In the heart of a modern city, two rival families hold the power. Valentina, a fiercely loyal daughter, and Matteo, a cunning and determined son, find themselves on opposite sides of a dangerous feud. But when their paths unexpectedly intertwine, th...
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Matteo drove me back to his house, but just as we were about to pull into the driveway, his phone rang. His expression darkened as he answered.
"What the hell is it?" he snapped into the phone, his irritation clear.
I could only hear his side of the conversation, but it was evident something was seriously wrong.
"I'll be there in ten," he said tersely before ending the call.
"Change of plans," he muttered to me. "I need to stop by the warehouse."
"Fine," I said, trying to sound indifferent.
When we arrived at the warehouse, Matteo led me inside. I spotted a chair and took a seat, scrolling through my phone to pass the time while Matteo disappeared into the back with his workers. His voice, though muffled, was low and intense.
The door creaked open, and a man walked in—rough, intimidating, and exuding a menacing presence. My heart pounded as he approached, and I tried to stay calm, pretending to be engrossed in my phone.
"What the hell are you doing here, Lorenzo?" Matteo's voice was sharp, almost a growl.
Lorenzo. So that was his name. He strode over and plopped down next to me, way too close for comfort. My fingers trembled as I tried to focus on my phone screen, my nerves on edge.
"Who's this, Matteo? Your little girlfriend?" Lorenzo's voice dripped with mockery.
"Leave her out of this," Matteo warned, his tone dangerous.
Lorenzo's grin widened. "You've got some nerve showing your face here with a pretty little thing like her."
"I said, leave her out of this," Matteo repeated, his eyes narrowing, body taut and ready for a fight.
"And why should I?" Lorenzo sneered, suddenly grabbing my arm and yanking me up from the chair. Pain flared as his grip tightened, leaving bruises.
"Fuck off!" Matteo shouted, his anger unmistakable. "I'll get you your money, just leave her out of it!"
Lorenzo laughed harshly, his hand still clamped on my arm. "You better get me my money, or else."
Then Lorenzo pulled out a gun and jammed it into the side of my head. I froze, terror gripping me, and tears welled up. I could barely hold back a sob.
Oh god, no no no.
Matteo's eyes blazed with fury. "Let her go, Lorenzo! Now!" he roared.
"Or what, Matteo? You'll cry?" Lorenzo taunted, pressing the gun harder against my head. I winced as the metal dug in, my breath hitching in fear.
"Back the fuck off," Matteo growled, stepping forward, his voice cold and menacing. "You don't want to make an enemy out of me."
Lorenzo mocked a shiver. "Oh, I'm so scared. Your old man's supposed to intimidate me?"
Matteo's expression hardened. "He should. And if you don't back off right now, you'll find out just how much."
Lorenzo's grip on my arm tightened, causing me to cry out. "You think your father scares me?" he spat, his voice laced with defiance.
Desperate, I tried to fight back, my voice shaking with defiance. "Get your fucking hands off me!" I shouted, trying to twist out of his grip and kicking at him with my free leg.
Lorenzo's face twisted into a cruel smirk. "Oh, so you want to fight back, huh?" He shoved me hard, making me stumble. I fought to keep my balance, but he grabbed my hair, yanking me back with a sharp pain.
"Enough!" Matteo roared, advancing with a murderous look in his eyes. "I said let her go!"
Ignoring Matteo's demands, Lorenzo pulled me closer, his gun still pressed against my head. "You think you can just tell me what to do? You're not in charge here, Matteo."
Matteo's expression was a mask of fury. "Touch her again, and I will fucking end you."
Lorenzo sneered, enjoying the torment. "You're going to do nothing. I want my money, and I'm not leaving until I get it."
I tried to push Lorenzo away, but he shoved me against the wall, making my vision blur with pain. I gasped, struggling to breathe as he tightened his grip, digging his fingers into my skin.
In a moment of raw desperation, I looked at Matteo, tears streaming down my face. "Matteo," I cried, my voice breaking.
Matteo's face softened for a brief moment, but his anger quickly returned. He lunged at Lorenzo, shoving him away from me. Lorenzo stumbled back, dropping the gun.
Matteo grabbed Lorenzo by the collar and slammed him against the wall, his face twisted with rage. "Touch her again, and I swear I'll make you regret it."
Lorenzo's eyes flickered with a mix of rage and fear. He shoved Matteo back, trying to regain control, but Matteo was relentless. He threw a punch that connected with Lorenzo's jaw, sending him reeling.
Lorenzo scrambled for his gun, but Matteo kicked it away. "Get out," Matteo snarled, stepping between me and Lorenzo. "And don't ever come near her again."
Lorenzo gave me one last menacing look before he stumbled away, leaving me shaking on the floor.
Matteo's initial reaction was a mix of impatience and irritation. He didn't say much as he quickly moved to my side and pulled me into his arms.
His touch was firm, but his eyes held a flicker of something—concern, maybe, though it was buried under a layer of indifference.
I flinched as his arms encircled me, feeling the familiar surge of anger and discomfort at being touched. The aggression of Lorenzo's hands was still fresh in my mind, and I hated how any contact from a man, even one who was ostensibly trying to help, felt like a violation.
I tried to pull away, my instincts always pushing back against unwanted physical contact.
"Are you alright?" Matteo asked curtly, though his voice was edged with something that hinted at genuine worry. "I didn't expect Lorenzo to show up here. It's a mess I didn't plan for."
I clung to him, not out of comfort but as a way to stabilize myself amidst the chaos. My shoulder throbbed, and I was certain there would be a bruise.
The pain and fear made me dizzy, and I was too shaken to respond. My voice was trapped, caught between the need to cry and the impulse to fight back.
Matteo's eyes, though they tried to remain cool, were scanning my face with a meticulousness that betrayed his concern. He gently lifted my chin, his gaze more intense than his words.
"Let's get you out of here," he said, his tone softening slightly. "I'll take you home and make sure you're alright."
His attempt at reassurance came across as practiced, but there was an undercurrent of sincerity in his voice. I wanted to reject his comfort, to push him away and deal with my pain on my own.
But something in his eyes, a flicker of genuine concern, made me hesitate. Despite his usual aloofness, there was something in his demeanor that made me believe him, at least for now.
Even as I tried to steady my breathing, I couldn't shake the feeling that every touch was a reminder of the aggression I despised.
Yet, despite my aversion to physical contact, I found myself clinging to him, my resolve to fight back faltering in the face of the overwhelming fear and pain.
AUTHORS NOTE poor Valentina she's not used to this violence I feel bad for my girl!! Let me know how you guys liked this! Please follow my TikTok @heartss4bookss for more updates and content!!
