ABSOLUTE INSANITY: A forbidden bond

Chapter 271: Sneaking back in.

Chapter 271

KATYA POV

"We’re here," I said quietly.

Michael eased the car to a stop just before the old stone gate, the engine idling low, headlights cutting out before they could spill too much light onto the driveway. The house loomed beyond the iron bars—dark, quiet, deceptively peaceful.

Too peaceful.

I exhaled slowly, my shoulders loosening for the first time since we’d left the beach. "You can stop here."

He nodded and shifted the gear into park. The sudden silence felt loud. I cleared my throat, fingers tightening around the strap of my bag.

"Uh... thank you. For the ride. And for earlier." I hesitated, then added honestly, "For saving us. That was really... nice of you."

Nice felt like the weakest word in the English language, but it was all I had without opening something I wasn’t ready to deal with.

Michael looked at me, expression unreadable in the dim light. "I’m glad you’re okay." That was it. No pressure. No expectation.

Again!

I took that as my cue. Pushing the door open and stepped out quickly, cool night air washing over me like relief. I moved around to the back seat, already reaching for the handle.

"Chiara," I whispered, opening the door. "We’re—"

She didn’t move. Her head was tipped awkwardly against the window, mouth slightly open, breathing slow and deep. Completely out.

I stared at her for a second, disbelief giving way to realization. "Oh," I muttered. "So that’s why it got quiet." Behind me, a door closed softly. Michael had gotten out of the car.

I straightened instinctively, suddenly aware of how alone the driveway felt, how exposed. He stopped a respectful distance away, hands in his pockets, gaze flicking briefly to Chiara and then back to me.

"She’s out cold," he said quietly.

"Clearly," I replied, rubbing my forehead. "Of course she is. She causes chaos and then just... powers down."

A corner of his mouth twitched, almost a smile, but it didn’t quite make it there. I looked back at Chiara, calculating—weight, distance, the gate, the cameras Nonna absolutely had installed even if she pretended she hadn’t.

Sneaking in had just gotten significantly harder. And Michael was standing right there, close enough that I could feel his presence even when I wasn’t looking at him.

Great. I swallowed, forcing myself to focus. "I’ll just—" I reached for Chiara again, bracing myself. "I’ll get her up."

Michael hesitated, clearly choosing his words carefully. "Do you want help?" The offer hung between us.

I didn’t answer right away. Part of me wanted to say no on instinct alone. Another part—the tired, practical part—knew Chiara was not budging on her own.

I glanced at him, meeting his eyes briefly. "Just... be careful," I said finally. "Nonna can’t know we were out." His expression softened, something serious settling in. "I understand."

Michael moved without wasting time.

He stepped past me and leaned into the back seat, movements careful and controlled, like he’d done this before—or at least knew how to.

He slid one arm behind Chiara’s shoulders and the other under her knees, lifting her with surprising ease. She murmured something incoherent and curled instinctively into his chest, her head lolling against his shoulder.

"Sorry," I whispered reflexively, even though none of this was my fault. Michael adjusted his grip slightly, lowering his voice. "She’s light."

"That’s because she survives on caffeine, bad decisions, and vibes," I muttered.

The corner of his mouth twitched again. That almost-smile. I pretended not to notice.

I closed the car door softly and glanced toward the main gate, then shook my head. "Not that way," I said quietly. "There’s a side gate. For... emergencies."

His gaze flicked to me. He didn’t ask what kind of emergencies required sneaking. He just nodded.

I led the way along the low stone wall, keeping to the darkest stretch where ivy climbed thick and wild.

The side gate was half-hidden behind a cypress tree, its latch old and temperamental. I eased it open inch by inch, wincing at the faint creak.

Michael paused behind me, Chiara still asleep in his arms, her cheek pressed against his chest like she belonged there. I forced myself not to think about that.

Once the gate was open just enough, I slipped through, holding it for him. He ducked slightly to clear the branches overhead, careful not to jostle Chiara.

We were halfway across the side path when I heard it.

Footsteps.

I froze, heart slamming into my ribs. "Guards," I breathed.

Michael reacted instantly, stepping back into the shadows with me, pressing us both against the stone wall just as two figures rounded the corner at the far end of the path.

Torch light swung lazily as they walked, voices low, bored."Nonna’s been restless tonight," one of them said.

"When isn’t she," the other replied. "You check the east wing?"

"Yeah. Quiet." Michael shifted slightly, angling his body to shield Chiara—and, without really meaning to, me.

There was barely any space between us now. Stone at my back. His arm at my front. His breath warm and steady just above my temple.

I became painfully aware of everything. The rise and fall of his chest. The faint scent of soap and something darker underneath. The solid heat of him so close it felt like it was bleeding into my skin.

Don’t move. Don’t breathe. Chiara chose that exact moment to sigh softly and nuzzle closer.

I nearly died. Michael’s jaw tightened. He adjusted his grip, subtly, firmly, one hand flattening against Chiara’s back to still her without waking her. It worked—but it brought him even closer to me.

My pulse went feral. The guards paused no more than a few feet away. Light brushed the edge of the shadows, stopping just shy of our hiding place.

I could hear my own heartbeat. Surely they could too. "Thought I heard something," one guard said.

"Probably a cat," the other replied, already moving on. "Come on." The light receded. Footsteps faded.

I didn’t realize I’d been holding my breath until my lungs burned. Michael didn’t move right away. Neither did I.

For one long, unbearable second, we were still pressed together in the dark, Chiara asleep between us, the danger passed but the tension very much alive.

"You okay?" he whispered. I nodded, even though he couldn’t see it. "Yeah. Just... let’s go. Before my heart explodes."

He huffed quietly—barely a sound, but it felt like a release. We moved again, quicker now but still careful, slipping along the side of the house toward the servants’ entrance. The door was mercifully unlocked.

As Michael stepped inside with Chiara, the warmth of the house swallowed us whole.

And as the door clicked shut behind us, we were met with nonna scowling face.