Valentina's POV — Morning
Fifteen days had passed since Dante disappeared— fifteen of silence, tension, and shadows lurking just beyond the edge of Valentina's life.
Isabella had been out of town, tied up with family emergencies, leaving Valentina alone in the sprawling mansion. The place felt far too big, far too silent, and far too haunted by memories she couldn't escape.
And then, Leo came home.
He hadn't been around much lately—business, or maybe something darker. But today, there he was, leaning against the marble kitchen counter, hair a little tousled, eyes a shade softer than usual.
"You sure you know how to bake pancakes?" Valentina teased, arms crossed as she watched him wrestle with the batter.
"I'm not a chef," Leo replied, flashing a rare, crooked smile.
They laughed, the sound echoing through the cavernous kitchen, filling the mansion with warmth that had been missing for far too long.
Valentina flicked some flour playfully and accidentally smudged her cheek.
Leo didn't hesitate. His thumb brushed the powder away, lingering on her skin just a moment too long.
And then, without planning it, Valentina leaned up and kissed him.
The world blurred—the soft light, the laughter, everything fading to the background as Leo lifted her onto the kitchen counter. His hands roamed possessively under her shirt, the heat between them crackling with years of unspoken tension.
"Why now?" Leo breathed.
"I don't know," she whispered back, breathless, "But I want this."
Their lips met again, deeper, hungrier. Leo's hand cupped the back of her neck while his other hand began to slide higher beneath her shirt, fingertips grazing the side of her breast.
Leo's phone vibrated sharply on the counter.
He ignored it.
His focus was on Valentina, on the warmth of her skin beneath his hands, the taste of her mouth, the years of pent-up desire finally breaking free.
Vibrate. Vibrate.
The call came again.
Valentina pulled back slightly, her breathing unsteady. "Leo… maybe you should pick up. It might be important."
Leo hesitated, jaw tightening, then grabbed the phone.
______________________________________________________________________________________
Leo's POV
The call had come out of nowhere.
Leo had been savoring the rare quiet morning with Valentina—her laughter like a balm to his restless soul—when the phone buzzed insistently on the counter.
He'd ignored it at first, unwilling to break the fragile bubble of warmth between them.
But the second time it rang, Valentina's voice had pierced through his hesitation.
"Leo… maybe you should pick up. It might be important."
The moment his thumb swiped the screen, the cold voice on the other end sliced through the air like a blade.
"You shouldn't have touched her."
Leo's jaw clenched, his fingers tightening around the phone. The voice was unmistakable—Dante.
"Who the hell is this?" Leo demanded, though he already knew.
"You already know," Dante said smoothly, like a venomous snake coiling around its prey. "Your boss. You think you can just step into my world? Kiss what belongs to me? You're playing with fire, and you don't even know it."
Leo's pulse thundered in his ears, but he kept his voice low, dangerous. "You're making a mistake."
"No," Dante hissed, voice dripping with icy obsession. "I'm making you pay. Stay away from her, or I'll make sure you regret it for the rest of your miserable life."
The line went dead.
Leo stared at the phone, anger and protective fury burning in his chest.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Valentina's POV — Evening
The day had drained her—mentally and physically—but she refused to let it show. The office was a blur of half-finished emails, scattered papers, and the hum of fluorescent lights above. For two weeks, Dante's absence had been a void in her life: an oppressive silence that somehow screamed louder than his presence ever had.
Isabella had just returned from her trip—a necessary escape from the swirling chaos—and Valentina had been looking forward to this dinner, to catching up, to pretending for a few hours that the world outside didn't threaten to crumble.
But Leo was nowhere to be seen.
Not since that call.
Her phone sat silent, the screen dark despite the number of times she had glanced at it.
She forced herself to breathe deeply and pushed the unease to the back of her mind.
The restaurant was warm and inviting, the low chatter of other patrons providing a comforting background hum. Isabella was already seated when Valentina arrived, her face lighting up with a tired but genuine smile.
"You made it!" Isabella said, standing to hug her tightly.
Valentina smiled back, though her heart was heavy.
As they settled at their table, Isabella's eyes narrowed just a little—noticing the way Valentina's smiles didn't quite reach her eyes.
"You okay?" Isabella asked quietly as she tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "You look like you're carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders."
Valentina laughed, a little too sharply. "Just tired," she said. But the words felt hollow, even to her own ears.
Isabella reached out, brushing her hand over Valentina's. "You don't have to pretend with me."
Valentina squeezed her hand back, grateful for the steadiness.
They ordered their food, but the conversation was tentative at first, edging around the topic they both knew was there but neither dared voice. Instead, they talked about small things—Isabella's trip, a funny encounter with a taxi driver, Valentina's new projects at work.
Still, every so often, Valentina's mind would drift, her gaze unfocused.
There was a quiet tension between them—a shift in Isabella's demeanor that wasn't lost on Valentina. Her friend was trying so hard to be normal, to keep things light, but Valentina could see the worry lurking beneath the surface.
"Something's different," Valentina finally said, her voice soft.
Isabella hesitated before nodding slowly. "I noticed it too," she admitted. "Since I got back, it's like there's a shadow over everything. And it's not just you. Something's… wrong."
Valentina's throat tightened. "Do you think Dante's back?"
Isabella's eyes darkened, and she leaned closer, lowering her voice. "I don't know. But whoever's out there, they're watching. And they're not going to stop."
Valentina swallowed hard, a cold shiver running down her spine.
"I just want this nightmare to end," she whispered.
Isabella squeezed her hand again, fierce and protective. "Me too. And I won't let anything happen to you. Or Leo"
The mention of Leo brought a pang of longing and fear. Where was he? Why hadn't he come back?
The night stretched on, but the warmth of their friendship was tinged with a growing unease—like the calm before a storm.
The drive home was quiet. The city lights flickered past the car windows, but the glow felt distant, unreal.
Valentina replayed the conversation with Isabella in her mind—the worry etched on her friend's face, the whispered warnings.
And then there was Leo's call. The chilling voice, the obsessive menace lurking behind every word.
She wanted to scream, to run, to fight.
But all she could do was breathe.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Valentina's POV — Night
At home, the silence was suffocating.
She slipped into bed early, hoping for rest, for peace.
But peace was fragile.
-
The glass shattered with a terrifying crack that ripped through the silence.
Valentina jolted awake, heart hammering wildly in her chest.
Darkness cloaked the room, shadows twisting into shapes of fear.
Before she could scream, a hand clamped over her mouth.
Dante.
His presence was a cold, suffocating weight.
His eyes blazed with furious obsession.
"You think you can kiss him?" His voice was a low, venomous growl, each word dripping with possessiveness. "Touch him like he's yours? You belong to me, Valentina. Always."
His breath was hot against her ear, voice thick with promise and threat.
"You are my blood, my air, my damn heartbeat. I feel you beneath my skin, in every breath I take. Nobody else gets to have you."
His grip was iron, holding her in place.
"You tried to forget me. Tried to live without me. But you don't get to choose. I'm the war inside you, the shadow you'll never outrun."
Valentina struggled, but his strength was unyielding.
His eyes darkened as he whispered, "Resist all you want. This war is mine. You're mine."
A sharp prick seared her neck.
Her body weakened, vision blurring.
She slipped into darkness, falling helplessly into his merciless arms.
_______________________________________________________________________________
Dante's POV:
The front door blew open.
Gunshots. Screams.
Leo was back.
But Dante's men had already secured the perimeter. Shadows in motion.
Bullets ricocheted. Blood painted the white walls.
"Give her back!" Leo roared from outside.
"Too late," Dante murmured as he walked calmly through the chaos, carrying Valentina in his arms like a precious possession.
His men shielded him as he walked to the black SUV.
She stirred, murmured his name weakly in sleep.
"That's right," Dante whispered, placing her inside the back seat. "Your body remembers even if your mouth lies."
His shield, Luca, covered their escape.
"No one takes what's mine. No one."
His eyes burned with ruthless command.
"Bring Isabella too. If you want her safe… she comes with Valentina."
The war had only just begun.