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I tasted her need, matched it with my own as our mouths moved together, hungry and desperate. Her soft moan vibrated against my lips, igniting something primal within me. I moved away, breaking the kiss.

“Do you want something to eat?” I offered. “I brought some groceries.”

She sighed. “That would be great.”

I made to rise, but she stopped me, a hand on my wrist, a gentle command.

“Are you okay?” she breathed, and when I didn’t immediately answer, because the question was too complicated, she gestured to my body. “There are a lot of bandages taped to your body.”

Oh, those.“I’ll heal.”

Her fingers skated up the inside of my arm. “What happened?”

How much of the truth did I tell her? She deserved it all, but I selfishly didn’t want her to know the details.

“I attacked Bonetti three different times. These were parting gifts.”

Isabella sucked in a sharp breath. “You shouldn’t have put yourself in that kind of danger!”

“It was nothing.”You are everything.

“No, it’s not nothing.” She struggled to sit up, her grip tightening around my arm. “Don’t dismiss this.”

“I’ll find him, bella. Don’t worry.” He was a dead man.

“I’m not worried about that!” She flung her other arm around my neck and hugged me tight. “I don’t want to lose you, Jaxon. Promise me—promise me that you’ll be careful!”

My very soul groaned at the sweet emotion in her words.

“I’ll be more careful next time,” I breathed into her hair.

Isabella continued to hold me close, as if her very presence would protect me from the upcoming storm. And little did she know, it was the only thing that could.

Chapter 44 – Isabella

The relief in Franky’s voice was palpable. He gave me the address of the safehouse where my capos were lying low. Joseph was the only captain I lost, and while I mourned him with every breath, I was grateful the rest were alright. The moment I hung up the phone, plans started to form in my mind. I spent twenty minutes ironing out the details of a desperate plan. We had few soldiers, and I wasn’t willing to risk any of their lives without the sure hope of victory.

“Turn here,” I instructed Jaxon.

The beast gave me a stony look. But he obeyed. If he wondered why we were turning down the street to a wealthy neighborhood, he never asked.

Jaxon needed little guidance to find the don’s mansion. At the gate, he paused. I leaned over and offered the guard a blistering smile.

“Tell Penelope that Isabella is here to see her,” I requested, hoping that she at least was home.

She was just as valuable an asset as the don was. Probably more so. Never had I seen a couple rule in such complete harmony.

The guard tapped on his phone.

“She’ll see you,” he said brusquely.

Jaxon pulled the car forward, slowing to park in the driveway.

I leapt from the driver’s side, wishing I had on the armor of a business wardrobe instead of the more casual jeans and tee.

I don’t need them to play the part I was born for.

Telling myself that and believing it were two different things.