CHAPTER 9
Amara’s POV
The faintest hint of a smile tugged at his lips, so fleeting I almost thought I imagined it. “You‘ re doing fine.”
His words should not have mattered, but somehow they did. I let out a shaky breath, trying to ease the tension in my shoulders. As we moved across the floor, I became more aware of the way his hand lingered on my waist, the warmth of his touch seeping through the fabric of my dress.
“You‘ re trembling,” he said after a
moment.
“I’m not used to this,” I admitted.
“To dancing?”
“To you.”
His gaze flicked to mine, and I could not read him. His eyes displayed something in between voidness and awe. He was
0.30% 12:23
1/5
12:23
₤28
CHAPTER 9
confusing. For a moment, I thought he might say something, but he remained silent. Instead, he spun me gently, pulling me back into his arms with an ease that left me breathless.
The world around us seemed to blur and the music faded into the background. It was just him and me, moving in perfect sync, and for the first time in a long time, I felt… safe, when I should have no business feeling safe with this ruthless man.
He was an enemy, a rival who had killed a dozen of my people in The Obsidian, a man with whom I had once exchanged several bullets in the past.
And yet here I was, in his arms.
Then a smirk played on his lips, making me confused.” You‘ re brave, Amara,” he said, and my head tilted, asking,
“What?”
“Who would’ve thought you would actually run to your enemy for help?” he
+30% 12:23
2/5
CHAPTER 9
taunted.
“It was a deal, Matteo. Once it’s done, then we are too,” I replied, reminding myself of what our relationship was.
“And you think I would let you go easily afterward? Do you know how many transactions you‘ d blown, how many millions we lost because of your actions. before?”
I frowned, rolling my eyes because those times no longer mattered. The power and honor I had from my successful missions. for The Obsidian were already stripped from me and handed easily to a woman who just spread her legs and got pregnant. How convenient.
“Don’t you think you need to pay for
it?”
Now we’re back to business.
I met his cold gaze and replied confidently, “Isn’t that the reason why we are doing this?” my lips curved slightly upward.
3014 12 23
12:23
3/5
CHAPTER 9
“Take down The Obsidian and take
everything they have… I would need to have my original assets back though. Everything else, you can have it.”
He chuckled lowly, “Did Luca Moretti never know how dangerous you are?”
“Well, don’t you think there’s a reason why he wanted me back?” I retorted and he gave a smirk that showed a promise to our goals.
As the music came close to an end, he guided me through the final steps of the dance.
Then the guests erupted into applause as we came to a stop, their clapping and cheers breaking our little bubble. Matteo released me, his hand lingering on my waist for just a moment longer than necessary before he stepped back and inclined his head in a subtle bow.
“Thank you for the dance,” he said, his tone once again cool and composed.
3000 12:23
4/5
CHAPTER 9
Before I could respond, one of his advisors. approached, murmuring something in his ear that made Matteo‘ s expression hardened, and he gave a curt nod before. turning to me. “Stay here. I’ll be back.”
And just like that, he was gone, disappearing into the crowd with his usual air of authority. I stood there for a moment, feeling oddly exposed without him by my side. Then, out of the corner of my eye, I noticed a figure lingering near the exit, their face obscured by shadow.
I glanced toward Matteo’s retreating figure, and I was torn between calling out to him and staying silent.
15/5
