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The chill of the night air prickled Aria's skin as Giovanni's figure stepped into the dim light, his silhouette tall and menacing. Her heart skipped a beat, the shock of his sudden appearance making it hard to breathe. It was as if the darkness itself had birthed him, and now, he stood before her, the very person she had tried so hard to escape.
Giovanni's eyes gleamed with something predatory as he took in the sight of her, his lips curling into a cruel smile. The smile that had haunted her dreams — the smile that had once been the mask for all the pain he had caused her.
"You think you can outrun me forever, Aria?" Giovanni's voice was low, venomous, as he took a step forward. His presence was suffocating, oppressive. He didn't just take up space in the room; he consumed it. "You're mine, and no one can take that away from me."
Raiden moved slightly in front of her, his body rigid, the tension radiating from him as he stared Giovanni down. Aria could feel the heat of his presence behind her, but her eyes never left Giovanni. She could feel the weight of the years, the lies, the pain between them. And yet, there was something new in her now — something she hadn't had before.
Giovanni's gaze flickered to Raiden, a malicious glint in his eyes. "Ah, the prince of the underworld himself. How touching. You think you can protect her from me? How sweet," he said with a sneer.
Raiden's jaw tightened, but he didn't respond. His hands were steady, ready for whatever Giovanni might throw at him, but Aria saw something else in his eyes — an unspoken promise to keep her safe. In that moment, Aria felt the weight of the decision she had made — to stand her ground and not run. To fight.
"I'm not afraid of you anymore," Aria said, her voice stronger than she felt. She stepped forward, past Raiden, feeling the eyes of both men on her. "You lost that power the day you thought I would stay silent, the day you thought I would let you control me."
Giovanni's smile faltered, just for a second, before it returned, even more menacing. "You think you can stand up to me, little girl? I own you. I always have. And you'll never escape."
His words hit her like a slap, but she refused to let them break her. She knew the truth now — she was no longer the scared girl who had cowered before him. She was someone different. Someone stronger. The past had shaped her, but it didn't define her.
Raiden stepped closer, his eyes hard. "If you think you can just walk in here and claim her again, Giovanni, you're sorely mistaken."
Giovanni chuckled darkly, his amusement thick with malice. "Oh, I don't need to claim her. I already did. You see, she's mine. And now, I'm taking back what's rightfully mine."
Aria could feel the tension building in the air, the threat hanging over them like a storm about to break. Giovanni's presence was overwhelming, but Raiden's was even more so — like a dark, unstoppable force. It was clear to her now that this wasn't just about power. It was about control. Giovanni's need to control everything and everyone around him.
"Not anymore," Aria whispered, her voice shaking with a mixture of fear and defiance. She had to stop him. She couldn't let him drag her back into that world. Not after everything she had fought for. Not after everything Raiden had shown her.
Giovanni's eyes darkened with rage, and in a swift movement, he pulled a gun from his jacket. The cold steel gleamed in the moonlight, and Aria's breath caught in her throat. She knew this was it — this was the moment everything could go terribly wrong.
Raiden's hand shot out, grabbing her arm and pulling her back behind him. "Stay down," he ordered, his voice like ice. He was ready to strike, to defend her. His presence was unyielding, protective.
But Giovanni wasn't done. He took a step closer, his gun still aimed in their direction. His voice was a low growl, filled with malice. "You think you're untouchable, don't you, Aria? But the truth is, you'll always be my prisoner. You'll always be mine."
Aria's pulse hammered in her ears as she stared at the gun. Her mind raced, but there was only one thing she knew for certain — she couldn't let him win.
"Put the gun down, Giovanni," Raiden commanded, his voice dark, full of authority.
Giovanni's lips twitched with amusement, but his finger never wavered from the trigger. "You think you can tell me what to do? You're just a boy playing in a world you'll never understand."
Raiden's eyes flashed with cold fury, but his stance remained calm, controlled. It was clear he had no intention of backing down.
"I've been living in this world longer than you've been breathing," Raiden replied, his voice hard, unwavering. "And I'm not afraid to tear it down to protect what's mine."
Giovanni's smile disappeared, replaced by an expression of pure rage. He took a step forward, aiming the gun directly at Raiden. "You don't know who you're dealing with, boy."
In that moment, time seemed to slow. Aria could feel her heart in her throat, but there was no fear anymore. Not for herself. Not when she knew Raiden would do anything to keep her safe. She wasn't alone. Not anymore.
Before Giovanni could take another step, before he could pull the trigger, Raiden was already moving, fast as lightning. His hand was at Giovanni's wrist, twisting it with such force that the gun fell to the ground with a loud clatter. The move was smooth, controlled, and terrifyingly precise.
"Stay the hell away from her," Raiden growled, his voice a low, dangerous whisper.
Giovanni let out a strangled gasp, his eyes wide with shock as he realized the situation had shifted. He was no longer in control.
"Get out of my house, Giovanni," Raiden said, his grip tightening around the other man's wrist. "Before I make you regret ever coming here."
Giovanni gritted his teeth, but he knew when he was defeated. With a last look of hatred at Aria, he jerked his arm free from Raiden's grasp and backed away, his eyes never leaving her.
"This isn't over, Aria," he spat, his voice filled with venom.
Aria stood there, breathing heavily, as Giovanni disappeared into the night, leaving behind only the lingering scent of danger.
Raiden turned to her, his face unreadable, but his eyes soft. He was shaking, just slightly. Not from fear, but from the adrenaline of the moment. She could see the weight of the danger he had just put himself in — all for her.
"You okay?" he asked, his voice rough.
Aria nodded, her body trembling as the tension melted away. "I am now."
But even as the threat retreated into the shadows, the darkness of what had happened still lingered. The fight wasn't over. Not yet.
And neither was the danger.
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To be continued...
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