ARIA’s POV
I snuggled deeper into Matteo’s embrace, feeling the warmth of his body against mine. We lay there in silence, the only sound of our gentle breathing. But as the moments ticked by, I sensed a change in him. His hold on me tightened, his body tensing ever so slightly.
I pulled back, my eyes searching his face. “Matteo?” I whispered, my voice soft.
He didn’t respond, his gaze distant, lost in thought. I reached up, my hand tracing the lines of his jaw. “Hey, what’s wrong?” I asked, my voice gentle.
Matteo’s eyes fluttered back to mine, his focus returning. He hesitated, his expression guarded. But then, something in his eyes shifted, and he let out a deep sigh. “It’s just… everything is falling apart, Aria,” he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper.
My heart went out to him, my instincts telling me he was struggling. I wrapped my arms around him, holding him close. “You’ll get through this, Matteo,” I whispered back. “I’ll be here for you, no matter what.”
As I held him, I felt his tension ease, his body relaxing into my embrace. And in that moment, I knew I would do anything to help him, to be his safe haven in the storm.
Matteo’s gaze locked onto mine, his eyes burning with intensity. He leaned in, his face inches from mine, and sniffed my hair. I felt a shiver run down my spine as he kissed the top of my head, his lips gentle.
“You mean everything to me, Aria,” he whispered, his voice low and husky. “You’re the one thing that keeps me grounded. That makes me feel like I’m not losing my grip on everything.”
I felt a surge of emotion at his words, but Matteo’s tone was far from vulnerable. He sounded possessive, like he was staking a claim on me.
“I’m not going to let anything happen to you, Aria,” he continued, his voice dripping with conviction. “You’re mine, and I’ll do whatever it takes to keep you safe.”
I shivered at his words, feeling a thrill run through me. Matteo’s gaze held mine, his eyes burning with a fierce intensity that left me breathless.
Matteo’s lips crashed onto mine with a fierce intensity, his tongue danced with mine, the sensation sending shivers down my core. The world around us melted away, leaving only the two of us, lost in the depths of our passion. The kiss was a claim, a possession, a declaration of ownership. I felt his dominance, his power, and his desire, and I surrendered to it all, my heart and soul melting into his embrace. And, I couldn’t help but crave more.
We broke apart, our chests heaving, our lips still tingling from the intensity of the kiss. The scream pierced the air again, louder and more urgent, shattering the intimate moment we shared. Matteo’s eyes narrowed, his gaze snapping towards the door.
“What the fuck?” he muttered, his voice low and angry. He quickly got out of bed and strode towards the door, his naked body a blur of muscle and power. I scrambled to follow, my heart racing with a mix of fear and anticipation.
Matteo hastily dressed me in his t-shirt. His movements were swift and efficient, his touch gentle yet firm.
“Stay here, Aria,” he instructed, his voice low and serious. “Lock the door behind me and don’t open it for anyone until I return.” His eyes locked onto mine, his gaze piercing.
“Understand?” I nodded as my heart raced. He turned and strode out of the room, leaving me alone and anxious, the door closing behind him with a soft click. I hastened to lock it, my hands shaking slightly as I turned the lock. And then, I waited, my ears straining to hear what was happening outside, my mind racing with worst-case scenarios.
I stepped out into the eerie silence of the mansion with a racing heart. The dim lighting cast long shadows, making me feel like I was walking into a nightmare. I called out, my voice barely above a whisper.
“Matteo?” But there was no response. The stillness was oppressive, making my skin crawl. I moved cautiously, my eyes scanning the dark corners, expecting something or someone to jump out at me. Every creak of the floorboards beneath my feet made me jump. I felt like I was being watched, but every window and door I passed was empty. The silence was suffocating, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was terribly wrong.
I gasped, my heart skipping a beat as I was enveloped in a tight embrace. My mind raced, wondering who was holding me and why. But as I breathed in, I caught a familiar scent – Matteo’s cologne. My body relaxed, realizing it was him. “Matteo,” I whispered, my voice muffled against his chest. His arms only tightened around me, holding me closer. I felt his warmth, his strength, and his protection. For a moment, we just stood there, locked in a silent embrace. Then, he leaned down and whispered in my ear, “I’ve got you, Aria. You’re safe now.” His words sent a wave of relief washing over me, and I knew that no matter what was happening, I was safe with him.
My eyes widened in horror as I took in the sight of Matteo’s bloodied face and arms. My mind raced with questions, but before I could ask any of them, Matteo’s expression turned grim. “Aria, we need to get out of here. Now.” His voice was low and urgent, and he grabbed my arm, pulling me towards the door. I resisted, my eyes fixed on the blood staining his skin.
“What happened? Who’s hurt?” I demanded, my voice shaking. Matteo’s gaze flicked towards the hallway, his eyes darting back to mine.
“We don’t have time for this. We need to leave. Now.” His grip on my arm tightened, and I knew I had no choice but to trust him. With a surge of adrenaline, I let him lead me away from the room, away from the unknown danger lurking in the shadows.
We rushed through the darkened hallways as my heart pounded in my chest, my senses heightened as I struggled to keep up with his long strides. We dodged furniture and leaped over obstacles, our footsteps echoing off the walls. Suddenly, Matteo yanked me into a hidden room, the door slamming shut behind us. We stood there, panting, our eyes locked in a silent understanding. It was dark, and Matteo finally spoke.
“Mrs. Fletcher’s dead”
We burst out of the room then through the front door and into Matteo’s car which was parked nearby, the engine already running but how?. He yanked open the door and pushed me inside, following close behind. He got into the driver’s seat, and the car sped away from the mansion, leaving the chaos and death behind. I stared back at the receding mansion, my mind reeling with shock and grief.
Elizabeth was dead. The reality of it hit me like a ton of bricks. I felt numb, my thoughts a jumbled mess. Matteo’s hand reached out and grasped mine, his eyes locked on the road ahead. “We’ll get through this, Aria,” he said, his voice firm and resolute.
Then, my heart skipped a beat as I caught sight of the figure in the rearview mirror. The moonlight glinted off the blade of the knife, sending a chill down my spine. I gasped, my hand tightening around Matteo’s.
“Matteo, look!” I whispered urgently, my eyes fixed on the mirror. Matteo’s gaze flicked to the rearview mirror, his expression darkening. He stepped on the gas, the car surging forward. The figure in the mirror grew smaller, but I could still see the glint of the knife. But I had one question in mind.
“Who was that?”