath caught.
He leaned closer.
“That's the dangerous part.”
His lips were inches from hers.
But he didn't kiss her.
He pulled away.
Then he left.
Isabella stood alone in the kitchen, trembling.
Not because of the gunshots.
Not entirely.
She was beginning to understand something far more frightening.
The danger wasn't simply that Alessandro's enemies might hurt her.
It was that she was starting to want the one man she could never safely have.
And somewhere in the mansion, Alessandro Moretti was realizing the same thing.
For the first time in his life, the most dangerous thing in his world wasn't a rival, a gun, or a betrayal.
It was a woman who could make him care enough to lose everything.
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