Chapter 4

The sound of gunfire finally faded, leaving an eerie silence throughout the mansion. I stood beside Martha near the staircase, my eyes fixed on the entrance. Every passing second felt painfully slow. The guards remained alert, their weapons still drawn as they waited for their boss to return. I clasped my hands together, trying to remain calm. Dante was the Mafia King. He had probably survived situations far worse than this. Even so, I couldn't stop wondering if he was hurt.

The front doors swung open.

Several bodyguards entered first, creating a path for Dante as he walked inside. His steps were steady, his expression as unreadable as ever, but my attention was immediately drawn to the dark stain spreading across the shoulder of his black shirt.

Blood.

Without thinking, I walked toward him.

"You're hurt."

Dante glanced at his shoulder before looking back at me.

"It's only a scratch."

I frowned.

"That's not what it looks like."

A faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips, almost as though he found my reaction amusing.

"I've survived worse."

Before I could reply, the family doctor hurried into the mansion carrying his medical case.

"Mr. Moretti," the doctor said, already opening the case. "Please sit down."

Dante obeyed without argument.

As the doctor carefully cut away the torn fabric around his shoulder, I remained beside them, handing over clean gauze, bandages, and disinfectant whenever they were needed. The wound wasn't deep, but seeing the fresh blood made me realize something.

The feared Mafia King...

Was still human.

The doctor finished wrapping the clean white bandage around Dante's shoulder before closing his medical case with a soft click. "The bullet only grazed your shoulder, so you'll recover quickly," he said. "But if you don't rest, you'll make the injury worse." Dante gave a slight nod. "Thank you, Doctor." The older man smiled, clearly relieved that his patient wasn't more seriously injured. "I'll come back tomorrow morning to check the wound." Before leaving, he turned to me. "Miss Aria, if he tries to remove the bandage or return to work tonight, stop him." I blinked in surprise. "I... I'll do my best." The doctor chuckled before walking out of the room.

The mansion gradually became quiet again. One after another, the guards returned to their positions while the servants cleaned the broken glass left behind by the attack. Martha approached Dante with a worried expression. "Sir, shall I prepare something warm to eat?" Dante shook his head gently. "No. Everyone has had a long night. Tell them to rest." Martha nodded respectfully before looking at me. "Miss Aria, your room is ready whenever you need it." I thanked her with a smile, and soon the room was left with only Dante and me.

He slowly stood from the sofa, but the movement caused him to pause for a second. It was only the slightest hesitation, yet I noticed it immediately. "You're still in pain," I said. He looked at me and gave the same answer he always did. "It's nothing." I folded my arms. "You keep saying that, but I don't believe you anymore." For a brief moment, he simply stared at me. Then, unexpectedly, he laughed quietly. It wasn't loud, but it was enough to completely change his expression. The cold Mafia King suddenly looked... human. "You're different," he murmured. "Most people stop asking questions after I answer once." I shrugged. "Maybe I'm just stubborn."

Dante walked upstairs, and this time I followed without saying a word. When we reached his bedroom, he sat on the edge of the bed while I poured him a glass of water and handed him the medicine. He accepted both without protest. "Thank you," he said. I smiled faintly. "You should sleep before the medicine wears off." He nodded, leaned back against the pillows, and within a few minutes his breathing became slower as the medicine began to take effect. The room fell silent except for the gentle rain tapping against the windows.

I remained seated in the chair beside the bed, keeping an eye on the fresh bandage just as the doctor had asked. Every now and then I glanced toward the window, lost in thought. My life had changed so quickly that it still felt unreal. Yesterday I had been worried about paying rent and buying groceries. Today I was sitting beside the bed of the most feared man in the city after watching him risk his life to protect everyone inside his home. Maybe the rumors about Dante Moretti didn't tell the whole story.

After what felt like an hour, I quietly stood from the chair. Dante was sleeping peacefully, and his breathing remained steady. The bandage showed no sign of fresh blood. "You should be fine now," I whispered softly. Not wanting to wake him, I turned and slowly walked toward the bedroom door.

Just as my fingers touched the doorknob, something warm gently wrapped around my wrist.

I froze.

Slowly, I looked back.

Dante's eyes were still closed.

He was asleep.

Before I could react, his hand gave a gentle tug. Losing my balance, I stumbled backward and landed on the edge of the bed. My palm rested lightly against his chest to steady myself. I could hear the steady rhythm of his heartbeat beneath my hand.

"Dante..." I whispered.

There was no answer.

His fingers remained loosely around my wrist, as though he was holding onto something precious without even realizing it.

A few seconds later, he spoke in a sleepy, almost inaudible voice.

"...Don't go..."

My heart skipped.

His brows relaxed, and another quiet whisper escaped his lips.

"...I've been looking for you for so long..."

I frowned in confusion.

"What does that mean?" I whispered to myself. "We've only known each other for one day."

He didn't answer.

The medicine had pulled him into a deep sleep, and he seemed completely unaware that he was speaking. Carefully, I looked down at him. Without the cold expression he always wore, he looked peaceful... almost vulnerable.

A faint smile appeared on my lips before I gently tried to free my hand. This time, his grip loosened on its own. I quietly stood and pulled the blanket over him.

"Good night, Mr. Moretti," I whispered.

As I switched off the bedside lamp and stepped into the hallway, I couldn't stop thinking about the strange words he had spoken.

Why would the powerful Dante Moretti say he had been looking for me?