Two

Amara hated all of it…

Darius followed silently behind, carrying her bag as if it weighed nothing.

His presence filled the hall, steady and controlled, like a predator pacing its territory. She didn’t like feeling small, but somehow, around him, she did.

“Signorina, signore Valen’s waiting for you in the study,” said a housekeeper.

Amara nodded, forcing herself to walk past Darius without looking at him.

The study door opened before she could knock.

And there he was.

Valen Drevino. Her brother. Her protector in a different way. Warm smile. Gentle eyes. The only one who made her feel safe and made the mansion bearable.

“Amara,” he said softly, stepping forward. “My dear, you’re home.”

She let out a small laugh, a mix of relief and exasperation. “Good to see you. And apparently, I have a new shadow.”

Valen’s eyes flicked toward Darius, who was standing perfectly still behind her, silent as always. “Ah… Darius.”

Darius didn’t move or speak. He simply nodded once, eyes still sharp and unreadable.

Valen smirked faintly. “He’s… efficient.”

Amara rolled her eyes. “Efficient. Right. That’s what they all say.”

Valen laughed softly, reaching for her hand. “Don’t worry about him. I’ve got your back too.”

Valen had always been her anchor. The one person she could trust completely.

Darius stepped closer, his presence sharp and commanding. “Miss Drevino, your father requested a briefing on the security upgrades. Shall we begin?”

Amara narrowed her eyes. “Security upgrades? At a mansion?. What more security briefing do we need with all the guards?”

He didn’t answer immediately. Instead, his gaze lingered on her for a brief second, and her stomach twisted. “Better safe than sorry,” he said finally, tone flat.

She clenched her jaw, trying to ignore the way her pulse had picked up.

Valen noticed. He always noticed. “Don’t let him get to you,” he said quietly, his hand brushing her shoulder. “He’s just doing his job.. You know how dad can be ..”

Amara gave a small, grateful smile. “Thanks, bro.”

Her brother left, and suddenly, it was just her and Darius in the hall. Silence stretched between them, heavy and thick. She wanted to say something clever, something teasing… but nothing came out.

Finally, she muttered, “So… what’s your deal, Darius?”

He tilted his head, studying her calmly. “My deal is to make sure you’re alive at the end of every day.”

She blinked. Simple. Brutal. And somehow… thrilling.

Amara swallowed hard. “And what if I don’t want to be safe?” she challenged, heart pounding.

His eyes darkened. “That’s a dangerous thing to say, Miss.”

Heat surged through her. She wanted to argue, to push back.. But the truth was, she couldn’t stop staring at him. He was infuriating. And dangerous. And absolutely… irresistible.

Her new life had just begun. And somehow, she knew it was going to be hotter, darker, and far more complicated than anything she’d ever imagined.

Amara trudged up the grand staircase, her bag dragging behind her. The hallway to her room was long and quiet, lined with family portraits that made her stomach twist. She wasn’t home by choice, and it showed.

Her room was exactly how she remembered—too big, too pristine, and too empty. She dropped her bag on the floor and flopped onto the bed. For the next hour, she let herself breathe, trying to push away the feeling that followed her everywhere: Darius.

When a soft knock came at the door, she sat up.

“Miss Amara, dinner is ready. Your father requests your presence,” said the housekeeper politely.

Amara groaned softly, standing and smoothing her dress. She wasn’t ready for her father’s cold gaze, but she had no choice.

Downstairs, the dining room was large, imposing. The long table gleamed under the chandelier. Her father, Don Victor Matteo Drevino, sat at the head, immovable, expression unreadable.

“Sit,” he said, voice flat.

Amara obeyed, sliding into her chair, hands folded in her lap. They didn’t speak much. Conversation with her father had never been easy.

Her father leaned back in his chair. “Amara,” he said, voice firm, final. “You’ve met Darius already, his your bodyguard. Please don’t try anything stupid.”

The words hit harder than she expected.

Amara’s fingers tightened around her napkin. “I don’t need a new bodyguard,” she said, keeping her tone steady but firm. “Have been fine without one since Anton left. I can handle myself.”

Anton had been her bodyguard since she was eighteen. He was more than a protector… he was family, someone who understood her in ways few could. But now, with his wife having just given birth, he had to step away, leaving her to face this stranger.

Victor’s face turned to steel. “You’ll do as I say. You know how family is always a target. I won’t risk your life..”

“Whose fault is it if I'm always a target “ She murmured

“I have made my decision, and that's final”

The air in the room grew heavy.

Her eyes drifted to the edge of the room.

There he was. Darius. Standing perfectly still, back straight, hands folded behind him. Watching. Always watching.

Even from across the room, he looked… impossibly handsome. The black suit fit him perfectly, sharp lines matching the precision in his movements. His dark eyes were calm but intense, and she felt a familiar heat rise in her chest just from looking at him.

Her pulse quickened, and she tried to focus on her father. But she couldn’t. Darius had a presence that drew her in, even when he wasn’t speaking.

She caught his gaze for a brief moment. His eyes didn’t look away, and for a second, she felt something stir inside her… a mix of frustration, curiosity.

Amara shifted slightly in her seat, pretending to adjust her napkin, but she couldn’t stop noticing him. Every time her father spoke, she felt Darius’s eyes like a shadow over her.

The rest of the dinner passed in silence for her, with her father talking and Darius watching. She realized something dangerous: she was affected by the way he looked, the way he moved, the way he seemed completely untouchable… yet entirely aware of her.

By the time the meal ended, Amara knew one thing for certain. Living under Darius’s watchful eyes was going to be far more challenging than she ever expected.