Chapter 9

Luca

I was seething. My fists clenched so tight my knuckles ached, the fire burning in my chest begging for release. I wanted to punch something or someone but I couldn’t. Not with Isadora beside me, her hands trembling ever so slightly, despite the steady front she was trying to put on.

Rafael had caught the bastard who pulled the trigger, but the only reason I wasn’t ramming my fist into his face right now was her. She needed me calm. Steady. For her sake, I was forcing the rage down, burying it deep where it wouldn’t touch her.

The ride home was steeped in silence. Tension weighed the air, thick and heavy. I glanced at her. She was staring out the window, lost somewhere far away. I could still see the flash of terror in her eyes, hear the faint gasp she made right after the shot, it had burned itself into my mind.

"You okay?" I asked, my voice rougher than I intended.

She didn’t look at me, just gave a small nod. "I’m fine," she murmured, though I could hear the lie in every syllable.

I reached out, resting a hand on her knee. She flinched slightly but didn’t pull away. Her gaze flicked to mine, wide and uncertain, and for a brief moment, the anger simmering inside me softened.

"You’re safe now," I said firmly, my hand lingering as if to ground her. "I won’t let anyone hurt you."

Her lips parted like she wanted to respond, but the words never came. Instead, she leaned back against the seat, her shoulders dropping slightly as if she was finally letting herself breathe.

When we got home, I walked her to her room. She was quieter than usual, almost as if she was floating through the motions. At her door, I paused, ready to leave her to get some rest, but her hand shot out, grabbing my arm.

"Please don’t leave me," she said softly, her voice shaking just a little. "I don’t want to be alone right now."

The way she looked at me, vulnerable and raw, made something twist in my chest. "I’m here," I said, stepping inside when she moved to let me through.

She disappeared into the bathroom, and I sank into the couch, letting my head fall back for a second. My mind raced, replaying the night, every detail stoking the fire in my chest. Whoever had targeted her wasn’t just bold; they were stupid. No one got to touch her. No one.

The bathroom door creaked open, pulling me from my thoughts. She stepped out in an oversized T-shirt, her hair damp, her face bare and soft in a way that made my throat tighten. She hesitated by the doorway, almost like she didn’t know what to do next.

"Come here," I said, my voice low, steady.

She crossed the room slowly, sinking onto the couch beside me. Before she could retreat, I pulled her into my side, wrapping an arm around her. She melted into me, her cheek resting against my chest as her breathing hitched, then slowly began to even out.

"You’re safe," I murmured, pressing my lips to the top of her head. "No one’s going to hurt you. Not while I’m here."

We stayed like that for a while, the silence between us soft and heavy. Her fingers clung to my shirt, her body trembling slightly before she finally began to relax. I held her close, my arm firm around her, like letting go wasn’t even an option.

"I don’t understand," she whispered, her voice muffled against my chest. "Why would someone try to kill me? I haven’t done anything to anyone."

I let out a slow breath, running my hand gently through her hair. "It wasn’t about you, Isadora. It was about me. They thought going after you would be the easiest way to hurt me."

She pulled back slightly, looking up at me with furrowed brows. "Because of... your world?"

I nodded, my jaw tightening. "Yes. My world comes with enemies, people who don’t care about collateral damage as long as they get what they want. That’s why I’ve been trying to protect you."

Her eyes searched mine, her expression a mix of fear, anger, and something else I couldn’t quite name. Then she spoke, her voice quiet but firm.

"But you’re the one who brought me into this."

I exhaled slowly, her words hitting harder than they should have. "I know," I admitted, my tone low. "And I’ll carry that. But I swear to you, Isadora, no one will ever hurt you again. Not while I’m breathing."

She didn’t respond right away, her gaze holding mine for a long, searching moment. Then, without a word, she leaned back into me, her arms tentatively wrapping around my waist.

"I don’t know what to feel right now," she whispered, her voice so soft I almost missed it.

"Then don’t," I said gently, pressing another kiss to her hair. "Just let me carry it tonight."

Her grip on me tightened, and I felt the weight of her trust settle over me like a heavy chain. She didn’t fully realize what she was asking of me what it meant for someone like me to carry her burdens, to make her my responsibility. I’d saved her from a fate worse than most could imagine, but bringing her into my life? Into this world? I didn’t know if that had been the right choice.

Because my world was a minefield, and every second she stayed in it, her life dangled by a thinner thread.

But I couldn’t let her go. And for that, I’d make damn sure no one ever got close enough to touch her again. Whoever had made an attempt on her life tonight had made the biggest mistake of theirs.

Because Isadora was mine. And I didn’t lose what was mine.