CHAPTER 25

  Aubrey's POV

  I stepped into Dario's luxurious villa, my heart racing.

  What was I doing here? I wondered, hearing my heels click on the concrete floor. Dario was behind those fake photos, for sure. I sent Lucas to check Dario's reaction to my situation, and he seemed unaffected.

  As I entered his room, the dim lighting, with only flickering candles illuminating the space, created an intimate atmosphere that made my skin crawl.

  Soft jazz music floated through the air, creating a sensual spell. Velvet curtains draped across the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting shadows on the marble floor.

  Dario's piercing gaze locked onto mine, his eyes burning with intensity. His chiseled features seemed chiseled from granite, and it was unforgiving.

  "Welcome, Aubrey," he said, his low and husky voice sent shivers down my spine. He raised his glass in a silent toast, the whiskey swirling within the glass.