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CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Terakhir Diperbarui:
2025-03-09 06:04:34
Bab terkait
THE DEBT OF DESIRE CHAPTER FOURTEEN
The moment Luca’s words settled in the air, Isabella felt the weight of them press against her chest. Morelli had escaped. And he was coming for her.Matteo didn’t hesitate. "Luca, double security. I want eyes everywhere. We end this before he even gets close."Luca nodded and disappeared, leaving them in tense silence. Isabella could still feel the ghost of Matteo’s touch on her skin, the warmth of his lips on hers. But the moment had shattered, replaced by the icy grip of reality.She swallowed. "What now?"Matteo turned to her, his expression dark. "Now? We prepare for war."The next few hours were a blur of movement. Matteo’s men swarmed the penthouse, reinforcing every entrance, preparing for the inevitable confrontation. He moved with lethal efficiency, barking orders, loading weapons, making calls.Isabella sat on the edge of the couch, watching him. Despite the danger, something was captivating about the way he commanded a room—controlled, unwavering.Her thoughts spun. Morell
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-10THE DEBT OF DESIRE CHAPTER FIFTEEN
The tension in the room thickened like smoke as Matteo stared at the phone in Luca’s outstretched hand. His father’s name flashed across the screen, a name that held more weight than any enemy he had ever faced.Matteo exhaled sharply, wiping the blood from his lip before taking the call. "What do you want?"A slow, calculated chuckle echoed through the speaker. "Is that how you greet your father, figlio mio? After all, I only call when it’s important."Matteo’s grip on the phone tightened. "You lost the right to call me that a long time ago. Get to the point."There was a pause, then a sigh. "Ah, Matteo. Always so brash. So reckless. And yet, you still manage to disappoint me. You should have finished Morelli when you had the chance."Matteo’s jaw clenched. "I handled it.""No, you let your little pet convince you to show mercy." His father’s voice darkened. "That was a mistake."Isabella stiffened beside Matteo, her fingers curling into her palm. Matteo glanced at her briefly, his e
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-10THE DEBT OF DESIRE CHAPTER SIXTEEN
The city blurred past in streaks of neon and shadow as Matteo gripped the steering wheel with white-knuckled fury. The car’s engine roared, matching the rage pulsing through his veins.Isabella was gone.His father had taken her.And he was going to get her back. No matter the cost.Luca sat beside him, checking his phone. "Boss, I’ve got a lead. Traffic cams caught a convoy heading east. No plates, but the route leads straight to your father’s old estate."Matteo’s jaw clenched. Of course. His father wouldn’t just take Isabella anywhere—he’d bring her somewhere Matteo would hesitate to attack. Somewhere laced with memories, with ghosts.The estate was a fortress, guarded like a damn military base. A direct assault would be suicide.But Matteo had never cared much for rules."Call the men," he ordered. "I want an extraction team ready. We’re taking her back tonight."Luca hesitated. "Boss, your father… if we go in like this, it’s war."Matteo’s grip tightened on the wheel. "It was alw
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-10THE DEBT OF DESIRE CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Matteo barely felt the weight of Isabella in his arms. His heart pounded as Luca stepped closer, his gun still trained on Matteo’s father, who now lay bleeding on the floor. The old man’s breathing was ragged, but his lips curled into a knowing smirk even in his final moments."You think this is the end?" his father rasped, blood bubbling at the corners of his mouth. "You have no idea what you’ve started."Matteo’s grip tightened around Isabella. "You lost the moment you took her."His father’s laughter was weak, but it sent a chill down Matteo’s spine. "You can’t run from the past, figlio mio. You are more like me than you realize. And soon… you’ll see it for yourself."Then, with one final breath, he was gone.Matteo felt no relief. No victory. Only a hollow silence wrapped around him like a noose.Luca lowered his gun. "Boss, we need to go. More men are coming."Matteo nodded, lifting Isabella. She was still weak, her body trembling, but she clung to him as if he were the only thin
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-12THE DEBT OF DESIRE CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
The weight of the message still lingered in the air. Matteo clenched his jaw as he studied the carved serpent in the photograph. His father’s death was only the beginning—The Serpent was here, and he wasn’t wasting time.Luca was the first to break the silence. “This isn’t just a message, Matteo. It’s a challenge.”Matteo placed the photograph on the table and exhaled sharply. His mind was already calculating the possibilities. The Serpent was a name whispered in the darkest corners of the underworld, a man known for striking from the shadows and leaving nothing but chaos in his wake.Enzo leaned forward, his voice tense. “Club Raven isn’t just some random location. The Serpent wants us to find that body. He wants us to know he’s watching.”Matteo turned his gaze to Isabella. She was quiet, her fingers digging into the blanket wrapped around her shoulders. He knew she was trying to be strong, but fear flickered behind her eyes.He crossed the room in three long strides and crouched be
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-12THE DEBT OF DESIRE CHAPTER NINETEEN
A scream. Then another.The world plunged into darkness, but Matteo didn’t freeze. His instincts took over as he grabbed Isabella, yanking her behind him just as gunfire erupted. The room became chaos—shouts, crashes, the sound of bodies hitting the floor.Luca’s voice cut through the noise. “Get down!”Matteo shoved Isabella to the floor, covering her as bullets ripped through the air. The flickering strobe lights illuminated flashes of blood and bodies. The Serpent’s men were firing, but Matteo’s team retaliated.A figure lunged at them from the side, a blade glinting in the dim light. Matteo caught his wrist mid-strike, twisting it with brutal force until the knife clattered to the floor. He drove his elbow into the attacker’s face, sending him sprawling.“Move!” Matteo growled, dragging Isabella up and pushing her toward the exit.Luca was at their side, shooting down another man before barking into his comms, “We’re pinned down! We need extraction now!”Through the chaos, Matteo’
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-13THE DEBT OF DESIRE CHAPTER TWENTY
The safe house was tucked away in the hills, surrounded by dense forest and silence. Matteo had chosen this place for moments exactly like this—when the war outside was raging too loudly, and they needed a place to breathe.As the SUV pulled up, the tension in the air finally began to ease. Luca was the first to step out, scanning the perimeter with sharp eyes. “We’re clear,” he confirmed, though his hand remained on his gun.Matteo turned to Isabella. Her face was pale, her hands still trembling slightly from the night’s chaos. The shadows under her eyes told him she hadn’t truly rested since she’d been caught in this whirlwind of violence and betrayal.He reached out, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “You’re safe here,” he said, voice low but firm.She exhaled softly as if she wanted to believe him. “For how long?”“As long as it takes.”The cabin was warm, the fireplace crackling as Matteo poured two glasses of whiskey. Isabella stood near the window, arms wrapped around her
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-13THE DEBT OF DESIRE CHAPTER TWENTY - ONE
The safe house was nestled deep within the countryside, surrounded by towering trees and complete silence. After the chaos, the gunfire, and the chase through the city—it felt like another world entirely. The weight of the past hours still clung to them, but here, for the first time in what felt like an eternity, Matteo could breathe.He ran a hand through his hair as he leaned against the massive wooden dining table, his thoughts still caught in the whirlwind of The Serpent’s latest move. The bastard was always a step ahead. He knew their locations and anticipated their movements. It was more than strategy—it was personal.A soft voice broke through his thoughts. “You’re still thinking about it.”Matteo turned to see Isabella standing near the window, wrapped in a thick sweater that was far too large for her—his sweater. The sight of her, delicate and exhausted yet still breathtaking, sent something sharp through his chest.He exhaled slowly. “I can’t afford not to.”She crossed the
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-14
Bab terbaru
THE DEBT OF DESIRE CHAPTER FIFTY
The cold air sliced through the trees like a whisper of danger as Mateo stepped forward, the silence around him too loud to be ignored. The forest that once offered sanctuary now felt like a trap, and it was no illusion. His father stood before him—sharp-suited, eyes like flint, and a cruel smile carving his face."I always knew you were stubborn," his father said, his voice calm. "But chasing after that boy... did you think I wouldn't notice?"Mateo’s hand tightened around the gun at his hip. Isabella was just behind him, eyes wide with disbelief, her breath shallow."Where's Luca?" Mateo demanded, trying to mask the tremor in his voice.A low chuckle from the shadows answered him first. Then Elena stepped out beside Mateo’s father.Isabella gasped. "You... you betrayed us again?"Elena didn’t flinch. Her eyes, once full of warmth, now glinted with icy detachment. "You were never supposed to get this far. But I’ll admit... I almost believed you could change things, Mateo. Almost."Ma
THE DEBT OF DESIRE CHAPTER FORTY - NINE
The rain had started again, a slow drizzle that painted the world in shades of gray. Mateo stood at the edge of the clearing, eyes scanning the tree line as the scent of wet earth filled his lungs. Behind him, Isabella’s laughter rang softly through the cabin, a fading echo of the rare peace they had found.But peace never lasted.Elena burst through the door, her boots soaked, her face pale. “We have a problem.”Mateo turned instantly, his hand reaching for the gun on the counter. “What is it?”“Luca’s gone,” she said breathlessly. “He went to scout the east side of the ridge and hasn’t returned. It’s been hours.”Isabella stood, her face falling. “No… he wouldn’t just disappear.”Elena shook her head. “No signs of struggle. Nothing. But the tracks I found—they weren’t his alone. Someone else was out there.”Mateo’s jaw clenched. The storm had returned.“Gear up,” he ordered. “We go now.”The forest was darker than usual, shadows crawling like serpents through the underbrush. Isabell
THE DEBT OF DESIRE CHAPTER FORTY - EIGHT
The sun filtered through the dusty blinds of the safehouse, bathing the wooden floor in stripes of warm light. It was the kind of morning that promised peace, rare and fleeting in their world, but beautiful nonetheless. Mateo stirred in bed, the weight of Isabella’s head resting gently on his shoulder, her breath soft and even against his skin. For once, there were no gunshots, no sirens, no running.Just quiet.Mateo turned slightly to face her, brushing a strand of hair away from her face. She looked peaceful, her guard finally down. The constant tension that had lined her features in the past few weeks seemed to have melted away, if only temporarily. He kissed her forehead lightly, his chest tightening with an emotion he hadn’t dared name before.Love."You're staring," Isabella murmured without opening her eyes, her voice still thick with sleep.Mateo smiled. "How could I not? You're the only good thing in this madness."She opened her eyes slowly, a small smile spreading across h
THE DEBT OF DESIRE CHAPTER FORTY - SEVEN
The night had fallen softly over the secluded cabin, cradling it in shadows and silence. For once, there were no gunshots echoing in the distance, no tense footsteps crunching leaves outside. The world had taken a breath—and so had they.Inside, the fire crackled in the stone hearth, casting a warm glow over the rustic room. Mateo sat on the edge of the bed, his shirt open, revealing bruises fading into the tone of his skin. His fingers absentmindedly traced the old scar that ran along his ribs, a reminder of the battles they’d survived.Isabella stood by the window, her silhouette bathed in moonlight. The soft cotton of the oversized sweater she wore barely brushed her thighs. It had been his once. Now it looked better on her. She turned, eyes meeting his, and for a second, the world shrank to just the two of them."You’re thinking again," she said softly, moving toward him.Mateo smiled faintly, tired but present. "I’m always thinking. Especially when it’s quiet like this."She knelt
THE DEBT OF DESIRE CHAPTER FORTY - SIX
The forest had fallen quiet after the chaos of their near-capture. The moon hung low and full above them, casting a gentle silver light over the campsite Luca and Elena had managed to set up in a remote clearing. For the first time in days, there were no footsteps stalking them, no shadows whispering threats from the darkness. Just the soft rustling of the trees and the occasional crackle from the fire.Isabella sat by the fire, her knees drawn to her chest, eyes watching the flames dance. Her hair was tousled, her face tired, but there was a softness to her features tonight. The sharp edges of fear had dulled, replaced by a quiet, pensive calm.Mateo returned from the perimeter, his shoulders finally relaxed, the weight of constant vigilance momentarily eased. He saw her, silhouetted against the fire, and something inside him ached. They had both been holding on so tightly—too tightly. And now, in the lull, he felt the tremble of everything he’d held back.He sat beside her silently,
THE DEBT OF DESIRE CHAPTER FORTY - FIVE
The silence after his father’s voice was deafening. On the flickering screen, his father stood in a control room lined with monitors, his eyes sharp, unreadable.Mateo took a step forward, heart pounding. “You knew we were coming.”“Of course I did,” his father said calmly. “Everything you’ve done, every place you’ve run to, every person you’ve trusted—I’ve been watching. Waiting.”Elena slammed a fist against the control panel. “He’s bluffing.”But Mateo wasn’t so sure. His father had always been a step ahead. What if this entire escape, their rebellion, had played right into his hands?Isabella pulled Mateo back from the screen. “We don’t have time to let him play mind games.”Luca was already checking weapons, his shoulder wound hastily bandaged. “We need to move. Now. He knows we’re here.”Elena hesitated. “There’s a secondary tunnel, off the east wing. It leads to the old lab where they did the original trials.”Mateo looked at her. “Why would we go there?”Elena met his gaze, so
THE DEBT OF DESIRE CHAPTER FORTY- FOUR
The storm rolled in like a wild beast, winds snapping through the forest canopy as lightning clawed at the sky. Rain fell in slanting sheets, cold and relentless, masking their movements as they pushed deeper into enemy territory.They didn’t speak much. Words felt too heavy now, too fragile against the weight of what was coming. But every glance between them — every brief touch of reassurance — built something stronger than fear: resolve.Mateo led the way, soaked to the bone, face cut and bruised, but his eyes were alive with a fire that refused to die. Isabella stayed close at his side, their fingers brushing from time to time, grounding each other in the storm of their fate. Elena, still a shadow of mystery and grit, navigated the forest with uncanny precision, her knife always at the ready. Luca covered their backs, eyes sharp and unwavering, pain radiating from his wounded shoulder, but ignored.They were running toward danger, not away from it.“Elena,” Mateo called over the roa
THE DEBT OF DESIRE CHAPTER FORTY - THREE
The forest held its breath.Mateo’s father stood before them, a cruel twist of a smile carved into his face, as if he’d been waiting years for this very moment. Shadows from the gnarled trees clung to his figure like loyal sentries. Around them, his men emerged from the thicket, weapons raised, closing off every possible escape route. The cold bite of inevitability pressed against Luca’s chest, but he refused to let panic settle."Nowhere left to run," Mateo’s father sneered, his voice like gravel over broken glass.Mateo’s jaw tightened, his body a coil of restrained fury. "You never gave me a choice," he growled, stepping in front of Isabella instinctively. His father’s eyes flicked to the movement, cold amusement dancing in their depths."No, son," he replied darkly. "You just never understood the choices that mattered."Elena’s gaze swept the clearing, calculating. She stepped slightly to the left, eyes catching Luca’s. A silent exchange passed between them, a spark of unspoken str
THE DEBT OF DESIRE CHAPTER FORTY - TWO
Silence hung heavy in the air as Mateo's words echoed off the cavern walls. "It’s him. My father."Elena's breath caught in her throat. Luca gripped the hilt of his blade tightly, his knuckles white. Isabella stepped back, her eyes wide with disbelief, flicking between Mateo and the shadowed figure that had haunted them from the very beginning.Mateo's father emerged from the shadows, a cruel smirk curling his lips. His eyes, dark and cold, scanned the group with a familiarity that made Isabella's skin crawl."I always wondered how long it would take you to figure it out, son," he sneered, his voice a venomous blend of mockery and pride. "You’ve grown, but not enough to outsmart me."Mateo’s jaw clenched. His heart pounded like war drums in his chest, every beat roaring in his ears. Memories flooded him—memories of a father who had once held his hand and taught him to fight, only to vanish without a trace, leaving behind a hollow ache that never healed."You were dead," Mateo growled,
