All Chapters of Under his protection : Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

AriaIt’s been five days since the big reveal and I have barely left my new room. The curtains were closed so I couldn’t tell the time of day, nor did I care.A tray of food from the previous day sat barely touched. I didn’t have the energy to read, let alone eat.True to his word, I was moved out of my room with the other housekeepers to his side of the house. It was the room right beside his. Despite how close we were, I hadn’t seen or spoken to Dante since that day.I saw a side of him I hadn’t seen before, and I didn’t know how to be around him.The wedding was in two days, and I was so alone in all this. I hadn’t seen Gemma since the day Dante carried me out of my room with her present. She was avoiding me, I knew it.I mean, why wouldn’t she? I had lied to her from the moment I got here, and I don’t blame her for wanting nothing to do with me.But I’m going to change that today. I needed her, even if I had to beg, I’d do it.A knock on my door pulled me out of my thoughts, but b

DanteI watched my wife as she spoke with Gemma and Lola.My wife.The word felt unfamiliar but not unwelcome.She looked beautiful. Her dress fit so perfectly that it was difficult to take my eyes off her.“It’s okay to stare,” Adriano said beside me. “She is your wife after all.” He didn’t agree with the methods I used to get here, but he trusted me.I didn’t say anything.“Hmm,” he continued, studying me. “She’s still not speaking to you.”“Mind your business.”“I would have thought after the grand gesture of returning her mother’s necklace and inviting Lola to the wedding, it would have helped. You know, after the stunt you pulled.”“I’m not interested in getting on her good side.”He laughed knowingly.“Sure you aren’t.”Before I could respond, Lucia’s father, Riccardo Bellini, approached.Adriano straightened slightly but didn’t leave.“Don,” he started with a performative nod.“Riccardo,” I returned evenly.I didn’t think he would turn up, but a man like this never misses a cha

AriaTwo weeks.It’s been two weeks since the wedding, and I’ve felt trapped in a life that didn’t feel like mine.It wasn’t.Nothing about this was normal.I tightened my sneakers to go for a run, something I’ve realized helps clear my mind and keeps me from spiraling. It was my only escape, but even then, I still had to have guards with me everywhere.“Mrs. Moretti,” Carlos called out from behind me.I rolled my eyes before turning around.“Yes, Carlos?”“I’ll be accompanying you this morning.”“Great,” I replied with fake enthusiasm. “Just try to keep up.”He grinned.“Of course.”Plugging my earphones in, I took off.I started slowly at first, moving through paths I have memorized over the last two weeks. The purpose of this run was to escape everything, but my mind kept going back to him.Dante.I hadn’t seen him since that night in the bathroom.I’ve thought of every possible reason why he would have that much blood on him, but even I was not that naive. I knew why.He has been

Aria“No.” I shook my head, stepping back. “I can’t keep doing this.”My breath caught.He stepped closer.Too close.“You don’t get to run from me,” he said, his voice low, controlled and dangerous. “Not when you have no idea what you’re running into.”Anger flared through me despite the fear.“I can hide on my—”“Look how easy it was to find you,” he cut in. “You won’t last a minute without me.”“And you expect me to trust you?” I shot back. “After everything?”His eyes darkened further.“You don’t have to trust me,” he said.Another step.“You just have to stay alive.”Silence fell between us.“Why do you care?” I asked.“What?”“Yes, why do you care if I live or die?” My voice wavered, but Dante remained silent. “You barely look at me, you ignore me. You clearly don’t want me.”The words came out fast and unexpected.Maybe it was the adrenaline still running in my veins, but I felt bold.“Is that what you think?” Dante’s voice was low.He closed the distance between us completely.

DanteAria asked to come with me, but I insisted she didn’t. I needed to handle this myself.I got into the medical wing, and I could see most of the injured men had already been stitched up. They all bowed their heads out of respect as I walked to the end of the room.The doctor approached me, his face hard as ever, giving nothing away.“Don,” he bowed respectfully.“How is he?” I asked immediately, careful not to show too much emotion.“The bullet missed his heart by half an inch,” he replied.My jaw tightened. “But he’s fine?”A pause.“The surgery was successful,” the doctor said carefully, “but the next twenty-four hours are critical.”Anger settled in my chest.I stepped closer to the doctor.“It’s in your best interest that he survives this,” I said, my voice low so only he could hear.The doctor swallowed.“Because if he dies,” I continued quietly, “you die.”He nodded quickly and moved away.I entered the room where Adriano was currently unconscious. All the tubes connected t