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But I cannot break down now—not when she needs me the most.
"Release her," I say again, my voice shaking with barely contained rage.
"Make me," Fabio sneers.
I grit my teeth, my grip on the weapon tightening to the point of pain.
I mentally survey the odds, counting the men in the room. A sea of adversaries stands between us, their sinister grins bared like wolves ready to pounce on their prey. But they underestimate me—the depth of my love for Isabella and the lengths I will go to protect her.
"Your funeral," I growl, my voice low and deadly as I charge forward, weapon blazing. The first few fall quickly, their smirks wiped clean from their faces by the cold steel of retribution. Blood stains the floor beneath me, a crimson reminder of the price for their treachery.
"Vincenzo!" Isabella cries out, her voice strained but full of hope. I can't help but spare her a fleeting glance, my heart swelling with pride at the fire still burning within her. She may be bruised and battered, but her spirit remains unbroken.
"Keep your eyes on me,cara mia," I order, sweat and blood mingling as they drip down my brow. "I'm coming for you."
"Is this all you've got?" I taunt my enemies, cutting down another before he can even raise his weapon. "You're going to need more than this to stop me."
"Big words for a dead man," one of them spits back, only to choke on his own blood as my weapon finds its mark. I take pleasure in their deaths, reveling in their suffering. It is a small price to pay for Isabella's safety.
I kill my way to her, my breaths coming in ragged gasps as adrenaline courses through my veins. My men have appeared from nowhere, and they're assisting me. Each step forward feels like wading through a sea of molasses, the weight of my determination and fear threatening to drag me under.
"Vincenzo!" Isabella's voice is music to my ears, a lifeline pulling me back from the brink of despair. She's so close now, I can almost feel the warmth radiating from her skin.
"Stay with me, Isabella," I plead, my chest tightening as I slash through the last of my adversaries. "I won't let them hurt you anymore."
Isabella's eyes are wide with fear as I approach her, but I can see the trust in them as well. Trust in me, in my ability to protect her no matter what. My heart swells with love for her, and I take her into my arms, holding her tightly against me. Her body is warm and soft, and I feel a fierce possessiveness rise within me, consuming me like a wildfire.
"I'm never going to let you go," I whisper, my lips brushing against her ear. "You're mine, Isabella. You belong to me."
She shivers in my arms, but I can feel the answering heat in her body, the desire that burns between us like a flame. I know this isn't the time or the place, that I shouldn't want her like this, shouldn't crave her with such a ferocity that it scares me, but I can't help myself. She's become my obsession, my reason for living.
I kiss her then, hard and demanding, claiming her mouth with mine. She moans into my kiss, her hands clutching at my shoulders, and I deepen the kiss, my tongue slipping past her lips to explore the warmth of her mouth. I want to consume her, to be consumed by her, to lose myself in the pleasure she brings me.
But I can't forget the danger that still lurks around us, the enemies who would do anything to destroy us. I pull back from the kiss reluctantly, my breaths coming in short gasps.
"We need to leave here, Isabella," I say, my voice rough with desire. "It's not safe."
She nods, her eyes still dark with desire as I hoist her into my arms.
"I want Fabio alive," I order my men as my vengeful gaze lands on the mob boss who crossed the wrong rival. I see the fear and uncertainly that flickers through the smug bastard's eyes.
I will make him pay.
Yes, I fucking will.
Epilogue
One Year Later
Isabella
The cold, hard floor presses against my feet as I prepare for tonight's performance. The air is heavy with anticipation, and a shiver runs down my spine. My muscles protest slightly as I begin my warm-up routine, but I know they need the stretch.
I must relax. I inhale deeply and exhale slowly. I can feel the tension in my body dissipating as I work through each stretch, focusing on my breath and envisioning the fluid movements I will soon execute on stage. My dark hair falls in front of my face as I bend forward, reaching for my toes. The scent of sweat and rosin fills the air, mixing with the faint aroma of roses from the dressing room down the hall. I hear the murmurs of excitement from my fellow dancers and feel the beat of my heart quickening in response.
As I enter the dressing room, the buzz of energy and excitement surrounds me like a warm embrace. "Isabella!" my fellow dancers exclaim, their eyes shining with anticipation. "Tonight is going to be incredible!"
"Indeed it will," I reply, feeling a surge of confidence coursing through my veins. "I've never felt more ready."
