Chapter 3 Ep 3

The phone sat on Sienna's nightstand, untouched.

She'd tried to ignore it. She'd convinced herself she wouldn't use it, that she wouldn't so much as look at it.

But every time her gaze flickered to the sleek black device, Rafael's voice echoed in her mind.

"Call me when you need me."

As if he knew she would. As if he had already decided she would break.

And the worst part?

A small, treacherous part of her wanted to.

Sienna groaned, dragging a hand down her face before throwing the covers off. It was past midnight, but sleep refused to come. Her thoughts tangled between frustration, intrigue, and something much more dangerous.

A pull.

She needed to get out of her apartment before she lost her mind.

Grabbing a sweater, she threw it on over her tank top and leggings before slipping out the door.

The streets were quiet, the hum of the city softer at this hour. She walked without a destination, her body moving on autopilot, her mind still waging war with itself.

And then she felt it.

A presence.

The hair on the back of her neck prickled, a strange awareness washing over her.

She wasn't alone.

Sienna slowed her steps, heart hammering.

She turned down a narrow street, shadows stretching long in the dim glow of streetlights.

Footsteps echoed behind her.

Not fast. Not hurried.

Measured.

She glanced back.

A man.

Dark clothing. Hood low over his face.

Her stomach twisted.

Sienna picked up her pace, reaching for the small pepper spray canister in her pocket.

The footsteps quickened.

Panic surged through her veins.

She shouldn't have gone out alone. She knew better.

A sharp whistle cut through the air.

And then-

A black car screeched to a stop beside her.

The passenger door swung open, and before Sienna could react, a voice-his voice-spoke.

"Get in, Sienna."

Her pulse lurched.

Rafael.

She hesitated only for a second before shoving the pepper spray back in her pocket and diving into the car.

The door slammed shut behind her, and in the next breath, the car peeled away, leaving the shadowed figure standing motionless on the sidewalk.

The tension in the air was thick, charged with adrenaline and something else-something electric.

Sienna's breath came fast as she turned to Rafael.

His grip was tight on the steering wheel, jaw clenched, eyes dark with something lethal.

"You shouldn't be out here alone," he said, his voice dangerously soft.

She swallowed hard. "How did you-"

"I told you," he interrupted, gaze flicking toward her. "I always get what I want."

Her stomach tightened.

"That man-" she started.

"He's no one now," Rafael said darkly. "He won't come near you again."

A chill ran down her spine.

Because she believed him.

And that terrified her more than anything else.

The car was silent except for the steady roar of the engine and the pulse pounding in Sienna's ears.

Rafael's knuckles were white around the steering wheel, his jaw tight as if barely restraining something far more dangerous than she could comprehend. She could feel the tension radiating off him in waves, thick enough to choke her.

Sienna swallowed, her heart still racing from the encounter. She hadn't even processed the reality of what almost happened before Rafael had shown up like some dark savior from the shadows.

But now, sitting beside him in the dim interior of his sleek black car, a different kind of panic took root.

What the hell was she doing here?

"You're going to say nothing?" Rafael's voice finally broke the silence, low and sharp. His eyes didn't leave the road, but she could feel his gaze even without seeing it-cutting straight through her.

She took a breath, forcing her voice to steady. "I didn't ask you to follow me."

His lips twitched, though there was no humor in it. "No. But clearly, you needed me to."

Her stomach tightened at his words. "I don't need you."

His knuckles flexed. "Sienna, if I hadn't shown up tonight, what do you think would've happened?"

She flinched but didn't answer. She didn't want to admit that a very real possibility of danger had loomed over her-one she might not have escaped from.

Instead, she stared out the window, city lights blurring past them. "I don't understand how you're always there," she muttered. "How do you even know where I am?"

His jaw clenched tighter. "It's not important."

She whipped her head toward him, anger sparking in her chest. "It's very important! You don't get to just... stalk me, Rafael. This isn't normal."

He finally turned his head, pinning her with a look that made her breath catch. His green eyes burned, dark and unreadable. "Do you think I care about normal, dolcezza?"

Her heartbeat skittered.

"No one touches what's mine," he added, voice low but final.

Her lips parted, a mix of frustration and something else swirling in her chest. "I'm not yours."

A muscle ticked in his jaw. "Not yet."

Those two words sent a jolt straight down her spine. She hated the way her body reacted, how something deep inside her clenched in response.

But she wouldn't let him see that. Wouldn't give him the satisfaction.

"You can't buy me, Rafael," she said quietly, gaze steady. "You can't control me."

For a moment, neither of them spoke. The air between them was thick, charged, teetering on the edge of something neither wanted to name.

Then, without warning, Rafael made a sharp turn down a quieter street, the car rolling to a smooth stop outside an unmarked building. He killed the engine, silence settling over them once more.

Sienna frowned. "Where are we?"

He didn't answer immediately. Instead, he shifted in his seat, turning fully toward her. His eyes softened, but there was still that dangerous edge lingering beneath.

"I want to show you something."

Before she could object, he was already out of the car, moving around to open her door.

Sienna hesitated, every instinct screaming at her to stay put. But curiosity, as dangerous as it was, won out.

She stepped out, following him to the entrance of the building. It wasn't flashy like she'd expect from someone like him-just a simple steel door, a keypad on the side.

He punched in a code, and the door clicked open.

She followed him inside.

The space was dark at first, but as he flicked on the lights, Sienna's breath caught.

It wasn't what she expected.

It was a warehouse-but not filled with weapons or illegal goods. Instead, it was filled with supplies. Medical equipment, food crates, basic necessities stacked neatly in rows.

She turned to him, confused.

"This is mine," Rafael said quietly. "Every month, we ship these supplies to the outskirts. Hospitals. Orphanages. People no one else cares about."

Her chest tightened. "Why are you showing me this?"

He stepped closer, the tension in his posture easing slightly. "Because I want you to understand. You see me one way. You think I'm some cold, criminal bastard."

She swallowed.

"But I protect what matters," he continued. "I take care of people who don't have anyone else. And I take care of you-whether you like it or not."

Sienna's heart thudded painfully in her chest. She searched his face, unsure of what to say.

The weight of his gaze pinned her in place.

"I don't need your money," she whispered, voice cracking slightly. "I don't want to owe you."

His hand reached up, fingers gently tracing along her jaw, forcing her to meet his eyes.

"You don't owe me anything," he murmured. "Except maybe... your trust."

Her breath hitched.

For a moment, she let herself lean into his touch, just enough to feel the warmth of it, the safety it promised even when every part of her screamed that this was dangerous.

And then she pulled back, taking a step away.

"I can't trust you, Rafael."

His eyes darkened.

"But you will," he said softly, voice like a vow.

The silence stretched, heavy with something unspoken.

Finally, he gestured toward the exit. "Let me take you home."

Sienna hesitated, but nodded.

Because deep down, despite everything, despite the warnings flashing in her mind-

She wasn't ready to walk away.

Not yet.

And maybe... not ever.

Sienna barely slept that night.

Lying in bed, she stared at the ceiling, Rafael's words looping in her mind.

"I take care of you-whether you like it or not."

That was the problem.

A man like him didn't take care of people. A man like Rafael Bianchi took what he wanted, owned what he wanted. And he had made it painfully clear that, for some reason, he wanted her.

Her fingers itched to reach for the phone he'd given her, the sleek black device sitting untouched on her nightstand.

She wouldn't use it.

She couldn't.

Because calling him meant acknowledging that a part of her wanted to.

And she refused to give in to that.

The next morning, Sienna arrived at the clinic earlier than usual. The small building, tucked away on the outskirts of Milan, had become her second home-a place where she could drown herself in work and forget about the complications of her personal life.

Except today, she felt watched.

At first, she chalked it up to paranoia. After last night's encounter, it wasn't surprising that she was on edge.

But by mid-morning, she was sure of it.

Someone was following her.

The clinic's waiting area was packed, filled with patients needing attention. But between appointments, when she moved between rooms or walked down the hall, she felt it.

The weight of unseen eyes. The slight shift of movement just beyond her periphery.

It wasn't Rafael.

No, this was different.

More than once, she caught glimpses of a dark figure lingering outside the clinic's entrance, only to disappear when she tried to get a closer look.

By noon, her nerves were frayed.

She leaned against the counter, exhaling shakily.

Get it together, Sienna.

"Dr. Costa?"

She looked up to see Ana, one of the clinic's nurses, watching her with concern.

"You okay?"

Sienna forced a smile. "Yeah. Just... tired."

Ana frowned. "Are you sure? You've been looking over your shoulder all morning."

Had she been that obvious?

"I just-" Sienna hesitated, debating whether to confide in her.

Before she could, the front doors of the clinic swung open.

And everything inside Sienna went still.

Because Rafael Bianchi had just walked in.

The entire room shifted. Patients, nurses-everyone's eyes flickered toward him.

It was impossible not to look.

Dressed in a black tailored suit, Rafael commanded attention effortlessly. His presence sucked the oxygen from the room, a storm cloud darkening the atmosphere with something unspoken, something dangerous.

His gaze locked onto Sienna instantly, and she felt the weight of it like a physical touch.

He wasn't alone.

Two men flanked him, their sharp suits failing to disguise what they truly were-guards.

A warning prickled at the back of her neck.

Why is he here?

"Dr. Costa." Rafael's voice was smooth, but there was an edge to it.

Sienna straightened, trying to ignore the way her pulse reacted. "What are you doing here?"

He didn't answer immediately. Instead, he took his time, surveying the clinic, his expression unreadable.

Finally, he spoke.

"We need to talk."

Sienna's jaw tightened. She could feel the entire room watching.

"This isn't a good time."

His lips curled slightly, but the amusement didn't reach his eyes. "Make time."

A flicker of irritation sparked in her chest. "Excuse me?"

His gaze darkened. "Now, Sienna."

Heat flared through her body, not just from anger-but from something far more dangerous.

She hated the way he said her name, the way it slipped from his lips like a secret only he was allowed to know.

For a moment, she considered refusing.

But then-

A movement outside the clinic caught her eye.

A dark figure.

The same one she had noticed earlier.

Her pulse quickened.

Rafael followed her gaze, his expression sharpening in an instant.

And that was all it took.

Without another word, he reached for her wrist, his grip firm but not painful, and pulled her toward the back hallway.

"Hey-" she protested, but he didn't stop.

He led her into an empty supply room, shutting the door behind them with a quiet click.

Sienna jerked her arm free, heart pounding. "You don't get to just drag me around, Rafael!"

He ignored that.

Instead, he stepped closer, voice low. "Who was watching you?"

Her breath caught. "What?"

"You saw someone," he said, his tone dangerously calm. "Outside. Who was it?"

She swallowed hard. "I don't know. But I think they've been following me since this morning."

A muscle in Rafael's jaw twitched. He reached into his pocket, pulling out his phone.

"Stay here," he ordered, stepping back toward the door.

Panic flared in her chest. "Wait-what are you-"

Rafael shot her a sharp look. "Sienna. Stay here."

And then he was gone.

Sienna let out a shaky breath, pressing a hand to her temple.

How had her life turned into this?

She was a doctor. A normal person. She wasn't supposed to have men lurking in the shadows, wasn't supposed to be having whispered conversations in supply rooms with mafia heirs.

But deep down, she already knew-

This wasn't something she could run from.

Not anymore.

Minutes passed.

Then-

Gunfire.

Sienna's blood ran cold.

She barely had time to process it before the door flew open, Rafael appearing in the doorway, his expression thunderous.

"We're leaving."

Her stomach twisted. "What-"

"Now." His voice left no room for argument.

Before she could react, Rafael grabbed her hand and pulled her into the hallway.

The clinic was in chaos. Staff and patients ducked behind counters, fear etched across their faces. The front doors were shattered-glass glinting on the floor.

And outside-

Men in dark suits.

Armed.

Waiting.

Sienna's breath came fast, panic clawing up her throat.

"What the hell is going on?" she whispered.

Rafael didn't stop moving. His grip on her was tight as he led her through the back exit.

"Someone sent a message." His voice was like ice.

She glanced up at him, heart racing. "A message?"

His gaze flicked to hers.

"Welcome to my world, dolcezza."

And just like that, the last remnants of her normal life shattered.

Because in that moment, as Rafael pulled her into his car and the city blurred around them, Sienna Costa knew-

She was in too deep.

And there was no turning back.