Aria awoke to a strange quiet. The city's usual hum had been replaced by an unnatural stillness, as though the entire metropolis had paused for a moment in deference to her fate. The sunlight streaming through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the apartment Luca had arranged for her was harsh and unfamiliar. She sat up, rubbing her eyes, trying to remember how she had gotten here.
The events of the night before returned like flashes of fire: the screeching tires, the masked men, Luca's commanding presence, the pull she couldn't explain. She shivered at the memory, both terrified and exhilarated.
A soft knock at the door startled her. "Aria?" His voice was smooth, low, deliberate.
"I'm… here," she called, her voice shaking slightly.
The door opened before he could knock again. Luca stepped inside, impeccably dressed, his expression calm, but his silver eyes sharp and calculating. He moved with the grace of a predator, every step precise, controlled, and terrifyingly confident.
"Sleep well?" he asked, voice teasing, yet carrying an undercurrent of command that made her pulse quicken.
"I… I guess so," she replied, still on edge. "I don't even know where I am."
"You're safe," he said simply. "For now. But safe doesn't mean ordinary. That ended last night."
Aria's stomach twisted. Safe? Ordinary? Her life had ended the moment she met him. She wanted to resist, wanted to scream that this was insane, that she didn't belong in a world of billionaires and mafia threats. But when she looked at him, something inside her whispered otherwise.
"Why me?" she asked, barely a whisper. "Why are you… here?"
Luca's gaze softened, just slightly, but it was enough to make her stomach flutter. "Because you're mine," he said, a certainty in his tone that left no room for argument. "Soulmates aren't chosen. They're found. And I found you."
The word "soulmate" struck her like a lightning bolt. Deep, ancient, undeniable it resonated in her very bones. She had never believed in destiny, never in magic, never in the pull of one person over another. Yet, here it was. She felt it.
Before she could respond, he turned and gestured toward the apartment. "You should eat. We have a lot to discuss."
The apartment was unlike anything she had ever seen. Modern, luxurious, minimalist yet intimidatingly elegant. Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked the city, revealing a skyline bathed in the morning light. Every surface gleamed with perfection. The scent of fresh coffee and something faintly metallic filled the air.
"This… this is…" she began, searching for words.
"Your new reality," Luca finished for her, sitting across from her at the sleek dining table. He poured coffee into a cup and slid it toward her. The warmth seeped into her hands, grounding her, though not enough to calm the storm in her chest.
"Who are you… really?" she asked, voice barely audible. "And what do you mean by soulmate?"
Luca leaned back, his eyes never leaving hers. "I am Luca Moretti. You've heard the name."
She shook her head. "No… I've heard of billionaires, yes. Mafia kings? Yes. But not you."
A faint smile curved his lips. "I am both," he said simply. "And you, Aria, are the one I've been searching for. The bond between us is… ancient. Unbreakable. And right now, there are people who would kill to take you from me."
Aria's heart slammed against her ribs. Kill her? The word was inconceivable. And yet, she could feel the tension in the room, the dangerous calm radiating from him.
"They tried last night," he continued. "They failed. But it's only the beginning. If you stay by my side, if you learn to trust me… you'll survive. But if you run…" His eyes darkened, warning clear. "…you'll regret it."
She swallowed hard, unsure whether she felt fear, attraction, or something deeper entirely. Every instinct screamed to resist, to flee, to return to her ordinary life but that life was gone. She was tethered to him, pulled into his orbit by forces she couldn't name, couldn't explain, and perhaps didn't want to.
"You said soulmate," she whispered again. "What does that mean?"
Luca's gaze softened just enough to make her breath hitch. "It means our fates are intertwined. We are connected in ways the world cannot understand. The moment I saw you, I knew. And now, nothing will ever be the same."
He stood suddenly, walking toward the window. The city sprawled beneath him, sunlight glinting off the skyscrapers, reflecting his power, his wealth, his danger. "I cannot protect you from everything, Aria. But I will fight for you. For us."
Her pulse raced, conflicting emotions tearing at her fear, curiosity, attraction, disbelief. Every rational thought was drowned by the undeniable pull between them.
Suddenly, her phone buzzed on the table. A message. Unknown number.
We know she's with you. One wrong move, and she dies.
Her hands trembled as she read the words. Luca's expression hardened, silver eyes flashing with fury. "See?" he said. "It's already begun."
Aria wanted to panic. She wanted to run. But something inside her the bond, the pull, the strange certainty held her in place.
"You're mine," he said again, softer this time, almost a caress. "And no one, no one, will take you from me."
Her chest tightened, breaths shallow. She wanted to argue, to deny it, to resist but deep down, she already knew.
She belonged to him