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Bella laughed and gazed up at Ettore, both of them now dried off and dressed after taking their time to clean up together. “Live in a sassi cave house and make little Breed babies? Sounds just about perfect to me.”
Ettore paused. “Is that what you want?”
She smiled, lifted her shoulder in a faint shrug. “The cave is optional.”
The sound he made as he wrapped his arms around her was one of joy and wonder. Even reverence.
“Do you have any idea how much I love you, Arabella?”
“I do,” she said. “Because I feel it inside me. I hope you can feel even a fraction of the love I have for you, Ettore.”
His rough moan was confirmation enough, but he kissed her anyway. Their union was so precious to her, she truly would have stayed right there with him forever if he asked it of her.
But Chiara and Pietro were waiting in the living area outside.
And Ettore’s comrades with the Order in Rome were awaiting his return too.
Bella knew his duty was on his mind as he led her out to join the others. He’d been in touch with the command center in the hours since Massioni’s death, both to inform them of the situation in Matera and to explain that he would be coming back to Rome with his Breedmate and her kin.
He threaded his fingers through hers as he brought her out to the main part of Scythe’s home.
The signs of the earlier confrontation were gone now. Chiara was sweeping up the cold ashes from the floor, while Pietro sat on the rug nearby. He had a little toy in his hand—a carved lion made of stone. Scythe stood back from the boy, his black eyes haunted somehow as he watched him play with the miniature creature.
Bella’s heart squeezed at the sight. When Scythe abruptly glanced up, she felt intrusive somehow. As if she had invaded private, long-buried thoughts that the forbidding Breed male had no intention of sharing.
Ettore held up the key that Scythe had given him earlier tonight. “Are you sure the Rover is ours?”
He gave a firm nod. “Keep it. If I have need of another vehicle, I have ample resources to get one.”
“All right.” Ettore inclined his head. “We should get moving, then. We have a lot of road ahead of us if we mean to make it back to Rome before sunrise.”
Scythe grunted, contemplative. “Through my brother, Trygg, I’m aware that the Order has more than its share of trouble these days. If you or your comrades ever have need of more hands on deck—” The sober male actually smirked now. “Or even just one hand—then I trust you’ll let me know.”
Ettore chuckled. “I will. Thank you.”
Scythe extended his good arm to him. The two males exchanged a brief left-handed shake. Then Scythe turned his fathomless gaze on Bella.
“Take care of each other.”
“We will,” she replied. And whether the intimidating Gen One wanted it or not, she rose up on her toes to kiss his beard-darkened face. “Thank you, Scythe. For everything you’ve done for us.”
He stepped back without a word or acknowledgment, yet despite his reticence, she knew in her heart that she and Ettore had made a friend. If needed, they had a lethal, lifelong ally.
Chiara and her son as well.
Bella watched as her brother’s widow collected her child from the rug where he was playing. She whispered something into Pietro’s ear, then the boy shyly stepped over to stand in front of Scythe. In his pudgy fingers was the carved animal.
“Here,” he said, offering it back to the larger male.
“You keep it,” Scythe said, his deep voice toneless. “I’ve held on to it for too long. It’s yours now.”
Chiara smiled, gathering her arm around her little boy’s shoulders. “I don’t know how to thank you for giving us shelter,” she murmured.
“No thanks is needed. It’s enough to know that you and your child weren’t harmed.”
“No one’s going to harm them anymore,” Ettore added. “When I spoke with the command center, they informed me that the explosion at the villa the other night killed all of Massioni’s lieutenants. His network is in shambles. My comrades and I are already making plans to crush his organization to the ground. No one will be coming after Bella or any of her family anymore.”
Chiara’s relief was clear in her eyes. But there was a note of hesitation there too. “I’m glad to hear that,” she said. “Because I’ve decided that I don’t want to go to Rome.”
