19

I swallowed hard, my breath hitching as Vincent ’s words hung in the air. “Stay here with you? For how long?”

“For as long as it takes to figure out who’s behind this and ensure you’re safe,” he replied firmly, his eyes piercing mine with an intensity that made my stomach flutter.

“But… I can’t just stay here forever,” I argued, even though I could feel my resolve weakening. “What about Bella? What am I supposed to tell her? She’ll ask questions if I don’t go home.”

Vincent leaned forward, his elbows resting on the counter as his dark gaze bore into mine. “We’ll handle Bella together. I’ll tell her you’re staying for a while to help me with something. She won’t suspect anything if we play it right.”

I blinked at him, my mind racing. His calm, calculated demeanor should have reassured me, but instead, it made me feel like I was in over my head.

“And what exactly am I supposed to do here? Just sit around and wait?” I asked, my voice laced with a mix of frustration and fear.

“No,” Vincent said, his tone softening slightly. “You’ll be safe here, but I’ll need you to stay alert. Pay attention to anything unusual, no matter how small. I’ve already put measures in place to protect us, but I can’t do this alone.”

The weight of his words settled on my shoulders. I wasn’t just a bystander anymore—I was part of this now, whether I wanted to be or not.

“What kind of measures?” I asked cautiously, trying to wrap my head around everything.

“Security cameras around the property, reinforced locks, escape plans,” he explained, his voice steady and matter-of-fact. “And that room you found? It’s my contingency plan. If things go south, we’ll have everything we need to disappear.”

Disappear. The word sent a shiver down my spine. Was this my life now? Constantly looking over my shoulder, wondering if today would be the day someone came for us?

“I don’t even know what to say,” I whispered, my voice barely audible.

“You don’t have to say anything,” Vincent replied gently. “Just trust me, Jennifer . I’ll protect you. I swear it.”

His promise hung heavy in the air, and for a moment, I believed him. I wanted to believe him. But I couldn’t ignore the nagging doubt at the back of my mind—the feeling that this was only the beginning of something far more dangerous than either of us realized.

“I’ll stay,” I said finally, my voice trembling. “But only because I don’t have another choice.”

Vincent nodded, a flicker of relief crossing his face. “That’s all I ask.”

We sat in silence for a while, the gravity of the situation settling over us like a storm cloud. I wanted to ask more questions, to press him for details about his past and what we were up against, but I didn’t. Not yet.

For now, I just needed to figure out how to survive this new reality—how to survive him.

And as I looked into his eyes, filled with equal parts determination and regret, I couldn’t help but wonder: would trusting Vincent Santoro be my salvation or my downfall?

The question lingered, unanswered, as the morning sun filtered through the windows, casting long shadows across the room. Shadows that felt far too close for comfort.

“I can’t imagine how hard that must’ve been for you,” I said softly, my thumb brushing over the back of his hand. “But you’ve done an amazing job with Bella. She’s strong, kind, and smart. That’s because of you.”

Vincent ’s lips curved into a faint smile, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “I tried my best for her. She deserved a chance at a normal life, away from all the chaos I grew up with. But I’ve always worried that my past might catch up to us one day.”

I could see the guilt etched into every line on his face. He carried so much on his shoulders, always protecting everyone else but never allowing anyone to protect him.

“You don’t have to carry this alone, you know,” I said, my voice steady. “Whatever this is, we’ll face it together. You have me now, Vincent .”

His gaze met mine, and for a moment, the vulnerability in his eyes made my breath hitch. He wasn’t the invincible figure I’d always thought he was. He was human—flawed, hurt, and so very real.

“Thank you,” he murmured, his voice rough with emotion. “That means more to me than you know.”

We sat there for a while, the silence between us comfortable, the weight of our conversation settling in. I couldn’t deny that the connection I felt with him was stronger than ever, but it also scared me. This was a man with a dangerous past, a man who had lived a life I could barely comprehend.

And yet, I trusted him with everything in me.

After a while, he stood, his hand lingering on mine for a moment before he let go. “I need to make some calls and check on a few things. Stay here, alright? Don’t leave the house unless I say it’s safe.”

“Yes, sir,” I replied, a teasing lilt to my tone that made his lips twitch in amusement.

“Good girl,” he said, his voice low and deliberate, sending a shiver down my spine.

As he left the room, I let out a shaky breath, my heart pounding in my chest. The man I thought I knew had revealed a world I never could’ve imagined, and yet, I felt closer to him than ever.

But as I sat there, sipping the last of my coffee, one thought kept echoing in my mind.

If Vincent ’s past had caught up with him, then it wasn’t just his enemies he had to worry about anymore.

It was ours.

And I couldn’t shake the feeling that they were already closer than we realized.

The warmth of the coffee wasn’t enough to calm the flutter in my chest. Vincent ’s gentle gesture had left me feeling… exposed, in a way I hadn’t expected.

I cleared my throat, trying to shake the sudden shift in atmosphere. “So,” I started, keeping my tone light, “do you still have that truce-negotiating charm? Because I’m terrible at haggling, and I could really use a lesson or two.”

His lips twitched with amusement. “I’m sure you could hold your own just fine, but if you ever need backup, you know who to call.”

“Good to know,” I replied, smiling. “I’ll make sure to keep ‘The Negotiator’ on speed dial.”

The playful exchange eased some of the tension between us, but a part of me couldn’t ignore the weight of everything he’d shared. His past was dangerous, his enemies real, and yet, here I was, sipping coffee in his kitchen like it was just another morning.

But it wasn’t just another morning.

The air between us felt charged, every word carrying an unspoken promise, every glance lingering a moment too long. I wasn’t sure what to do with it, this unfamiliar tension that simmered just beneath the surface.

Vincent must have sensed it too because he stood suddenly, his chair scraping against the floor. “I should check on Bella,” he said, his voice steady but his gaze avoiding mine. “She’ll want to know you’re alright.”

I nodded, grateful for the break in intensity. “Tell her I said hi.”

He gave me a small smile, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Stay here. I’ll be back soon.”

As he walked away, I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. My mind was a whirlwind of emotions—curiosity, fear, and something deeper that I couldn’t quite name.

I got up, needing to move, and wandered around the kitchen. The faint scent of coffee and pancakes lingered in the air, a comforting contrast to the storm of thoughts in my head.

And then my phone buzzed on the counter, pulling me from my spiraling thoughts.

It was a text from Sophie.

Sophie: Hey, are you okay? You disappeared on me last night. Call me when you can.

I hesitated, my thumb hovering over the screen. How could I explain any of this to her without sounding like I’d stepped straight out of a mafia drama?

Instead, I typed a quick reply:

Me: I’m fine. Sorry for leaving so suddenly. I’ll call you later, promise.

As I hit send, I couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that this was just the calm before the storm.

Because if Vincent ’s past was truly coming back to haunt him, then it wouldn’t be long before that darkness found its way to us.

And I wasn’t sure I was ready for what came next.