All Chapters of A love forged in Darkness and Desire : Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

Alessia's Pov The room buzzed with the kind of low, charged energy that made the hair on the back of my neck stand on end. I sipped the champagne a waiter had handed me earlier, though my hands trembled just enough to betray my calm façade. Luca—or Matteo, as I was to call him tonight—stood beside me, his demeanor unreadable as ever.The sound of a bell echoed through the villa, and the conversations around us stilled almost instantly. My stomach churned as a man in a deep crimson suit and an elaborate golden mask took to the stage. His presence commanded the room like a predator commanding its prey. My heart thudded in my chest as I stood beside Luca—Matteo. The tension was suffocating, thick enough to cut through, and I instinctively took a step closer to him.The host clapped his hands, and a tall man in a black suit stepped forward, carrying a silver tray with a stack of sealed envelopes. Each envelope bore an intricate wax seal, the kind that made it clear these decisions weren

Alessia's Pov Vittorio’s hand lingered on mine, his eyes gleaming with mischief as he offered, “One dance, bella. I promise I won’t bite—unless you ask.” Before I could respond, Luca stepped forward, his tall frame cutting a shadow over Vittorio. His voice was low, biting, and filled with restrained fury. “She’s not interested.” “Let her speak for herself,” Vittorio challenged, tilting his head slightly as if daring Luca to lose control. My throat tightened as their gazes locked in a silent standoff. I felt like I was standing between two apex predators, their power and dominance crackling like a live wire. “I…” I began, trying to defuse the tension, but Luca’s grip on my wrist tightened ever so slightly. “She’s with me,” Luca said firmly, his voice icy enough to freeze the air between them. Vittorio’s smirk widened, his amusement clear. “Relax, Matteo. It’s just a dance.” “It’s never just anything with you,” Luca retorted, his tone sharp. “Back off.” For a moment, it

Alessia's Pov The moment I stepped into my apartment, I felt the tension in my shoulders ease, if only slightly. The space, small and familiar, offered a semblance of comfort I desperately needed. The events of the night weighed on me like a heavy cloak, and as I slipped out of my heels, I headed straight for the bathroom.Steam filled the room as I turned on the hot water, the sound of the shower a soothing white noise in the background. Stripping off the dress—the red dress that now felt like a costume—I stepped under the spray, letting the warmth wash over me.I closed my eyes, trying to drown out the images swirling in my mind. You’re disgusted by him, Alessia, I told myself. That’s all this is. Disgust.But even as the thought crossed my mind, another image surfaced—Luca’s dark eyes, the way they seemed to pierce right through me. The scent of him, that maddening combination of musk and danger, still lingered in my nose. And then there was the memory of him in the car, his prese

Alessia's Pov As Sophia sipped her coffee, her sharp gaze landed on me. “Alright, Alessia. Spill. You’ve been dancing around something all morning, and I’m not buying that ‘long story’ excuse. Who’s this guy your mom was so excited about?”I hesitated, twirling the handle of my cup between my fingers. Sophia had always been persistent when it came to prying out the truth. “Fine,” I said with a reluctant sigh. “His name is… Luca.”Sophia’s eyebrows shot up. “Luca? That sounds intriguing already. Who is he? What does he do? And more importantly, where did you find him?”“It wasn’t like that,” I said quickly, though my cheeks flushed. “He’s… complicated. My mom set us up on a blind date, but it wasn’t exactly your typical evening out.”Sophia leaned forward, her grin widening. “Ooh, now you have to tell me everything. What does he look like? Is he hot?”I groaned, but there was no way out of this now. “He’s… tall, dark hair, these piercing eyes that kind of see right through you.” I pau

Alessia’s PovThe bar was alive with its usual hum of activity—glasses clinking, muted conversations, and the occasional burst of laughter from a patron. I was at the counter, polishing glasses and trying to keep my mind on anything but Luca. He’d been a thorn in my side since the day we met, and I was determined to put all thoughts of him behind me.Marcello strode up to me, his expression sharp. "Alessia, table seven. They've been waiting too long. Get moving," he snapped, his tone leaving no room for argument.I glanced over at the corner booth where a group of well-dressed men sat, their confident laughter cutting through the noise of the bar. I grabbed my notepad, inhaling deeply as I headed toward them.As I approached, their conversation halted, and their piercing gazes locked on me.“What can I get for you?” I asked, keeping my voice steady despite the knot in my stomach.The oldest man leaned back, a smirk curling his lips. “Your finest whiskey. Make it quick—and keep it comi