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Home / Mafia / Obsessed (Forbidden Desire) / Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

All Chapters of Obsessed (Forbidden Desire): Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

41 Chapters

21

The pounding on her door wouldn't stop."Elena." Dante's voice came through the wood, low and dangerous. "Open the door.""Go away," Elena said, staring at the ceiling from her bed."We need to talk.""We have nothing to talk about.""Open. The. Door."Elena sat up slowly, her jaw clenching. "No."The silence that followed was worse than the pounding. Then his fist hit the door again, harder this time."Elena, I'm not asking….""And I'm not listening!" She stood up, walking to the door but keeping it firmly locked. "You want to talk? After you let your girlfriend and her little sidekick tear me apart at dinner? After you sat there like a king watching his subjects fight for scraps?""That's not what happened.""That's exactly what happened!" Elena's voice cracked. "You summoned me down there like I was your dog. Made me sit across from the woman who's probably warming your bed, and you said nothing. You did nothing. So no, Dante, I'm not opening this door."She heard him exhale, a sou

22

Elena's hand trembled around the letter opener. The metal felt cold against her palm, and for a moment, she'd forgotten she was even holding it."Don't," the stranger said again, his voice soft but firm.She stared at him. Tall, broad-shouldered, with dark hair that fell slightly over his forehead. His eyes were a warm honey color, and they held genuine concern. Not pity. Not judgment. Just worry."I wasn't..." Elena started, then stopped. What could she say? That she was just holding it? That she wasn't thinking what he thought she was thinking?The man stepped closer, slowly, like he was approaching a frightened animal. "May I?" He gestured to the letter opener.Elena looked down at it, then back at him. Something in his expression made her trust him, just a little. She held it out.He took it gently, set it on the vanity behind her, then stepped back to give her space."My name is Adrian," he said. "Adrian Mercer."Elena wrapped her arms around herself, suddenly aware of how she mu

23

Elena was reading when she heard voices outside her door. Female voices."Let me in," Isabelle said. "I need to give her something.""Mr. Valenti said no visitors." That was Adrian's voice, firm."I'm not a visitor, I'm family. Dante's practically my fiancé."Elena's stomach turned."Mr. Valenti didn't mention you being allowed in," Adrian said."Are you really going to make me call him in Milan and tell him his bodyguard is refusing to let me deliver a message?" Isabelle's voice turned sharp. "He won't be happy."Silence.Then the lock clicked.Elena stood quickly as Isabelle swept in, Victoria close behind her. Adrian stood in the doorway, his expression unreadable."We'll just be a moment," Isabelle said sweetly to Adrian. "Girl talk."Adrian's eyes found Elena's. She saw the question there: Do you want me to stay?But she didn't know how to answer. If she said yes, Isabelle would tell Dante she was being difficult. If she said no..."It's fine," Elena heard herself say.Adrian hes

24

The morning sun felt like a miracle on Elena's skin.She stood in the garden, breathing in the scent of roses and jasmine, feeling the warmth seep into her bones. The French toast sat heavy and sweet in her stomach, the first real meal she'd enjoyed in days. Adrian kept a respectful distance, leaning against a stone pillar, watching her with those careful, observant eyes.Elena walked slowly along the cobblestone path, trailing her fingers over the rose bushes. Their petals were soft, delicate. Beautiful things that bloomed even when the world felt cruel."I never thought sitting in a garden would make me feel so happy," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. She stopped, staring at the fountain in the center of the garden. "Isn't that strange? Something so simple. So ordinary."She turned to face the sky, closing her eyes against the sunlight."I never valued my freedom in the past. I complained about everything. My father's rules, the boring charity galas, the expectation to be

25

Elena sat on the edge of her bed, staring at her hands. They were trembling slightly. The adrenaline from the garden was fading, replaced by a strange calm. She had found her weapon. Not a knife. Not a gun. Something far more powerful.Emotion.The door opened. Adrian stepped inside, closing it quietly behind him."That was incredible out there," he said, but his voice held worry. "But also dangerous. Isabelle's going to tell Dante everything."Elena looked up at him and smiled. It was a tired smile, but real."Let her."Adrian frowned. "Elena, what are you planning?""Don't worry about it," she said gently. "Really. I have it under control.""That's what worries me." Adrian moved closer, studying her face. "What did you mean back there? About figuring out the game?"Elena stood up and placed a hand on his arm. The gesture was warm, grateful."Thank you," she said softly. "For everything. For seeing me as a person. For standing up for me. For giving me hope when I thought I had none l

26

Elena's vision blurred slightly. The blood loss was starting to affect her. She could feel it, the lightheadedness creeping in at the edges. Her fingers felt numb around the knife handle.Stay focused. Stay in control.But control was slipping. Fast."I mean it," Elena said, her voice weaker now. "I'll do it. I swear I'll…"A hand grabbed her wrist from behind.Elena gasped, her body jerking in surprise. The knife shifted against her throat."Isabelle, NO!" Dante shouted.Elena tried to turn, but Isabelle's grip was iron-tight. Her perfectly manicured nails dug into Elena's bleeding wrist, sending fresh waves of pain shooting up her arm, the snake had sneaked up on her while she was distracted by Dante."Who do you think you are?" Isabelle hissed directly into Elena's ear. Her voice was low, venomous, meant only for Elena to hear. "Blackmailing him? Threatening him? You're nothing but a criminal.""Let go of me!" Elena struggled, but Isabelle was stronger than she looked.To everyone

27

Elena woke to the sound of voices outside her locked door.Her wrist throbbed beneath the makeshift bandages Adrian had tied. Her head felt heavy, stuffed with cotton. The morning light streaming through the window told her she'd been unconscious for hours.The voices grew louder. Footsteps. Then the click of the lock.The door swung open.Dante walked in first. His shirt sleeves were rolled up, stained with dried blood. Isabelle's blood. His face was drawn, exhausted, but his eyes found Elena immediately where she sat on the bed.Behind him came Isabelle.She walked slowly, carefully, one hand pressed to her side. Her white designer dress was gone, replaced by oversized shirts and loose pants. A thick bandage bulged beneath the fabric at her waist. Her face was pale, her hair slightly disheveled, but her eyes... her eyes were sharp and alert when they landed on Elena.Victoria followed close behind Isabelle, hovering like a protective shadow.Elena's heart hammered in her chest. She

28

The knock came just after sunset. Elena looked up from the edge of her bed, fingers frozen on the bandages wrapped around her wrist. The lock clicked before she could answer.Adrian stepped inside. His face, she studied it, searching for a clue, but came up empty. Still, her stomach dropped."Mr. Moretti wants to see you."The moisture vanished from her mouth. "Where?""Downstairs."She stood. Followed him down the hallway, her legs unsteady beneath her. Each step felt like walking toward the edge of something. She wiped her palms on her jeans. What now? Another interrogation? More accusations about her father?But when they reached the foyer, Dante wasn't there. Racks of clothing lined the space instead, dresses, slacks, blouses in colors she hadn't seen in weeks. Three service girls stood near the wall, hands clasped, waiting.Adrian turned to her. "He asked me to tell you to get ready."Elena blinked. "For what?""You're going out tonight."The words didn't compute. She stared at h

29

Pain throbbed behind Elena's eyes before she even opened them. Her head felt stuffed with cotton, her mouth dry as sand. She tried to swallow and her throat protested. What the hell happened?She blinked. Once. Twice. The ceiling above her was cream-colored, ornate molding curling along the edges like waves frozen in plaster. Not her room. Not Dante's compound. Her pulse spiked.Elena pushed herself up on her elbows and the room tilted violently. She gasped, squeezing her eyes shut as nausea rolled through her stomach. Chloroform. The memory slammed back. The ambush. The cloth over her face. Dante's voice roaring her name."Dante."Her voice came out cracked and hoarse. She forced her eyes open again, fighting through the dizziness. The room spun into focus slowly. Luxury. That was the first word that came to mind. Silk sheets beneath her fingers, butter-soft and expensive. Floor-to-ceiling windows draped with heavy velvet curtains. A chandelier hung overhead, crystal teardrops catchi

30

The words crashed over her like ice water. Elena's eyes snapped open. Reality slammed back into focus. Fiancé. Promised. Belonged.She shoved against his chest, hard. This time he let her go. She scrambled off his lap, ignoring the way the room swayed, ignoring the pounding in her head. She put the bed between them, putting distance, needing space to think."Are you insane?" The words came out sharp. "You drugged me. Kidnapped me off the street. Brought me to god knows where. And now you're telling me we're engaged?"Rodrigo stood slowly, smoothing his suit jacket like they were having a perfectly normal conversation. "Technically, I had my men kidnap you. I was supervising from a distance.""Oh, well that makes it so much better!" Elena's voice rose. "You've got to be kidding me with this. This is medieval. Barbaric. Illegal in every possible way.""Is it?" He moved around the bed, stalking toward her with that same predatory grace. "Your father signed contracts. Made agreements. In

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