All Chapters of THE DEBT OF DESIRE: Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

The world around them was chaos. Flames still licked at the remains of the estate, the smell of smoke and blood thick in the air. But for a brief moment, time seemed to stop as Isabella stared at Matteo’s fallen form, her heart hammering in her chest.Luca was already kneeling beside him, checking for a pulse. “He’s alive,” he announced, though his voice was tight with urgency. “But barely.”Relief flooded Isabella’s veins, but it was short-lived. Lia’s body lay lifeless at her feet, her expression frozen in shock. The woman who had nearly torn them apart, whose betrayal had sent them into this war, was finally gone. Yet, the danger wasn’t over.Luca’s grip tightened on Matteo’s arm. “We need to get him out of here now.”Gunfire still rang in the distance, the remnants of the attack lingering in the night. Reinforcements had arrived, pushing back the remaining enemy forces, but it was only a matter of time before another strike came. The war was far from won.Isabella swallowed hard,

The air inside the safe house was thick with tension, the weight of impending battle pressing down on everyone. The distant sound of gunfire had yet to reach them, but they knew it was only a matter of time before their enemies came knocking.Isabella sat beside Matteo, his face pale and damp with sweat. His breathing had steadied slightly, but he remained unconscious. She ran a gentle hand over his bruised knuckles, feeling the roughness of his skin, a stark contrast to how he had always made her feel—safe, protected. But now, it was her turn to protect him.A soft knock at the door made her glance up. Luca stepped inside, his face lined with exhaustion, but his eyes sharp with determination. "They’re close," he said in a hushed tone.She swallowed hard. "How many?""Too many for comfort," Luca admitted, running a hand through his hair. "We’ve reinforced the perimeter, but we’re outnumbered. We need to be smart about this."Isabella nodded, standing. "I want to help."Luca exhaled sh

The tension in the air was suffocating. Matteo's gun lay discarded on the ground, a silent declaration of his choice. But Isabella saw the fire in his eyes. This wasn’t defeat—it was calculation.Riccardo’s smirk widened, pressing the barrel harder against Isabella’s temple. “Good boy,” he sneered. “Now, on your knees.”Matteo’s jaw tightened, his muscles flexing with the restraint it took to comply. He moved slowly, his gaze never leaving Isabella’s face. She could see it—the promise, the unspoken vow that this wasn’t the end. He would not let this stand.But Riccardo was no fool. He knew Matteo too well. “Luca, drop your gun, too.”Luca hesitated, his fingers tightening on the grip, but Matteo gave him a look. Reluctantly, he tossed his weapon aside, his teeth clenched in fury.Riccardo exhaled dramatically. “See how much easier things are when you listen?”Isabella could feel his breath against her neck, his grip possessive, as if he owned her. The thought made bile rise in her thr

The rain hammered down like bullets as Isabella froze, her heart thudding painfully in her chest. Lia’s eyes gleamed with malice, her finger teasing the trigger of the gun aimed squarely at Isabella’s chest."You thought you could be rid of me so easily?" Lia sneered, her voice cold as steel. Water dripped from her hair, streaking her face, but her aim never wavered. "You underestimate me, Isabella."Matteo stepped forward, instinctively shielding Isabella. His jaw was tight, his body tense despite the apparent strain of his injuries. "Lia," he growled, "don’t do this.""Oh, Matteo," Lia replied, almost mockingly sweet. "Still the hero, even when you're bleeding and broken. How touching. But it’s too late for heroics. You took everything from me. Now I’ll return the favor."Her eyes flicked briefly to Luca, who had edged closer, his weapon at the ready. She caught the movement and fired a warning shot at his feet, forcing him back. "Ah, ah," she chided. "Don’t even think about it. I d

The rain battered the helicopter as it cut through the clouds, a roaring tempest that seemed to echo the chaos still raging in Isabella's chest. She kept her eyes on Matteo, his breathing shallow but steady, as if willing her strength into him. But even through the storm, her mind could not be quiet. Not until she had answers.Her gaze slid to Elena, sitting across from her, a streak of blood darkening her cheek. She was calm, too calm for someone who had just fought their way out of an ambush. And for the first time, Isabella let herself look at the woman who had been at their side, a shadow moving fluidly among them, fighting fiercely as though she had always belonged."Who are you?" Isabella's voice cut through the noise, sharp as a blade.Elena's eyes flicked to hers, steady and unflinching. There was no surprise in them, only inevitability."You deserve the truth," Elena said, her voice low and measured. She shifted slightly, glancing at Luca, who watched her like a wolf ready to