Raven's POV
The soft hum of the television filled the dimly lit apartment, but Raven wasn't watching. She sat curled on the couch, staring at the untouched glass of wine on the coffee table, her mind a tangled mess of memories and regrets.
Tonight, the past refused to stay buried.
A soft rustling sound came from the small bedroom down the hall, and her breath caught.
She waited, listening.
A moment later, a tiny voice called out, hesitant but clear.
"Mommy?"
Raven's heart clenched. She was on her feet before she even realized she'd moved, padding quickly toward the bedroom. She pushed the door open, her gaze immediately landing on the small figure sitting up in bed, tangled in soft pink sheets.
Luna.
Her daughter's dark curls were wild from sleep, her big brown eyes wide and glossy with fear. Raven rushed to her side, settling onto the bed and smoothing her daughter's hair from her damp forehead.
"Another nightmare, baby?" Raven murmured, pressing a gentle kiss to Luna's temple.
Luna nodded, sniffling. "It was the bad dream again. The one where you disappear."
Raven's stomach twisted. She forced a soft smile, even as guilt clawed at her throat.
"I'm right here, sweetheart," she whispered. "I'll always be here."
Luna clung to her, tiny hands fisting the fabric of Raven's shirt. "Promise?"
"Promise."
The lie burned her tongue.
Because no matter how much she wanted to promise her daughter forever, the truth was, their life was built on borrowed time.
And now, Aurelio was back.
Raven tightened her grip around Luna, rocking her gently until her breathing evened out. But even as her daughter drifted back to sleep, Raven knew there would be no peace for her tonight.
How much longer could she keep this secret?
Aurelio's POV
The scent of whiskey and expensive cigars clung to the air as Aurelio sat in his private lounge, staring at the untouched glass in front of him.
He should have gone home hours ago. Should have let the memory of Raven fade into the background. But instead, he found himself here, alone, with nothing but the weight of unanswered questions.
His fingers curled into fists.
She had looked different—thinner, more guarded, her eyes shadowed by something he couldn't quite place.
Fear.
Not of him.
But of something else.
Aurelio exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. He hadn't seen Raven in years, yet she still had the power to unnerve him, to sink beneath his skin like a ghost that refused to rest.
She had left without a word. No explanation. No closure.
And he had spent the past six years telling himself he didn't care.
But now?
Now, he wasn't so sure.
A knock at the door pulled him from his thoughts. He didn't look up as the door opened and closed, the familiar sound of heels clicking against the marble floor announcing his sister's arrival.
"Drinking alone? That's never a good sign," Isabella mused, lowering herself onto the leather chair across from him.
Aurelio didn't respond. He simply swirled the amber liquid in his glass, watching the way the dim light reflected off its surface.
"You saw her, didn't you?" Isabella's voice was softer now, careful.
A muscle in his jaw ticked. "She didn't tell you she was back?"
"No," Isabella admitted. "I only found out today. She's been keeping her distance."
Aurelio let out a humorless chuckle. "Of course she has."
Isabella hesitated before leaning forward. "What are you going to do?"
Aurelio set the glass down with a quiet clink. "Find out why she left."
"And if she doesn't want to tell you?"
He met his sister's gaze, his expression unreadable. "Then I'll make her."
Isabella sighed, shaking her head. "Just… be careful, Aurelio. She's not the same girl you knew."
"Neither am I."
He didn't say the rest.
That he had a feeling Raven wasn't just hiding from him.
She was hiding something.
And he wasn't leaving without answers.
Raven's POV
The morning sun streamed through the café window, casting a golden glow over the wooden table where Raven sat across from Lia.
"You look like hell," Lia remarked, stirring her coffee.
Raven shot her a tired glare. "Thanks. That's exactly what I needed to hear."
Lia smirked, but the amusement didn't quite reach her eyes. "You didn't sleep, did you?"
Raven sighed, rubbing her temples. "No. Luna had another nightmare."
Lia's expression softened. "She still having those?"
"Yeah. They're getting worse."
"Maybe it's because of the move. New places can be unsettling for kids."
Raven nodded absently, though she knew it was more than that. Luna's nightmares weren't about their new home.
They were about losing her mother.
Lia hesitated before speaking again. "Have you thought about what you're going to do if Aurelio finds out?"
Raven stiffened. "He won't."
Lia's lips pressed into a thin line. "You don't know that."
"It doesn't matter," Raven said quickly. "Even if he did… he wouldn't care."
Lia scoffed. "You really believe that?"
Raven hesitated.
She wanted to.
She needed to.
Because the alternative—the thought of Aurelio knowing about Luna, of him taking her away—was something she couldn't bear.
"It's been six years, Lia," she said, forcing her voice to stay steady. "He's moved on. And so have I."
Lia didn't look convinced, but she didn't press further.
Raven took a sip of her coffee, but it did nothing to calm the storm raging inside her.
Because no matter how much she wanted to believe her own words, deep down, she knew the truth.
Aurelio Santoro had never been the type of man to let go of something that belonged to him.
And if he ever found out about Luna…
He would come for her.
And this time, Raven wasn't sure she could stop him.
Raven's POV
Luna's laughter echoed through the park, bright and innocent, a stark contrast to the storm brewing inside Raven's chest.
She watched as her daughter ran through the grass, chasing a butterfly, her curls bouncing with every step.
For a moment, Raven let herself breathe.
Luna was happy. Safe. Unaware of the danger that lurked just beneath the surface.
Unaware that her father was here.
Her phone buzzed in her pocket, dragging her back to reality. She pulled it out, glancing at the screen.
A number she didn't recognize.
Her stomach twisted.
She hesitated, then answered. "Hello?"
Silence.
Then—
"You can't avoid me forever, Raven."
Aurelio.
Her breath caught, fingers tightening around the phone.
"I don't know what you're talking about," she said, forcing her voice to stay steady.
A low chuckle. "You know exactly what I'm talking about."
Raven swallowed hard, glancing at Luna in the distance.
"I have nothing to say to you," she said quickly.
"Then listen."
Raven's heart pounded.
"We need to talk. Face to face. No more running."
"I'm not running," she snapped.
"Then prove it."
Her fingers trembled against the phone.
Aurelio's voice softened, but there was an edge to it—one she recognized all too well. "There's something you're not telling me, Raven. And I'm going to find out what it is."
Her blood turned cold.
"Stay away from me, Aurelio."
"Not a chance."
The line went dead.
Raven's breath came in sharp, uneven gasps. She lowered the phone, gripping it so tightly her knuckles turned white.
She looked up—her gaze immediately landing on Luna, still laughing, still oblivious.
But for how much longer?
Because Aurelio Santoro wasn't a man who let go.
And now, the past she had fought so hard to bury was about to rise again.