The dawn light filtered through the safe house’s modest windows, casting a soft glow across the room. Isla lay wrapped in the comforter, her mind still racing from the events of the night before. But, despite the turmoil, there was something grounding about knowing Dante was nearby.
The door creaked open, and she looked up to see him standing there, his gaze intense yet somehow softened by the morning light.
“Get up,” he said, his voice firm but gentler than usual. “We’re moving out soon. I don’t want to risk staying here longer than necessary.”
She nodded, pushing the comforter off and sitting up. Dante’s eyes lingered on her, catching her off guard. Normally, his gaze was guarded, impossible to read. But now, there was a rare vulnerability in his eyes, a hint of something unspoken.
“Everything alright?” she asked softly.
He cleared his throat, his mask of composure slipping back into place. “Just hurry up. We’ll need to cover some ground before it’s too bright outside.”
As she got ready, Dante remained in the room, occasionally glancing at his watch but never once looking away for long. When she finished, he held out a hand, surprising her with the unexpected gesture. She hesitated before placing her hand in his, his warm grip steadying her as he led her outside.
They walked in silence through the woods, Dante guiding her down a narrow trail that twisted and turned through the dense trees. The sounds of birds and rustling leaves surrounded them, and for the first time in a long while, Isla felt a strange sense of peace-almost like freedom.
But her heart raced with every step. His hand was still wrapped around hers, and every time he tightened his grip slightly, she felt her pulse quicken.
Eventually, they reached a clearing where Dante’s car was parked, hidden behind thick bushes. He opened the passenger door for her, and as she slid in, their eyes met. There was a quiet intensity in his gaze, something that made her feel as though he was seeing her for the first time.
Once he was seated behind the wheel, they started down a secluded back road, the silence between them thick with tension.
After a while, Isla broke the quiet. “Thank you… for everything last night. You didn’t have to protect me like that.”
Dante glanced at her, his expression unreadable. “You don’t get it, do you? I told you, you’re mine. I’ll protect what’s mine, even if you keep testing every boundary.”
She opened her mouth to respond but found herself at a loss for words. The conviction in his voice, the possessiveness-she had never experienced anything like it.
“And besides,” he continued, his tone softening slightly, “you’re braver than you think. You don’t just run from danger; you face it head-on.”
She felt a warmth spread through her chest at his words, and before she could stop herself, she smiled. “Well, you make it hard to run away when you’re always there, pulling me back.”
Dante’s mouth quirked into a faint smirk. “Is that so?” He reached over, brushing a stray strand of hair behind her ear. His fingers lingered a little longer than necessary, his touch gentle but filled with an intensity that made her stomach flutter.
They continued driving, but the silence was different now-charged with a tension that simmered between them. Every glance, every brush of his hand against hers as he shifted gears felt like a spark.
After about an hour, he pulled over on a quiet stretch of road surrounded by towering trees. “We’re stopping here for a while,” he announced. “I need to check the area, make sure we’re not being followed.”
She nodded, watching as he got out of the car and walked a few paces away, scanning their surroundings. Isla took a deep breath, trying to steady herself, but her thoughts kept drifting back to his words and the way he’d looked at her.
Suddenly, he was at her side again, opening the car door. “Come on. You need to stretch your legs.”
She followed him, stepping out onto the dirt road. The forest around them was silent, peaceful. For a moment, it felt as if they were the only two people in the world.
Dante turned to face her, his gaze unreadable. “Why did you really come back for me last night?” he asked quietly.
She hesitated, feeling her heart pound as she met his intense gaze. “Because… I couldn’t just leave you. You might be ruthless, Dante, but you’ve been there for me more than anyone else has.”
He took a step closer, his expression softening in a way she’d never seen before. “Isla, you don’t know what you’re getting yourself into. My world isn’t safe. It’s dangerous, unforgiving.”
She swallowed, feeling her courage waver but refusing to back down. “Then teach me. Show me how to survive in it.”
His jaw clenched, a hint of frustration flickering in his eyes. But instead of pulling away, he cupped her face, his fingers tracing a gentle line along her cheek. “You’re too stubborn for your own good,” he murmured, his voice a mix of exasperation and something deeper.
Before she could reply, he closed the distance between them, his lips brushing against hers in a kiss that was as fierce as it was tender. She melted into him, her hands gripping his jacket as she let herself get lost in the moment.
When he finally pulled back, they were both breathing hard, their foreheads resting against each other. His eyes searched hers, filled with a vulnerability she had never seen before.
“Isla,” he whispered, his voice barely more than a breath. “If you stay with me… you’ll be giving up everything you know. Are you sure that’s what you want?”
She nodded, her voice steady. “Yes, Dante. I know what I’m choosing.”
A flicker of surprise crossed his face, and then, to her astonishment, he smiled-a rare, genuine smile that softened his features. “Then you’re braver than I thought.”
They stood there for a long moment, lost in each other, until finally, he pulled her back toward the car.
“Let’s get moving,” he said, his voice back to its usual commanding tone, though there was a softness in his gaze. “We’ve got a long road ahead.”
As they continued their journey, Isla felt a new kind of strength settle within her. She knew the path they were on wouldn’t be easy, but with Dante by her side, she felt ready for whatever came next.
Little did she know, however, that the biggest test of their bond was just around the corner, waiting in the shadows, ready to challenge everything they had fought for.