Chapter 5: Blood in the Ink

The city of Jaipur seemed different now. The noise of the streets — the calls of vendors, the hum of passing cars — all of it had faded into the background. What had once felt familiar, comforting, was now distant, irrelevant. Aaravi’s world had contracted into a much smaller space. Her bookstore, her home, the quiet routine she’d fought so hard to build… it was all beginning to feel like a cage.

Matteo had become her constant, and she was both terrified and drawn to him in ways she couldn’t explain.

She couldn’t stop thinking about him. About the way he held her, kissed her, looked at her as if he was the one who was in danger of being consumed, not her. The lines between them were becoming blurred.

It was early morning, but she felt like she hadn’t slept. The dream of his touch, the memory of his words, all haunted her like a shadow that wouldn’t let go. She stood in the middle of her shop, surrounded by the silence of the books she loved, but it felt suffocating now. The paper, the ink — they were no longer just words. They were traps. They were a reminder of the life she had before.

A knock on the door pulled her from her thoughts. Aaravi frowned, unsure who would be visiting this early. She wasn’t expecting anyone.

She opened it without hesitation, but when she saw the figure standing there, her breath caught.

It was him again.

Matteo.

“I need you to come with me,” he said, his voice low and urgent, but there was something in his eyes that was different this time. It wasn’t just desire anymore. It was something darker. “Now.”

Aaravi felt a flash of panic, but she forced herself to stay calm. “What is this about?” she asked, her voice steady despite the racing in her chest. “Why?”

He didn’t answer directly, but the tone in his voice was enough. “You’re in danger. The men I’ve been keeping you away from, they’ve made their move. It’s time you know the truth.”

Aaravi’s stomach twisted at the words. “What truth?”

His gaze softened slightly, but it was laced with something she couldn’t quite place. Regret? Sadness? “The truth about why I’ve been keeping you close, why you’re not safe. And why I can’t let you go.”

Aaravi stared at him for a moment, unsure whether to follow him or slam the door shut and pretend none of this was real. But she didn’t have a choice. She couldn’t escape him, not anymore. She was already too far entangled in his world.

She stepped aside, letting him enter.

He didn’t wait for an invitation. Instead, he grabbed her hand, pulling her toward the door. “We need to go. Now.”

They didn’t speak as they walked down the narrow street toward his car, but there was a silent understanding between them. Matteo was a man of few words, but when he spoke, it was always with purpose, always with intent.

The ride was quiet, the tension thick in the air. Aaravi could feel the weight of his gaze on her as they drove through the winding streets. She tried to focus on the passing scenery, but it was impossible. Her thoughts kept returning to the kiss they’d shared, the intensity of it, and the strange connection that had only grown since.

When they arrived at a nondescript building on the edge of the city, Matteo didn’t hesitate. He led her inside, past security, down hallways lined with cold, steel doors. It was a world she hadn’t known existed, a world far removed from the gentle, ink-stained pages of poetry she’d once loved.

They stopped in front of a door, and Matteo turned to her. “You need to understand this, Aaravi,” he said, his voice quiet but filled with a commanding edge. “The men I’ve been fighting are not just criminals. They are powerful. They have influence everywhere. And they’ve been watching you.”

Aaravi’s heart stopped. “Watching me?”

“Yes. Your father’s debt. It’s not just money. It’s something darker. Something they intend to collect.”

“What do you mean?”

“You’re a part of something much bigger than you realize. You’re tied to a legacy, a deal your father made long before you were born. A deal that’s about to come due.”

Aaravi felt her chest tighten, the air thinning around her. “I don’t understand,” she whispered, her voice trembling.

Matteo placed a hand on her shoulder, his touch firm and reassuring, yet there was a coldness in his eyes. “I don’t want you to be involved, but you already are. This is not just about you, Aaravi. This is about your family’s ties to the syndicate. And about the men who want you to pay the price for it.”

She looked up at him, a wave of fear rushing over her. “What do you want from me?”

“I want to protect you,” Matteo replied softly, but there was an edge to his words that made her heart race. “But protecting you means keeping you close. And it means you can’t escape this.”

Aaravi recoiled. “I don’t want to be a part of this,” she said, her voice breaking.

“I know,” he murmured, pulling her into him. “But you are.”

The door opened then, revealing a dimly lit room. Inside, a man stood, his back to them. When he turned, Aaravi gasped.

He was familiar.

It was the man who had approached her father years ago. The one who had made the deal.

And now, he was standing in front of her.

“Welcome to the world you’ve always been a part of, Aaravi,” he said, his smile cold and knowing.

Matteo stepped in front of her, blocking her view of the man. “I’ll handle this.”

But the truth was, it wasn’t just about handling it anymore.

Aaravi was trapped. And the more she fought it, the deeper she would sink into this world Matteo had brought her into — a world of blood and ink-stained promises.

Her heart pounded in her chest, her mind racing as she realized the weight of everything Matteo had just told her. She was no longer just a bystander. She was a pawn, and she had no idea where the game would take her next.

The man’s cold gaze settled on Matteo. “You’ve kept her in the dark long enough. It’s time she learned what she’s really a part of.”

Aaravi felt the walls close in. This was no longer a game of attraction or desire. This was war.

And she was standing at the center of it.

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