CHAPTER 33 – THE PROTECTIVE STORM
The next morning, I woke to the faint hum of my apartment, sunlight spilling through the curtains. My body still tingled from last night—the intensity, the closeness, the raw emotion between Dante and me. I had barely slept, replaying every word, every touch, every whispered confession.
I sighed, knowing that today would not be calm. Somehow, nothing ever was with these two men in my life.
By mid-morning, there was a knock on the door. My stomach sank. I knew before I even peeked through the peephole.
Adrian.
I opened the door cautiously. "Adrian… what—"
He smiled, holding a small bouquet of flowers. "Good morning, Auri. I thought I'd start your day with a little sunshine."
I blinked, caught between exasperation and embarrassment. "Adrian… I've already asked you—please stop showing up unannounced. I'm not… I'm not ready to—"
"Ready or not, Auri, I can't help how I feel," he said, stepping inside despite my protests. "I want you, and I'm not giving up."
Before I could respond, I heard a familiar deep voice behind me:
"Adrian. YOU AGAIN!"
My heart jumped. I turned to see Dante standing in the doorway, eyes dark, jaw tight, the very definition of a storm about to break.
Adrian's grin faltered. "Dante… I was just—"
"Just what?" Dante's voice was low and dangerous, every word heavy with warning. "Trying to keep coming into her life? Trying to make her mine without asking?"
Adrian stood his ground, a smirk tugging at the corners of his lips. "She's free to choose, Dante. Not yours, not anyone's. What are you here also anyway?"
Dante stepped forward, his presence filling the apartment. I could feel the tension radiating off him, almost tangible, and my heart pounded.
"Stay out of my way," Dante growled. "She doesn't need you interfering."
Adrian matched his intensity, leaning slightly closer. "I'm not interfering. I'm pursuing. And I won't stop until she's mine."
My hands trembled as I stepped between them. "Stop! Both of you!" I shouted, voice cracking. "This isn't helping anyone!"
They didn't listen. Their arguments escalated, voices rising, fists clenching. The air between them was electric. Each step closer, each word sharper, made me shiver—not just from fear, but from the undeniable intensity of the men I had somehow pulled into my life.
I pressed my hands to my temples. "I can't do this anymore!" I cried. "Dante! Adrian! Both of you need to calm down!"
Dante's eyes softened when he saw the tears welling in mine. "Auri…" His voice dropped, low and possessive. "I told you I won't let him take you. I can't. I won't."
Adrian, refusing to back down, countered, "And I can't stop trying either. She needs to see my heart. She deserves the chance to know I care too."
I felt trapped, caught between two incredibly strong, stubborn, and determined men who refused to listen, let alone respect boundaries.
Finally, I made a decision. "Adrian… please! You need to leave. Now. I can't deal with both of you at the same time. I don't want to pick sides! Just… go."
He hesitated, eyes searching mine. "I'll leave… but don't think I'm done. I'll keep showing you I care."
I nodded, swallowing the lump in my throat. "I know… but not like this. Please."
Adrian finally stepped back, exiting with a small, resigned nod. The door clicked shut, leaving only Dante and me in the apartment.
He turned to me, dark eyes softening, but still full of intensity. "Are you okay?" he asked, taking my hands in his.
"I… I think so," I whispered, shivering slightly. "But Dante… what if he doesn't stop?"
He shook his head, brushing a stray hair from my face. "I'll make sure he does. I don't care how. No one… no one is going to interfere with what's ours."
My cheeks warmed at his possessive tone, and my pulse raced. "I… I just want peace, Dante. I don't want to be torn between the two of you."
He smiled faintly, but there was a dangerous glint in his eyes. "Then let me take care of it. You just… stay with me. Let me protect you."
I nodded, heart racing. Despite everything, despite the chaos Adrian brought, despite the confusion swirling in my mind, one thing was clear: I belonged with Dante. For now, at least.
And with him standing so close, hand on mine, heat radiating off him, I allowed myself a small, shaky smile.
"Okay," I whispered.
Dante leaned closer, brushing his lips lightly against my temple. "Good. Because I plan to make sure no one ever comes between us. Not him. Not anyone."
I shivered, caught between relief, fear, and something thrilling—something that made my heart skip and my pulse race.
I really have to make a decision for this tensions to stop. I need to make adrian stop courting me because from the very beginning my heart only belongs to Dante. I couldn't let him hurt by always letting him made his feelings be known unto me. He doesn't deserves it, He's genuine and gentle. I can't hurt him
I also need to figure out about Dante and me