LOGINAUTHORS POVRiana woke with a strangled gasp, her fingers twisted tightly into Matteo's shirt.For a moment, everywhere seemed blurry.Her chest rose and fell rapidly, and her entire body trembled as though she had just escaped something terrible.Sweat dampened her forehead, and loose strands of hair clung to her cheeks.She could still see the flames behind her closed eyes, hear the terrible sounds that had followed her through the nightmare.Fire.It was everywhere."Riana."Matteo's voice reached her through the haze.She opened her eyes, but the fear hadn't left her. Her gaze darted around the dimly lit bedroom before settling on him.Only then did she seem to realize that she was in his arms, her hands gripping his shirt as though letting go would send her tumbling back into the nightmare.Matteo drew her closer, wrapping both arms around her trembling frame."Hey." He brushed the damp hair away from her face. "Look at me."Riana struggled to steady her breathing."You're safe,"
AUTHORS POVFor the first time, something resembling genuine interest flickered across her face."I'd like to see you try.""Be careful what you wish for.""Oh, I am." She tilted her head. "But even if you succeed, you won't walk away untouched. Wars have consequences, Matteo. People lose things. People get hurt."Her silver eyes held his."People die."His expression remained unchanged."If you're threatening Riana, you'd better reconsider.""I'm simply reminding you that you're not the only one who can make someone suffer.""Listen to me carefully, Layla." His voice dropped. "I can bring your organisation down and protect her at the same time. Don't mistake my patience for an inability to do both."She studied him for a long moment."Why are you so obsessed with her?"Valerio shifted slightly beside him, but Matteo didn't look away from Layla."I don't need a reason to be obsessed with whats mine.""That's exactly what will ruin you one day.""If Riana is the reason, I doubt I'll co
AUTHORS POVMatteo's expression changed the moment Riana mentioned the fire."Where did you hear that from?" he asked.Riana frowned at his sudden seriousness. "So it is about the fire?""Riana, I'm asking you a question." His voice hardened. "Where did you hear that from?"She hesitated, taken aback by his reaction. "I've been having these dreams lately.""What dreams?""Dreams about fire." She lowered her gaze to her hands. "I'm surrounded by it, and no matter where I turn, there's nowhere to go. I keep crying, Matteo. Sometimes I wake up feeling as though I've been crying for hours."Matteo said nothing."The dreams feel so real," she continued. "I can't see anyone clearly, and I don't understand what's happening. But there's always fire. Everywhere."Her eyes lifted to his."What if that's what happened to me in real life?""No."The answer came too quickly.Riana stared at him. "How can you be so sure?""Because you're having nightmares, Riana. That's all.""Then why would I keep
Authors POV"I know you've been cooped up in here, and I know you're tired of everyone telling you what to do. But you haven't fully recovered yet. Give yourself a little more time."She studied him."And after that?""After that, you can go back to driving me insane downstairs instead of doing it from here."A reluctant smile tugged at her lips."You're already insane. I have nothing to do with it.""Whatever helps you sleep at night."She shook her head, but the tension between them had eased a little.Matteo reached for her hand, brushing his thumb over her knuckles. She allowed it for a moment before looking up at him again."There's something else, isn't there?"His hand stilled."Why would you think that?""Because every time I ask you about what's happening, you give me a different excuse. You keep saying it's because of my health, but I don't believe that's the whole story."He released her hand and stood."You're overthinking things.""Then tell me I'm wrong."He didn't answe
Authors POV“What was that?” Riana asked the moment the door clicked, leaving only her and Matteo.“It's nothing. You should get back to rest.”“It's not nothing, is it about me?”Matteo's face was expressionless as he walked past her and headed straight for the stairs.She poked her tongue against her cheek, something she normally did when she was angry. Riana moved from where she was and bypassed Matteo, standing in front of him.“I asked a question, Matteo.”His gaze glided over her, a smile forming at his lips. This was the Riana he knew.He straightened and attempted to walk past her when her hands came up directly on his chest and stopped him.“I deserve to know if it's about me, Matteo. It's my life. You don't get to shut things out without my permission.”He still said nothing.She sighed, seeing she wasn't getting through to him. “Fine, keep it to yourself. It's not like I will be staying here for long.”With that, she turned sharply on her heels and started walking. Matteo s
AUTHORS POV The chains rattled with the sheer intensity of the assault. Metal links scraped against concrete as bodies strained and buckled under force that never eased. The three men who had taken Riana, who had nearly forced themselves on her, now lay stripped and bound in the low light of the basement, each one claimed by three sets of hands at once.One man held the first captive by the throat, fingers digging deep enough to leave dark prints.while another forced himself into the open mouth until spit ran and the sounds turned wet and broken. A third man pinched and twisted the captive’s nipples hard enough to make the body jerk, then worked a fist along the stiff length until the release came in thick ropes that painted the face already slick with sweat and tears. They spoke over him the whole time.“Take your turn after me. I want him choking on it again.”“Save some for the next hour. We’re not done until every one of them is used raw.”The second captive received the sam







