Beneath His Armor

CHAPTER TEN_ THE FIRST CRACK

I didn’t feel safe anymore.

Not at the office.

Not at home.

Not even when Dante was nearby.

Something had changed.

People smiled less. Doors closed more often. Conversations stopped when I walked into a room. I could feel it in my chest like the air itself was warning me.

I had become a weak point.

And everyone knew it.

That morning, Dante barely spoke to me. Not because he was angry, but because he was careful. Too careful. He avoided looking at me for long. When he did, his eyes were serious, guarded.

Like he was protecting something.

Or someone.

I focused on my work, keeping my head down. But my mind wouldn’t stop racing.

Elena knew too much.

The agency wanted too much.

And Dante, Dante was standing in the middle of a war he hadn’t started.

Around noon, Keller approached my desk again.

“Pack your things,” he said quietly. “You’re not staying late today.”

I frowned. “Why?”

“Because I said so,” he replied. “And because it’s safer.”

Safer.

That word was starting to mean the opposite.

I nodded and began putting my things together. As I stood, Dante stepped out of his office.

“Aria,” he said.

“Yes?” I replied quickly.

“Walk with me.”

We moved through the hallway together, not speaking until we reached a quieter floor. The city stretched outside the glass walls, bright and busy, unaware of the danger happening above it.

“I don’t like this,” he said finally.

“Like what?” I asked.

“The attention on you,” he replied. “It’s growing.”

I swallowed. “I’m sorry.”

“This isn’t your fault,” he said. “But it is my responsibility.”

That surprised me.

“I should’ve kept you further away,” he added quietly.

My chest tightened. “You didn’t force me to stay.”

He looked at me then. “No. But I should’ve known better.”

There was something heavy in his voice. Regret.

Before I could respond, his phone rang. He glanced at the screen and frowned.

“I need to take this,” he said. “Go downstairs. Keller will escort you.”

I nodded and turned away.

Halfway down the stairs, my phone buzzed.

Unknown number.

My heart jumped.

I didn’t answer.

It buzzed again.

Then again.

I stopped walking.

Against my better judgment, I answered.

“What do you want?” I whispered.

“You’re running out of time,” a man’s voice said.

My stomach dropped. “Who are you?”

“Someone who knows you’re holding back,” he replied calmly. “And someone who knows Dante Moretti isn’t as clean as you think.”

“That’s a lie,” I said quickly.

He laughed. “Is it? Or are you afraid to look closer?”

My hands shook. “Leave me alone.”

“You have forty-eight hours,” he said. “After that, choices will be made for you.”

The call ended.

I stood there, frozen.

Forty-eight hours.

For what?

When I reached the lobby, Keller was already waiting. He took one look at my face and knew.

“Call?” he asked.

“Yes,” I whispered.

He nodded grimly. “They’re speeding things up.”

“Who?” I asked.

“All of them,” he replied.

On the ride home, I stared out the window, my reflection staring back at me. I barely recognized the girl looking back.

She looked tired. Scared.

But also trapped.

That night, I didn’t turn on any lights. I sat on my bed, hugging my knees, thinking about everything.

If I gave the agency what they wanted, Dante would fall.

If I stayed silent, I might disappear.

And the worst part?

I didn’t know which outcome scared me more.

My phone buzzed again.

This time, it was Dante.

My heart jumped as I answered.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

“Yes,” I whispered. “Are you?”

There was a pause. “Not really.”

That scared me.

“Dante,” I said softly, “they gave me a deadline.”

Another pause.

“I know,” he replied.

My breath caught. “You know?”

“Yes,” he said. “Because they gave me one too.”

My chest tightened. “What happens when time runs out?”

He exhaled slowly. “Someone gets hurt.”

Tears filled my eyes. “I don’t want that.”

“Neither do I,” he said. “That’s why I need you to be strong.”

“I don’t feel strong,” I admitted.

“I know,” he replied gently. “But you are.”

His voice softened. “Aria if things go wrong, you need to promise me something.”

“What?” I whispered.

“You leave,” he said. “You protect yourself. No matter what happens to me.”

My heart broke a little.

“I can’t do that,” I said.

“Yes, you can,” he replied firmly. “And you will.”

Silence fell between us.

“I’ll call you tomorrow,” he said. “Don’t answer unknown numbers again.”

“I won’t,” I promised.

When the call ended, I pressed the phone to my chest.

I had never felt so torn.

I was standing between truth and loyalty.

Between fear and courage.

Between walking away and staying for him.

And somewhere deep inside, I knew.

Whatever choice I made next

would change everything.