Chapter 11

"Caught in the Lion's Den"

Valeria's POV

-ˋˏ✄- - - - - - - -- - - -- - - -- - - -- - - --- - -- - - -- - - -- - - -- - - -- - - -- - - ♡⁠

Waking up felt like clawing my way out of quicksand. My head throbbed like someone had taken a jackhammer to it, and my side... well, it felt like someone had tried to carve me like a Thanksgiving turkey.

The first thing I noticed was the bed. It wasn't mine. For starters, it was too soft, like sinking into a cloud. The sheets smelled like lavender and something faintly spicy, maybe cedar. My bed usually smelled like coffee stains and bad decisions.

The second thing I noticed was the room. It was big. Too big. The kind of room that screamed "rich people problems" with its vaulted ceiling, tasteful art on the walls, and furniture that probably cost more than my entire apartment.

Where the hell was I?

I tried sitting up, but the sharp pain in my side reminded me why that was a bad idea. My groan was not at all graceful.

"Oh good," came a familiar, maddeningly smooth voice. "Sleeping Beauty's awake."

I whipped my head toward the sound, immediately regretting it as the movement made me dizzy. 

Of double fucking course.

Lorenzo was leaning casually against the doorframe, arms crossed, looking like he owned the world—or at least this room.

"What the actual fuck?" I croaked, my throat dry and scratchy.

His lips twitched, like he was trying not to laugh. "Good morning to you too."

"Morning?!" I looked around, trying to piece together how the hell I'd ended up in Ren Moretti's billionaire Batcave. "Why am I here? And where is here?"

"You're welcome," he said, ignoring my questions entirely.

"For what?" I snapped, glaring at him.

"For saving your life," he said, strolling into the room like he owned it—which, let's face it, he probably did. "You're bleeding out in a stranger's apartment, and I, out of the goodness of my heart, decided to step in."

I narrowed my eyes. "Out of the goodness of your heart? Bullshit."

"Okay, fine," he said, smirking. "Maybe it was because I'd hate for you to die before you tell me what the hell you're involved in."

Ah. There it was. The real Ren Valerio—cocky, calculating, and annoyingly good-looking.

I crossed my arms—or tried to. The sharp pain in my side stopped me halfway, and my wince didn't escape his notice. His smirk faded, replaced by something I couldn't quite place. Concern? No, that didn't seem like him.

"You lost a lot of blood," he said, his tone softer. "My mother patched you up."

I blinked at him. "Your... mother?" Sophia?

"Dr. Sophia Moretti," he said with a shrug, as if his mother being a literal lifesaver was no big deal.

Of course. Why wouldn't Ren have a doctor mom to clean up his messes? This guy's life was like a soap opera on steroids.

"So, what?" I said, my voice still hoarse. "You played the knight in shining armor, brought me here, and now I owe you my life? Is that the angle?"

He chuckled, dragging a chair closer to the bed and sitting down. "I don't need you to owe me anything, Vee. I just need answers."

I met his gaze, my stomach twisting. "Answers to what?"

"To why someone wanted you dead," he said, his tone turning cold.

I looked away, suddenly finding the abstract painting on the wall very interesting. "Bad luck," I muttered.

"Bullshit," he said, leaning forward. "People like you don't end up bleeding out in alleys because of bad luck."

"I don't know what you're talking about," I said, my voice flat.

"You're a terrible liar," he said, his smirk returning.

"Thanks," I said dryly. "I'll add that to my list of things to work on."

Ren sighed, running a hand through his hair. "You don't have to tell me everything. Not yet. But you do need to stay here until we figure out who's after you."

"Stay here?" I repeated, raising an eyebrow. "Oh, honey, I don't think so. I've got things to do, people to see, secrets to keep."

"Not anymore," he said, his voice firm.

I glared at him. "Excuse me?"

"You can't go back," he said simply.

Something in his tone made my stomach drop. "What the hell do you mean, I can't go back?"

Ren leaned back in his chair, his expression unreadable. "You think whoever came after you is just going to give up? You're a target now, Vee. Whether you like it or not."

I opened my mouth to argue, but the words wouldn't come. Because deep down, I knew he was right.

"You don't know anything about me," I said instead, my voice quieter.

"I know enough," he said, standing up. "Enough to know you're safer here than out there."

I hated him in that moment. Hated that he was right. Hated that he was calling the shots. And most of all, I hated that part of me felt... relieved.

Before I could respond, he turned to leave.

"Rest up," he said over his shoulder, his voice laced with something I couldn't quite place. "You're going to need it."

The door clicked shut behind him, leaving me alone with the silence and the weight of his words.

You can't go back.

It felt like a door slamming shut, trapping me in a place I didn't want to be, with a man I didn't trust.

And the worst part?

I wasn't sure I wanted to leave.

-----

˗ˏˋ Author's note ˎˊ˗

Heyy (✿◡‿◡)

So I thought of reducing the word count of chapters. I was originally planing to go for maximum 40 chapters. But now it'll be more than that. Hope you guys are okay with it! Let me know your thoughts  (▀̿Ĺ̯▀̿ ̿)

Please Vote and comment and make another insignificant human happy (^◕.◕^)

Question of chapter:

Who is your favorite fictional character? Male or Female

Ahem- Azriel... dadd- okay. I'll go now.

See you next Sunday!

There might be late bloomers (like me) but there are no flowers that never bloom. Time will solve everything <3

*hug*

Byeeee

Izel

⋆.˚🦋༘⋆