Elegbede_Habeeb

The first time they met, it felt like fate. The second time, it felt like a warning.

She was running from a past that refused to die. He was chasing a future that seemed just out of reach. When their worlds collided, it was more than just love—it was an obsession, a wildfire that threatened to burn them both alive.

But love isn’t always salvation. Sometimes, it’s destruction in disguise.

Bound by Fire: Ashes of Desire

The neon lights of Inferno buzzed in the night, casting a sinister red glow over the entrance. The club was alive—music pulsed, laughter echoed, and glasses clinked together in drunken celebration. But beneath the surface, there was something else.

Elena, Luca, and Dante stood outside, hidden in the shadows.

"This is a mistake," Luca muttered, his fingers twitching near his holster.

Dante smirked. "Relax, amigo. If you die, at least it'll be dramatic."

Luca clenched his jaw, but Elena silenced them both with a look. "We go in, we find Valerio, and we end this." Her voice was steel.

Dante grinned. "That's the spirit."

Inside, Inferno was packed. Bodies swayed to the music, a haze of smoke and perfume lingering in the air. The club hadn't changed much. It still smelled of temptation and violence.

She remembered this place too well. The first time she had walked in, Valerio had been waiting for her at the top of the stairs, a devil in a tailored suit, his voice like honey laced with poison.

And now, she was walking back into his lair.

Luca's hand brushed against hers. A silent promise.

They reached the VIP section. Two guards stood by the entrance, their expressions cold and unreadable.

Dante stepped forward, flashing a wicked smile. "Tell your boss we'd like a word."

Dante sighed. "See, now this is awkward."

Luca was already moving. Before the guards could react, he slammed the first into the wall and delivered a brutal punch to the second. The man crumpled instantly.

Elena ignored him, stepping inside.

The VIP lounge was eerily quiet, the music muffled behind thick glass walls. And there, sitting at the head of the room, was him.

Time had barely touched him. He still had that smooth, effortless confidence. That air of control. His dark eyes locked onto Elena, and the corner of his lips curled.

"Elena," he said, his voice warm, inviting. "Welcome home."

Luca tensed beside her, his hand gripping his gun.

Elena exhaled. "I'm not here for pleasantries, Valerio."

Valerio leaned back in his chair, studying her. "No, I suppose you're not." He glanced at Dante and smirked. "And you… I should've killed you when I had the chance."

Valerio chuckled. "And Luca…" His eyes darkened. "Still pretending you can protect her?"

Luca stepped forward, but Elena held up a hand.

"This ends tonight, Valerio," she said, her voice steady. "No more running. No more games."

Valerio's smile widened. "Oh, mi amor."

Then the doors locked behind them.

Next Chapter: Blood on the Dance Floor—Trapped in Inferno, Elena, Luca, and Dante must fight their way out as Valerio unleashes his men. Not everyone will make it out alive.

Inferno Burns