---
The silence of the mansion was deafening.
Raiden hadn't spoken since their moment in the basement. He'd kissed her like she belonged to him, but now he'd vanished somewhere into the labyrinth of shadows that made up this fortress he called a "safe house."
Aria wandered the halls barefoot, his shirt swallowing her petite frame, the echo of her steps the only sound accompanying her thoughts.
Everything should've ended that night at the club. She should've ignored the pull, should've walked away. But now, she was entangled in something too deep, too dark. And she didn't want to escape.
She found him in his study, the door ajar, soft classical music playing from a vintage record player. He sat behind the desk, head bowed, shirtless once again, a cigarette burning between his fingers. The room smelled of smoke, old paper, and something distinctly male.
"You're avoiding me," she said softly.
Raiden looked up, eyes tired, haunted. "I'm protecting you."
"By pretending I don't exist?"
He leaned back, dragging a long pull from his cigarette. "By not dragging you further into hell."
Aria walked in, closing the door behind her. "Raiden, I'm already there."
The silence between them cracked. She moved closer, placing her hand over his. His fingers twitched beneath her touch.
"You think you're protecting me, but this distance? This silence? It's what's killing me."
He didn't speak. Just stared. Until finally, his voice dropped into something low and broken.
"One of my men was tortured last night. Found him hanging in a warehouse, throat slit, eyes gouged out. They left a note pinned to his chest. 'She's next.'"
Aria's breath caught. Her hand flew to her mouth. "Oh my god…"
Raiden stood, fast and restless. "I should've never touched you. The moment I let you into my bed, I signed your death certificate."
"Then untouch me," she challenged, voice trembling. "Pretend none of this happened. Kick me out. Tell me to leave."
He grabbed her suddenly, forcefully, his grip bruising but desperate. "Don't tempt me. Because I swear to God, Aria, I will burn down this world before I let anyone take you from me."
Her eyes widened, breath caught between fear and fire.
He kissed her—again.
Not soft. Not sweet.
Devouring.
His hands roamed her body with possessive hunger, and she let him. She wanted him to claim her like that. To remind her she wasn't a pawn—she was his.
---
Later that night, Aria couldn't sleep. She lay wrapped in Raiden's arms, his chest rising and falling steadily behind her. But sleep wouldn't come. Only questions.
She slid out of bed, grabbed his phone from the nightstand. She knew his passcode—his mother's birthdate. He'd told her that night in the club, not realizing she'd remember.
She scrolled through his texts.
One thread caught her eye.
Ciro.
The name sent a strange chill through her.
She clicked it open. Her blood froze.
> "We warned you about the girl. Now she'll bleed for your disobedience."
"We want the key, Raiden. Or she dies."
"You have until Friday."
The key? What key?
And why did they want her?
She heard movement behind her.
"Put it down," Raiden's voice was low, dangerous.
She turned to face him, guilt scrawled across her face. "I needed to know."
His eyes were unreadable. "And now you do."
"What key, Raiden?"
He didn't answer.
"Why do they want me?"
Still, silence.
She stepped forward, hurt rising like bile. "You told me everything—"
"I told you enough to scare you," he interrupted, voice sharp. "Not enough to get you killed."
"Too late for that," she snapped.
His expression cracked. He walked toward her, cupped her face. "I didn't mean for this. You were supposed to be one night. One mistake."
She blinked. "And now?"
He leaned in close, forehead resting against hers. "Now I don't know how to let you go."
---
Friday
They didn't wait until midnight.
At 10:32 p.m., the safehouse power went out.
Raiden was already armed, dressed in black, two guns at his sides, eyes cold.
Aria gripped the edge of the bed, knees weak. She'd never heard real gunshots before. But tonight, she would.
He kissed her forehead. "Stay inside. Hide under the floorboards. No matter what you hear—don't come out."
"Raiden—"
"I mean it."
And then he was gone.
Within minutes, gunfire exploded outside. Screams. Shouts. Shattered glass. Blood.
She hid beneath the loose panel he'd shown her earlier, curled into herself like a child.
A man's voice echoed from somewhere upstairs.
> "Bring her to me."
Her heart stopped.
> "You promised we'd break him. Let's start with her."
Footsteps. Closer. Heavy.
Aria held her breath.
The panel above her yanked open—
A hand reached down—
She screamed—
Gunfire.
Blood sprayed onto her cheek.
Raiden stood above, panting, his eyes wild.
"Stay down!" he barked, dragging her out only long enough to press a weapon into her hand. "If anyone that's not me opens this door again—shoot."
She nodded, shaking.
He ran back out.
---
Hours passed.
Silence returned.
When she finally crawled out, the house was in ruins. Walls scorched. Blood everywhere. But Raiden was alive.
Barely.
He collapsed into her arms, blood seeping through his side.
She screamed for help.
No one answered.
So she held him there, whispering through her sobs.
"You can't die. You promised you'd burn the world for me. You don't get to break that promise."
He smiled, barely conscious.
"I meant it," he whispered. "Now you… you have to decide… are you going to run? Or will you stay and rule the ashes with me?"
Aria held him tighter.
And answered with a kiss that tasted of blood and forever.
---
End of Chapter 5