Chapter 9 - The Wrath of AntonioWithin twenty minutes, I was back in the private study of Antonio’s mansion. The storm outside matched the fury crackling inside the room.
Antonio was pacing near his desk, his suit jacket discarded, his shirtsleeves rolled up to reveal tightly corded muscles. When the heavy doors opened and I walked in, his dark eyes locked onto mine, sweeping over me to ensure I wasn't physically injured.
“Are you alright?” he asked, his voice low, vibrating with suppressed rage.
“I’m shaken up, but I’m okay,” I replied, gripping my trembling hands together. “Your guards got to me just in time.”
Antonio stopped pacing and walked over, standing so close I could feel the intense heat radiating from him. His jaw was clenched so tightly a muscle twitched in his cheek.
“This is my fault,” he said, his voice dropping into a dangerous, gravelly whisper. “I underestimated how desperate Vincent Moretti has become. By bringing you into my orbit, I put a target on your back.”
“You didn’t ask for this any more than I did,” I said softly, looking up into his dark, troubled eyes. For the first time, I saw past the myth of the ruthless mafia boss and saw the human being carrying the crushing weight of a war he never wanted to lose. “Your mother needed help. I helped her. Everything else just followed.”
Antonio stared down at me, a profound mixture of guilt and fierce protectiveness flashing across his features. He reached out, his warm fingers gently brushing a stray lock of hair from my damp forehead. The touch sent an unexpected, electric shiver straight down my spine.
“You are remarkably brave, Sophie,” he murmured, his thumb lightly grazing my cheek. “Too brave for your own good.”
“Bravery is just fear that has nowhere else to go,” I replied, holding his gaze. “What happens now?”
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Antonio’s expression hardened once again, the gentle warmth vanishing, replaced by absolute, chilling resolve.
“Now,” he said quietly, stepping back toward his desk, “we stop playing defense. If Moretti wants to play games in my city, I will burn his entire operation to the ground.”
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