Chapter 4 Over My Dead Body

Gianna had asked Massimo to look into the issues surrounding Talana, her voice trembling as she spoke with him. Massimo hadn't said much, just enough to make her aware that someone was actively hunting the young doctor, and that it was personal.

Meanwhile, Lorenzo was deep in, uncovering all the filth that lay beneath the surface, connections, debts, threats, every shady link that could put Talana in danger. He worked quietly, methodically, a shadow in the room, reporting only to Massimo.

After leaving the hospital, Talana insisted she needed to go back home. Massimo's jaw tightened. She didn't understand the danger yet, the world she was about to step back into, but she was determined, and he... he could only follow, protect, and wait for the moment she would let him take control.

Outside her home, the car idled quietly. Massimo opened the door, letting Talana step out. He raised a hand, brushing a stray strand of hair from her face. His fingers lingered just a fraction too long, the heat searing her skin.

"If you feel the slightest bit uncomfortable, you message me immediately," he said, his voice low, steady, but carrying an edge she could feel even without looking at him.

"God," he thought as he watched her approach the door. "How I want to hold her... keep her safe... make sure nothing ever touches her again."

Once inside the car, rage simmered beneath Massimo's cool exterior, a controlled fire only he could wield. "Lorenzo, have you managed to find out anything about the club incident and her home incident?"

"Boss, this has to do with her father's gambling debts. That guy... Marco Rossi," Lorenzo answered without hesitation, sliding into the passenger seat behind him. "The bastard's been moving in silence, using fronts to cover up his operations, but the real kicker? He's been meeting with De Marco and Donatello for weeks. If Talana's father owes them, they're using that debt as leverage."

Massimo's fingers curled into fists around the steering wheel. "But why Talana? What the fuck does she have to do with any of this?"

He paced the floor of his VIP room once they returned, the polished wood creaking under his boots. His growl rumbled through the space. "I don't care what it takes. Lorenzo, find out everything. Every call, every meeting, every lie. Look into this tracker as well."

He poured himself a glass of amber liquid whiskey, catching the dim light, reflecting a storm in his eyes. "Talana isn't just anyone. She's mine, and I'll burn their bloody empires to the ground before I let anyone touch her again."

Lorenzo nodded, sensing the tempest building within his Don. "Understood. Sir... do you think this goes deeper?"

Massimo's jaw tightened, a thin vein pulsing at his temple. "I don't think. I know it does."

He lifted the glass to his lips but didn't drink immediately. His thoughts drifted to Talana, her hands, delicate yet strong, the soft tilt of her head when she laughed, the way her eyes sparked like fire when she defied him or anyone else. The war raging outside paled in comparison to the fire she ignited inside him.

"Hang in there, angel," he murmured under his breath, downing the whiskey in one swift motion. "I'm coming to you."

The door swung open abruptly. "Boss!" Matteo's voice cut through the silence.

"What is it?" Massimo demanded, eyes sharp.

"Something's going down, Boss. In three days... Donatello, de Marco, and Rossi," Matteo reported, urgency in every word.

Massimo's lips curled into a hard, predatory smirk. "Find Rossi. I want him delivered before the end of business tomorrow. No waiting. He's their weak link."

The Donatellos were entrenched in drug trafficking. De Marco had deep connections in Mexico. Rossi? He was a gambler, a shadow, a tool, but a dangerous one.

"How do you want Rossi? Dead or alive?" Matteo and Lorenzo asked in unison, the air thick with tension.

Massimo's smirk darkened. "Both."

"Got it, Boss," they responded, admiration and fear mixing in their tones.

As he walked past them, his presence demanded attention. Matteo whispered to Lorenzo, almost in awe. "I've never seen the Don like this over a woman before... she must be something special."

He wasn't wrong. Whatever this was, Massimo Morelli wasn't going to let Talana face it alone.

"Lorenzo, arrange a meeting with Roberto Sanchiano," Massimo ordered, his voice cutting like steel.

"Boss?"

"Do it," he barked, eyes flaring.

Minutes later, Roberto Sanchiano answered the call. "Morelli, young man," the elder Don greeted, his voice steady but carrying weight.

"Your granddaughter's life is in danger," Massimo said, letting every word strike with precision.

Sanchiano slammed his hand on the table. "I knew that bastard was trouble the day Rosalina left the family for him."

Massimo didn't soften. "I don't know how much debt he owes or what the connection is to Donatello and de Marco, but whatever it is, it's bigger than just gambling. I've ordered my men to get Rossi. Dead or alive, it doesn't matter. It's a message: they're playing with fire."

Sanchiano exhaled sharply. "We'll bring her in when the time is right. The mafia runs in her blood."

Massimo nodded. "Talana has stamina. She wants in. I'll help her take them down, one by one."

He contacted Gianna. "I need Talana out of that house tomorrow. Either she stays with me, or I have her in lockdown at your place. No discussion."

Meanwhile, back at Talana's home, the chaos erupted.

"You bitch!" her stepmother screamed, slapping her hard across the face.

Talana's head snapped. "What the hell?" she growled, refusing to cower.

"Your dad has made a deal with De Marco. You're going to marry him!" Maria hissed.

"The bloody hell I am!" Talana roared, fury blazing in her eyes. "No one signs me away!"

Marching to her room, Talana's fingers shook as she sent a text to Max: I need your help!

The reply was instant. On my way.

Within minutes, the roar of an engine announced Massimo's arrival. Talana darted out the back, avoiding her father and stepmother, the adrenaline fueling her escape.

Sliding into the car, Massimo's eyes landed on the handprint across her cheek. "Angel, speak to me. Who the fuck hit you?"

"Maria. My dad... he... signed me away to De Marco!" she spat, rage and fear tangled in her voice.

"Over my dead body!" Massimo growled, fingers tightening on the steering wheel until his knuckles went white.

"You're staying at my place tonight," he declared, eyes dark, no room for argument.

"Max?" she breathed, hesitant.

"Yes, angel," he murmured, softer now, a subtle heat in his gaze.

"Max... we need to get these bastards," she whispered, low and dangerous.

"Don't worry, angel. Don Sanchiano's on it too," he replied, his grip on the wheel firm, protective.

"Don Sanchiano? What does he have to do with all this?" Her uncertainty was palpable, fear mixing with defiance. "Max, I want to deal with this my way!"

Massimo exhaled slowly, a dark smile brushing his lips. "Fine. Whatever my angel wants," he said, but inside, he vowed silently, "Whatever it takes, Talana... I'll make them pay, one by one, and I'll savor every moment."

Outside, the city hummed, unaware that a storm was quietly gathering. A war had begun, and Talana was at the center, as for Massimo Morelli? He was ready to burn the world to protect her.

The city lights blurred past as Massimo drove, his eyes fixed on the road but his mind spinning with rage and desire. Talana sat beside him, quiet, her fingers gripping the edge of the seat, trembling not just from the adrenaline but from the storm of emotions that followed her everywhere he was.

"Angel," he said, his voice low, almost a growl, "i'm going to make sure nothing touches you, ever."

She turned to him, meeting his dark eyes, and for a heartbeat, the world fell away, the tension between them thick enough to choke on. She could feel it in the press of his thigh against hers, the heat of his body radiating through the leather seat.

"Max," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "I... I don't want to hide. I want to fight. I want to face this."

He exhaled slowly, almost in frustration, but there was a dark hunger in his gaze. "You're my angel. My fight is yours, and this," he said, letting his hand brush against hers, deliberately lingering, "this belongs to me too."

The air between them crackled, dangerous and intoxicating. Talana's pulse raced as he leaned closer, his scent, leather, cologne, danger, filling her senses. The car, the city, the night itself, all of it vanished around the magnetic pull between them.

"Max..." she breathed again, this time trembling under the weight of both fear and desire.

He didn't answer with words. Instead, his thumb brushed hers, slow, deliberate, igniting a fire she hadn't expected. Her lips parted, a small shiver running through her. He noticed, of course he did, his lips curling into a dangerous smirk.

The sound of the engine and the wind outside seemed miles away now. Massimo's gaze locked on hers, a storm of lust, anger, and protectiveness coiling around them both. "You're mine, Talana, and anyone who touches you... dies."

Her heart raced, and she found herself leaning slightly toward him, drawn in by the danger, the promise, and the raw intensity. She knew he was capable of murder, but also of unimaginable tenderness, and she wanted both, wanted him entirely.

The car slowed as they approached Massimo's private residence, a fortress hidden behind gates and shadows. As soon as they stepped inside, the tension between them heightened. Massimo didn't give her a chance to breathe, his hands pressing against her back, fingers tangling in her hair. She gasped as he pulled her close, his lips brushing hers in a controlled, teasing kiss.

"Not now," he murmured against her mouth, his teeth grazing her bottom lip. "Not until we've dealt with them, but know this..." His hands trailed down her arms, lingering at her wais, "you belong to me."

Her pulse hammered in response, her body reacting despite herself. "I want to be yours," she whispered, the words barely leaving her lips before he smirked, dark and dangerous.

"I know, angel," he said, gripping her tighter, the fire in his eyes matched by the heat pooling between them, "and I'll make sure everyone who even thinks of touching you pays... in blood."

The two stood there for a long moment, the electricity between them palpable, until Massimo's phone buzzed on the counter. He tore his gaze from her reluctantly, swiping the screen. Matteo's message: Rossi has been located. Waiting for your order, Boss.

Massimo's jaw clenched, his mind immediately shifting from the pull of desire to the cold edge of vengeance. Talana watched him, noting the change, the predator ready to strike. She felt the excitement, the fear, the intoxicating mix of danger that came with being near him.

"Max..." she whispered again, stepping closer, pressing her hand to his chest. She could feel the rapid beat of his heart, the tension in every muscle. "Please... be careful."

He leaned down, lips brushing hers in a brief, searing kiss. "Always, angel. Always."

The message from Matteo weighed heavily in his pocket as he let her go reluctantly. Massimo was a man of action, a man who didn't wait for the storm, he became the storm. And now, the storm was coming for Rossi, for De Marco, for Donatello.

Talana watched him move, every step precise, every glance calculated, the danger in his every motion drawing her in deeper. She wanted to follow, to fight alongside him, but she knew her role, her power was different. Her father had signed her away, and she was not about to allow that. Not now, not ever.

Massimo glanced back at her, the fire in his eyes softened by desire but sharpened by intent. "Stay here tonight. Sleep. Eat. Breathe. And trust me," he murmured, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear, his thumb lingering on her jawline. "Tomorrow... they'll all pay."

She nodded, trembling, aware that he could read her every thought, every fear, every secret desire. Her fingers brushed his hand instinctively, and he caught her wrist, pressing her fingers to his chest. "Feel that?" he asked, voice low. "That's my heartbeat. It's yours too, now. Always."

The intensity was almost too much. She felt herself shiver, not just from desire but from the knowledge that the world outside was closing in, and Massimo was the only shield she had.

Minutes later, Matteo and Lorenzo appeared at the door. Massimo didn't look at them; his focus was Talana, the tension of protection still coiling between them. "Prepare the men. Rossi is ours tomorrow. No mistakes. I want this clean, sharp, and lethal."

"Yes, Boss," Mateo responded, his eyes noting the dangerous look in Massimo's.

Lorenzo only nodded, understanding. The room was thick with tension, charged with the promise of blood and fire. Talana shivered, half from desire, half from fear, knowing that the next day would change everything.

Massimo finally allowed himself a moment with her, pulling her close, pressing a hand to her lower back, and whispering, "sleep, angel. Dream of me, because tomorrow... they will all pay, and I'll be right there, making sure no one touches you."

Her lips grazed his neck in a fleeting, desperate kiss, her nails tracing his shoulder. "I'll hold you to that," she whispered.

He caught her hand, pressing it to his chest again. "I always do."

Outside, the city thrummed with life, unaware of the storm gathering in the shadows. Inside, a war was already underway, a battle of blood, power, and desire, and as Talana sank into the couch, trying to catch her breath, she knew that she was no longer alone.

But danger lurked closer than she realized, and the moment of calm was nothing more than a heartbeat before chaos.

A knock came at the door. Slow. Deliberate. Massimo stiffened, his body tensing as he moved toward it. Talana followed, heart hammering in her chest.

Through the peephole, Massimo's eyes narrowed. A single, black envelope lay on the mat. No name. No markings. He picked it up slowly, tearing it open. Inside, a single card read in bold, jagged letters: She's mine. Or she dies.

Talana gasped, her body rigid. Massimo's eyes were cold, dangerous, and the hunger in them flared.

"They know," he growled. "And now... it's on."