Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 65987 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 330(@200wpm)___ 264(@250wpm)___ 220(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 65987 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 330(@200wpm)___ 264(@250wpm)___ 220(@300wpm)
"Why me?" she whispered. "Why all this trouble for a bartender you've known for less than two months?"
The question caught me off guard. I had asked myself the same thing countless times since she'd first caught my attention. There was no logical answer, nothing that would satisfy either of us. The truth felt too raw, too dangerous to voice aloud. "Because I need you safe," I said finally. "Because the thought of Rossi coming anywhere near you makes me want to burn this city to the ground." I paused, the intensity of my own feelings unsettling. "Because when you're out of my sight, I can't think straight, and that makes me careless. And I can't afford to be careless right now."
Her eyes widened at my admission. "What kind of man are you?" she asked, her voice barely audible.
"The kind who protects what's his," I answered honestly. "Come home with me, Belle."
She didn't speak for several long moments. I waited, giving her the illusion of choice while knowing I would never truly let her walk away. Not now. Not with Rossi circling like a shark scenting blood in the water. Finally, her shoulders slumped in surrender. "I need some things from my apartment," she said, her voice small but steady. “Some things can’t wait until tomorrow.”
Relief flooded through me, though I kept my expression neutral. "I'll have Marcus and Matteo meet us there and you can get what you need. If you’ll talk to Matteo, he will see to moving all your things."
She nodded, still uncertain but no longer resisting. I placed my hand at the small of her back, guiding her to the car. The possessive gesture wasn't lost on her. She stiffened briefly before relaxing into my touch.
As I opened the passenger door for her, she paused, looking up at me with those clear green eyes that saw more than I wanted her to see. "This doesn't change anything between us," she said quietly. "I'm not yours just because you're afraid for me."
I smiled, the expression feeling unfamiliar on my face. "We'll see," I said, closing the door once she was seated.
Walking around to the driver's side, I took a moment to compose myself. This was just the first move in a game with stakes higher than Belle could comprehend. Rossi wouldn't give up easily. The Luca family had enemies scattered like landmines throughout the city. We were fair, but we ruled through fear. Rossi had eyed our empire for a long time. I was bringing her into a war zone, painting a target on her back simply by valuing her.
And yet, as I slid behind the wheel and glanced at her profile silhouetted against the city lights, I knew I wouldn't have it any other way. She was already more deeply embedded under my skin than any woman had ever been. Whether she admitted it or not, she was mine to protect now. Mine to keep. God help anyone who tried to take her from me.
Belle's apartment was exactly what I expected. The tiny dwelling felt dated, and tragically insecure. The locks on her door wouldn't keep out a determined teenager, let alone Rossi's men. I stepped inside behind her, my shoulders nearly brushing both sides of the narrow hallway. The living room beyond was no bigger than my walk-in closet, furnished with mismatched pieces that somehow formed a cohesive whole. Despite myself, I admired how she'd transformed the shabby space into something warm. String lights draped across one wall. A worn couch covered with a vibrant throw blanket looked incredibly uncomfortable but cheerful. She'd made something from nothing, a skill I recognized in her and I planned to ensure she never had to use that skill again.
"It's not much," she said, watching my face for judgment. "But it's mine."
I nodded, keeping my expression neutral as I noted the cracked ceiling, the ancient radiator, the window that opened directly onto a fire escape, a security nightmare in the extreme. "Pack what you need for tonight. We can send someone for the rest tomorrow."
Belle moved to the bedroom, and I followed, cataloging every detail. A full-sized bed took up most of the space, neatly made. Beside it stood a small table with a lamp, a laptop that looked ancient and a glass of water resting on the surface. A small dresser held a collection of succulents crowded the surface. They were the only luxury I could see, these small plants in their ceramic pots.
"You're judging," Belle said quietly, pulling a duffel bag from beneath the bed. She went to one drawer and emptied the contents. I thought I saw socks and underwear, but I tried to give her as much privacy as I could.
"Observing," I corrected, watching as she opened another drawer and pulled out a few more things. She didn’t take time to think about what she was taking, just threw a few things from a couple other drawers and zipped the full bag shut. I doubt she could get anything else inside if she’d tried. She didn’t have much. The realization stirred something uncomfortable in my chest. "Have you lived here long, Bell?”