Guide

Guide
Aria slipped her shoes on quietly, heart pounding as she glanced toward the stairs. The evening light spilled through the wide windows of the Blackwood estate, painting gold across the marble floor — the kind of peace she couldn’t afford tonight. She needed to see Jess, needed answers before it was too late.

But before she could reach the door, a low voice froze her in place.

“Going somewhere?”

Dante.

He leaned against the doorway, arms folded, his shirt sleeves rolled to the elbow, jaw tense. The casual stance didn’t hide the fury burning in his silver eyes.

Aria swallowed. “I just need some air.”

His brows lifted. “At midnight?” He stepped closer, every inch of his movement deliberate — controlled, but dangerous. “Or are you planning another secret meeting you didn’t think I’d notice?”

Her pulse quickened. “I’m not—”

“Don’t lie to me, Aria.” His voice dropped, soft and edged with something darker. “You were out last night. I know.”

She looked away, fingers tightening around her phone. “I just… needed to think.”

Dante’s hand brushed her chin, turning her face toward him. “Think about what? Or who?” His tone cracked slightly, the hurt beneath his anger showing through. “You’ve been hiding something from me.”

Her throat tightened, but she met his gaze. “Jess was taken, Dante. I saw it happen right in front of me— I can’t just sit here doing nothing.”

He went still, surprise flickering in his eyes before frustration hardened it again. “And you think running off alone will fix that? You could’ve been next, Aria.”

“I had to try!” she snapped, voice trembling. “You don’t understand—”

“I understand more than you think.” His hand dropped, his tone cooling. “But you should have come to me.”

For a long moment, silence stretched between them — heavy and charged.

Finally, she whispered, “I didn’t want you to get hurt again.”

Something in his expression softened, the tension in his shoulders easing. But his next words came low and final: “You’re not leaving this house tonight.”

Aria’s lips parted in protest, but one look from him silenced her. He brushed a thumb against her cheek, his voice gentler now.

“I won’t lose you too.”

She turned away, fighting the storm inside her — torn between guilt and fear, love and defiance.

And from the shadows outside, unseen eyes watched through the glass window — waiting for their moment.

Dante’s anger slowly melted into something softer, something that made Aria’s chest tighten. The storm between them lingered in the air — heavy, electric — but neither spoke. Her breath hitched when he reached for her, fingers brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

“You drive me insane, you know that?” he murmured, his voice rough but tender.

Aria didn’t reply — she couldn’t. His nearness stole the words from her. Then, without warning, Dante’s hand slid to her waist, pulling her closer until she could feel the steady rhythm of his heartbeat against her chest.

“I hate it when we fight,” she whispered.

“Then stop giving me reasons to worry,” he said, eyes searching hers — and before she could respond, his lips were on hers.

The kiss started slow, like an apology, but deepened fast — his mouth pressing harder, his hand tilting her head as if afraid to let her go. The air between them grew hotter, her fingers clutching at his shirt as the space dissolved completely.

When they finally broke apart, breathless, his forehead rested against hers. “You need to relax,” he murmured with a faint smile. “Come on… let’s go for a swim. Just you and me.”

Aria blinked, caught off guard by the sudden shift. “Now?”

He chuckled softly, brushing his thumb across her bottom lip. “Now. You’ve been too tense. We both have. Let’s wash the chaos off — even if it’s just for tonight.”

She hesitated, then nodded, feeling the warmth of his hand slide down her arm as he led her toward the pool — the night outside still and humming with quiet promise.

Behind them, the argument faded into silence, replaced by the sound of water waiting to soothe every unspoken fear between them.

The morning light spilled through the wide glass windows, soft and golden, stretching across the cream-colored couch where Aria sat with a cup of untouched tea. Her eyes were rimmed with faint exhaustion — the kind that no sleep could fix.

Lila arrived just past nine, her presence filling the room with warmth. She set down her bag, took one look at Aria’s pale face, and frowned. “You look like you haven’t slept in days,” she said, settling beside her. “What’s going on?”

Aria hesitated, her fingers tightening around the mug. The words lodged in her throat before she forced them out. “It’s Jess,” she said quietly. “She’s gone.”

Lila blinked, confused. “Gone? What do you mean—gone?”

“She was taken,” Aria whispered, staring into her tea. “Right in front of me.”

Lila’s eyes widened, horror washing over her. “Aria… what? How? When?”

“It happened so fast,” Aria said, her voice trembling as the memory replayed — Jess’s gasp, the van door slamming, her own frozen body unable to move. “I tried to stop it, but—” She broke off, pressing a hand to her mouth. “And now no one’s seen her. It’s like she vanished.”

Lila reached for her hand instantly. “Oh my god, Aria… have you told the police?”

“I did,” Aria said, shaking her head. “But they keep saying they’ll investigate. I know they won’t find her fast enough. Jess helped me through everything — through losing my baby, through Dante’s accident… I can’t just sit here.”

Lila’s grip tightened. “You’re not alone, okay? We’ll find her. Together.”

For the first time that morning, Aria looked up — her gaze steady, fierce despite the fear underneath. “I don’t care what it takes, Lila. I’m not losing anyone else.”

Lila nodded, squeezing her hand. “Then we start today.”

Outside, unnoticed, a black car idled across the street — the same one that had followed Aria the