Mag-log inDante POVMy right hand immediately formed into a fist. If he tried to kiss her or make some other move, I’d have to murder him and It pissed me off enough letting him look at her, but if he touched her, that was a different ball game. “My father talked to me privately and asked about you…not you, specifically…but about the man I told my mother I loved.My father and I don’t talk about these sorts of things and for most of my life, he’s kept me.hidden away from the opposite sex...”“As he should.” With a daughter that beautiful, what choice did he have?“Anyway, he asked why it couldn’t work with us and I never really gave him an answer. I just said you weren’t right for me then he asked if he could meet you, since you’re the only man I’ve ever loved.He actually encouraged me because he said love only happens once and you’re lucky enough to feel that way for someone once in your life…let alone a second time.” Her voice.went quiet, even though it seemed like she had more to say.I did
Dante POVThe moment we touched down at the rendezvous point, everything moved fast ..The medics were already waiting, rushing forward the second the chopper blades slowed and they pulled Mike out immediately as they loaded him onto a stretcher and disappeared down the corridor toward the operating room.We didn’t have a large medical unitnjust a tight, highly trained team built for moments exactly like this.I didn’t follow, instead I dropped into one of the hard chairs lining the hallway, the weight of everything crashing down on me all at once.Dirt clung to my clothes and his blood stained my hands and arms. My shotgun still hung over my shoulder, forgotten, it was like I hadn’t fully stepped out of the battlefield yet.I dragged both hands down my face, exhaling slowly, trying to steady myself, soon my phone buzzed and it was Rex. “I just got the update,” he said the second I answered. “Mike’s been hit?”“Yeah.” My voice came out rougher than I expected. “He was shanked deep, at
Dante POV“You doing alright, man?”Mike rested his forehead against the window, gauze wrapped around his torso where he’d been stabbed. His eyes were closed, but he was still breathing. I hated when everything was simple but end up getting complicated. I never going to lose Mike no matter what. “Stay awake, Mike. We’re almost there.”“Tell my wife.....”“Shut up. You aren’t going to die.”“I don’t know, man because I feel so weak right now…” He’d bled out all over the seat in the car and his breathing was getting heavier then shallower but I'm never watching my friend dying right before me.I drove as fast as I could down the dark road, knowing we only had a few minutes before they appeared behind us. We’d accomplished what we set out to do, but it didn’t go down as simply as we wanted.I just had to reach the helicopter at the landing point, and we would be home free then I saw the headlights behind me, the army of cars quickly catching up with us and I didn’t mention it to Mike bec
Isabella POVMy father kept staring at the ground. “I know this is awkward and I’m not trying to make it that way because you usually talk to your mother about these sorts of things, which makes it easier for both of us but if you’ve really fallen in love with someone, maybe you should trust your instincts and bring her to ud.”“What do you mean?”“You’re a smart girl.....woman.” He closed his eyes for a moment as he corrected himself.“You have high standards for all thing and I don’t know this man or what it is about him that you don’t like, but when it comes to love, you don’t have to like everything about him.”If only my father knew the truth, we wouldn’t be having this conversation..“There were a lot of things your mother didn’t like about me when we finally met but she still loved me.”My father’s crimes were petty compared to Dante. “I just want you to be happy but when you’re with Damian, you don’t seem happy…”The only time I came close to that sense of joy was when Dante lo
Isabella POVAt the end of the day we said our goodbye at the entryway and then Damian started to walk me to the car while my parents continued to talk to Damon and Nora.Damian walked with his hands in his pockets, keeping a respectable distance from me. “You should come by one of my restaurants this week and I’ll give you a special tour of the menu, make sure you bring some friends.”I noticed the way he encouraged me to bring people, like he was doing his best not to make it seem like a date. “I’ll see if they’re free, and I’ll let you know.”I had no intention of doing that, but Damian was a nice guy and I didn’t want to shut him down coldly.He stared at me, a slight look of amusement in his eyes. “Don’t make it obvious…but both of our parents are staring at us right now.”My eye flicked to the front of the house, and of course, he was right. “They’re ridiculous and I thought arranged marriages were from the dark ages.”“Actually, my parents are the product of an arranged marriag
Isabella POVDamian’s family home was tucked just beyond the edge of the city, where the noise faded into something softer like stepping into a different world entirely.As we approached, the stone pathway beneath my feet instantly stirred something deep inside me, It reminded me so much of our home, the same rustic elegance and quiet charm.At the center of the front courtyard, a small fountain trickled steadily, the soft sound of water creating a peaceful rhythm that seemed to echo through the air.The front door opened before we could knock, and we were warmly greeted by Damon. He stepped forward with enthusiasm, immediately taking my father’s hand in a firm, energetic shake.Words poured out of him rapidly and his excitement unmistakable even if his thick Italian accent made it difficult to catch every sentence but sill, his warmth didn’t need translation.He turned to my mother next, leaning in to kiss each of her cheeks in greeting before stepping aside to introduce his wife. “T







