Chapter-6

I was so stunned and disoriented that I couldn’t move for a second. And by the time I did, I was already backing away. My mouth parted as I took several short breaths, and my eyes widened. My broken ankle burned with every step and I struggled to breathe as I recognised the steel gaze and hard features of the man in front of me.

Silvio Salvatore.

My destruction.

And he was frenetic.

Tears of panic and bitter frustration rolled down my face as his piercing gaze send my thoughts into turmoil. The music faints in the distance, the speaking lights coming from the event darkening my vision of him. Now that he was in front of me, I realised he was the same man who snatched my life, my career, my friends, and my freedom from me.

My stomach rolled with nausea but worst of all was the suffocating sensation in my heart, the awful sensation that I couldn’t get enough oxygen. I took deep breaths to fight it, but it only worsened.

His voice was low. “Come here.” I was so startled that I just blinked at him in response. I struggled to wrangle my disjointed thoughts. Was this for real? There was no way Silvio could be here. Or did I drink too much?

He let go of that man’s neck throwing him off the ground. His steely gaze peered at me intently the whole time as he pulled a gun from the holster under his dark suit jacket. “Come here, Cara Mia.” The man just scrambled back as his expression morphed into one of terror.

This wasn’t a hallucination or a nightmare, this was real. He was here, in front of me, with his deadliest eyes. There was no warmth. Where such eyes stare so cold into my soul, in control.

My eyes flickered as he moved his hand and pointed the gun aiming at the man still groaning on the ground clutching his stomach. His nostrils flared angrily as before I could process, he shot the man twice–one bullet pierced him between the eyes and the other where his heart was supposed to be. A scream tore through my mouth at the loudness and my hands flew to my mouth. H-he just—

I stood there–unmoving and in shock. I was not startled that he just shot the man without even looking at him, but at the realisation that he just shot a man, mercilessly without even blinking an eye. God, how could I be such an idiot? How could I let my guard down and not stay where Silas had ordered me to know something like this could happen?

Silvio’s possession sometimes scared me, it brought the deepest fear ripping within my heart that it almost become impossible to see him as a human, but a devil.

Silvio’s eyes were fiery blue like the hellish fire staring down at me, his jaw flexing and the silence stretched between us. I was certain I was going to get into wild trouble today. He took a step forward, and a startled gasp left my lips his hand motioning forward to clap around my bicep. His other hand was fast enough to wrap around my throat as he pulled me flush against his chest.

My cheeks burned as he stared down. Unable to pull me away from his grasp, his unrelenting hold tightened as he leaned.

“You do not fucking let other men touch you.” His voice was as hard his gaze dripping with raw possessiveness. “Do you understand?” Releasing my bicep his hand captured my chin, forcing me to meet his gaze.

“Say you fucking understand.” He growled lowly. My stomach twisted, an unpleasant, heavy ache settling in my head. I didn’t realise my hands were trembling by now.

“L-let go,” I voice out unevenly. Silvio let out an unamused chuckle. His eyes dilated further, making me shrink away.

“What did you just say? Let go?” To my shock, his hand on my neck lowered, slowly and teasingly moving around the curve of my dress to settle over my waist. His eyes took over me with such intensity it made me shudder all over. His mouth lowered to my ear as he whispered cruelly. “You still don’t understand, don’t you? I let you go once, I’m not repeating the same mistake twice.”

The tightness in my chest grew, and my lungs co strip ting until every breath was forceful. Fear and trepidation mixed, making me want to run, but all I could manage was a struggling gasp. Silvio took another step forward, my feet refusing to move to obey him the way they refused to obey me. I felt like I was suffocating, and all I wanted to do was claw my throat, to tear it open so that I could such in air.

“Breathe, little one.” Silvio’s suddenly relaxed voice expanded my lungs, and I suck in a hurried breath. His strong hands on either side of my waist created an untouchable cage, and my body gravitated towards him, it felt so hot, yet so calming. Wherever his hands rested, a familiar hum of sensational bliss vibrated. I didn’t realise when, but soon I felt the distance between us reducing and I was pulled into his chest. I was breathing semi-normally. I was still sweating and shaking, but my pulse was slowing, as Silvio gently patted my head.

“Here, here,” he soothed and I didn’t realise I was crying in his arms until everything blurred in front of my eyes. My chest was too tight but now I could manage to draw in a few breaths. His hand on my nape stroking the sensitive flesh.

No, this wasn’t right. I couldn’t find solace in his arms. In the arms of a man who kills for satisfaction. Silvio sensed my resilience before I could wriggle. His hand on my nape stilled mid-stroke and for a moment I stilled with him until something cold and hard pricked my neck.

Lethargy rushed through my veins, and that’s when I realised, there was no escape from this man. Whose obsession was as dangerous as love. And strangely, I knew this was it. He’d never let me go, and I’d never be free again.

*****

When I regained consciousness, it took me several heartbreaking seconds to realise what turn my life had taken. A small moan left my lips at the soreness in my limbs. My lids fluttered open as I stirred. Warm pair of lips pressed against my forehead as softly whispered words were whispered in my ears.

“Shh…sleep, bambino. It’s a long ride.” Calloused rough hands ran through my hair giving a calming sensation to my already pounding head.

“Where…where are you…taking me?” I croaked hoarsely, arms tighten around me and I realised I was sitting on someone’s lap. Silvio’s lap. Hot breath teased my ear lobes as I let out another soft moan, it was too comfortable.

“Where you belong, my love.” A voice assured, pressing the lips against my ear lobe.

I wanted to open my eyes fully, to look around but my body didn’t allow me. It felt like my head was going to explode with constant ringing, and my limbs ached with growing soreness. The dress I was wearing was so uncomfortable that so wanted to rip it off me. My body felt hot, and my insides were cold. My heavy lids blinked at his face.

My body relaxed further as a lone tear escaped my eye before he catch it with his finger running over my cheekbone. His touch is light as a feather making me unconsciously lean toward him. My lips parted as I drew in a deep breath. Before I knew it, I was drifting off to the land of fairy tales and unicorns.

The second time I regained consciousness, it was harder to open my lids than the first time. I was more aware, more conscious and more scared. The first thing I noticed was the halting of my limbs. The panic resurfaced. Then realisation dawned soon. I was chained. I gritted my teeth as I yanked my hands as the chains around my wrist jiggled. Tears of frustration ran down my cheeks. How could he? Was this the way he wanted to keep me this time? Unwilling and forcefully?

And at the moment of terror, I heard the door open. A soft light followed with a silhouette I recognised instantly.

Silvio.

He stood in the doorway, like a fallen angel. His hair looked dishevelled, yet added masculine texture to his domineering aura. His eyes trained on my face, and his lips curved slightly. He was still stunningly dangerous. Utterly terrifying. My instincts had always been right—Silvio wasn’t the dangerous man, danger resided in him in itself. He was a dangerous man to love, he was volatile, and his erratically aggressive nature. The man who carried a gun, and you’d never know when it’d turn to you.

Yet. Despite all of that, I fell for him.

Lust wasn’t the deadliest sin a man could commit, it was this temporary craving I see in his eyes. Hunger for flesh and skin being touched. Wanting every inch of my soul. Calling me his even if I don’t belong to him. Other people would say murder was the most unforgivable thing in this world. No. Loving him was an unforgivable sin.

People like him never deserved second chances. I gulped the lump of rage in me.

“Unchain me.” My words sounded even regardless of the shivering in my heart.

“Why? So that you can run back to him?” He asked softly, entering the room further. He moved closer until he was close enough to destroy me. He lifted his hand, and I tensed.

“You’re no better than him.” My voice was barely audible. He slowly shook his head. Even his actions seem intimidating. His finger was gentle on my skin as he slowly glided them down my face, his eyes following their path. It was such a stark contrast that I hated this man as much as I ever loved him. This whole situation was disoriented for a moment.

His lips again curved sending chilling icicles down my spine.

“No, little one. I’m worse.” His deeply accented voice is like nails scrapping against my skin. My fingers convulsively tightened around the sheets.

“Does it satisfy your ego? Chaining me down like this? Caging me? Cause you know you can never have me willingly.” He leaned forward, covering my wrist with his hand, his fingers on my face resting under my chin tilting it up. Pair of fiery blue eyes bore into my soul.

“It doesn’t matter, Sadie. You were mine the moment I saw you. No force in this world can stop me from claiming you.” He said darkly pressing his palm beside my head making my heart thump at the gloaming blackness radiating off him.

Silvio didn’t falter yet took a step forward before my hair was wrapped around his fist and his head lowered to claim my lips. My lips parted with a soft gasp. His tongue invaded my mouth, stroking the wet, silky depths and my fingers dug into his shoulders. The colour on my face deepened. I felt my hands struggling to move, the chains stopping me from making any movement. He wanted me at his mercy.

An animalistic growl left his mouth as he cursed his mouth descending to my neck, his hand pulling hard at my hairs arching my neck back. One of his hands moving down between us fumbling with my clothes. This was it. The death warrant I just signed to devil. The funeral of my freedom that died the time I caught his eyes.