BOUNDARIES

The soft murmur of the evening breeze was the only sound in the room. The ornate chandelier above cast a warm glow, but the tension between us made the air feel cold. I stood by the edge of the desk, my back straight, my gaze unwavering as Silvio lounged in a chair, watching me with an expression that danced between amusement and frustration.

“Silvio,” I began, my voice firm but measured. “We need to talk.”

His brow arched slightly, his lips curling into that infuriating smirk. “Talk? Is that what you call standing here and glaring at me like you’re about to declare war?”

Martina turned to face him, her chin lifting defiantly. "I didn’t ask for your help back there."

Silvio raised an eyebrow, amused by her confidence. "Didn’t seem like you were in a position to refuse it."

Her fists clenched at her sides, her emerald eyes blazing. "I’m not some damsel for you to save, Silvio. I’m here to protect my sister, and I don’t need your interference."

He took a step closer, his gaze unrelenting. "Your father was ready to pound you into the ground. You call that protection?"

Martina didn’t flinch. "I can take care of myself," she said firmly, though her voice softened as she added, "but...thank you."

Silvio’s expression shifted, the hardness in his eyes giving way to something softer, almost curious. "You’re a contradiction, you know that? Strong and fiery one moment, unpredictably vulnerable the next.”

I ignored his jab, forcing myself to keep my composure. “This… arrangement between us, it’s not ideal for either of us. But if we’re going to survive it, there are going to be some ground rules.”

He leaned back in his chair, his fingers steepled as his eyes fixed on me with unnerving intensity. “Rules?” he echoed, his tone dripping with mockery. “How bold of you to think you can set rules in my house, Martina.”

“I’m not asking for permission,” I shot back, my voice sharper now. “I’m telling you how this is going to work.”

His smirk faltered for a little moment, and I pressed on.

“First, you will have to respect my independence. That means you don’t get to control where I go, who I talk to, or what I choose to do with my time. I am not a prisoner here, and I will not be treated like one.”

He tilted his head, his gaze narrowing slightly. “And what if I decide otherwise?”

“You won’t,” I said firmly, taking a step closer. “Because if you do, you’ll find that I’m not actually someone you can easily push around. I may have agreed to this marriage for my family’s sake, but that doesn’t mean I’ll let you walk all over me.”

A tense silence filled the room as he studied me, his expression unreadable. I could feel my pulse pounding in my ears, but I refused to let him see any trace of fear.

“Second,” I continued, “you will keep your business and your violence far away from me. Whatever you do out there, whoever you deal with—it stays out there. I don’t want it in this very house, and I don’t want it touching me or anyone I care about.”

He stood slowly, his movements deliberate as he closed the distance between us. “Anything else, Mrs. Argento?” he asked, his voice very low and laced with danger.

“Yes,” I said, lifting my chin. “You will treat me with respect. I am not a pawn in your games with Nicolas or anyone else. I am your wife, Silvio, whether you wanted this or not, and I will not tolerate being used or disregarded.”

The space between us seemed to shrink as he stepped even closer, his towering presence almost suffocating. “Are you finished?” he asked, his tone so calm it sent a shiver down my spine.

“No,” I said, holding my ground. “I need you to understand that this marriage might bind us legally, but it doesn’t give you ownership of me. I am my own person, Silvio, and I will not lose myself to this… arrangement.”

For a moment, neither of us spoke. The weight of my words hung in the air, and I could feel his gaze boring into me, searching for any sign of weakness.

Finally, he reached out, brushing a strand of hair from my face. His touch was surprisingly gentle, but the intensity in his eyes made my breath hitch.

“You’ve got a lot of nerve, standing here and making demands,” he said, his voice quiet but dangerous. “But let me make something very clear to you, Mrs. Argento.”

His hand dropped to his side, and he took another step closer, his face now inches from mine.

“You may think you can set boundaries, that you can dictate how this marriage works. But in my world, Martina, boundaries don’t exist. I take what I want, when I want, and no one—no one—tells me otherwise.”

I opened my mouth to respond, but his next words stopped me cold.

“You belong to me now,” he said, his voice a very low growl that sent a chill down my spine. “Your defiance, your fire—it’s amusing, I’ll admit. But don’t mistake my amusement for weakness. You’re mine, Martina, and in this house, I do as I see fit.”

The finality in his tone left no room for argument. He stepped back, his smirk returning as he turned and walked toward the door.

Silvio’s lips curved into a cold smile as he leaned against the doorframe, his dark eyes scanning me with a mixture of an amusement and challenge. “I’ll play along with your little boundaries game. For now.”...yes, for now.

He straightened, his gaze hardening as his voice dropped lower, the weight of his words pressing into the room. “But don’t push me too far, Martina. You won’t like what happens if you do.”

With that, he turned and strode out of the room, leaving behind a heavy silence that seemed to seep into my bones.