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The air between them was thick with tension as Giovanni's presence filled the narrow back exit. His smile remained cold, mocking, but beneath it, Aria could see the cracks beginning to show. The powerful mafia boss was rattled. His once calm, confident facade was crumbling, and that gave her a strange sense of hope.
Raiden stood beside her, the muscles in his body coiled like a spring, ready to strike at a moment's notice. Aria had seen that look in his eyes before — a look that promised he would do anything to protect her. She didn't need to say a word; he knew exactly what had to be done.
Giovanni stepped forward, his eyes narrowing. "I should've known it was you, Raiden," he sneered. "Always lurking in the shadows, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. But you're too late." He shifted his gaze to Aria, his voice taking on a more sinister tone. "And as for you, Aria... You should've never left. You can't outrun your past. You belong to me."
Aria stood tall, her voice cutting through the thick silence. "I don't belong to anyone, Giovanni. Not anymore. I'm done being your puppet."
The mafia boss let out a sharp laugh, his hand resting on the handle of his gun. "You were never a puppet, Aria. You just didn't see it until now. I always gave you what you needed. I was the one who kept you alive."
Raiden's jaw clenched, the words stoking the flames of his anger. He took a step forward, positioning himself protectively in front of Aria. His stance was unyielding, like a wall of stone between her and Giovanni's wrath. "This ends now, Giovanni. You can't control her anymore."
Giovanni's smirk deepened. "You think you can protect her? You're just another obstacle in my way."
Aria's heart hammered in her chest. She knew what was at stake, but she also knew that this was her moment. She wasn't going to let Giovanni tear apart everything she had worked for. No more running. No more fear.
Her voice trembled slightly but was filled with an undeniable strength. "If you think you can make me come back to you, Giovanni, you're gravely mistaken. I'm not your property. I'm not anyone's property."
Giovanni's expression darkened. In one fluid motion, he pulled out his gun, the metal gleaming under the dim lights of the alley. Aria's breath caught in her throat as he aimed the weapon at Raiden, his fingers tightening around the trigger.
Time seemed to slow as the world narrowed to the point of impact. Aria's mind screamed, her body frozen in place, unable to stop what was about to happen. Raiden's eyes locked with hers, a silent promise passing between them. He wouldn't let Giovanni win.
"Raiden!" Aria's voice cracked, the raw desperation in her tone breaking the tension.
But before Giovanni could fire, a flash of movement caught their attention.
In a blur, Raiden lunged forward, knocking the gun from Giovanni's hand and sending it skittering across the ground. The force of the movement sent them crashing into a nearby dumpster, the sound of metal colliding with flesh echoing through the alley.
Giovanni growled in frustration, scrambling to get back on his feet, but Raiden was quicker. He pinned Giovanni to the ground, his fist landing hard against the mafia boss's jaw.
"You think you can intimidate me?" Raiden's voice was cold, a deadly calm that sent shivers down Aria's spine. "You've made your last mistake."
Giovanni struggled, but Raiden's grip was like iron, his strength unmatched. Aria could see the fury in Giovanni's eyes, the desperation as he fought for control. But Raiden wasn't backing down.
"Aria," Giovanni spat, his voice dripping with venom. "You'll regret this. You can't hide from me forever. I'll destroy everything you care about."
Aria took a step forward, her hands trembling as she finally found her voice again. "You've already destroyed everything, Giovanni. You just don't know it yet."
Giovanni sneered, but there was a flicker of doubt in his eyes. The power he had always held over her was slipping, and he knew it.
Raiden's grip tightened, his eyes flashing with lethal intent. "Leave. Now. If you come near her again, I won't hesitate to finish this."
Giovanni hesitated, his pride and anger battling within him. But, finally, with a growl of frustration, he pushed Raiden off and staggered to his feet. "This isn't over," he hissed, his voice low and threatening.
As Giovanni turned and fled into the darkness, Aria felt the weight of the encounter press down on her chest. Her breath was shallow, her body still trembling from the adrenaline rush.
Raiden stood, his back to her as he watched Giovanni disappear into the shadows. The fight was over for now, but Aria knew this was far from the end. Giovanni wouldn't stop. And neither would she.
"Are you okay?" Raiden's voice was soft, but the concern in it was unmistakable.
Aria nodded, though her heart was still racing. "I'm fine. But Giovanni... he's not going to stop. He'll come back."
Raiden's gaze softened, and he took a step toward her, his hand gently resting on her shoulder. "I won't let him hurt you again. Not while I'm still standing."
For a moment, neither of them said anything. They didn't need to. The unspoken bond between them was all that mattered now.
But Aria couldn't shake the feeling that the war was just beginning. And this time, it wasn't just Giovanni they had to worry about. It was everyone who had been watching, waiting for the right moment to strike.
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To be continued...
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