Captured by shadows

Villa Rosa – Matteo's Office

Matteo drove through the darkened streets of the city, the glow of neon lights reflecting off his windshield. His mind was sharp, locked on only one thing.

Luca.

And the woman caught between them.

Alessandra had been playing with fire from the moment she stepped into this world.

But tonight?

Tonight, the flames were closing in.

Matteo pulled into an underground garage and stepped out, his gun tucked beneath his jacket.

His inside man had texted him one final update before going silent.

Luca had entered Alessandra's room.

He had confronted her.

And then?

He left.

Matteo clenched his jaw.

Luca Corsini was many things—but patient was not one of them.

He was waiting.

Waiting for Alessandra to slip.

Waiting for her to run out of moves.

Matteo exhaled, a slow, dark smirk tugging at his lips.

He wasn't about to let that happen.

Because this time?

He would make the first move.

The Corsini Estate – Alessandra's Room

Alessandra lay in bed, staring at the ceiling.

She hadn't moved since Luca left.

Since he caged her in, demanded the truth, and left her standing in nothing but silence.

Her body still hummed with tension.

But more than that?

She was afraid.

Not of Luca.

Not of Riccardo.

But of how close she was to losing control.

She had handled powerful men before.

Manipulated them. Seduced them. Used them.

But Luca Corsini was different.

He wasn't playing to win her over.

He was playing to break her.

And if she wasn't careful?

He just might succeed.

A soft sound broke the silence.

Alessandra tensed.

Her eyes flicked to the window.

A shadow moved.

Her breath caught.

Then—

A hand wrapped over her mouth.

A warm breath at her ear.

And a voice she would recognize anywhere.

"You shouldn't have let him in, bella."

Her body froze.

Matteo.

He was here.

Alessandra whipped around, her breath ragged.

Matteo stood before her, his dark eyes gleaming in the dim light of the room.

She should have been afraid.

She should have screamed.

But instead—

Her pulse pounded with something else.

Something far more dangerous.

"What the hell are you doing here?" she whispered.

Matteo didn't answer.

Instead, he lifted a hand—

And traced his fingers over her jaw.

The touch sent a shiver through her spine.

"You let Luca inside," Matteo murmured. "You let him get too close."

Alessandra swallowed hard.

"You don't control me," she hissed.

Matteo smirked.

"Don't I?"

She hated that he had a point.

Hated that no matter how hard she fought, she couldn't ignore the way his presence wrapped around her like a noose.

"What do you want?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Matteo's smirk disappeared.

The room seemed to shrink.

And then—

His hand slid down her throat.

Not tight.

But enough to make her breathe him in.

Enough to make her feel the power he held over her.

"I want you to listen, Alessandra," he murmured, voice dangerously soft.

Her fingers dug into the sheets.

"You think you're in control," Matteo continued. "That you can play this game with Luca and walk away untouched."

His grip tightened just a little.

"But you don't understand the kind of men you're dealing with."

Alessandra's heart pounded.

"You mean men like you?" she challenged.

Matteo's smirk returned—but colder.

"Exactly."

Silence stretched between them, thick and charged.

Then—

Matteo leaned in, his lips brushing the shell of her ear.

"I will give you one warning, bella."

Her breath hitched.

"You do not belong to Luca. And if you let him inside your head, if you let him think for even a second that you are his..."

His lips ghosted over the pulse in her neck.

"...then you'll force me to remind him otherwise."

A threat.

A dangerous, possessive, deadly threat.

Alessandra knew she should push him away.

Should tell him that she didn't belong to anyone.

But instead?

Her body betrayed her.

Heat coiled in her stomach.

Her breaths came faster.

Matteo tilted her chin up, his gaze locking onto hers.

"I don't share, Alessandra," he murmured.

Her fingers curled into the sheets.

He was too close.

Too overwhelming.

Too much.

And then—

A knock.

Alessandra's stomach dropped.

Matteo went still.

Then—

A voice from the other side of the door.

Luca.

"Alessandra. We need to talk."

Her blood ran cold.

Matteo's eyes darkened.

Then—

A slow, dangerous smirk.

He leaned down, his lips brushing hers in the faintest, most infuriating tease.

Then, just as quickly, he stepped back.

Alessandra's breath caught.

Matteo wasn't running.

He wasn't hiding.

He was waiting.

Daring her.

To let Luca in.

To let him see.

Alessandra turned to the door, her heart hammering.

And in that moment, she realized something.

She was trapped.

Not by Luca.

Not by Riccardo.

But by Matteo Corsini.

And worse?

She wasn't sure if she wanted to escape.