CHAPTER 51Third Person POV[A few hours before the event] Alessandro paced the length of his office, his jaw tightening with each passing second. The rage simmering beneath his skin had grown unbearable these days. Days had passed, and there was still no sign of Amelia. Every avenue explored, every lead followed, had resulted in a dead end. He wanted to be patient, as he had been for a while,, to receive a call from Zac,h, but there was nothing. If he didn't act fast, the psycho could do something outrageous. He couldn’t sit idly anymore. His fingers drummed against his desk as an idea began to form in his mind. "Mike," Alessandro barked. Mike appeared instantly, standing at attention, ready for his orders. "Accept the invitation for the event. I want to see him. Tonight.”Mike hesitated. “You’re sure about that? He’s not the type to make things easy.” "Neither am I. Knowing how foolish he is, he is likely to want to mock me for what has happened. That way — we can eas
CHAPTER 52 “Well, well, what do we have here?”Her blood ran cold. Zach.Amelia’s head snapped around, and her heart sank at the sight of him standing in the doorway, his arms crossed and a cruel smirk on his face. He held a tray of food in one hand, the other casually resting on the doorframe as if he had all the time in the world. "Going somewhere, Amelia?”She didn’t respond, panic surging through her veins. Desperately, she tried to push herself the rest of the way out, her movements frantic now. "Ah, ah, ah,” Zach said, setting the tray down and striding toward her. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”Before she could make it through, he grabbed her ankle, yanking her back into the room. Amelia let out a cry, her fingernails clawing at the windowsill as she tried to hold on, but his grip was too strong. She landed hard on the floor, her breath knocked out of her. "Did you really think you could get away?” Zach loomed over her, his expression dark and unreadab
CHAPTER 53Third Person’s POVThe night was oppressive, shrouded in stillness that mirrored Alessandro’s turmoil. He paced back and forth in the room, his fists clenching and unclenching as he replayed every detail they had uncovered so far. The pieces fit together too perfectly. Mike entered quietly, holding a tablet displaying a map of Zach’s property. “We’ve confirmed increased activity around his house. Guards moving in shifts, additional surveillance. If she’s anywhere, it’s there.”Alessandro stopped pacing, his sharp gaze locking on the screen. “Then we’re done waiting.” "Are you sure about this, Boss?” Mike hesitated. “Zach’s not an idiot. He’ll be prepared.” "If you ever ask that question again until we are done with this, Mike, you'll regret it." He threatened Mike and pushed him out of his way. Alessandro’s jaw tightened, "We move tonight.".....On the other side of the city, Amelia sat in her new prison—a small, sparsely furnished room with a single barred w
CHAPTER 54The fire roared like an unrelenting beast, consuming the building in its entirety. Thick smoke billowed into the night sky, and the acrid smell of burning wood and chemicals stung Alessandro’s nose. He stood outside the blazing structure, his fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white. His heart hammered in his chest, screaming at him to go inside, even as Mike’s strong grip on his shoulder held him back. "Don’t do it, Mr Alessandro,” Mike said firmly, his voice barely audible over the roaring flames. “You’ll die if you go in there!” "She’s in there, Mike!” Alessandro snapped, shrugging off his grip. “I can’t leave her!” "You don’t know that for sure!” Mike countered, his eyes wide with desperation. "The fire is wild, sir. If you go inside, you will die!"The fire was blazing furiously — if Amelia was indeed inside the room, there was no way that she was still going to be alive. She would have been burnt down already. Also, if they didn't leave im
CHAPTER 55The car screeched to a halt in front of the emergency ward. Luca jumped out, carrying Amelia’s unconscious and bloodied body in his arms. His shirt was soaked with her blood, and his breathing was uneven, panic etched on his face. "Help! She’s losing too much blood!" he shouted, his voice echoing through the silent night. Two nurses and a doctor rushed out with a stretcher, immediately taking Amelia from him. "What's her condition?" one of the nurses asked as they hurriedly wheeled her inside. "She was in an accident — a fire accident," Luca said, trying to keep his voice steady. "She got hit on her head, and she’s been unconscious since then."The doctor nodded and gestured for Luca to follow. They moved swiftly, disappearing into the surgery wing. Luca tried to keep up but was stopped by another nurse at the door. "You’ll have to wait here, sir. We’ll update you as soon as we can," she said, her voice firm but kind.Luca sank into a nearby chair, running
CHAPTER 56Amelia’s consciousness stirred, her eyelids felt impossibly heavy for her to move, her body weak and sore as though she had been dragged through hell itself. Darkness blurred the edges of her memory, but sooner than she expected, fragments of the cruelty she had gone through in the hands of Zach started to resurface. She winced, her throat dry and raw, and as her senses slowly returned, she realized she wasn’t alone.The sound of deep, uneven breathing filled the room. She turned her head, her movements sluggish, and saw Alessandro sitting in a chair by the bed. His elbows rested on his knees, his head bowed, and his hands clasped tightly together. His face, etched with exhaustion, was unshaven, and the dark circles beneath his eyes spoke of sleepless nights.Amelia wasn't able to figure out things fully yet. "Where…” Amelia’s voice cracked, barely audible. She cleared her throat and tried again. “Where am I?”Alessandro’s head snapped up, his piercing eyes locking on
CHAPTER 57AMELIA'S POVI existed in silence.Days had passed, or maybe weeks—I couldn’t tell anymore. Time had lost meaning inside this gilded prison Alessandro called his mansion. The only certainty I had was the unbearable weight in my chest, the dull ache of hopelessness pressing against my ribs. I barely spoke. I barely moved.I was alive, but I wasn’t living. That was my situation actually. The first time I woke up in this place, I stared at the high, unfamiliar ceiling for hours, feeling a numbness settle deep within me. I remembered his words; he said he cared about me. I wasn't that sure if he understood what that meant because if he did, I wouldn't still be here. What mattered was that I wasn’t free.The first thing I did the day after was ask for my phone. No one answered me.The second thing I did was ask to leave. That request was denied.I had walked to the door in a daze, the world tilting slightly under my feet, but before I could even grasp the handle, Alessandro’s
CHAPTER 58.AMELIA'S POVThe sound of the piano playing softly from downstairs echoed through the quiet house. It was Alessandro’s idea to bring it into the room, even though I had refused to touch it for the past few days. Somehow, he figured out that I liked playing piano. It'd been a while since I played one and because I didn't personally have one, I neglected playing. He had arranged it carefully and placed it next to the large window in my bedroom, where the sunlight would filter in during the day.Yeah, I had my very own bedroom now, but it didn't feel private enough because I still had him intruding on my space. I could feel his presence even when he wasn’t in the room with me, his care almost suffocating me, making me more confused about my life. I was still trying to adjust. Adjust to the fact that I was trapped in his world. Trapped in his house and, perhaps more terrifyingly, in his life,e, I was going nowhere anytime soon. I didn’t want to acknowledge how much I noti
CHAPTER 71 ALESSANDRO'S POV The call had come unexpectedly that morning, and to be honest, I had not been prepared for it. My mind was still foggy from sleep when the phone rang. I had always prided myself on being composed, but the sudden news threw me off balance after answering the call in my sleepy state. The old man was coming to visit. I had not expected him, not today, not at this moment. The last time he had come, it had been a matter of business, a casual check-in, and everything had been civil. But this time, there was something different in the air—something I couldn’t quite place. The man didn’t show up unless he had something important on his mind, and it wasn’t often that he paid me a visit without bringing some sort of heavy conversation with him.For me, he just didn't need to visit my space. I groaned softly, pushing myself out of bed and rubbing my eyes. The day had already started off wrong, and I needed to gather myself quickly. I couldn’t let him see me thin
CHAPTER 70AMELIA'S POVI pushed my coffee cup back and forth between my hands, my mind swirling with thoughts as I sat across from Mia in our usual café. The atmosphere was warm and comforting but despite the cozy environment, my heart was uneasy.Mia's sigh broke the silence between us, "You’re really going to avoid him?" Mia asked, her brows raised in surprise.I sighed, stirring my drink absentmindedly. "I don’t know what else to do, Mia. Alessandro told me that Luca… might have feelings for me. I think that might be right. When he said that, I had to think more deeply and realized that my ignorance must have made his actions more of a friendly one even though it seems like it isn't. And if that’s true, I don’t want to lead him on or make things awkward."Mia tapped her nails against the table, clearly deep in thought. "Has Luca actually told you he likes you that way?" "No, but… what if Alessandro is right?"She leaned forward, her expression serious. "Then let him be th
CHAPTER 69AMELIA'S POVDays had passed since Luca got released. I was avoiding him because I thought Alessandro might be right. Luca was texting me almost every day, and he was seeking an opportunity for us to meet. I wasn't ready to change the nature of our friendship. The house was quiet when we returned from the company. It was a bit hectic but I managed to pull through. I tried to push the thoughts away as I changed into something more comfortable—an oversized T-shirt and a pair of soft shorts. Sleep seemed impossible, so I stepped out onto the balcony for some fresh air.The night breeze brushed against my skin, cooling my heated thoughts. Below, the city lights stretched endlessly, glowing softly in the darkness.I hugged myself and sighed. "You’re still awake," Alessandro’s deep voice rumbled behind me.I turned to find him standing in the doorway. He had removed his jacket, leaving him in a fitted black dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up. The top buttons were undon
CHAPTER 68AMELIA'S POV The call came early in the morning.I was still in bed, barely awake, when my phone buzzed. Fumbling for it, I answered groggily. "Am I onto Miss Amelia?" The deep voice on the other end was unfamiliar. "Uhm, yes. Who is this please?" I asked him. "I am calling from the station and I will like to inform you based on the request of Mr. Luca that he had been released." The words jolted me fully awake. Throwing the covers off, I sat up straight. "He has?" "Yes, ma'am. He’s at the station now. So you might want to come before he leaves."I didn't hesitate. After getting dressed quickly, I grabbed my purse and rushed out. Alessandro was nowhere to be seen, which was a relief. I wasn't ready to deal with him yet.The drive to the police station felt like it took forever. My heart pounded the whole way, my mind racing with thoughts of what Luca had endured over the past few weeks. More so, I was still yet to believe what Alessandro had told me about
CHAPTER 67 The moment they stepped into the house, Amelia could no longer hold back. The question burned inside her, clawing its way to the surface, and she didn't want to waste any more time as she feared that Alessandro might change his mind. "Now that we are at home. Can you please go ahead and tell me why you have Luca locked up?" she demanded, her voice firm but controlled.Alessandro didn't look surprised. If anything, he seemed to have been expecting the question. He pulled off his blazer, tossing it onto the couch, before walking toward the bar and pouring himself a drink. "Didn't Luca tell you why?" he asked casually, lifting the glass to his lips as he watched her carefully. Amelia crossed her arms. "Not really. He only said you were the one who had him locked up and that he was sure of that. So tell me, is it true?"Alessandro took a slow sip before placing the glass down. He exhaled, then turned to look at her, his expression unreadable. "You must trust him so mu
CHAPTER 66.Her heels clicked against the floors, her heart pounding with every determined step she took inside the office. The rage bubbling inside her threatened to consume her, but she held it in—barely.She knew where to find him.And just as she expected, Alessandro was seated in his office, relaxing in his chair with a file in his hand. The moment she entered, his eyes shifted toward her, calm and unreadable.But she wasn’t calm. "What did you do, Alessandro? You had Luca locked up?"Her voice came out sharp, accusing.Alessandro took a slow sip of his drink before setting it down on the table beside him. Then, as if her words carried no weight at all, he leaned back in his chair, watching her. "Hmm." He answered. Something about his tone—casual, unapologetic—made her blood boil. "You—" She clenched her fists, stepping closer. "You had him arrested. You kept him locked away for weeks, and you didn’t think to tell me?"Alessandro exhaled, standing up. He was tall, b
CHAPTER 65.Amelia stood in front of her mirror, adjusting the collar of her blouse. She barely heard Mia’s voice over the phone, teasing her about the date. Her mind was still stuck on last night—the way Alessandro had kissed her, the way he had held her like she was something fragile yet precious.She swallowed hard as heat crept up her neck. Why was she blushing?Shaking off the thoughts, she grabbed her purse and stepped out of the room, only to be met with the sight of Alessandro already seated at the dining table. A warm, knowing smile tugged at his lips as he leaned back in his chair, watching her every move. "Good morning, amore," he greeted, his deep voice laced with amusement.Amelia rolled her eyes playfully but couldn't stop the flutter in her stomach. "You're up early." "As usual, I couldn't miss the chance to have breakfast with my girlfriend."She paused mid-step and raised her brows at him. "Girlfriend?"Alessandro stood, walking toward her with a slow, deliberat
CHAPTER 64. "I know that I have asked this before, but I..." she exhaled and then continued while clenching the spoon in between her fingers, "How many people have you killed?” Amelia’s voice was barely above a whisper.Alessandro didn’t flinch. He set down his glass, his fingers tracing the rim as he held her gaze to give her an honest answer. “More than I can count.”Her stomach twisted, but she didn’t look away. "I don't do so willingly or for fun,” he admitted. “I was born into it and for me to survive and protect the ones I care about and those that have been working for me, I have to do it. Moreover, in this world, there's no right or wrong. No one is innocent. If you don't attack first, prepare to defend. That's the rule.”Amelia searched his face, looking past the cold exterior. There was something deeper there—exhaustion, maybe even regret. "I understand,” she finally said.For a brief second, something soft flickered in his eyes.Amelia wasn't interested in prea
CHAPTER 63.Mia’s loud gasp echoed through the phone. "SO YOU MEAN TO TELL ME THAT YOU’VE BEEN WITH A MAFIA BOSS THIS WHOLE TIME?”Amelia winced and held the phone away from her ear. Mia—” "No, Amelia! Do you understand how crazy this is?” Mia’s voice was laced with shock, concern, and just a hint of betrayal. “I was going out of my mind, worried sick about you, and now I find out you’ve been tangled up with—”Amelia sighed. “I know. I should have told you sooner. I also didn't realize it until the whole situation just happened. "Sooner?” Mia scoffed. “Girl, you should have told me the moment you got caught up in this mess! I mean, I understand that there was no way, but still...What if something happened to you? What if—” She paused, her breath shaky. "I shouldn't have had this conversation with you on the phone. You’re really safe, right? You are not just lying to me, are you?" "Yes. I am safe.” Amelia’s voice softened. “I promise.”Mia exhaled. “I swear, you’re