45

I should run.

That’s what any sane person would do.

But I wasn’t sane.

And Dante... Dante was a storm from which I couldn’t escape.

I could feel his presence even before I saw him. The dense electricity in the air, the heat radiating off him even when the room was cold.

It was dark when I turned in bed and saw him there, leaning against the wall, his arms crossed over his chest, watching me.

I should scream.

But all I did was look back.

"You need to stop this," my voice came out low, more hesitant than I would have liked.

"Stop what?" The corner of his mouth lifted in something that wasn’t quite a smile, but more of a silent challenge.

"This." I pointed at him, at the way he looked at me, as if I were something precious and at the same time something he wanted to destroy.

Dante let out a laugh, a low, humorless sound.

"You act as if I have a choice."

I stood up, crossing my arms to hide the tremor in my hands.

"You do. You always did."

He walked toward me slowly, each step a warning.

"No, Aurora." His voice dropped to something almost dangerous. "From the moment you entered my life, I had no choice."

A shiver ran down my spine.

"If I’m your weakness, then let me go."

Dante smiled, but there was nothing gentle about it.

"You still don’t understand, do you?" He tilted his head as if studying me. "I’d rather be weak than live without you."

The following days were a game of resistance.

Dante was always nearby, his presence a constant reminder that my freedom no longer existed.

But something was different.

He wasn’t just keeping me here.

He was waiting.

I just didn’t know why.

Then, one night, as the storm raged outside, I got my answer.

I was sitting in the armchair near the fireplace, hugging my arms when the door opened.

Dante walked in slowly, but his expression was heavy with something grave.

"I need you to trust me."

I laughed, without humor. "Funny, because if there’s one thing I’ll never do, it’s that."

Dante ignored my response.

"I won’t let anyone hurt you."

It made me hesitate.

My brows furrowed. "What are you talking about?"

He hesitated.

And Dante never hesitated.

"I’ve made enemies."

My stomach dropped. "Enemies who want to hurt me?"

His eyes darkened. "Enemies who want to take you from me."

There were so many things wrong with those words, but before I could respond, a sound echoed from outside.

Dante moved fast. In the blink of an eye, he was at the window, watching the shadows outside.

"Stay here."

"No way."

He shot me a sharp look, but I was already standing.

"If I’m going to die tonight, I’d rather know what’s coming."

Dante cursed under his breath, running a hand through his hair before pulling me behind him.

The sound came again.

And then, chaos erupted.

The glass of the window shattered as if something—someone—had broken down the door.

Dante reacted quickly, pulling a weapon from his waist.

But not quick enough.

The blow came before he could shoot, striking him on the side and throwing him against the wall.

I screamed.

A hand closed around my arm, pulling me forward.

"Finally, we found you."

The man’s voice was cold, carrying something that made my stomach twist.

"Let her go." Dante growled, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth.

The man laughed.

"You really thought you could keep her locked away forever?"

Dante moved.

The shot echoed before I could even scream.

The man holding me staggered back, blood staining his dark shirt.

My breath became short, erratic.

Another sound.

Another shot.

Dante was on him before the body even hit the floor.

And then, silence.

I barely noticed when Dante came over to me, his hands holding my face, his eyes wild.

"Are you okay?"

I didn’t know how to answer.

Because, while everything inside me screamed that I should be scared, there was something stronger seeping into the fear.

Something dangerous.

Something that made me want to cling to him and never let go.

"Dante..." My voice faltered.

He closed his eyes for a moment, as if fighting an internal battle.

And then, he pulled me to him.

His heart beat against mine.

"I told you I’d never let anyone hurt you."

My hands gripped his shirt, my breath uneven.

"Then why do I still feel in danger?"

He pulled away just enough to look at me, his eyes burning with something primal.

"Because you are."

The following days were different.

The attack changed something.

Dante didn’t relax for a second, staying close to me in a way that made my chest tighten.

And then came the night I will never forget.

I was lying down, the room swallowed by shadows, when I felt it.

The heat.

The presence.

I turned and found Dante sitting at the edge of the bed.

His eyes were fixed on mine, his expression raw, vulnerable.

"I almost lost you," he murmured.

I swallowed hard.

"But you didn’t lose me."

Dante leaned in, his forehead resting against mine.

"Don’t test me, Aurora."

My breath hitched.

He lifted his head, his mouth hovering over mine.

"Do you want to run?" His voice was a low, rough whisper. "Go."

My heart skipped in my chest.

"But if you stay..." His fingers trailed down to my chin, forcing me to look him in the eyes.

"If you stay, you’ll be mine."

I should have said no.

But when he kissed me, I knew I was lost.