Page 15 of Chains of Obsession

I exhale sharply, shoving the tablet back at Nico. “Destroy this.”

Nico’s eyes widen. “Are you sure? This could—”

“I said destroy it.” My tone leaves no room for argument.

Nico hesitates but nods, slipping the tablet into his jacket. “And Luca?”

“Keep an eye on him. If he makes a move, I want to know.”

He leaves, and I’m alone again, the weight of the new revelation settling heavily on my shoulders. Protecting Amelia has always been my priority, but this... This is a new level of complication.

Later in the evening, I find her in the library. She’s curled up on one of the leather armchairs, a book in her hands, though her eyes are distant. She doesn’t notice me at first, and I take a moment to study her. The delicate curve of her neck, the way her lips press together in thought, the natural curves of her body. It’s infuriating how much I want her. When I step closer, the floor creaks, and her head snaps up. The guarded look in her eyes is immediate, a reflex that stings more than I’d like to admit.

“What do you want?” she asks, her tone sharp.

“To talk,” I reply, keeping my voice calm.

“Talk?” She closes the book with a snap, setting it aside. “That’s a first.”

I ignore the jab, taking a seat across from her. “You’ve been quiet today.”

“Is that your way of saying you’ve been watching me?” she retorts.

“Always. It’s my house. I notice things.”

She rolls her eyes but doesn’t press further. The silence stretches between us, heavy with unspoken words.

“Why are you doing this? Keeping me here, controlling every part of my life. What do you gain from it?”

The question catches me off guard, though I hide it well. What do I gain? It’s not a simple answer. Protecting her, possessing her has become more than just a matter of power or obligation.

“I’m keeping you safe,” I say.

“Safe? From what? The world or you?” Her laugh is bitter.

I lean forward, resting my elbows on my knees. “You think you’re clever, Amelia, but you don’t understand the dangers around you. If you did, you’d thank me for keeping you alive.”

“Alive but not free,” she counters.

“Freedom won’t mean much if you’re dead.”

Her eyes flash with anger, but she doesn’t argue. Instead, she stands, the defiance in her posture undeniable. “I’m not some pawn in your game, Matteo. You can’t just keep me locked away.”

I rise, closing the distance between us in two strides. “You think this is a game? Everything I’ve done, every choice I’ve made, has been to protect you. Even when you make it damn near impossible.” My voice is low and dangerous.

She glares at me, and for a moment, I think she’s going to slap me. But instead, she surprises me. “You’re so sure you’re the hero in this story. But you’re just as much a villain as the people you claim to protect me from.” she says, her voice trembling.

Her words cut deeper than I’d like, but I don’t let it show. Instead, I reach out, my fingers brushing against her cheek. She flinches but doesn’t pull away.

“I never said I was a hero,” I murmur.

The tension between us is palpable, the air thick with unspoken emotions. I want to kiss her, to claim her, but I hold back. Not yet.

“Go to bed, Amelia. This conversation is over.” I say, stepping away.

She doesn’t move at first, her eyes searching mine as if looking for something she’ll never find. Then she turns and walks away, leaving me alone with the weight of my secrets and the knowledge that protecting her might mean breaking her.

The silence she leaves behind is deafening, but my mind is anything but quiet. The revelation about Luca gnaws at me. I’ve handled betrayal before—rivals, allies, even family—but this isdifferent. Luca’s treachery is a knife aimed at Amelia’s back, one she doesn’t even know is coming. The thought infuriates me. Not because of the danger it poses to my position or my power. No, it’s because of her.

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