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"Hey, look at me." I tilt his chin up, forcing him to meet my gaze. "You saved those children. That's what matters. We did what we had to do to stay alive. To protect them."
"Protect them?" He scoffs, but there's a tremor in his voice, a crack in that tough mafia exterior. "From what? The shadows that I can't even name? And what's the point? There'll be more children just like them, ensnared in this horrific racket and we don't know who to catch. If only we could have kept those bastards alive."
My fingers tracing the line of his jaw, willing him to believe me. "You're the reason they're safe now. You fought for them, Dario. Because it was right, because you couldn't stand by and let innocence be corrupted. If we had been killed, not a single life would have been saved. We had to kill them, so we could save the few children we could. If we were to go back in time, we couldn't change a thing. I swear."
"But, I can't let this go. It's not just about revenge; it's about justice." His voice is steel wrapped in velvet, determination laced with anger.
"Of course," I reply, my heart racing with the intensity of his gaze. "You have to do what's right. No one is telling you to let this go."
"Jasmine, I'm going to mobilize every resource I have. My men will turn this city upside down if they have to," he says, his hands gesturing emphatically.
"We're going to find out who's behind this trafficking ring. Nobody hurts children and gets away with it. Not on my watch."
"Will they talk? Your men?" I ask, though I already know the answer. Dario commands loyalty as easily as he breathes.
"They'll talk," he confirms with a grim smile. "They know better than to hold back information from me."
"And what if this leads... closer to home than you expect?" The question hangs between us, heavy with unspoken fears.
"Then so be it," Dario replies without hesitation. "Mafia or not, there are lines you don't cross. And if they have, I'll make them pay."
His declaration sends a shiver down my spine. There's no doubt in my mind he means every word. The man before me is a force of nature, unwavering in his pursuit of justice.
"Jasmine?" Dario's voice cuts through my muddled thoughts, grounding me. "You okay?"
I nod, swallowing hard. "Yeah, just... thinking."
"About what?" He steps closer, and I'm enveloped in his presence, the scent of leather and cologne that's uniquely him.
"About how you always seem to find clarity between right and wrong, even in this chaos," I say, my words spilling out before I can stop them.
His lips quirk up in a half-smile that doesn't reach his eyes. "In our world, lines blur. But some things are non-negotiable. Like protecting those who can't protect themselves."
And there it is—the very thing that draws me to him, the honor in his code amidst the lawlessness. How does a man so entangled in darkness recognize the light so clearly?
"Jasmine," he says softly, touching my cheek, "the only thing that matters right now is that we did what we had to do. We saved those kids."
A lump forms in my throat as his words stir something deep within me. He's right, of course. But there's a secret festering inside me, a suspicion that claws at my conscience.
"Are you sure we'll find who's behind this?" I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.
"Absolutely." His confidence is unyielding. "We'll unravel this thread by thread if we must."
If only we could have taken one of those kidnappers alive, I think, my heart heavy with the burden of my silent hunch. They would've confirmed my worst fears—Dario's father, the patriarch of the Marchetti empire, tangled in this vile web. But the dead tell no tales, and I carry this truth alone.
"How are you feeling?" Dario's concerned gaze finds mine again. "You seem distant."
I force a smile, shaking my head slightly. "It's nothing. Just... tired, I guess."
He comes closer and kisses me on my forehead. My hammering heart begins to subside into a soft lull, and I realize just how safe I feel in Dario's arms as I sink into him.
This is a strange, new feeling. One I could only ever imagine, but never truly had.
And as I lay my head on his chest, listening to the symphony of our heartbeats, I silently acknowledge the terrifying, exhilarating truth—Dario Marchetti is nothing like his father.
He's nothing like the mafia men I've studied. I am falling for Dario Marchetti. With every beat of my heart, with every breath I take, I'm a step further into the maelstrom of our future together.
Silence falls like a curtain between us, his breath evening out as he pulls me closer to him. He's so close now, the heat from his body melding with mine, and I can feel the hammering of his heart, fierce and relentless.
