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"How?" I gasp. "Wasn't her father your enemy?"
"He was. But I love her, and I was ready to die for her."
Rosalie smiles at her husband’s words, and I begin to realize the true integrity in Felix's statement. This is not a man who holds on to unjust notions. His enmity with her father never stopped him from loving the man's daughter. In our world, that's unheard of.
I look into Felix's eyes, searching for any hint of deception. But all I see is the truth: a man desperate to clear his name and protect his family.
"Give me the evidence," I hold my palm out towards him. "If it proves your innocence, I'll bring it back to Capo Conti. But if I find out you're lying..." I leave the threat unspoken. "You have two weeks. In the meantime, disappear from Chicago. Take your family and go underground. I will have to tell my boss I never found you. That the people who claimed to have sighted you were mistaken."
Felix nods, and Rosalie sighs with relief. "Thank you," says Felix, grabbing his wife's hand and running indoors to collect their daughter, who patiently sat in the lobby, under the watchful eye of her nanny.
As I pocket the evidence, I can't help but feel the growing weight of responsibility. The lines between who’s right and who’s wrong have blurred, and I'm left questioning not only the sanity of my mission, but my own as well.
Chapter 31
Isabella
ThecoolChicagobreezebrushes against my face, carrying with it the scents of the city as Stefano and I walk hand in hand back to our hotel. The memory of his decision to spare an innocent man lingers in my mind, and it's one I can't forget.
"Stefano," I say, when we enter the elevator of the hotel to go up to our floor. "I'm proud of you for sparing Felix Carlisi's life."
He shrugs, a hint of a smile playing at the corners of his perfect lips. "It was nothing, Isabella. Delivering the kiss of death is never an option in the face of innocence. Of course, he is yet to prove it ... but what is a few more weeks to be certain of a decision this final?"
The way he says this is so endearing, so ingrained in who he is as a person. A white rose in a garden red with spilt blood. Before I can stop myself, the words slip from my mouth: "This is why I love you."
I gasp and take a step back at the realization of what I just admitted out loud. To him, and to myself. Our eyes meet, and I see surprise and tenderness in his dark depths.
"Isabella," he mutters, inching closer. "I love you too."
The next thing I know, our lips are against one anothers’. The elevator dings open and he lifts me up and carries me to our room.
Stefano closes the door behind us, wrapping his strong arms around my waist. Our lips collide, a passionate dance of hunger and need. His hands roam my body, exploring every curve and contour. He lifts me effortlessly, setting me on the edge of the bed as he kisses down my neck, sending shivers down my spine.
"Isabella," he murmurs huskily, his breath hot against my skin, "tell me what you want."
"Take me, Stefano," I plead, my voice thick with desire. "Make me yours."
Without hesitation, he strips away our clothes, revealing our naked bodies. I take in the sight of him – tall, chiseled, and devastatingly handsome. My body aches with anticipation.
As he positions himself between my legs, he reaches for a condom, sliding it onto his throbbing erection. Then, with a single, smooth thrust, he fills me completely. I gasp, overwhelmed by the intensity of the sensation.
We move together, our bodies syncing in a passionate rhythm. Stefano shifts us through various positions, each one bringing new heights of pleasure. From behind, he takes me, gripping my hips tightly as he drives himself deeper into me. Then, turning me onto my back, he lifts my legs over his shoulders, his powerful strokes leaving me breathless.
"Stefano," I whisper, my voice trembling with passion. "I'm so close..."
"Let go, Isabella," he urges, his own breathing ragged. "Come for me."
And with that, we both reach our climax, a tidal wave of ecstasy washing over us. As Stefano's body tenses, I feel him release inside the condom.
Afterwards, lying in Stefano's arms, I can't help but feel a deep blanket of security. The room is dark, illuminated only by the faint glow of the moonlight spilling through the window. His strong arms encircle me, our sweat-slicked bodies pressed together as we listen to each other's steady breaths.
"Isabella," Stefano murmurs sleepily, his voice a soothing balm to my racing thoughts. "You know I'd do anything for you, right?"
"Of course," I reply, my fingers tracing lazy patterns on his chest. "And I'd do the same for you."
Except tell you the truth, the demon in my head screams out loud.
Just as I'm being sucked in by feelings of guilt, his lips press against my forehead. I close my eyes, allowing myself to sink into the comforting cocoon of his embrace, to forget my betrayal. He falls asleep but I stay up, chasing my scattered thoughts into a corner, to try and make sense of how I feel.
