Territory Conquest

The next morning, the university campus was bustling with students, but Vittoria could barely focus on her notes. She sat at a concrete bench in the courtyard, her eyes repeatedly scanning the empty skin of her left wrist.

"You have been staring at your wrist for three hours," Hannah noted, setting a cardboard coffee cup in front of her. "Are you still stressing about that bracelet?"

"It is the only thing I have from my father, Hannah," Vittoria sighed, rubbing her temples. "My mother saved it when we left our old house. If she finds out I lost it at a nightclub, she will know I lied to her."

"We can go back to Obsidian this afternoon," Hannah suggested. "Maybe someone turned it in to the lost and found."

"I do not think going back there is a good idea," Vittoria whispered, looking around to ensure no one was listening. "That man, Cassian. He is not just some club owner. The way he looked at me, the way he touched me. It was terrifying."

"But you liked it," Hannah teased, raising an eyebrow. "Do not lie to me, Vittoria. I saw the way you looked at him. You were practically melting into his suit."

"I was terrified, Hannah," Vittoria insisted, her cheeks warming. "He has this power over everything around him. It is not normal."

Before Hannah could reply, a sudden silence fell over the courtyard. The usual chatter of college students died down, replaced by low whispers and gasps. Vittoria looked up, her heart stopping instantly.

A matte-black armored SUV had pulled onto the pedestrian pathway, ignoring all campus regulations. The doors opened, and two imposing men in dark suits stepped out, standing at attention.

Then, Cassian Marchetti emerged.

He looked completely out of place among the casual college students, wearing a charcoal suit with a black silk tie. His dark eyes scanned the courtyard, locking onto Vittoria with absolute precision. He walked toward her, his stride slow and confident, the crowd parting naturally before him.

"What is he doing here?" Hannah whispered, her voice trembling with a mix of excitement and fear. "Vittoria, he is coming straight for us."

"Stay quiet," Vittoria warned, her pulse skyrocketing as Cassian stopped right in front of their bench.

"You dropped this, sweet girl," Cassian said, his voice smooth and commanding.

He reached into his pocket and pulled out the silver bracelet, letting it dangle from his fingers. The metal caught the morning sunlight, sparkling between them.

"How did you find me?" Vittoria breathed, her voice barely carrying in the open air. "This is a university campus. You cannot just park your car here."

"I can park wherever I choose," Cassian replied, a cold amusement dancing in his eyes. "And finding you was not difficult. I told you, I own this city. Your university relies on my family's foundation for funding."

"You came all this way just to return a bracelet?" Hannah asked, her bravery returning as she looked at him.

"I came to see her," Cassian corrected, his eyes never leaving Vittoria's face. He stepped closer, leaning down slightly so only she could hear his words. "And to ensure she did not think she could run from me so easily."

"I am not running from you," Vittoria whispered, her chin rising defensively. "I am trying to get my education. Now please, give me my bracelet back."

"Come and get it," Cassian murmured, dropping the silver chain back into his pocket. "But not here. Not in front of all these eyes."

"You cannot keep it," Vittoria argued, her hands clenching into fists at her sides. "It does not belong to you."

"Everything in this city belongs to me if I want it," Cassian countered, his tone dropping to a dangerous register. "Including this pretty little chain. If you want it back, you will come to my office at Obsidian tonight. Alone."

"I am not going back to your club," Vittoria said, her heart hammering against her ribs. "My mother is expecting me home."

"Then you will have to explain to her why your father's heirloom is resting on my desk," Cassian said, his voice a quiet threat. He turned to walk back to his SUV, pausing to look over his shoulder. "Eight o'clock, Vittoria. Do not make me come back here to fetch you."

"He is insane," Hannah gasped as the black SUV roared to life, driving away from the courtyard. "Vittoria, he knows your name. He knows about your father's bracelet. How does he know all this?"

"I have no idea," Vittoria whispered, her body shaking as the realization sank in. "I do not know what he wants from me."

"Are you going to go?" Hannah asked, looking at her with wide eyes.

"I have to," Vittoria said, her voice hollow. "I cannot let my mother find out. I have to get that bracelet back, no matter what it takes."