Page 27 of Chains of Obsession

“Luca,” I begin, my voice cold and deliberate, “you’ve made a grave mistake.”

He smirks, leaning back in his chair as if this is all a game. “Mistake? I’d call it taking what I’m owed.”

I clench my fists as the urge to put a bullet in his head is almost overpowering. But I can’t let rage cloud my judgment, not now. “You’ve betrayed not only me but my wife. Your sister. You killed your own father’s legacy for what? A shot at power you’ll never have?”

His smirk falters, and I see the flicker of doubt in his eyes. “You don’t scare me, Matteo,” His voice lacks conviction.

“You should be scared. You should be terrified. You tried to destroy the one thing that matters to me and for that, you’ll pay.” I reply, stepping closer, my voice a low growl.

Luca’s allies shift uneasily in their seats, their loyalty wavering in the face of my fury. I’ve spent years building this empire, solidifying my power, and now they’re realizing the price of standing against me.

With a nod to my men, the doors open, and a stream of my enforcers file in, their presence a silent declaration of who trulyholds the reins of power. Luca’s bravado crumbles as he looks around, realizing he’s outnumbered, outmaneuvered.

“You think this is over. This isn’t the end, Matteo.” he sneers, his voice desperate.

“No,” I say, my tone final. “It’s the beginning of yours.”

I give a sharp nod to my men, and they haul Luca to his feet, his body sagging between them. Blood drips from his temple where the butt of a gun struck him earlier, and his face is pale with the weight of his impending fate. Yet, somehow, he manages to summon a flicker of defiance.

“You can’t kill me. You think you can bury me? but there will always be someone ready to rise and take my place.”

I step closer, my hand resting on the back of his neck as I force him to meet my gaze. “And I’ll bury them, too.”

His defiance falters. He knows what comes after this. A life of darkness, of pain, of isolation. A fate worse than death.

“Take him to the warehouse,” I order my men, my voice cold and unyielding.

Luca thrashes weakly against their hold, but it’s futile. They drag him out of the office, his curses echoing down the hallway until the door slams shut behind them. The silence that follows is deafening. I stand in the center of the room, my hands resting on the edge of the desk. Luca’s betrayal wasn’t just personal, it was a threat to the foundation of my empire. I can’t afford to let the threat linger.

I glance at the bloodstained floor where Luca once stood, and a dark satisfaction curls in my chest. This is what it means to be king. To make the hard choices, to protect what’s yours, no matter the cost. The knock on the door pulls me from my thoughts. One of my men steps in, his expression grim.

“Luca’s no more and the cleanup crew is handling the mess.”

“Good. Double the security around Amelia. No one gets near her without my permission.”

He leaves, I get up from my desk, my mind turning over every contingency, every possible threat. Luca thought he could undermine me, that he could take what’s mine and walk away unscathed. He’ll soon learn that no one crosses me and lives to tell the tale.

I leave the office, the weight of my empire pressing on my shoulders, but my resolve is unwavering. Amelia will be safe. My empire will endure and anyone who dares to challenge that will meet the same fate as Luca. Because this isn’t just a game. It’s a war and I always win. The halls of the estate are quiet, my footsteps echo off the polished marble floors and for once, the sound isn’t accompanied by the rush of adrenaline or the whispers of scheming men. Luca is eliminated and everything is falling into place so I can keep my wife safe.

But as I approach where she is, a new tension coils in my chest. She’s not just part of my empire, she’s the one part I can’t control, the one piece that refuses to bend entirely to my will.

The guards stationed outside our bedroom door step aside with a nod, and I push the door open without hesitation. The room smells faintly of lavender, a soft contrast to the blood and gunpowder that still cling to me. Amelia is standing by the window, her silhouette illuminated by the golden glow of the setting sun. Her arms are crossed, as she’s staring out at the sprawling garden below, the same one she used to retreat to when she thought I wasn’t watching. She turns at the sound of the door, her eyes meeting mine.

There’s a flicker of something in her gaze—concern, curiosity, defiance—all the things that have drawn me to her since the beginning. I walk toward her, each step deliberate. The weight of what I’ve done, the choices I’ve made for her sake, hanging between us like a storm cloud.

“It’s done,” I say softly, stopping just a few feet away. “You’re safe now.”

Her brow furrows, and for a moment, I wonder if she’ll push me away, if she’ll demand answers, I’m not ready to give. But then she exhales, a slow, shaky breath, and some of the tension in her shoulders melt away.

“Luca?” she asks, her voice barely above a whisper.

“Gone. He won’t hurt you again.”

She turns fully to face me, her arms dropping to her sides. “What did you do?”

The question is loaded, and I know she’s not asking for details, she’s asking about the cost, the consequences. I could lie, could shield her from the darkness I’ve waded through to protect her, but I don’t.

“I did what had to be done. To keep you safe.”

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