Chapter 8: Shadows of the Past

The quiet hum of the city outside Matteo’s office couldn’t quiet the storm brewing within Aaravi. She stood at the large windows, staring out into the expanse of the skyline, her heart still reeling from the revelations of the past few days. Every part of her wanted to escape, to run back to the life she had left behind before she’d ever met Matteo. But the reality of the world she had been dragged into was unavoidable. She was in it now, bound by forces far stronger than her own will.

Matteo had left her alone in his office, his mind clearly preoccupied with the looming danger that had finally caught up to them. Dominic Volkov. The name echoed in her head like a whisper in the dark, a warning she couldn’t ignore.

The Russian mafia.

She had heard of their ruthless operations, but she never imagined they would come for her. She never thought her father’s mistakes would come back to haunt her.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the office door opening, and Matteo’s silhouette appeared in the doorway. His presence was immediate, overwhelming, and his eyes, as cold and calculating as ever, found hers almost instantly.

“We need to talk,” he said, his voice low, no trace of the tenderness that had once lingered between them.

Aaravi turned to face him, her mind still tangled with the threads of confusion and fear. “About what?”

He stepped into the room, his gaze never leaving hers. “About everything. About the past, about Dominic, about us.”

Her chest tightened. “You said you’d keep me safe. But how can you? How can you protect me from him?”

Matteo didn’t answer immediately. He moved toward the large oak desk in the center of the room, his fingers brushing across the surface as if the touch helped ground him. “I’m doing everything I can to keep you out of the crossfire. But you’re involved now. You’re tied to this. Whether you like it or not.”

Aaravi shook her head, feeling the panic claw at her insides. “I never asked for any of this. I never wanted to be a part of your world, Matteo. You’ve dragged me into this nightmare, and I can’t get out.”

Matteo’s expression hardened, his eyes darkening with something unreadable. “I didn’t ask for this either, Aaravi. You think I wanted to drag you into this? Do you think I wanted to see you caught in the middle of a war that has been going on for years? But your father—” He stopped himself abruptly, and she saw a flicker of something in his eyes, something vulnerable, quickly masked by his usual cold demeanor.

“My father…” Aaravi whispered. “What did he do?”

Matteo walked toward her, stopping only when he was standing inches from her. His presence was overwhelming, and the raw intensity in his eyes made her feel exposed, vulnerable. She wasn’t sure if she should take a step back or lean into him.

“He made a deal with Volkov,” Matteo continued, his voice softer now, though the weight of his words carried through every syllable. “He was a part of it — the money laundering, the illegal arms trades, the power plays. Your father was deep in it, Aaravi. I didn’t know the full extent until recently. But I’ve been cleaning up his mess since the moment I took over.”

Her heart skipped a beat. “You knew about my father’s involvement? You never told me.”

“I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want to pull you into this,” he said, frustration creeping into his voice. “I didn’t want you to be tangled up in the darkness that’s been haunting me for years.”

Aaravi swallowed hard. The room felt suffocating, and the words swirled in her mind like a whirlwind. “And now? Now you want me to be a part of it? You want me to stay with you while all of this goes to hell?”

Matteo’s face softened, his gaze intense. “I never wanted you to be part of this, Aaravi. But you’re here now. And I’ll do whatever it takes to protect you.”

She couldn’t help the soft laugh that escaped her lips, bitter and dry. “Protect me? From Volkov? From your world? How can you protect me when you’ve kept so many secrets? How do I even know I can trust you anymore?”

Matteo’s jaw tightened, and for a moment, there was a flicker of something in his eyes — pain, regret — before he masked it with that familiar coldness. “You can trust me because I’ve kept you alive. And I’ll keep doing that, no matter what.”

His words were like a promise, but they felt fragile. Aaravi wasn’t sure if she could keep believing in promises made by a man who had built his life on lies.

“What if I don’t want to be saved, Matteo?” Aaravi asked, her voice barely above a whisper. “What if I don’t want to be saved by you?”

He stepped closer, his hand reaching out to cup her face, and for a moment, the world seemed to stop spinning. “You don’t have a choice,” he said, his voice raw with emotion. “You’re already in this. And I’ll make sure you never have to face it alone. But I can’t protect you if you don’t trust me.”

Aaravi closed her eyes, her chest aching as she absorbed his words. She wanted to trust him. She wanted to believe that everything he had said was true. But the world they were living in — his world — was full of shadows and lies. And it wasn’t just Dominic Volkov she had to worry about. It was everything else that lurked in the darkness, threatening to consume them both.

“Promise me,” she said, her voice thick with emotion. “Promise me you won’t let anything happen to me.”

Matteo’s expression hardened, and his voice dropped to a dangerous whisper. “I’m not going to let anyone touch you, Aaravi. Not Volkov. Not anyone. I’ll burn everything to the ground if it means keeping you safe.”

His words were both a vow and a threat, and Aaravi wasn’t sure which one scared her more.

Before she could respond, a sudden knock on the door interrupted the moment, and Matteo turned, his face instantly shifting into a mask of cold professionalism.

“Come in,” he called, his voice all business.

The door opened, and a man in a tailored suit stepped inside. His presence was commanding, but it was the tension in the air that caught Aaravi’s attention. This wasn’t just anyone. This was someone Matteo trusted — someone who had been brought in for a reason.

“This is Alessandro,” Matteo said, introducing the man. “He’s a part of my inner circle. He’s going to help us deal with Volkov.”

Aaravi’s heart sank. “What do you mean, ‘deal with Volkov’?”

Matteo’s gaze darkened. “It’s time to take the fight to him. We’re not running anymore.”

Alessandro stepped forward, his eyes flicking to Aaravi, and for a brief moment, she saw the hardness in them — a warning. This man wasn’t a protector; he was a fighter. And in this world, she was nothing but a pawn.

But she couldn’t walk away now. Not when it was already too late.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***