The explosion rocked the atmosphere, making the ground tremble, shattering all the windows from the nearby skyscraper. The cars parked around erupted into a symphony of blaring horns and flashing emergency lights. Isabella's eyes widened in horror as the entire casino crumbled, flattening to the ground in a matter of seconds. She jumped out of the car, her lips parted in a silent cry. She had gone totally pale, her eyes bulging out in horror and disbelief. "ANTONIO!" She screamed, her shrill voice echoing through the street. She started to run towards the collapsed building when a pair of arms grabbed her from behind. She screamed and struggled, then leaned down and sank her teeth into the hand holding her back. A familiar voice yowled out in pain and she raised her head, her eyes clashing with Marcello's. "Marcello..." She gasped and pushed out of his hands. "Antonio went into the casino. He went into the casino..." Her voice was raw with panic and fear, and she was trembling
Antonio watched Isabella as she lay asleep in his arms. It had been one wild night. He had fucked her in every corner of the apartment. The living room, the kitchen, under the shower in the bathroom. He had even taken her outside, made her touch her toes, made her lean against the Range Rover, inside it, and against the gates until she was pleading for a break. The only reason he stopped was because she used the safe word–Code Red. Now it was eight in the morning, and she was fast asleep. He remembered how shocked he had been when she told him she loved him last night. He hadn't been expecting it. He looked down at her, his heart beating heavily. Her lips were parted, and her lashes fluttered occasionally. She was the first woman to make him fall in love, and deep down, he was worried. A lot could go wrong. Leonardo was still out there, and even though the bastard stopped his threat calls, it didn't mean he wasn't planning something. He could strike at any moment, and he would
Antonio sat on the bed, his back against the headboard, both his wrists tied to the bedpost. He still had his trousers on, but he was shirtless. His eyes moved around the room, searching for Isabella. The door opened and he saw her. She stepped in, pulling a chair behind her. She looked different now that he realized he loved her. She was more beautiful, stunning and absolutely sexy. Her hair was untamed, framing her lovely face, giving her the look of a seductress. She was naked, and he felt his groin twitch at the sight of her breasts. She placed the chair in front of the bed and placed one leg on it. From where he sat, he could clearly see her dripping core. He gulped, desire shooting through him at the sight. He wanted to feel it. He craved for it. "Are you planning on torturing me?" He asked, his voice husky. She smiled, and he nearly came undone when she ran her hands over her breasts. He watched her pinch her nipples and he cursed loudly, wishing it was his hands touching
Thunder rumbled loudly and the sky lit up with lightning flashes. The rain poured heavily, yet Isabella didn't feel any of this. All she heard was Antonio's confession. The words resounded in her head repeatedly until that was the only thing she could comprehend. She looked up at him, taking in the expression on his face. He looked serious, his eyes dark and intense. He was looking straight into her eyes, and all she could see was honesty, and the unmistakable gleam of the love he just professed for her. There were no lies. There was no hesitation. "What?" She finally whispered. She was giving him a chance to take it back. But Antonio only pulled her against him and held her face. "I love you." He murmured. "I fucking love you Isabella, so much that I'm terrified of what this would bring.""But... but you said you never fall in love." She protested softly. "You told me you didn't believe in it, that you could never bring yourself to ever love someone. What changed?""You, amore.
"Antonio?" She called his name tentatively. He looked furious, and the only time she had seen that look on his face was the day he found out what happened between her and Mario. She stepped further inside and shut the gate behind her. "Where have you been?" He asked. His voice was calm, but his eyes, those stormy eyes, they were pinned on her. Hard and angry. She gulped nervously, unsure of how to respond. "I asked you a question, Isabella." He muttered, taking slow steps towards her. "Where have you been?"She thought of lying, but it would only make things worse. "At a party." She said softly. "I went to a party.""Who dropped you off?" She didn't meet his gaze so he wouldn't see she was lying. "A friend.""Did you tell me?" He asked next. She looked up at him as he kept walking towards her. "What?" "Did you tell me before going for your fucking party?"She flinched at the tone of his voice. "I..." She paused, rephrasing the words in her mind. "I didn't.""Why?""I knew
"Mario?" Isabella gasped in shock. Impossible. He was supposed to be in Australia. "Come on." He murmured, scooping her into his arms. "Let's get you out of here.""But... but how?" She whispered as he lifted her. "H–how did you get here? How did you know where I was?"Mario looked down at her. He looked different. More reserved, more handsome. His hair had grown longer since the last time she saw him. She raised her hand and touched his face. "Does Antonio know you're here?""He doesn't." Mario shook his head. "I'll explain everything. But I need to get you out of here first."He carried her towards the door, where Leonard was waiting, glaring at him. "You're not taking her anywhere." He muttered. "She came with me. I'll take her home in the morning.""Get out of the way!" Mario snapped. "You should thank your stars the Don doesn't know where she is. Else you'd be dead.""I'm not afraid of him. Or you." Leonard retorted. "I'm going to tell you for the last time." Mario's voice ha