The night in Milan was colder than usual, and Elena shivered despite the warmth of the coat Alessandro had given her. She was finally starting to feel a little safe inside the estate, but a strange unease lingered in her chest. Something told her that danger was never far from the Moretti Empire.
Alessandro stood near the window, his dark eyes scanning the quiet streets outside. His expression was unreadable, but Elena knew better. He could sense everything—every movement, every whisper. She felt small and fragile under that gaze, but oddly… it made her want to be stronger.
"Elena," he said suddenly, turning toward her. His voice was sharp, commanding her attention. "I need you to stay here. Don't move until I say so."
"Of course," she whispered, her voice trembling.
As he left the room, Elena tried to calm her racing heart. But no matter how hard she told herself to relax, she couldn't shake the feeling that something was coming. She wasn't used to this world—the shadows of power, the whispers of violence, the air thick with secrets she didn't understand.
Then it happened.
A sudden noise from the garden made her jump. Footsteps. Deliberate, heavy, and close. She tried to back away, but her legs froze. Fear rooted her to the spot.
"Elena?" a voice called softly, low and commanding.
Before she could respond, Alessandro appeared, moving faster than she could comprehend. In one fluid motion, he stepped between her and the shadowy figure in the garden.
"You shouldn't be here," he growled. His hand moved instinctively, and the intruder froze.
Elena clutched her coat tighter around herself, watching as Alessandro confronted the danger. He was calm, deadly, and perfectly in control. Every movement he made radiated power, and she felt both terrified and drawn to him.
The intruder hesitated, clearly realizing he had underestimated Alessandro Moretti. Then, with a grunt of frustration, he turned and fled into the shadows. Alessandro didn't chase. He just watched until the figure disappeared completely, then turned to Elena.
"You're safe," he said, his voice softer now, but still edged with authority. "But you can't be this careless again."
"I… I'm sorry," she stammered, her heart still racing. "I didn't know…"
Alessandro stepped closer, the heat of his presence overwhelming her senses. "You don't know anything yet," he said, his gaze locking onto hers. "But you will. And I will make sure you survive in my world."
Elena's chest tightened as she swallowed. The fear hadn't left her, not completely, but now there was something else: a spark of trust, and perhaps something more… something dangerous she wasn't ready to name.
He reached out, brushing a strand of hair from her face. The contact was brief, but it left a trail of heat along her skin. "Stay close to me," he murmured. "I can't always protect you if you wander off."
Her eyes met his, wide and vulnerable, and for a moment, the world outside—the shadows, the threats, the danger—ceased to exist. It was just him. Alessandro Moretti. Protector, predator, and the man who had already begun to dominate her fragile heart.
Elena realized, trembling, that she wanted to stay close… more than she had ever wanted anything before.