More Than a Deal

The days following Ethan's departure were nothing short of suffocating. Sienna felt as though a weight had been placed on her chest, pressing down until she could barely breathe. Every corner of the mansion reminded her of the life she was forced to live, and yet, she couldn’t escape the pull of the dark world she was trapped in.

Dante’s presence had become constant, and with each passing day, the distance between them seemed to shrink. It was as though he was always watching her, his eyes following her every move, even when he wasn’t physically near. And though she hated the power he had over her, there was something else—something darker—that kept her tethered to him.

He hadn’t pushed her, not in the way she had expected. Instead, he waited. He observed. He was patient, like a predator, always waiting for the right moment to make his move.

Sienna, however, wasn’t sure she could wait any longer.

She stood in the drawing room that evening, staring out at the city below. The lights from the buildings reflected off the glass, casting a soft glow across the room. Her hands were trembling slightly as she gripped the edge of the windowsill. She had told herself she would stay strong, that she would resist whatever Dante had planned for her. But now, the line between resistance and surrender had blurred.

The door behind her opened without warning, and she didn’t have to turn around to know who it was. Dante’s presence filled the room, his aura undeniable.

“You’ve been quiet,” he said, his voice low, controlled. “Are you feeling alright, Sienna?”

She didn’t answer immediately. Instead, she took a deep breath, turning to face him. Her heart was pounding, and there was a heaviness in her chest. The tension between them had become unbearable, and no matter how hard she tried to push it away, she couldn’t deny it any longer.

“I’m fine,” she said, her voice shaky but determined. “Just... thinking.”

Dante’s eyes narrowed, studying her carefully. “Thinking about what?”

She swallowed hard, knowing that this moment was inevitable. She had to stop pretending, stop lying to herself. It was clear now—Dante wasn’t just some man who controlled her life. He had become something else entirely. Something dangerous, something irresistible.

“I’ve been thinking about you,” she confessed, the words slipping out before she could stop them.

Dante’s expression didn’t change, but the air between them shifted. The tension grew heavier, thicker. He took a slow step toward her, his eyes darkening with an unreadable emotion.

“What about me?” he asked quietly, his voice a dangerous mix of curiosity and something else—something deeper.

Sienna’s heart raced as she took a step back, unsure of what she was doing, but unable to stop herself. “I... I don’t want to be here,” she admitted, her voice cracking slightly. “I don’t want to be stuck in this life, but... I can’t deny how you make me feel, Dante. I can’t ignore the way my body reacts when you’re around. I can’t... stop thinking about you.”

Her words hung in the air like a confession, a surrender. The vulnerability she had been hiding for so long was now laid bare before him, and she was terrified. But more than anything, she was relieved. It felt like the truth had finally been spoken, and now, there was no going back.

Dante didn’t speak immediately. Instead, he stepped closer, his presence overwhelming. He reached out, his fingers brushing against her arm, sending a shiver down her spine. Sienna’s breath caught in her throat, and for a moment, it felt like everything had stopped. Like the world outside the walls of this mansion didn’t exist.

“You can’t resist me forever, Sienna,” Dante said softly, his voice low and filled with an intensity she had never heard before.

Sienna closed her eyes, her heart racing in her chest. “I don’t want to resist you,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. “I don’t know if I ever did.”

The words felt like a weight lifting off her chest, but at the same time, it felt like she had just stepped into the abyss. Dante’s fingers lingered on her arm, and she could feel the heat of his touch seeping into her skin. Every instinct in her told her to pull away, to stop this before it went too far, but something inside her urged her to move closer, to give in.

Dante’s lips curved into a faint smile, and for the first time, she saw something more than the ruthless mafia boss he presented to the world. There was something almost... tender in the way he looked at her, as if he had been waiting for this moment for a long time.

“You’re mine, Sienna,” he said quietly, his voice thick with possessiveness. “And I’ll make sure you never forget that.”

The words hit her like a punch to the gut, but there was something else in them. A promise. A challenge. And despite the fear that twisted in her stomach, Sienna couldn’t help but feel a surge of something else.

Desire.

It was terrifying, but also exhilarating. She didn’t know what was happening to her anymore. The line between right and wrong had blurred, and she was no longer sure of where she stood. The life she had once known, the future she had dreamed of with Ethan, seemed so distant now. Dante had taken over, and she wasn’t sure she was ready to fight him anymore.

But that didn’t change the fact that Ethan was still in her heart, still a part of her past.