Forever Bound

just over the men who feared him, but over everything he touched. The Morano name was a legend in the underworld - a name that struck terror into the hearts of rivals and respect into th

silence to settle between them like a heavy fog. Ava didn't move a muscle. She was resolute, standing tall, but Alessandro could see the wariness in her eyes. He wasn't a man who spoke often, preferring to let his actions do the talking. But with her, he couldn't resist. "Signorina Rossi," he said, his voice deep and deliberate, cutting through the silence. "You look stunning, as always." His words were a smooth compliment, but they were laced with something else - something darker. Ava's gaze flicked to his, her expression unwavering. "Don't flatter me, Morano. You know why I'm here." She wasn't playing the role of the demure woman he expected. Instead, her tone was sharp, as though she could slice him open with a few choice words. Alessandro smirked, an emotion that wasn't quite amusement playing in his dark eyes. "I know exactly why you're here," he replied smoothly, his gaze never leaving hers. "But I don't think you fully understand the implications of this arrangement, Ava." Her eyes narrowed slightly, but she didn't back down. He admired that. Most people crumbled under the weight of his presence, the sheer intensity that radiated from him. Not Ava. She stood her ground, though he could see the fire beneath the surface - a fire that was, for now, more dangerous to her than to him. "You're here because your father has made a grave mistake," Alessandro continued, his voice cold but controlled. "And now, you'll pay the price for it." The words hung in the air like a guillotine's blade, poised to fall. Ava's eyes flashed with something more than anger - something darker. She was a woman with a past, one that ran deeper than even she would admit. He knew this. The Rossi family's betrayal had cost her more than just wealth; it had cost her trust, perhaps even her humanity. But the truth of her pain was something he would use - to his advantage, of course. "You think you can just take everything from me?" she shot back, her voice low and steady. "My family, my freedom... my life?" Alessandro took a step closer, his hand brushing against her arm as if it were the most casual of gestures.