Chapter 6 An Uneasy Alliance

Valentina's POV

The tension hung thick, a deafening roar that drowned out everything but the frantic thudding of my heartbeat in my ears.

Tullio stood frozen, his mercenaries slick with sweat under the weight of Raffaele's glare and the scorching Baghdad sun.

The copper market of Souk al-Safafeer that was usually alive with clanging metal and bargaining voices, had now fallen eerily silent.

Not even a hammer dared to strike. All eyes were locked on the spectacle unfolding before us.

The air crackled with unspoken threats.

Raffaele stepped in front of me, his presence a shield as his men swiftly ushered Maria behind us to safety.

He arched an eyebrow, his voice cutting through the silence like a blade. "Tullio Cavaliere. I didn't expect to find you here."

Tullio scoffed, his lips curling into a sneer. "Nor I, Raffaele. Stay out of this. Maria is my woman."

Raffaele's eyes narrowed, a dangerous glint flickering within them. "Doesn't look that way, Tullio. I don't see Maria throwing herself into your arms."

Tullio's eyes flashed with rage.

"Valentina, however, is my fiancée...and you're interrupting her day, along with her friend's peace," Raffaele continued, taking control of the moment.

"Any friend of Valentina is a friend of mine. And any enemy of hers is mine as well. Perhaps you missed the news of our recent engagement."

His words were firm, possessive, and laced with a warning that made my skin prickle.

"Are you sure you want the Ricchezza family as your enemy, Tullio?" Raffaele asked, his voice icy, his stare colder.

Tullio scoffed. "I'll take my chances." He flexed his muscles, ready to strike or pull a trigger.

The engagement was a sham, a contract between us, yet hearing him claim me so publicly stirred something I couldn't name. I felt a flicker of reluctant gratitude.

Neither man backed down, their stares locked in a silent duel.

The standoff might have ended in bloodshed if a sharp whistle hadn't pierced the air.

Local police approached, their footsteps echoing through the souk.

Tullio signaled his mercenaries with a curt gesture, and they melted into the shadows, vanishing into dark vehicles.

"Until next time, Raffaele," he called over his shoulder, his voice dripping with menace.

Then he turned to Maria, his gaze softening into something sickeningly intimate.

"Don't forget me, babe. I'm waiting for you."

He blew her a goodbye kiss, as if they were lovers parting after a casual date, not a man who'd just tried to abduct her with thugs.

The image of him dragging her by the hair or worse, slapping her senseless flashed through my mind, and my fists clenched at my sides.

As Tullio's car roared away, Raffaele turned to me, his expression unreadable.

"You're coming with me," he said, his tone leaving no room for argument. "You're under my protection now."

His gaze shifted to Maria, who still stood frozen, pale and shaken.

"And so is she."

Before either of us could respond, he motioned for his men to bring the car around. Moments later, the sleek silver Lamborghini purred to a stop beside us, shimmering like a blade under the sun.

Without waiting for debate, Raffaele opened the door for me, his hand resting lightly on the small of my back. "Get in."

Electricity surged through me, where I was supposed to feel nothing. I tried to focus on revenge, to remember why I was here. But his touch burned, hotter than fire, and my skin responded before my mind could catch up.

I closed my eyes for a moment, fighting it, then hesitated only a second before sliding inside. The leather seats were cool against my skin, a stark contrast to the heat smoldering just beneath the surface.

Maria followed wordlessly, her silence louder than any protest.

As the doors shut and the engine growled to life, we sped away from the souk and the chaos it had barely contained.

The opulent halls of the Ricchezza villa echoed with an uneasy silence as I guided Maria inside. "Maria, come here," I said softly, pulling her into a long, tight hug.

Her face was pale, her eyes hollow. "Take this tea and go to bed. You need rest, okay?" My heart twisted at her fragility.

Tear-streaked eyes met mine as she whispered, "Yes, Valentina. Thank you." I nodded, ushering her into one of the lavish guest rooms, the weight of her fear settling into my bones.

No sooner had I closed the door than Raffaele spun me around, pinning me against the wall with a force that stole my breath. "What the hell were you thinking, Valentina!?"

His voice was a low growl, his breath hot against my ear. His body pressed too close, sending my pulse into a frantic rhythm. "You could have been shot!"

"How dare you-" I started, but he cut me off, his tone sharp with demand. "How do you even associate with scum like Tullio?"

I squirmed, trying to break free, but his grip was unyielding. "He was Maria's ex! I thought he'd finally given up. He showed up today, how was I supposed to know? Let go of me!"

His eyes darkened, a smirk tugging at his lips. "Let go of you, Valentina? You left me so abruptly this morning, teasing me with that red lingerie. I couldn't stop thinking about you all day."

I glared, my voice icy. "That was the plan, remember? It's just a game, to entertain your grandfather Domenico and grandmother Giuliana so you can secure your inheritance. We agreed: no romance."

He leaned closer, his gaze intense. "How was I to know you'd make such a grand entrance last night and steal my attention? That lion, Valentina-maybe you want me to tame you?"

My breath hitched, caught between anger and an unwelcome spark of heat. I shoved against his chest, forcing space between us. "Don't flatter yourself, Ricchezza"

Raffaele stepped back, his hands lingering a moment too long, burning into my skin.

"Of course, Valentina. I'll give it to you." He smirked with those mesmerizing dark eyes.

"But don't confuse distance with disinterest."

If space is what you want, I'll give it."

He paused, his voice dropping lower.

"For now." A wicked smile curved his lips.

"But only so you'll miss me when I'm gone."

I nearly cursed under my breath as he'd used my own dirty tactics against me.

Then a phone call sliced through the tension. Raffaele answered, and his voice shifted.

"The Euphrates River? You found Gilgamesh's tomb?"

My breath caught.

They had found what?!

Raffaele turned to me, that dangerous smirk curling his lips again.

"Help me, Valentina. I need you for this. Are you in or out?"

The question hung in the air, razor-sharp.

I bristled, ready to argue, but he held up a hand.

"We agreed to chase your father's research together to find the tomb of Gilgamesh, orichalcum, all of it. But men like Tullio don't play fair, and I've got the firepower to keep thugs at bay. You need me, Valentina, whether you like it or not."

I swallowed hard. "I'll help you."

Trust was elusive, but I needed a backer, even if his name was Ricchezza. A man I'd sworn to hate.