[Alfio's Pov—On the Desolate Road]
Riccardo's hands gripped the wheel, veins sharp under the moonlight as the car sped along the deserted stretch of road. The headlights cut through the endless black, the world outside swallowed in silence except for the growl of the engine.
I pressed my forehead against the glass, staring into the nothingness, before I whispered, "Where… where are we going?"
His lips curved—not soft, not comforting, but a sharp, twisted smirk that made my chest tighten. "Somewhere no one will ever take you away from me," he said, voice low and deliberate, each word heavy with obsession.
My stomach sank. I tried to steady my breath, my hands trembling in my lap. "I… I just want to see my mother."
Riccardo glanced at me, eyes flashing in the dark. His hand slipped over mine, tightening until it hurt. His smile widened.
