CHAPTER 43
Amara’s POV
The door burst open with a deafening crash. Casey whipped around in shock, and the gun swung away from me as chaos erupted.
I exhaled in relief when I saw Matteo at the doorway, his gun drawn and his expression a mask of cold fury. He did not hesitate.
Bang!
The first shot hit Casey square in the chest. Her body jerked backward, her hand.
loosening on the gun.
Bang! Bang!
Two more shots followed in rapid. succession, and then Casey crumpled to the floor, the gun slipping from her grasp with a metallic clatter. Blood pooled beneath her as her lifeless eyes stared into nothingness.
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I gasped, stumbling backward into the rack of dresses, my legs threatening to give out beneath me. The room spun, the weight of what had just happened crashing down on me like a tidal wave.
Matteo lowered his gun, and the footsteps. of his men following inside were the only sound in the deafening silence. Then, in an instant, he was by my side.
“Amara,” he uttered softly, his hands. cupping my face as his eyes searched mine.
“Are you okay? Did she hurt you?”
I shook my head, the words catching in my throat. “I… I’m fine.” My voice came out shaky and barely audible.
“You‘ re safe now,” he murmured, hist thumb brushing against my cheek. “It‘ s over. She can’t hurt you anymore.
I nodded, but my hands did not stop trembling despite my attempt to remain. calm. My gaze flickered to Casey’s still form, and a shiver ran down my spine.
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Matteo followed my line of sight, his jaw tightening. “Don‘ t look at her,” he said.
“She’s gone. Focus on me.”
I forced my eyes back to his, finding comfort in his gaze. “I thought…” My voice cracked, and I swallowed hard. “I thought she was going to kill me.
“She didn’t. I wouldn’t let that happen. Not to you.”
The boutique staff peeked cautiously from the doorway, their faces pale and stricken with shock, but his men immediately
guided them out of the room, taking them somewhere else for a talk. Matteo knew the owner, and silencing the staff would not be a problem.
“Come on. Let’s get out of here,” Matteo said as he wrapped an arm around my waist, guiding me toward the exit. I leaned into him for support as my legs were still unsteady.
“Thank you,” I whispered as we got into
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the car waiting for us.
- ))
The evening air was cool and crisp, carrying the gentle rhythm of waves lapping against the yacht‘ s hull. Matteo guided me up the ramp, and my breath hitched at the sight before me. Fairy lights strung across the deck bathed everything in a soft, golden glow, creating a cozy, intimate atmosphere. The stars scattered across the endless night sky felt close. enough to touch, while the faint hum of the city in the distance faded into the background, leaving us in our own little world.
“You‘ ve outdone yourself,” I said, my lips curving into a smile as I stepped onto the deck. A small table for two awaited us, draped in fine linen and adorned with flickering candles. Plates of what looked like freshly prepared dishes sat waiting.
Matteo smirked, his hands resting lightly on my waist as he leaned in close. “You
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deserve nothing less.”
I rolled my eyes playfully but felt my heart flutter at the sincerity in his voice. It
wasn’t like the Matteo I met months ago,
cold, distant, calculating. This was different.
He was different.
“Wine?” he asked, motioning to the bottle chilling in a silver bucket nearby.
“Yes, please,” I replied, settling into the chair he pulled out for me.
He poured the wine gracefully, handing me a glass before sitting across from me. His piercing gaze lingered on me, his lips tugging into a small, almost shy smile.
“What?” I asked, feeling the heat rise to my cheeks under his scrutiny.
“You look beautiful,” he complimented simply, his voice as smooth as the wine I sipped.
