The old abandoned mansion was silent when I returned.
Too silent.
The large gates echoed behind us with a low metallic sound. Cold night wind brushed against my face. Carrying the faint smell of rain and blood.
I glanced down at my hand.
The skin across my knuckles was bruised. Red. Small cuts scattered over my hands from where I had slammed a knife into the wooden table. A thin line of blood had dried near my wrist. Hidden beneath the sleeve of the my black clothes.
No one needed to know.
Especially not him.
I stepped inside the mansion quietly . Heels clicking sotly against the marble. Guards lowered their heads as I passed. Their eyes lingered on my clothes.
On the stain near the hem of the dress.
Damn it.
I tightened my jaw and continued walking toward the staircase.
" You're late."
My steps froze.
His voice was cold.
Deep.
Dangerously calm.
I turned around.
He sat in the dimly lit living room , shirt still stained from blood. His blood. Shadows danced across his sharp features beside him , making him look even more terrifying.
And angry.
My heartbeat skipped.
" I didn't knew I had a curfew, " she replied casually.
His dark eyes scanned her from head to toe.
Not loving.
Not soft.
Like a predator examining his food.
His gaze stopped at my hand.
The bruises.
The room suddenly felt colder.
" What happened to your hand? "
I immediately pulled the sleeve lower.
" Nothing. "
" Come here. "
It wasn't loud.
That made it worse.
I walked towards him slowly . Stopped a few steps away. I could see the exhaustion beneath his eyes. His injuries were still serious. Even breathing too hard seemed painful for him.
He still looked powerful enough to destroy an entire room.
" I said it's nothing, " I lied.
His jaw tightened.
" You disappeared for five hours. "
" I handled something. "
" With whose permission? "
A laugh escaped from my lips before I could stop it.
" Permission? " I repeated. " I don't remember belonging to anyone. "
Silence filled the room.
Heavy silence.
The kind that warned before destruction.
Then he leaned back slightly. Eyes never left mine.
" Interesting, " he murmured. " Because everyone outside this mansion seems to think you belong to me. "
My chest tightened unexpectedly.
I hated the effect of him on mine.
Hated it even more because part of me believed him.
I looked away fast.
Big mistake.
His gaze sharped instantly.
" Look at me. "
I didn't.
His hand suddenly grabbed my face . Forcing me to look at him.
My breath caught.
The movement was fast despite his injuries.
Too fast.
He pulled me closer until I directly in front of him. His other hand's fingers wrapped around my bruised hand carefully at first...then his expression darkened completely when he saw the cuts properly.
" Who, " he asked quietly. " Touched you? "
His voice was terrifyingly calm.
I swallowed.
" It's handled. "
" Not the answer of my question! "
The air between them before suffocating.
I could practically hear the fire crackling beside them.
" I went to meet someone, "I admitted finally.
His eyes narrowed.
" Who? "
" Noone important. "
The grip on my wrist tightened slightly.
" You went alone. "
" Yes. "
" To enemy territory. "
I stayed silent.
That was the answer.
Something dangerous flickered in his eyes.
For the first time since I met him , I saw genuine anger slip through his control.
" You lost your mind. "
" And what was I supposed to do? " I snapped suddenly. " Sir here while your enemies plan to kill you and your father? While you can barely stand? "
Silence.
His expression changed slightly.
Not softer.
Worse.
More intense.
" You did this , " he said slowly, " for my family? "
I pulled my hand away.
" Don't misunderstand. I did it because if your family falls , I fall with it. "
A lie.
And they both knew it.
His eyes remained fixed on my face , studying every small expression carefully like he was trying to pull the truth directly from my mind.
" What happened there? " He asked.
I hesitated.
Images flagged through my mind instantly.
The underground casino.
Men surrounded me.
The knife pressed against the table.
The threats.
The laughter.
And the moment in realized one of them planned to use me against him.
" They wanted information, " I said carefully.
" And? "
" I gave them a warning instead. "
A dangerous smile touched his lips briefly.
" They hurt you. "
" One tried. "
That smile disappeared instantly.
" What do you do? "
I met him finally.
" I broke his hand. "
For a second, he just stared at me.
Then unexpectedly , a low laugh escaped him.
Deep.
Dark.
Real.
It sent warmth through my chest before I could stop it.
" That explains the bruises, " he murmured.
I hated that I suddenly liked hearing him laugh.
The realisation irritated me immediately.
" You should rest, " I said coldly. " Your stitches could reopen ."
" And you should stop walking into places that could get you killed. "
" I can handle myself. "
" I know. "
The answer came too quickly.
Too confidently.
That caught me off guard.
He looked at me with an intensity that made my heartbeat unsteady.
" That's exactly what worries me. "
The room suddenly felt too small.
Too warm.
Before I could respond , hurried footsteps echoed from the hallway.
A guard entered the living room quickly, breathing heavily.
" Sir– "
The guard stopped upon noticing me there.
Fear flashed across his face.
" What is it? " Alessio asked sharply.
The guard swallowed.
" They found out. "
Every muscle in me stiffened.
" How? " I asked immediately.
" One of the men survived. "
Silence.
The guard looked nervous now.
" They know she was there tonight. "
Alessio's expression turned deadly calm.
" And? "
The guard hesitated.
Then finally said the words that made the entire atmosphere shift.
" They are coming. "
My heartbeat slowed.
Not from calmness.
From instinct.
Danger.
Real danger.
Alessio slowly pushed himself upward from the bed despite the pain clearly hitting him instantly.
" Sit down, " I snapped.
He ignored me completely.
The guard looked terrified.
" There are atleast twenty men outside the east territory already. More are moving in. "
I cursed under my breath.
This was too fast.
" They won't attack the mansion directly yet, " I said quickly.
" No. " Alessio replied coldly.
His eyes moved toward the dark windows.
" They will come for you. "
A chill ran down my spine.
The guard suddenly spoke again.
" Sir... There's another problem. "
" What now? "
The guard looked directly at me.
" They sent a message. "
My stomach twisted.
" What message? "
The guard hesitated before answering quietly.
" They said if we hand over the women...they will spare the family. "
Silence.
Complete silence.
I turned toward him.
Waiting.
Maybe expecting hesitation.
Logic.
Strategy.
After all , I wasn't truly family.
Not really.
But the moment I looked into his eyes , every thought disappeared.
Because he looked furious.
Violently furious.
His voice came out low enough to terrify everyone in the room.
" Tell them, " he said slowly. " That anyone who coms near my wife...."
He picked up the gun resting beside the table.
Loaded it calmly.
Then looked toward the window with murder in his eyes.
" Dies.."