The atmosphere in Louis’s penthouse was unusually heavy. Daisy had spent the night there after the ambush, resting under Louis’s vigilant watch. He hadn’t left her side since they returned, his expression unreadable yet simmering with barely contained rage.
Daisy, sitting on the couch with a cup of tea in her hands, glanced up at him. “Louis, you’ve been pacing for hours,” she said gently. “You need to rest too.”
“I can’t rest,” he snapped, then immediately softened his tone. “I can’t rest knowing you’re not safe. Knowing someone out there wants to hurt you.”
She placed the cup down and walked over to him. “We’ll figure this out together,” she said, placing a hand on his arm.
His gaze softened, but the tension in his body didn’t ease. “Daisy, I need to ask you something,” he said, turning to face her fully.
She nodded, sensing the seriousness in his tone.
“Move in with me,” he said, his voice low but firm.
Her heart skipped a beat, not because of the suggestion itself but because of the emotion behind it. He wasn’t just asking her to live with him-he was asking to be her protector in every way possible.
“Louis…” she started, her voice hesitant.
“I’m not asking this lightly,” he interrupted. “I can’t protect you if you’re not close to me. This isn’t just about us, Daisy. This is about your safety.”
She looked into his eyes and saw the desperation there. But she also knew that living with him wasn’t the solution. Not yet.
“Louis,” she said softly, “I can’t move in right now. It’s not because I don’t trust you-it’s because I want to keep things as normal as possible. If I change everything about my life because of fear, they win. And I won’t let that happen.”
He exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. “You’re stubborn, you know that?”
A small smile tugged at her lips. “You love me for it.”
Later that day, Louis met with Liam in a private lounge at an exclusive club. The meeting had been arranged hastily, and both men carried a sense of urgency.
“She’s not safe,” Louis began without preamble.
Liam nodded, his expression grim. “I’ve been digging into this, and something doesn’t add up. The men you stopped-none of them had any real ties to organized crime. They were hired hands, easily disposable.”
“That’s what worries me,” Louis said, his jaw tightening. “This wasn’t a random attack. Someone with resources is orchestrating this.”
Liam leaned forward. “What’s your plan?”
“I’m going back,” Louis said, his voice low but resolute.
Liam frowned. “Back where?”
“To the world I left behind,” Louis replied.
Liam’s eyes widened in shock. “The Mafia? Louis, are you serious? You swore you’d never go back.”
“This isn’t about me,” Louis said firmly. “This is about Daisy. If I have to become the monster again to keep her safe, so be it.”
Liam sat back, his expression conflicted. “Do you think it’s wise to stir that pot? You know how dangerous those ties can be.”
“I don’t have a choice,” Louis said. “They already know me. I can use that to my advantage, find out who’s pulling the strings.”
Liam sighed, nodding reluctantly. “Alright. Just promise me you’ll be careful.”
Louis smirked, though it didn’t reach his eyes. “Careful is my middle name.”
Meanwhile, Natalie was having a heated conversation with Ricci, the Mafia boss who had been aiding her in her schemes.
“You’ve been sloppy,” Ricci growled, slamming his fist on the desk. “The attack failed, and now there’s heat on all of us.”
Natalie crossed her arms, trying to maintain her composure. “I didn’t ask for your opinion, Ricci. Just make sure the next attempt works.”
Ricci leaned forward, his dark eyes narrowing. “Watch your tone, Natalie. You might have leverage now, but it won’t last forever. You’re playing a dangerous game.”
Her confidence wavered for a moment, but she quickly masked it. “Just do your job. I’ll handle the rest.”
As she left the room, she couldn’t shake the feeling that her grip on the situation was slipping.
That evening, Daisy sat by the window in her apartment, staring out at the city lights. Despite her assurances to Louis, she couldn’t shake the unease that had settled in her chest.
Her phone buzzed on the table, and she picked it up to see a message from Louis:
“I’ll always be here for you.”
A small smile touched her lips as she typed back:
“I know.”
Little did she know, Louis was already planning his next move-one that would take him back into a world he thought he’d left behind forever.