MATTEO’s POV
I sprinted through the darkness, my footsteps echoing off the pavement as I raced towards Rosaline’s house. The night air was crisp and cool, but my heart burned with a fierce intensity. My hand instinctively went to my belt, feeling the reassuring shape of my holstered gun beneath my suit jacket. I burst through the front door, my eyes scanning the room with a laser-like focus.
And then, I spotted her – Aria, seated and frozen in fear, her eyes wide with terror as she took in my imposing figure. She tried to rise to make a desperate dash for freedom, but I was too quick. I closed the distance between us in mere strides, my long legs devouring the space. I grasped her wrist, my grip so strong I knew it hurt her.
“Don’t fight it, Aria,” I snarled, my voice low and menacing. “You’re coming with me.”
She struggled against my grip, but I held firm, my fingers digging into her wrist. I could feel her heart racing, her pulse pounding in her wrist like a drumbeat. I yanked her close, our eyes locked in a fierce stare-down, and I knew I had her right where I wanted her. She was mine. But then, she sank her teeth into my arm, her eyes flashing with determination. I grunted in pain, my grip faltering for a moment. That was all she needed.
With a fierce cry, she wrenched her wrist free and made a break for it. But Charles stepped into my path, his eyes locked on mine with a fierce determination and anger.
“You’re not taking her anywhere,” he growled, his voice low and even.
I laughed mockingly, my eyes narrowing into slits.
“You think you can stand in my way, Charles? Do you think you can protect her from me? I’ll crush you like the insignificant insect that you are.” Charles didn’t flinch, his gaze unwavering.
“I’m not afraid of you, Matteo. And I won’t let you hurt her. She’s under my protection now.” I sneered, my gaze shifting to Gia, who stood frozen beside him.
“You’re blind to the truth, Gia,” I spat venomously. “Charles is hiding secrets. He’s not what he seems.” But Gia’s eyes remained steadfast, her loyalty to Charles unshakeable.
“I trust him, Matteo,” she declared firmly. “And I won’t let you come between us.” She said, and my mood seemed to worsen. Aria had escaped, and Charles had dared to stand in my way. But this wasn’t the end. I would return, and next time, no one would dare stand in my way. I smirked, my eyes locked on Charles with a menacing glint.
“You’re forgetting something, Charles. Gia’s still a teenager, barely nineteen. What kind of man preys on someone so young and vulnerable?” The insinuation hung in the air like a challenge, daring Charles to respond.
Charles’s eyes flicked to Gia, a hint of unease crossing his face. “Matteo, please don’t say that.”
“She’s my sister! Oh, how I want your head in my hands now”. I said, holding Charlie’s gaze.
I raised an eyebrow, my voice dripping with sarcasm. “Oh, it’s not relevant? You’re a grown man, Charles. What do you want with a teenager?”
Gia’s eyes flashed with anger, but I didn’t care. I was determined to expose Charles for what he was – a predator, taking advantage of my sister’s innocence.
Charles’s face darkened, his eyes narrowing. “Matteo, that’s enough. You don’t understand the situation.”
I laughed, a cold, mocking sound. “Oh, I understand perfectly. You’re using your charm and your fake smile to manipulate my sister. But I won’t let you hurt her, Charles. I won’t let you take advantage of her innocence.”
Gia’s eyes flashed with anger, her voice rising. “Matteo, stop it! You don’t know what you’re talking about!”
But I didn’t back down. I kept my eyes locked on Charles, my gaze piercing. “Tell me, Charles. What’s your game? What do you want from my sister?”
Charles’s eyes never wavered, his voice steady. “I care about Gia, Matteo. I want to protect her.”
But I just laughed again, my voice dripping with disbelief. “Protect her? From what? You’re the one she needs protection from.”
Gia’s face reddened with anger, her voice raised. “Matteo, that’s enough! You’re not being fair. We’re just -”
But I didn’t back down, my eyes still locked on Charles. “Fair? Do you want to talk about fair? You’re the one who’s being played, Gia. Charles isn’t who you think he is.”
Charles’s eyes flashed with anger, his voice rising. “That’s not true, Matteo! I care about Gia, like she were my own -”
But I just sneered, my voice dripping with disdain. “Save it, Charles. I’m not buying it. You’re a user, a manipulator. And I’m going to expose you for what you are.”
Gia’s eyes filled with tears, her voice trembling. “Matteo, please… just leave us alone.”
But I didn’t back down, my eyes still locked on Charles. “No, Gia. I won’t leave you alone with this… this… predator.”
The air was thick with tension, the silence between us like a living thing. And then, in a flash of movement, Charles was in my face, his eyes blazing with anger. “You’re going to regret this, Matteo,” he snarled. “You’re going to regret crossing me.”
Charles’s eyes locked onto Gia, a fierce intensity burning in them. Then, he turned to me, his gaze piercing. “This isn’t over, Matteo,” he growled. And with that, he turned and strode out of the room, Gia hot on his heels.
I watched them go, my mind racing with anger and suspicion. But I didn’t have time to dwell on it. I had to find Aria. I spun on my heel and rushed out of the room, my eyes scanning the hallway for any sign of her.
But she was nowhere to be found. I raced through the house, my heart pounding in my chest. And then, I saw it. The back door, open wide, leading out into the dark woods beyond.
My heart sank. Aria had escaped into the woods, and I had no idea where she was going. I cursed under my breath and took off after her, my feet pounding the earth as I raced into the darkness.
“Aria! Aria, please!” I called out, my voice echoing through the trees. But there was no response, only the eerie silence of the woods.
My heart raced with fear, my mind conjuring up images of her being dragged away by some wild animal. I trembled at the thought, my legs feeling like jelly beneath me.
I took a deep breath and tried again, my voice softening to a gentle plea. “Aria, please come out. I’m worried about you. I promise I won’t hurt you. Just please, please come out.”
The silence was deafening, and I felt my fear giving way to desperation. I took a step forward, my eyes scanning the darkness for any sign of her. “Aria, I’m begging you. Please, don’t do this. Come out and talk to me.”
But the only response was the rustling of leaves in the wind, and I was left standing there, alone and afraid.
My ears perked up, my heart skipping a beat as I heard the faint snap of a twig behind me. I spun around, my eyes scanning the darkness, and that’s when I saw her. Aria, hiding behind a tree, her eyes fixed on me with a mix of fear and anger.
I smirked, my confidence surging back. I thought I had her right where I wanted her. I rushed towards her, my long legs eating up the distance. But by the time I reached the tree, she was gone. Vanished into thin air.
I stopped dead in my tracks, my eyes scanning the surrounding area, but she was nowhere to be found. I cursed under my breath, my frustration boiling over. How did she keep managing to slip away from me?. I took a deep breath and tried to calm myself down. I knew I had to think clearly if I was going to get her. I started to circle around the tree, my eyes scanning the ground for any sign of her footprints. And that’s when I saw it – a faint trail leading deeper into the woods. I smiled to myself, and my determination was renewed. I was going to get her, no matter what it took.