Chapter 8 The Chains Tighten

(Aurora's POV)

For the rest of the evening, I couldn't shake the feeling of Riccardo Romano's presence. His voice echoed in my head, his warning wrapping around me like a dark cloud.

Stay away from Matteo, Aurora.

Why? Why did he care?

I didn't know much about him, but the way people reacted to his name was enough to tell me he was powerful. And dangerous.

But I wasn't the kind of woman who let men dictate my life.

I had escaped a small village to find independence, not to be intimidated by a man who thought he owned the city.

With a determined breath, I headed toward my apartment, my steps quick. The streetlights flickered above, and the faint hum of traffic filled the night air.

Just as I reached my door, a shadow moved near the entrance.

My heart jumped into my throat.

Then, the figure stepped into the light, and relief washed over me.

"Matteo!" I exhaled. "You scared me."

He smiled, that easy charm in his dark eyes. "I was waiting for you. Thought I'd walk you home."

My chest warmed. See, Riccardo? Not all men in this city were monsters.

I smiled back. "That's sweet, but you didn't have to-"

Before I could finish, something changed.

The air thickened, a shift so subtle and yet so suffocating that my skin prickled with awareness.

And then I saw him.

Riccardo stood across the street, leaning against a black car, his hands in his pockets. His expression was unreadable, but his eyes-those piercing blue eyes-were locked on me.

A chill slithered down my spine.

Matteo followed my gaze, his body stiffening. "Aurora... who is that?"

I swallowed hard. "I-I don't know."

It wasn't exactly a lie.

But Riccardo smirked, like he had heard every word.

Matteo grabbed my wrist gently. "Come inside."

But before we could move, Riccardo pushed off the car and strode toward us.

Each step deliberate. Each movement screaming authority.

Matteo's grip on my wrist tightened. "Aurora, go inside."

Riccardo stopped just inches away. The tension crackled like a storm waiting to break.

Then, in a voice as smooth as silk, he spoke.

"Are you deaf, Matteo?" His lips curved, but his eyes remained ice-cold. "I thought I made myself clear."

Matteo's jaw clenched. "Stay out of this, Romano."

Romano.

The name hit me like a slap.

That's why it sounded familiar. That's why Luca's words had felt like a warning.

Riccardo Romano wasn't just some businessman.

He was the businessman.

The one who controlled this city.

The Mafia Boss.

My stomach dropped.

Riccardo tilted his head, his gaze flicking to where Matteo still held my wrist. His smirk vanished.

"Let. Her. Go."

Matteo hesitated for a second too long.

That was his mistake.

Riccardo moved faster than I could blink, his fist slamming into Matteo's jaw.

Matteo stumbled back, cursing, but Riccardo grabbed him by the collar, yanking him forward until their faces were inches apart.

"I don't like repeating myself," Riccardo murmured, his voice low, deadly. "Stay away from her."

Matteo gritted his teeth. "She's not yours."

Riccardo's grip tightened. His voice dropped even lower. "She will be."

A gasp caught in my throat.

I wanted to protest. I wanted to scream at him for his arrogance.

But all I could do was stare.

Because deep down, in the pit of my stomach, I knew the truth.

Riccardo Romano had decided I was his.

And there was no escaping a man like him.

---

(Riccardo's POV)

Matteo was still glaring at me, his jaw tight with rage. I could see the fight in his eyes, but it didn't matter.

I had already won.

I leaned in, my voice dropping to something only he could hear.

"She already feels me watching," I whispered. "She already knows."

His expression faltered for a fraction of a second.

I released him with a smirk, then turned to Aurora.

She stood frozen, her brown eyes wide, lips parted in shock.

Beautiful.

Terrified.

And completely, irresistibly mine.

Without another word, I walked away, leaving her with the truth she wasn't ready to admit.

She belonged to me.

And soon, she would accept it.

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