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Chapter 9: The Man Behind the Fire

last update Last Updated: 2025-07-10 00:39:30

Siena stood by the window of the guest room, arms crossed tightly over her chest, her reflection barely visible against the pale morning light.

Lucia was safe. That should have been enough.

But it wasn’t.

Not when the man sitting at the head of the table, giving orders with the flick of a hand, was still Adriano Valtasari — and somehow not. He was colder now. Sharper. But beneath the edge, something festered. A pull she didn’t understand. An obsession that felt less like rage… and more like need.

And she couldn’t decide if it terrified her or tempted her.

She’d seen the way he looked at her when he thought she wasn’t watching. Not lust — not just that, at least. Something darker. Something that made her wonder if he even knew himself what it was he wanted.

Control?

Retribution?

Her?

All of her?

Her fingers pressed into her forearms.

He could have taken Lucia by force.

He didn’t.

He could have had her locked away, blackmailed, ruined.

He hadn’t.

Instead, he invited her into his world a
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