Bound By Obsession

The air smelled of rain and gasoline. Aria Romano gripped the worn leather of her notebook, her pulse steady despite the danger she was walking into. The dimly lit alley outside Club Inferno pulsed with the low thrum of music, a reminder of the underworld that thrived beneath the city's surface. This was Dante Moretti's domain-a kingdom built on blood, crime, and control. She had spent years hunting for a lead that would bring his empire crashing down. Tonight, she was closer than ever.

A source had promised her something big-a name, a file, evidence that could expose the Moretti family's darkest crimes. Aria had spent years following breadcrumbs, and now she was at the doorstep of the man responsible for destroying her family. Dante didn't know who she was. Not yet. But he would soon. She pulled up the hood of her jacket, stepping deeper into the alley where her informant had told her to meet. Milo, a former mafia courier who had fallen out of favor, had contacted her with urgent whispers. "They know," he had said over the phone. "I need to get out, and I need your help." Aria checked her watch. He was late. A bad sign. She turned to leave-too late. A rough hand clamped around her wrist. Before she could react, she was yanked into the shadows. A man loomed over her, the sharp scent of cigarettes and steel surrounding him. He wasn't Milo. He wasn't a desperate informant looking for a deal. He was a trap. Aria twisted, aiming a kick at his shin, but another set of hands caught her from behind. Her heart pounded as she fought, but it was over in seconds. A black SUV waited at the alley's mouth. She barely had time to register what was happening before she was shoved inside. Trapped. The Devil's Throne Aria's wrists burned against the tight leather straps binding her hands. She blinked as her vision adjusted to the dim glow of golden chandeliers. Where am I? It took a moment to realize-she was in his house. The infamous Moretti estate-a fortress of wealth and power, where no one entered unless they belonged to him. Her breath came fast as she fought down the rising panic. No one knew she was here. No one would come looking. A voice cut through the silence. Deep. Lethal. Intrigued. "You've been watching me, little journalist." Aria stiffened as Dante Moretti stepped into view. She had seen his photos, watched his movements from the shadows. But nothing had prepared her for the real thing. He was tall, dressed in a crisp black shirt with the sleeves rolled up, revealing tattoos that marked his lineage-a king's insignia written in blood and ink. Sharp jaw. Piercing eyes. A predator's grace. Aria swallowed the rising hatred in her throat. She wouldn't let him see fear. "Let me go," she said, her voice steady. Dante smirked. "You walked into my world thinking you could leave on your own terms?" He leaned against the desk, his fingers brushing over a glass of whiskey. "Tell me, Aria... What exactly were you hoping to find?" She didn't flinch at the way he said her name. "I was doing my job." He chuckled, dark and amused. "Your job is to lie, twist stories, dig into things that don't concern you." His gaze turned sharp. "But this isn't just about journalism, is it?" Her pulse pounded. He knew. He didn't have the full story yet, but he suspected. Dante moved closer, his presence suffocating. "Tell me, Aria... what are you really after?" She met his gaze head-on. Challenge for challenge. Fire for fire. "The truth." His smirk faded. "Truth is dangerous in my world." "That's why people like me exist," she shot back. Dante studied her for a long moment. Then he leaned in, so close that she caught the faint scent of his cologne-wood, spice, and danger. "You want the truth?" His voice was low, almost gentle. "Then you'll stay until you find it." Aria's stomach dropped. Dante Moretti had just bound her to his world. And she had no way out. Memories of Blood Aria had always known this day would come. For years, she had traced the ghosts of her past, searching for the truth about her family. She had been six years old when it happened. The night her world burned. She remembered hiding in a closet, her mother's last whispered words in her ear: Don't make a sound, my love. No matter what you hear. Gunfire. Screams. The smell of smoke. Then silence. When she crawled out, there was nothing left. No family. No home. Only ashes. A stranger had found her. Luca, a former ally of her father, had taken her in, raised her under a new name, protected her. But protection wasn't enough. She needed revenge. And that meant destroying Dante Moretti. But now, he had her. And she had no idea how she was going to survive it. The Game Begins Dante sat in his leather chair, watching her with a mix of amusement and something darker. Aria refused to be the first to break the silence. Finally, he sighed. "You're going to be a problem, aren't you?" She lifted her chin. "I plan to be." A slow smirk curled his lips. "Good." He stood, walking toward her, his movements lazy but calculated. "You have two choices, little journalist." His voice was soft, deadly. "You can lie to me. Pretend you were just another reporter looking for a headline." He crouched down in front of her, his fingers brushing the stray hair from her face. "Or... you can tell me why you really came after me." Her heart pounded. He was toying with her, enjoying this, but he wasn't giving her an out. And Aria knew the truth-Dante Moretti never let go of what belonged to him. For the first time since she started this hunt, doubt crept into her mind.