Chapter Eighteen.

Isabella.

I woke up slowly, my head pounding like a drum. Everything felt heavy. My eyes blinked open to a ceiling I didn’t recognize at first.

Then it hit me—Matteo’s room. I was in Matteo’s room.

The scent of him lingered in the air, that mix of clean soap and something darker, like smoke and leather.

Before I could sit up, I heard voices. Familiar ones.

“Hey, she’s awake!” Luca leaned over me, his brown eyes wide with relief

"Bella, you freaking scared me."

I smiled at him. "I am fine now."

“thank God." Hugo said softly, his hand gently squeezing mine.

I am glad he's fine, after all the stress we went through to save him.

"Hugo are you okay?"

He nodded slightly, giving me a boyish smile.

Rocco, Enzo, and Alex crowded around the bed next, all smiling, all looking like they hadn’t slept in days.

“I was starting to think you’d sleep forever,” Rocco said with a laugh.

“I’m just glad you’re okay,” Enzo added, softer than the rest.

"Thank you for saving me." Hugo said softly, he sounded like he was going to cry.

I smiled at him. "It's not big deal Hugo, I am happy to have you, I never had a you get brother. So to me you're my younger brother, and I would protect you."

"We would all protect you."

Hugo looked up at me with those alluring blue eyes, it made my heart ache for him.

Their faces, their voices—it made my heart swell.

“You guys… you’re all safe?” I asked, even though I could see it with my own eyes.

“We’re okay,” Alex said. “Battered and bruised, but we’re all here.”

Relief washed over me like a wave. My eyes welled up. “Thank God.”

We talked for a bit, laughter slipping into the conversation. Jokes were thrown around. Luca teased Hugo about being shy.

"Get well soon Bella, so we can hit the training grounds." Enzo said with that smirk on his face.

"Just say you're in so much hurry to see me suffer."

I chuckled lightly.

Then I remembered someone. The one person missing from this happy picture.

“Where’s Matteo?” I asked.

The room quieted for a second.

“He’s at the training grounds,” Rocco said carefully.

“Oh…” I tried not to show how that made me feel. It stung a little, knowing he wasn’t here.

“But he’s been there since morning,” Rocco added quickly. “He didn’t leave your side all night.”

My heart skipped. He had been here. He had stayed. That small bit of information warmed me more than I expected.

Before I could say anything, the door opened.

Matteo walked in.

The room shifted instantly. The boys all stood up straighter. Matteo looked like he hadn’t slept either. His hair was a mess, his shirt clung to him with sweat, and his eyes… those dark eyes flicked to me, unreadable.

“Out,” he said to the others, voice sharp.

They didn’t argue. One by one, they slipped out with quick glances between me and him. The door closed behind them.

Now it was just the two of us.

He didn’t move closer. He just stood there, arms crossed, his jaw tight.

“You okay?” he asked, but his tone wasn’t gentle. It was cold.

“Yeah,” I said, sitting up slowly. “Thanks for—”

“You can leave now. You’re fine,” he interrupted.

I blinked. “What?”

“My room,” he said flatly. “You’re not injured. Go sleep in your own bed.”

The warmth in my chest turned to ice. I stared at him, trying to understand what I had done to deserve this kind of treatment.

“Seriously?” I said. “After everything? That’s all you have to say?”

He looked away for a second, like he was fighting something inside himself. “I’ve got training in an hour. I need the room.”

That was it. That was the final blow.

I swung my legs over the bed, stood up, and glared at him.

“You know what? Go to hell, Matteo.”

His jaw clenched, but he said nothing.

I walked past him, yanked the door open, and slammed it shut behind me.

Tears stung my eyes, but I didn’t let them fall. I wouldn’t cry over him. Not again.

I thought we had gotten past this. I thought... We could at least act normal with each other.

Clearly, I was wrong.