Trapped by Seven Mafia Wolves novel Chapter 44

**Chapter 44: Under My Skin**

**Jace’s POV**

The remnants of her voice echo in my mind, sharp and haunting, like a ghost that refuses to let me rest. I stand there, paralyzed by a whirlwind of confusion and regret, as if the very ground beneath me has turned to quicksand. Leon and Aurora have long since disappeared down the hall—how long has it been? A minute? An eternity? Time feels like a cruel joke, stretching and warping, while a relentless buzzing fills my ears, drowning out every other sound.

She has always spoken in whispers, her voice a fragile thread woven into the fabric of our family.

The sudden creak of Matteo’s door snaps me back to the present, followed by the heavy thud of his footsteps approaching. I don’t need to turn around; I can sense his presence behind me, a mixture of comfort and irritation that stirs something deep within.

“You good?” he asks, his tone casual, as if he’s discussing the weather rather than the tempest raging inside me.

“Fine,” I manage to reply, but the word feels hollow, a flimsy mask that barely conceals the turmoil roiling beneath the surface.

“She screamed at you like her lungs were being ripped out,” he states, stepping closer, shoulder to shoulder with me, as if we’re comrades in a silent battle against our own emotions.

I remain silent, the words I need to express the chaos in my heart eluding me.

Because yes, she did scream. And it was aimed squarely at me.

I never wanted it to reach that point. The anger exploded, unfiltered and raw, like a dam breaking under pressure. Our family has always struggled to navigate the treacherous waters of emotional expression. Her silence, those vacant stares that seem to pierce through me, and the way she flinches at the faintest sound—it gnaws at my insides. It’s like staring into a shattered mirror, reflecting parts of myself I’d rather leave buried.

But then Leon intervened. He took her hand, cradling it as if it were the most fragile thing in the universe, guiding her away. As if she were something precious, something worth shielding from the storm we all seem to be caught in.

My mind drifts back to that moment—the sheer terror etched on her face as she fled from Nico.

Terror.

And now Leon stands guard over her, treating her like she’s something sacred, something to be revered. Matteo notices it too, even if he refuses to voice it.

She’s burrowed under his skin. And somehow, she’s burrowing under mine as well.

In the aftermath of that explosive confrontation, I find myself grappling with the weight of unspoken truths and buried emotions. Her scream lingers in the air, a haunting reminder of the fragility that binds us. I realize now that my attempts to shield her from the chaos of our family have only pushed her further away, leaving her to navigate her own fears alone. The image of Leon cradling her hand, treating her like a precious artifact, stirs something deep within me—a mix of jealousy and admiration. I’ve always known emotions were messy, but witnessing her vulnerability has cracked the facade I’ve built around my own heart. I can no longer ignore the fact that she is not just a reflection of my chaos but a catalyst for change, forcing me to confront my own demons.

As I stand shoulder to shoulder with Matteo, I begin to understand that this journey is not just about her healing but also about my own. The fear that has gripped her is a mirror to the fears I’ve harbored, and it’s time for both of us to confront them head-on. The bond that has formed between her and Leon is a reminder that love can be fierce and protective, igniting a flicker of hope within me. Perhaps the stars refuse to blink not because they are indifferent, but because they are witnesses to the struggles we endure. In this chaotic dance of emotions, I find a glimmer of clarity: we are all fighting our own battles, and maybe, just maybe, it’s time to let the light in.