One Hundred & Thirty

One Hundred & Thirty
Something had to be done.. and fast.
Every second they waited, the danger grew. Darius’s mind wouldn’t stop running over the look on Don Matteo’s face when they left the mansion. Cold, deadly, and full of rage. If he had tried to kill Amara once, there was nothing to stop him from doing it again. Now that she remembered everything, now that the truth was out, Darius knew Matteo wouldn’t hold back.
The night air bit at his skin as he stared out across the dark waves, the cold breeze whipping through his hair. He clenched his jaw, his fists tightening. He couldn’t let anything happen to her. He wouldn’t.
His phone buzzed in his pocket, and he pulled it out with deliberate calm. Every movement measured, controlled . He dialed Colin’s number.
“Colin,” he said as soon as his friend answered, his voice low and urgent. “We need to move things up. Now. Get me a meeting Augustine. I need to see him. By morning.”
There was a pause on the other end of the line. Colin’s voice came back, tinged with disbelief. “Wait… Augustine River? Don Matteo’s oldest business partner?”
“Yes,” Darius replied, jaw tight. “Don’t you dare try to talk me out of this. I’m changing the plan. Find out here he is and send me address.”
Colin let out a slow breath, understanding the gravity in Darius’s voice. “Alright… I’ll get him. But D, are you sure you’re ready for this? Augustine is a sly his not to be trusted.”
Darius’s eyes narrowed, the moonlight reflecting in them. “Better, men like him are easy to handle.”
The line went silent for a moment, then Colin said, “Okay… let me makes some calls. Would send you the address once I get it.”
Darius ended the call and dropped his phone onto the console. He leaned against the railing of the balcony, the ocean crashing below like a warning drum. His mind raced with every possible scenario… every way Don Matteo could strike, every way he could protect Amara.
A cold fire burned in his chest, the kind that only came when someone threatened the person he loved. He wouldn’t fail her. He couldn’t. Not now, not ever.
He closed his eyes, inhaling the salt air, and whispered softly to himself, “No one touches her. Not him. Not anyone.”
And with that, he began planning… every step, every move… because time was running out, and failure wasn’t an option.
After hanging up, Darius stood on the balcony for a few more moments, letting the cold night air clear his thoughts. The ocean roared quietly below, steady and unyielding… like the resolve growing inside him. Every second mattered, and their future stands on every decision
He finally let out a slow breath, his muscles relaxing just slightly. For now, there was nothing more he could do tonight.
He stepped back inside, closing the balcony door behind him. The room was dim, the soft glow from the bedside lamp casting long shadows across the floor. Amara was still asleep, peaceful, unaware of the storm waiting outside their walls.
Darius paused at the edge of the bed, watching her for a moment. Her chest rose and fell in a steady rhythm, and despite everything, she looked safe… like she belonged here, with him. His hand itched to pull her close, to promise her with touch that nothing would ever harm her again.
Careful not to wake her, he slipped under the covers beside her, letting his body warm hers. He rested one hand gently over her shoulder, the other flexing against the sheets. His mind refused to quiet, running through every detail of the coming fight, but he let his eyes close anyway.
Minutes passed. Hours. The tension in his chest eased slightly as exhaustion finally took hold. The night stretched on, the mansion quiet except for the distant crash of waves.
He fell asleep with one thought repeating in his mind: he would protect her. No matter what it took.

Morning light spilled into the room, soft and golden. Amara stirred under the covers, blinking against the brightness. Her eyes found Darius still asleep beside her, his chest rising and falling steadily. For a moment, she just watched him, the calmness of him a rare relief after all the chaos.
She shifted closer, careful not to wake him, and let her hand rest on his arm. A small smile touched her lips. Despite everything that had happened, being here with him felt… safe.
Darius stirred slightly at her touch, opening one eye and letting out a low, sleepy grunt. “Morning,” he murmured, voice rough from sleep.
“Morning,” she whispered back.
He stretched, running a hand through his hair, then finally sat up. His eyes met hers, dark and steady. “Sleep well?” he asked, voice soft.
“Yeah,” she said. “Better than I have in a long time.”
He nodded, then glanced toward the window. “I have to step out for a while today. The guards will be around, but if you need anything, call me. No matter what.”
Amara reached for his hand, squeezing it. “I will,” she said.
He leaned down and kissed her forehead, lingering just long enough to remind her he was there, watching, protecting. Then he stood, pulling on his shirt. “Enjoy your day sweetheart ,” he said quietly. “I won’t be gone long.”
Amara watched him leave, the soft click of the door behind him echoing through the room. She hugged the covers to herself, her stomach twisting with a mix of relief and worry. The day was here, and with it, the tension of what might come.
She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. No matter what happened today, she wasn’t alone.