AmaraThe room is dark, save for the faint glow of moonlight spilling through the window, casting long shadows against the walls. I wake with a start, a strange weight pressing on my chest, my senses prickling with unease.I sit up, blinking the sleep from my eyes, and freeze.Matteo is standing by the window, his broad frame silhouetted against the pale light. His dark hair is disheveled, his shoulders tense—and his white shirt is covered in blood.My breath catches in my throat, and I grip the edge of the blanket like it might anchor me to reality. “Matteo?” I whisper, my voice trembling.He turns slowly, his green eyes locking onto mine, sharp and unrelenting.“What… what are you doing here?” I ask, my voice barely more than a whisper.He doesn’t answer right away, his gaze heavy, unreadable. The silence stretches, thick and suffocating, before he finally speaks.“Go back to sleep, Amara,” he says, his tone flat, almost hollow.I don’t move. “Why are you covered in blood?”He exhal
MatteoThe door clicks shut behind me, the sound ringing louder in my ears than it should. My chest feels tight, my hands twitching at my sides, and I can still feel the ghost of her touch—the cool, damp cloth brushing over my skin, the softness in her movements.What the fuck just happened?I drag a hand through my hair, pacing the length of the hall. Blood still stains the creases of my shirt, the metallic tang clinging to me like a second skin, but my face and hands are clean. Because of her.She didn’t have to do that. Hell, she shouldn’t have done it. But she did, and I didn’t fucking stop her.It wasn’t the defiance I’m used to from her, the fire I’ve been trying to snuff out. It wasn’t even fear, though I’ve seen plenty of that from her too. No, it was something else. Something softer, gentler, something that doesn’t belong in a place like this or with a man like me.And that’s what fucking guts me.I slam my fist against the wall, the sharp sting grounding me, pulling me out
AmaraThe flowers sit in a crystal vase on the small table by the window, their colors vibrant against the gray light filtering in from outside. Blues, yellows, whites—soft, delicate things that feel out of place in this room, in this house, in my life.I sit cross-legged on the bed, staring at them, my arms resting on my knees. My fingers tap absently against my leg as my thoughts churn.Why did he do that?Why did Matteo make me pick them, of all things?It wasn’t a kindness—I know better than to think he’s capable of something like that. He doesn’t do things without a reason. Every move he makes is calculated, deliberate. So what was the point?I behaved, didn’t I?I gave him exactly what he wanted. I didn’t fight him, didn’t push back, didn’t light the match I know he’s expecting me to strike. I was quiet, obedient, everything he’s been trying to beat into me since he dragged me into this nightmare.And still… he seemed pissed.My gaze shifts to the flowers again, their delicate p
AmaraHis eyes are sharp, blazing with fury as they land on me, then flick to his mother. “What the hell is this?” he growls, his voice low and dangerous.Sienna doesn’t flinch, her calm demeanor unshaken. “Tea,” she says simply. “Amara was kind enough to join me.”“Amara,” Matteo spits, his gaze snapping back to me. “You’re supposed to be in your room.”I shrink slightly under his glare, but Sienna speaks before I can.“She’s a guest, Matteo,” she says coolly. “Not a prisoner.”Matteo’s jaw tightens, his hands clenching into fists at his sides. “Don’t interfere, Ma,” he warns, his voice cold. “This isn’t your business.”“It became my business the moment you brought her here,” Sienna counters, her tone icy.Matteo ignores her, stalking toward me. His hand wraps around my arm, pulling me to my feet with a force that makes me wince.“We’re leaving,” he snaps, dragging me toward the door.“Matteo—” Sienna starts, but he cuts her off.“Enough,” he growls, his voice like a whip.I stumble
MatteoThe hallway blurs as I storm toward the parlor, anger pounding through my veins like a war drum. My fists clench and unclench at my sides, and I can still feel the heat of Amara’s tears, the sound of her voice trembling.She wasn’t the one I wanted to break today.It’s my mother.I shove the doors open with more force than necessary, the echo reverberating through the room. She’s sitting at the same table where she had tea with Amara just moments ago, the faint scent of chamomile still lingering in the air.Sienna Dragonetti doesn’t even flinch. She looks up at me, her face calm, poised, the picture of composure, but I can see the steel in her eyes.“You shouldn’t have done it,” I snap, my voice harsh and cold.She tilts her head slightly, resting her hands on the armrests of her chair. “Done what, Matteo?”“Invited her to tea,” I growl, stepping closer. “What the fuck were you thinking?”Her expression doesn’t waver, but her tone sharpens ever so slightly. “I was thinking it m
MatteoThe bass from the speakers pulses through the club, a relentless beat that matches the pounding in my head. The air is thick with smoke, perfume, and the faint metallic scent of spilled liquor. I’m sitting in the corner booth, a bottle of bourbon on the table in front of me and a half-empty glass in my hand.I poured it an hour ago and still haven’t even taken a sip.Some blonde is draped over me, her hands sliding across my chest as she whispers things I don’t give a fuck about into my ear. Her laughter is high-pitched, fake, and grates on my nerves more than the music.I don’t know her name. I didn’t ask.“Come on, Matteo,” she purrs, her nails raking lightly against my shirt. “You’ve been so tense all night. Let me help you relax.”Her lips trail to my neck, her perfume so strong it makes my stomach turn. I grit my teeth, staring at the glass in my hand as if it holds the answer to the storm swirling in my head.My mind is elsewhere.It’s in the fucking mansion, back in that
MatteoI shouldn’t be here. I should wait until morning, let the night cool my temper, but the thought of Amara sitting in that room—staring at those flowers I made her pick—gnaws at me. She needs to understand that I won’t tolerate her overstepping again, but maybe I went too far. Accusing her of manipulating my mother? Even I know how ridiculous that sounds.I stride toward her room, rehearsing what I’ll say. Something to smooth over my earlier accusations without losing the upper hand. Something to remind her of her place without ripping into her the way I did before.But the second I open the door, the words die in my throat.At first, I think she’s sleeping, her body lying too still under the sheets. But then the moonlight catches the dark stain spreading across the floor, the glint of something sharp lying near her hand.Then the broken vase, scattered flowers …and the blood.It’s everywhere.Her wrists are sliced open, the skin jagged and red, the blood pooling around her in a
Matteo“Matteo,” he begins, his voice calm as he pulls up a chair next to me. “I know how much a vendetta can eat at you. It’s like a fucking poison—it fills you up, drives you, gives you purpose. But you need to realize something: Amara is not just her last name, and she’s not her father.”I grit my teeth, the sharp edge of defensiveness rising in my chest. “Dad—”“Listen to me,” he says. “If I still had the attitude you do, your mother wouldn’t be alive right now. I would have killed her.”I blink, staring at him, unable to comprehend what he’s just said. Swallowing hard, I tilt my head, forcing myself to meet his gaze. “What do you mean?”My father exhales heavily, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees, his sharp eyes studying me as if he’s deciding whether to lay bare what he’s about to say. His usually impenetrable mask of authority slips slightly, revealing something deeper—regret.“Your mother…” he begins, his voice quieter now, “your mother didn’t always have the life s
AmaraI wake slowly, my body heavy and warm, cocooned in a tangle of sheets and the steady, grounding heat of Matteo pressed against me. His arm is draped over my waist, holding me against his chest like he’s afraid I’ll slip away in the night.The memories from the night before rush back in a wave, and my cheeks heat as I bury my face into the pillow. I gave myself to him. My first. Matteo Dragonetti. And he was…Gentle.The thought surprises me. Matteo, who has only ever been cruel, cold, and possessive, was careful with me. His touch, his words, everything was different last night.But even as my body feels sated, my heart twists with anxiety.What happens now?I gave him the one thing I had left, the last piece of myself I’d kept untouched, and now… now I feel empty, like I’ve lost something I’ll never get back.Tears prick my eyes before I can stop them, and I try to stay quiet, biting my lip to stifle the sob building in my chest. But it’s useless. A sniffle escapes, soft but en
MatteoHer brows knit together, and for a moment, she looks like she might fight me again. But then she nods, her voice barely a whisper. “I do.”Something in me twists at that. It’s not the answer I was expecting, and it hits me harder than I’d like to admit. But I don’t let it show. Instead, I lean down, brushing my lips against hers in a kiss that’s softer this time, almost tender.“Good girl,” I murmur, the words slipping out before I can stop them.She shivers at my praise, her hands sliding up my arms, her nails scraping lightly against my skin as she pulls me closer.“You’re so fucking perfect,” I growl, my lips trailing down her neck, to her collarbone, to the swell of her breast. “Do you even realize that?”She lets out a soft sound, somewhere between a gasp and a laugh. “I’m not—”“Shut up,” I interrupt, my teeth grazing her skin just enough to make her gasp. “I don’t say things I don’t mean, Amara. You should know that by now.”Her fingers tangle in my hair, pulling slightl
MatteoI watch her beneath me, her eyes wide but steady, her chest rising and falling in shallow breaths as her fingers dig into my shoulders. She doesn’t flinch, doesn’t pull away, even when I can feel how hard my hands are gripping her hips. She’s never been afraid of me, not really, and that’s what drives me fucking insane.“You have no idea,” I murmur again, the words slipping out as I brush my lips over hers, softer this time, almost reverent. “How much I want you. It’s not just want—it’s need. Fucking need.”Her hands tighten against my shoulders, and I pull back enough to look at her, my gaze searching hers. “You came to me,” I say, my voice rough. “You didn’t have to, but you did.”She blinks up at me, her breath catching as she whispers, “You gave me a choice.”“And you chose me,” I growl, the truth of it settling deep in my chest, both exhilarating and terrifying. “You chose me, princess. Do you have any idea what that means?”She shakes her head slightly, her lips parting
AmaraI sit on the edge of my bed, staring at the door, hating myself for how badly I want to open it.His words echo in my mind, over and over, like a song I can’t shake: Come to my bed tonight.It wasn’t an order, and that’s what makes it worse. Matteo never gives choices, and yet, tonight, he handed me one. And what’s worse? The second the words left his mouth, my first instinct was to say yes.I hate myself for it. For the way my chest tightened when he said it. For the way my breath caught when he turned and walked away, leaving me alone with the chaos he created.I’ve spent the last hour pacing my room, the walls feeling smaller and smaller with every step I take. My thoughts are louder than they should be, a war raging in my head between what I want and what I should do.What I should do is lock my door, bury myself under the covers, and pretend none of this happened.But what I want to do…I let out a frustrated sigh, running my hands through my hair. Dancing helped clear my h
MatteoAmara’s head rests against my chest, and I can feel the warmth of her breath through the fabric of my shirt. Her hands are still gripping me, as if letting go would break whatever fragile thread is holding her together.And for once, I don’t feel the need to speak.Her vulnerability is raw, unfiltered, and it seeps into me in a way that nothing else ever has. It’s not weakness—not with her. It’s strength disguised as surrender, and I don’t know what the fuck to do with it.My hand trails down her back, settling at the curve of her waist. I can feel the tension slowly bleeding out of her, her breaths evening out, though there’s still a hesitance in the way she leans into me. Like she’s testing how much of herself she can give before I take too much.“I hate how you do this to me,” she whispers, her voice muffled against my chest.I smirk, even though she can’t see it. “What, make you melt like this?”She pulls back just enough to glare up at me, though there’s no real bite to it
MatteoI hesitate outside her door, my chest tight with a fear I’ll never admit out loud. The guards reported nothing. No movement, no alarms, no sign she’d tried to leave. But still, I’m bracing myself for an empty room.I left the door unlocked on purpose. A test—or maybe a choice, I’m not sure anymore. I told myself it was to see what she’d do, to prove something about her loyalty or lack of it. But now, standing here, I feel like a fucking idiot.If she’s gone…I can’t even finish the thought.Swallowing hard, I push the door open, expecting the worst.But she’s there.My breath catches in my throat as I take in the sight before me. She’s not in bed. She’s not cowering, plotting, or even sulking like I half expected.She’s dancing.Her movements are fluid, precise, like she’s caught in her own world, a world I have no right to step into. She doesn’t see me, too engrossed in the rhythm of her own body. Her arms move gracefully, her feet gliding across the floor with a lightness tha
MatteoThe meeting drags on, the tension in the room thick enough to choke on. My father sits at the head of the table, commanding the room with a calm authority that’s always been both intimidating and inspiring. Lukas and Markus bicker over logistics, their usual bullshit filling the space, but I’m barely paying attention. My mind keeps drifting to Amara—to the way she felt in my lap this morning, the warmth of her body against mine, the way she looked at me like I was something more than a monster.“Matteo, stay behind,” my father says as the others start filing out at the end of the meeting.My head snaps up, and I nod, staying rooted in my chair as Lukas and Markus exchange a glance before leaving. The door closes behind them, and the room is eerily quiet. My father leans back in his chair, steepling his fingers as he studies me with those sharp, calculating eyes. The kind of look that’s always made me feel like a kid caught doing something I shouldn’t.“What’s going on between
AmaraMatteo’s hand is firm as he leads me downstairs, his grip like iron around mine. I follow in silence, my head spinning from everything that happened last night.He was rough—he always is—but there was something different, too. Something softer. Something that made my chest ache and my pulse quicken in ways I don’t want to admit.And the things he said…The memory makes my cheeks burn. Matteo Dragonetti doesn’t do kind words, and yet he said things that had me feeling things I shouldn’t.I glance down at our joined hands, the sight of his calloused fingers wrapped around mine making my stomach twist. How strong of a hold does he have over me? Strong enough that I didn’t even try to grab one of his weapons last night when I had the chance. Strong enough that I didn’t even think about running.Why not?That question haunts me as we reach the dining room. Matteo doesn’t let go of my hand as he pulls out a chair, but he doesn’t let me sit in it either. Instead, he sinks down into th
MatteoThe first thing I notice when I wake up is her. Amara’s watching me, her head propped on her hand, a soft smile tugging at her lips. It’s not smug or defiant or sharp like it usually is. It’s… different. Too soft. Too real. Like she’s letting her guard down without even realizing it.And it hits me in the chest like a punch I wasn’t ready for.My heart feels like it’s in a vice, squeezing tighter with every second she looks at me like that. I can’t fucking breathe.She looks at me like I’m hers.I don’t deserve that. I don’t deserve her.“What are you smiling at?” I murmur, my voice rough from sleep.She doesn’t flinch, doesn’t look away, just tilts her head slightly. “You. You look… peaceful.”Peaceful. I almost laughed at that. Me? The walking disaster Matteo Dragonetti, peaceful? Not a fucking chance.I don’t respond. Instead, I reach out, curling an arm around her waist and pulling her against me like she belongs here. She gasps softly, her hands bracing against my chest a