Chapter 5

Aria's POV

The sun was setting when I finally stopped running. Not physically; I’d left Matteo’s world behind weeks ago, but mentally, my mind was still racing, replaying every moment that had led me here. Each choice I’d made, each lie I’d told, all coming together to form the cage I'm now living in. Chicago had been my home for so long, but now it felt like an illusion. A life that had never really belonged to me.

I pulled the blanket tighter around my shoulders, staring out at the quiet little town that had become my sanctuary. I hadn’t told anyone where I was; not even my parents. If Matteo wanted to find me, he’d have to work a hell of a lot harder than sending Frank on a wild goose chase through false addresses and dead-end leads.

The air here was different, cooler, and lighter, far away from the suffocating weight of the city and Matteo’s looming shadow. I should have felt at peace. Instead, my chest tightened with an unfamiliar anxiety. I was free, wasn’t I? No more contracts, no more lies. But the freedom felt...hollow. The weight of what I had done still pressed down on me, even in this small, sleepy town.

"Can I get you anything else, Miss?" The voice broke through my thoughts, and I looked up to see the friendly face of Olivia, the owner of the little bed and breakfast where I was staying.

I forced a smile. "No, I’m good, thanks."

She smiled back warmly and left me alone on the porch. I didn’t like being around people for too long. There was too much risk, too many chances for them to ask questions I didn’t want to answer. I’d become good at vanishing, slipping through the cracks, hiding in plain sight. But as the days passed, I found myself questioning how long I could keep it up. How long before Matteo caught up to me? Or worse, before I found myself drawn back to him.

Because as much as I hated to admit it, Matteo Morgan had a hold on me. Even now, sitting miles away from the chaos of his life, I couldn’t shake the feeling that he was always there, lingering in the back of my mind. The way he looked at me, the way he could switch from intense fury to unexpected tenderness, it had all been a lie, but part of me had wanted it to be real. Part of me had almost believed it.

I pulled my phone from my pocket, my finger hovering over the screen. The number was still in my contacts. Matteo. I hadn’t deleted it. I told myself it was because I needed to be prepared, just in case, but deep down, I knew the truth. I wasn’t ready to let go. Not completely.

A gust of wind blew across the porch, ruffling my hair and pulling me back to the present. I dropped the phone on the table, refusing to let myself fall into the trap of what-ifs and could-have-beens. I couldn’t afford to. Matteo was probably tearing apart the city looking for me, and the last thing I needed was to make it easier for him. I left everything my parents left in my care.

I couldn’t shake the feeling that Matteo was closing in on me. Even here, in this quiet town where nobody knew my name, where I could disappear among the locals, I still felt his presence like a shadow over my shoulder. I couldn’t explain it. Maybe it was paranoia, or maybe it was something more. Either way, I knew I had to stay ahead of him.

The next morning, I went for a walk to clear my head, following a narrow path that wound through the trees and out to a small clearing overlooking the lake. The air was crisp, the kind of autumn chill that cuts through even the warmest coat, but I didn’t mind. It helped me think, or at least helped me push down the anxiety that had taken up permanent residence in my chest.

I sat down on a fallen log, staring out at the water. My reflection stared back at me, distorted by the ripples and waves. I barely recognized the woman looking back. She looked tired, worn out, but more than that—she looked lost. The strong, independent woman who’d signed a contract with Matteo Morgan all those years ago was gone, replaced by someone I didn’t know. Someone who wasn’t sure where to go next.

I closed my eyes, trying to block out the world for just a moment, but my mind wouldn’t stop racing. Every thought led back to Matteo. What was he doing right now? Was he furious? Relieved? Or worse, did he even care that I was gone?

The idea of Matteo not caring stung more than I wanted to admit. I had walked away. I had made the choice to leave. But that didn’t stop the ache that came with the thought that maybe; just maybe, he had already moved on. That maybe I was just another business deal to him, another chapter he had closed.

I shouldn’t care. I didn’t want to care. But no matter how hard I tried to push him out of my mind, Matteo kept creeping back in, like a ghost haunting the edges of my thoughts.

A sound in the woods pulled me from my thoughts, and I turned to see a figure emerging from the trees. For a moment, my heart stopped. Had he found me? Was this it?

But as the figure came into focus, I let out a breath of relief. It wasn’t Matteo. It was just a local, someone out for a walk, just like me. I stood up quickly, brushing off my jeans and nodding a polite hello before heading back toward the town.

The walk back felt longer than usual. By the time I reached the bed and breakfast, my nerves were on edge, and the sense of safety I had felt earlier had evaporated. I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was being watched, that Matteo was somehow closing in on me. Every time I passed someone on the street, I half-expected them to stop me, to ask if I was the woman Matteo Morgan was looking for.

Back in my room, I paced back and forth, trying to calm my racing thoughts. I had done everything right. I had covered my tracks, changed my name, left no trace of where I’d gone. But Matteo wasn’t someone who gave up easily. If he was looking for me; and I knew he was, it was only a matter of time before he found me.

I sat down on the edge of the bed, running a hand through my hair. What was I going to do? Keep running forever? At some point, I’d have to face him. At some point, I’d have to stop hiding and confront the reality I had left behind.

But not today. Today, I would stay hidden. Today, I would keep my distance. Because as much as I hated the idea of being found, part of me was terrified of what would happen if I wasn’t.