All Chapters of PROTECTED BY THE DEVIL: Chapter 61 - Chapter 70

DIANAThe afternoon was too hot to stay inside.The kind of heat that sticks to your skin, that makes sweat roll down your back before you've even left the shade.Rocco was in the office again—he'd been spending hours there lately, planning something he wasn't telling me about. I'd hear the low murmur of his voice on the phone, sometimes in Italian, sometimes in English, always cutting off when I got too close. Luca was in the pool, floating on that inflatable flamingo I'd bought just to be a smartass. Every now and then he'd laugh to himself, arms limp in the water, eyes shut behind his sunglasses.I was on the lounge chair, working sunscreen slowly into my legs, feeling the creamy texture spread over skin that'd been sunburned for days.That's when I heard it.A noise. Far off, but coming our way.A car.Here.On the dirt road that only led to our house.My heart slammed into a gallop right then, a dry pound against my ribs. No one knew we were here. No one was supposed to know. The

DIANAThe plane was small, loud, and hit every pocket of turbulence like a speed bump. But after everything we'd been through, it almost felt comfortable.Rocco sat across from me, jaw tight, eyes fixed on the horizon outside. Luca was in the back, still on his laptop—I had no idea how he could type through all that shaking.I reached over and touched Rocco's arm."You going to tell me what happened?"He took a beat before answering."Someone found us.""Who?""I don't know yet. But they weren't Alessandro's guys.""Then who?"He turned his face to me, eyes tired."Could be anyone, Diana. An enemy of mine. An enemy of your brother's. Someone who wants to use you as leverage. There's no shortage of people who want us dead."The coldness in his voice scared me. Not because I didn't know—I'd always known. But hearing it said like that, raw and stripped down, hurt differently."Are we going to spend our whole lives running?" I asked."No.""Then when does it stop?"Rocco was quiet for a m

DIANA~ Three days later ~The island was gorgeous. The house was perfect. But I was starting to feel like I was in another gilded cage.Rocco wouldn't let me take a single step alone. Not that he came out and said it—he just kept showing up wherever I was. If I went to the kitchen, he was there, drinking coffee. If I sat on the porch, he'd wander over with some lame excuse. If I took a deep breath, he'd ask if I was okay.On that third day on the island, I snapped."Can you stop following me?" I spun around in the middle of the hallway, and he nearly ran into me. "For God's sake, Rocco. I just want to go to the bathroom by myself."He crossed his arms over his chest, giving me that stone look that drove me crazy."I'm doing my job.""Job?" I laughed, but there was nothing funny about it. "Since when is your job watching me? I thought we were free now. I ran away from a forced marriage with you for this."His jaw locked. I knew I'd hit a nerve, but I couldn't stop."We're still in dan

DIANAThe kiss was brutal.No gentle lead-in, none of that hesitation from before. It was hard, possessive, his tongue shoving into my mouth like he was claiming me. My hands went up into his hair, grabbing the wet strands, and I kissed him back with the same ferocity.The water hit our bodies, but I barely felt the cold. I only felt him—his big hands gripping my waist, his hard cock pressing against my stomach, his hot breath mixing with mine."You're insane," he muttered against my lips."And you're a controlling piece of shit."He laughed—a low, guttural sound—and lifted me onto his hips. My legs wrapped around his waist, and I felt the head of his cock graze my wet entrance."You gonna fuck me on the beach?" I challenged, biting his lower lip."I'm gonna fuck you so hard you won't be able to walk tomorrow."He carried me out of the water and laid me down on the sand. Grains stuck to my wet skin, but I didn't care. I just wanted him inside me.Rocco settled between my legs, those g

DIANAI was in the kitchen, messing with the seasoning on the fish I'd made for lunch. It had been a week since Rocco, Luca, and I got to the island, and we were still figuring out the new routine.Luca, as always, was glued to his computer. Barely left his room, buried in code and screens. I was happy to see him so locked into something he loved, but I couldn't help worrying. Kept thinking he should be out there actually living, you know? Meeting people, making friends, maybe even finding a girlfriend.I was stirring the pan under Maria's watchful eye, tweaking the fish so it'd come out perfect, when I heard footsteps behind me. I turned around, and there he was. Rocco. Standing in the kitchen doorway. Looking… really fucking good. Brown shorts, white shirt, sunglasses. You hardly ever saw him dressed down like that. For a second, I almost didn't recognize him. Rocco always wore black—usually pants and long sleeves. Seeing him in something light and casual? That was new.My eyes ran