Stay Close To Me

The loud sound of gunshots echoed outside the Valentino Hotel while terrified guests screamed and rushed toward the exits.

Elena’s breathing became uneven as Damien held her tightly against his chest, shielding her body with his own.

“Move,” Damien ordered coldly.

His guards immediately surrounded them, guns raised as they guided Damien and Elena through a private hallway away from the ballroom chaos.

Elena’s hands trembled slightly.

Everything happened too fast.

One minute she was attending a stupid rich people party.

Now she was hiding beside the city’s most dangerous mafia heir while bullets flew outside.

“What is happening?” she whispered fearfully.

Damien didn’t answer immediately.

His sharp eyes stayed focused ahead while one of his guards spoke quietly into an earpiece.

“Boss, the east entrance was attacked.”

Damien’s expression darkened instantly.

“How many?”

“Three injured.”

Elena froze.

Injured?

This wasn’t some movie.

People were actually getting hurt.

She slowly stepped away from Damien, fear finally crashing over her completely.

“I should go,” she whispered nervously.

Damien looked at her immediately.

“No.”

The single word sent chills down her spine.

Elena frowned. “I’m serious. I don’t belong here.”

“You saw too much tonight.”

Her heartbeat quickened.

“What does that mean?”

Damien stepped closer slowly.

Too close.

It became harder to breathe around him.

“It means,” he said calmly, “you’re safer with me.”

Elena almost laughed.

“Safer? You literally have people shooting at you!”

One of Damien’s guards looked away, trying not to react.

But Damien stayed completely serious.

“Yes,” he replied quietly. “And that’s exactly why you should stay close to me.”

The hallway suddenly went silent.

Elena hated how calm he looked during all this chaos.

It made him even scarier.

Another loud gunshot echoed outside, making Elena flinch hard.

Without thinking, she grabbed Damien’s arm tightly.

Both of them froze for a second.

Her cheeks immediately turned red as she pulled away quickly.

“Sorry.”

Damien looked down at her trembling hands.

“You’re scared.”

“I’m not used to almost dying,” she whispered.

A small smirk appeared on his lips.

“Most people aren’t.”

For some reason, his calm voice slowly eased her fear.

And she hated that.

Suddenly, another guard rushed toward them.

“Boss, the cars are ready.”

Damien nodded once before turning back toward Elena.

“You’re coming with me.”

Elena’s eyes widened instantly. “Excuse me?”

“It’s not safe outside.”

“And going with a mafia heir is safe?”

Damien moved closer again until she could smell his expensive cologne.

“Right now,” he murmured softly, “I’m the only reason you’re alive.”

Elena opened her mouth to argue—

but no words came out.

Because deep down…

she knew he was right.

The hotel lights flickered again as more shouting echoed from downstairs.

Elena’s chest tightened nervously.

“What if they come back?” she whispered.

Damien’s eyes darkened dangerously.

“They won’t.”

The confidence in his voice frightened her almost as much as the gunshots.

Who exactly was this man?

And why did everyone fear him so much?

Before she could think further, Damien gently placed his hand against her lower back and guided her forward through the hallway.

His touch felt warm.

Protective.

Dangerous.

The group finally reached a private underground parking garage filled with expensive black cars.

Several armed men stood nearby watching carefully.

Elena stopped walking suddenly.

“This is insane,” she whispered.

Damien opened the car door calmly. “Get in.”

“I don’t even know you.”

He looked at her for a long moment before speaking quietly.

“You know enough.”

Elena stared at him nervously.

Every instinct told her to run away.

But another part of her—

the reckless curious part—

wanted to know more about him.

That scared her the most.

Damien noticed her hesitation immediately.

“You can either leave alone and risk getting caught in another attack,” he said calmly, “or you can come with me and stay alive.”

Elena swallowed hard.

“You always threaten people like this?”

A dangerous smile appeared on his face.

“Only the stubborn ones.”

Despite herself, Elena almost smiled.

Almost.

Finally, she stepped inside the car.

Damien entered after her while the guards quickly closed the doors.

As the black car drove away into the rainy night, Elena stared silently out the window.

Her entire life had changed in a single evening.

And sitting beside Damien Moretti—

the city’s most feared mafia heir—

she realized there was no turning back anymore.

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