THREE

LUCA

    I watched her as she stared at me with eyes that mirrored her disbelief. I couldn't blame her. To her, we were pretty much strangers. Yet, there I was, claiming that I wanted her permission to be her shield. The truth was, I meant it. 

 

There was no other person in the world I would risk my life to protect. She didn't know that yet. 

 

"You're insane," she said, her eyes growing cold. 

 

She was fucking hot when she was pissed. I'd seen this expression several times, and no matter how many times I did, my heart always fluttered in my chest. 

 

"I don't know what you really want from me, but you're not going to get it," she said, and my gaze drifted to the fullness of her cherry pink lips. 

 

The memory of the way she'd kissed me the previous night replayed itself in my head, and I felt myself harden. 

 

It was useless. I had no self-control when it came to her. Somehow, she always shattered my defences every single time. 

Even worse, I would gladly let her ruin me. 

 

"Get away from me while I'm still acting nicely," she hissed through gritted teeth, and I cocked my head, amused.

 

"Why? What would you do?" I taunted her. 

 

She brought her knee towards my crotch, and I hooked my fingers under her thigh before she could cause me pain. Her eyes widened. I'd just caught her off guard. 

 

"What are you doing? Let go of my leg," she breathed, and I leaned closer to her, slowly moving my fingers a little further up the back of her thigh. I kept my gaze locked on hers, watching as her cheeks burned a bright pink. It was always satisfying to see her reaction. It brought me even more satisfaction knowing that I was capable of reducing her to a blushing mess. 

 

With my face bare inches from the crook of her neck, a smile tugged at my lips. I felt her stiffen as I planted a kiss on her smooth, soft skin, which had a remnant of our deed from the previous night. 

 

Bringing my lips to her earlobe, I nipped gently, and she shivered. 

 

"You're going to need me, mi Cielo. It's going to happen sooner than you think," I whispered and pulled away from her. 

 

She lowered her head, her long black hair tumbling over her face. 

 

"My card's in your bag. All you have to do is give me a call. Also, don't just stand there and let those cockroaches trample over you. It doesn't suit you," I said and walked away from her. 

 

Once I was out of her sight, I let out an exhale. It was taking me so much effort not to sprint back to her and take her home with me. Her stepsiblings were the least of her worries right now. Even worse, she had many more enemies. It didn't help that she was oblivious to it all. 

 

I was just leaving the hospital building when a man dressed in black bumped into me. I was instantly flooded with an ominous feeling. 

 

Glancing at him, our gazes met for a few seconds, my stomach churning. Those icy blue eyes... I could recognize them anywhere. 

 

Axel Williams. 

 

He took off running, and I cursed under my breath, racing after him. 

 

Isabella was in danger. 

 

Quickening my pace, I rushed after him, following him up the stairs. My blood pounded against my ears as I rushed after him, my rage quickly growing. 

 

When I arrived at the second floor of the building, I halted, clenching my trembling hands into fists. I frantically scanned the area, my eyes darting from one end of the hallway to the other. Nothing. He was gone. 

 

A surge of anger coursed through me, and I slammed my fist into the nearest wall. The sharp pain that shot up my arm was nothing compared to the frustration boiling in my chest. 

 

I'd lost him. He was nowhere to be seen. 

 

"Fuck!" I cursed. 

 

I needed to get to Izzy before he could. 

 

So I rushed into the first elevator I came across. My heart thrummed wildly, my stomach twisting into knots at the thought of what could happen if I failed to get to Izzy on time.

 

"Please be safe, Izzy. Please," I breathed, my gaze darting around the elevator as it began to move. 

 

I couldn't afford to lose her, not when I'd just managed to meet her again. 

 

The moment the elevator slid open, I dashed out of it. Relief flooded me at the sight of Isabella, who was walking down the corridor with her friend. Isabella didn't notice me at first, but her friend did. 

 

"Isn't that..."

 

When Izzy's gaze met mine, she furrowed her brows at me. I looked away from her, glancing around to make sure the sneaky bastard was nowhere in sight. 

 

"You should go. Why the hell are you still here?" Izzy demanded. 

 

"You're a mess. Shouldn't you go home and clean yourself up?" I said, and she narrowed her eyes at me.

 

"Do you want me to hit him for you?" Maxine said to her friend not so conspicuously.

 

I held up my hands in surrender, and she scoffed at me. 

 

Quietly, I walked away and hid by the stairwell while monitoring both women. 

 

My fingers trembled as I dialled Angelo's contact. The moment he answered, I barked orders, my voice icy and brusque. 

 

"Get up to the second floor. I want eyes on them now. And tell the others to sweep the area—every corner, every goddamn shadow. I don’t want him anywhere near her, do you understand?"

 

"Yes, boss," came his instant reply, but it did little to soothe the storm raging inside me.

 

Ending the call, I shoved the phone back into my pocket and leaned against the wall, trying to steady my breathing.

 

I straightened, forcing myself to think clearly. I had to be smarter, sharper. Axel wasn’t going to get away next time. He’d better pray he kept running, because when I found him, there would be no more chances. 

 

Today, he might've had a stroke of luck. But there was no guarantee that he would be lucky the next time I set my eyes on him.

 

...

 

"You're back," Diego, my right hand man, said as I strode into the sitting room of my home and plopped down on the couch. 

 

"You look stressed," he continued, eyeing me with concern. 

 

"That bastard..." I muttered under my breath, freeing my hair from its bun. 

 

"You mean...Axel Williams?"

 

"That's right. He showed up at the hospital," I said, and his eyes went wide. 

 

"He didn't get to go close to her, but..."

 

"You're worried he's going to succeed next time," he stated, and I nodded once. 

 

"Since when was he released from jail?" I asked, and he sighed, handing me his iPad where an article was displayed. 

 

"What's this?" I said.

 

"The article says he's on the run. He escaped from jail yesterday," he responded, and I stiffened.

 

"What?" I breathed, my fury soaring. 

 

I stared at the image of Axel, my lips set in a grim line. The desire to commit murder has never been this strong. 

 

Axel was a part of Isabella's past. And so was I. 

 

We had both played a big part in the tragedy that caused her to lose her memory. Even so, my biggest regret was failing to protect her. 

 

I've been given a second chance to right my wrongs. Like hell will I let my past ruin it. 

 

A sudden rush of electricity through my left knee had me doubling over, squeezing my eyes shut in pain. 

 

"Shit," I muttered, grabbing my throbbing knee.

 

Diego cursed under his breath and rushed to my side. 

 

"Damnit, I warned you," he hissed, and I glared at him, sinking my teeth into my bottom lip. 

 

"Do you have your pain meds with you? You're supposed to take things easy," he reprimanded me, and I shoved my hand into the pocket of my coat and took out my pill bottle. 

 

He was right. I should've taken things easy. I'd awoken from a coma only six months ago. 

 

Right after I popped the pill in my mouth, my phone rang out, and Diego took the phone. His puzzled gaze met mine, and I frowned.

 

"Who is it?" I asked, and he held it out to me. 

 

I couldn't help but smile when I recognized the caller ID. 

 

The instant I picked up the call, she spoke. 

 

"Where are you? Can we meet up?" She asked. 

 

"Come on now, Izzy. Do you miss me that much? It's barely been two hours since we saw each other," I drawled. 

 

"I'll marry you," she said, and my smile widened.

 

"I didn't catch that," I teased. 

 

"I WILL MARRY YOU."

 

"Why? You pretty much said you won't need my help," I replied.

 

She let out a shaky breath, and I straightened, more concerned.

 

"I take it back. I...I...I need your help."