Whisper in the darkness

The mansion had always felt intimidating, but it became something else entirely at night, wrapped in silence

. A maze of shadows. A kingdom of secrets.

Aria walked cautiously through the dim hallway, her fingertips brushing against the cool wooden railing. She had been restless tonight—too many thoughts and unanswered questions. The library had always been her escape, a place where stories pulled her away from reality.

But just as she reached the library door, the lights flickered once.

Then—darkness.

A sudden, complete blackout.

Her breath hitched. The silence grew heavier, pressing against her chest. Then, just behind her—

A sound.

Soft. Subtle. A presence.

Aria’s pulse thundered. She turned swiftly, her breath hitching—only to freeze.

Damien.

He was right there, mere inches away. So close, she could feel his warmth even in the cold darkness.

His presence was always overwhelming, but in the absence of light, it was suffocating.

For a moment, the world was reduced to just the two of them. No mansion. No mafia empire. No danger lurking in the shadows. Just his steady breathing, the tension crackling in the space between them, and the rapid pounding of her own heart.

"Are you afraid?"

His voice was smooth, deep, laced with something unreadable. It sent a shiver down her spine, not from fear—but something else. Something she refused to name.

She forced herself to breathe. "No."

A silence stretched between them, heavy with an intensity she wasn’t prepared for.

Then—a spark.

A faint glow flickered to life, casting dancing shadows against Damien’s sharp features. He held a lighter, his gaze unreadable as he brought it to a candle.

As the flame caught, the soft golden light illuminated his face—the cut of his jaw, the unwavering focus in his dark eyes, the way his lips curved just slightly.

"Interesting," he murmured, his voice like velvet over steel. "Because I think you’re not just afraid of the dark… You’re afraid of me."

Her breath stilled.

His words weren’t a taunt. They were an observation. A truth he saw before she could deny it.

Aria met his gaze, her heartbeat roaring in her ears. "And if I were?" she challenged.

A slow, knowing smirk played at the corner of his lips. He set the candle down, its flickering light dancing across their faces.

Then—he moved closer.

Not touching, but so close, his presence wrapped around her like a whisper of something dangerous. His finger lifted slightly, almost grazing her chin.

Almost.

But he didn’t touch her. A hesitation. A tease. A test.

Aria swallowed, her breath uneven. The air between them felt charged, electric, suffocating. She didn’t know if she wanted to step back or lean in.

Then, just as slowly, Damien pulled away. A quiet smirk lingered on his lips.

"Then it’ll be interesting to see how long you can keep running," he murmured, his voice low, husky.

And just like that, he turned, his presence retreating into the darkness.

Leaving Aria standing there—breathless, shaken, and dangerously aware that something had shifted between them.

Because Damien Russo had just made one thing clear.

This wasn’t a game. This was a chase.

And she wasn’t sure she wanted to escape.

To be continued.........

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