A Decision that wasn't Hers

Alessia stood her ground, arms crossed as she glared at Damian.

"Let me get this straight," she said, voice laced with disbelief. "You break into my apartment, demand that I leave with you, and expect me to just… obey?"

Damian’s expression remained unreadable. "That about sums it up."

She let out a humorless laugh. "Yeah, no. That’s not happening."

He exhaled through his nose, his jaw tightening. "Alessia, I’m not playing games. It’s not safe for you here."

"Because you say so?"

His patience was running thin—she could see it in the slight tick of his jaw. But he kept his tone controlled. "Because there are men watching you."

That stopped her cold.

Her heart pounded as her mind raced. "You’re lying."

Damian stepped closer, his gaze sharp as a blade. "Am I?"

She swallowed hard, searching his face for any sign of deception. She didn’t find any.

A shiver ran down her spine. If he was telling the truth…

She shook her head, refusing to give in so easily. "If that’s true, then why would I be safer with you?"

His smirk returned, but this time, it was laced with something darker. "Because I’m the only thing those men fear more than their own boss."

There was something terrifyingly honest about the way he said it.

Alessia clenched her fists. Damian was dangerous, but maybe—just maybe—he wasn’t the worst option.

She hated that she was even considering it.

"You can’t just decide where I go," she argued, though her voice lacked the same fire as before.

Damian tilted his head slightly, his gaze never leaving hers. "I already did."

Her pulse spiked.

"You are insufferable," she muttered.

One corner of his mouth lifted. "And yet, you’re still standing here, arguing instead of packing."

She exhaled sharply, frustration warring with the undeniable truth of the situation. If someone really was watching her, she needed to be smart.

She hated to admit it, but she wasn’t exactly in a position to refuse his protection.

Alessia rubbed her temples. "Fine. But this doesn’t mean I trust you."

Damian’s smirk widened slightly. "Trust isn’t necessary. Obedience is."

She shot him a glare. "You’re really pushing your luck."

"Pack a bag, Alessia."

His voice was lower this time, a quiet command that sent an involuntary shiver through her.

Damn him.

She turned on her heel and stalked toward her bedroom, throwing a bag onto her bed. If she was going with him, she sure as hell wasn’t doing it happily.

Damian remained in the doorway, watching her pack with an unreadable expression. His presence was overwhelming, even when he wasn’t speaking.

After stuffing a few essentials into the bag, she zipped it up and turned to him. "Happy now?"

He didn’t answer. Instead, he reached out, plucked the bag from her hands like she weighed nothing, and turned toward the door.

"Let’s go."

Alessia followed, every instinct screaming that she was making a mistake.

But as she stepped into the hallway beside him, she realized something.

She might not trust Damian Valenciaga, but for the first time in a long time… she didn’t feel completely alone.

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