Chains of Obsession

3

I kept swearing under my breath. I can't understand why or how I am still, well, was best friends with Antonio.

It's getting dark already. I have walked like for 2 hours already.

The city streets darkened as the night descended, the neon lights casting an artificial glow against the surrounding buildings. Despite the cold air, I didn't slow down, walking further and further away from my home and Antonio.

I found myself in an unfamiliar part of the city. The surroundings were quiet, the only sounds coming from the occasional passing cars.

My head was throbbing, my body was aching, and my mind was a jumbled mess. I needed to take a break. I needed a place to think, to breathe.

As if in response to my thoughts, my eyes landed on a dimly lit sign nearby. The sign read 'The Golden Lion'.

It was a dingy-looking place, the kind you'd expect to find in some thriller movie. The kind that had some illegal business inside.

As I got closer, I could hear music from the inside. But it wasn't the generic pop music you'd find in parties or other bars. This was more of a slow, sombre melody. It drew me in despite myself.

I pushed open the door and stepped inside. The space was surprisingly bigger than I imagined. Low, flickering lights gave the place a somewhat eerie, but at the same time, intimate atmosphere.

The air was heavy with the scent of alcohol, mixed with a faint whiff of something that reminded me of cigars. There were various patrons, mostly men, sitting on stools at the bar or at small tables, sipping their drinks in quiet solitude.

I cursed in my head as I saw drugs and guns that looked like illegal ones. I was quick and got out, walking away.

As I was out, a sudden voice caught my attention, making me pause in my steps.

"Leaving so soon?" The voice was smooth like velvet and held a hint of an Italian accent. It came from somewhere behind me.

Turning around, I found myself face to face with a man leaning casually against a nearby wall, his arms crossed over his broad chest.

He had striking blue eyes that felt like they could see straight into my soul, and they were currently fixed on me with an intense gaze. His black hair was slightly messy, with a strand falling onto his forehead.

But it was his smirk, the one that tugged at the corner of his lips, that caught my attention. It seemed both mocking and amused at the same time.

"You know, I don't like newcomers in my territory." He said, casually pushing himself away from the wall and taking a few steps closer to me.

He moved with a confident stillness, like each move was calculated for maximum effect.

I mentally cursed myself for getting distracted. This guy was giving off serious mafia vibes. The way he talked, moved, and stood radiated danger. I was now sure he was part of the mafia.

He continued to come closer until we were barely a couple of feet away from each other.

His eyes scanned over me slowly, as if sizing me up. "And you, sweetheart, are definitely a newcomer."

He was close now, close enough that I could smell the faint scent of his cologne, something warm and spicy. His eyes continued to study me, seeming to catalogue every detail of my face.

He took another step closer, now standing only a breath away from me. His eyes never left my face, studying me with unashamed interest.

"You're either very brave or very foolish to just waltz into a den like this alone." He observed, his voice low and smooth as velvet.