ISABELLA

Chapter 53

The rear door opened, and Matteo stepped out first, scanning the surroundings with his usual caution. A moment later, Leo appeared, pushed gently in a sleek black wheelchair by one of his men. The bandage beneath his shirt was hidden, but the weight of his recovery lingered in every careful movement. His jaw was set, his eyes sharp, as if daring the world to see him as weak.

Isabella walked beside him, her hand hovering close to his shoulder, ready to steady him if needed. She hadn’t left his side since the hospital, her exhaustion clear in the faint circles under her eyes, but her gaze never wavered from him.

The heavy front doors opened, and Aria was the first to rush out. She didn’t hesitate—she bent down and hugged Leo tightly, careful not to press too hard. “Grazie a Dio,” she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. “You scared us all.”

Behind her stood Sabrina, arms crossed, eyes stormy. She didn’t move forward. Her glare flicked past Leo to Isabella, and her lips tightened into a sharp line.

Leo noticed immediately. His expression hardened, and his fingers twitched against the wheelchair armrest as though he wanted to stand just to shield Isabella.

“Take him in,” Matteo muttered under his breath, noticing the tension.

The men wheeled Leo inside, the air heavy with silence.

Once in the living room, Leo raised a hand, signaling the men to stop. He looked up at Sabrina, his voice calm but edged with steel.

“I’m home,” he said firmly. “And I won’t have this house divided because of her.” He motioned slightly toward Isabella, who stood frozen, uncertain. “If anyone has a problem with Isabella, they have a problem with me.”

The words hung heavy in the room, daring anyone—especially Sabrina—to challenge him.

Isabella lowered her eyes, her heart pounding, unsure whether to feel relieved or terrified by his declaration.

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Third POV

The house slowly settled into silence as night fell. Guards posted themselves at every corner, Matteo kept busy with security arrangements, and Sabrina stayed brooding somewhere else. But Isabella’s thoughts never strayed far from one person.

She stood outside Leo’s room, her hand resting on the handle for a long moment before she pushed the door open quietly.

Inside, the room was dimly lit, warm light spilling from the lamp on his nightstand. Leo was already in bed, half-reclined against the pillows, his wheelchair tucked against the wall. The sight of him like that—bandaged, resting, yet still carrying that untouchable aura—made her chest tighten.

He looked up instantly, his eyes softening the moment they landed on her. “Mi amore…” he murmured, his voice tired but warm.

Isabella stepped inside and closed the door behind her. “I didn’t want you to be alone,” she whispered.

Leo watched her approach, his lips curving into the faintest smirk. “You haven’t left me alone for a second since that night.”

“And I won’t,” she said firmly, her eyes glistening. She sat carefully on the edge of the bed, her hand brushing over his. “You scared me, Leo. I thought I was going to lose you.”

His thumb traced the back of her hand slowly, reassuring. “You won’t. Not now, not ever.”

Silence stretched between them, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. It was heavy with emotions unspoken—fear, relief, longing. Isabella leaned forward slightly, and Leo reached up with surprising strength, brushing a strand of hair from her face. His eyes held hers, raw and vulnerable, before his lips found hers in a slow, tender kiss.

The kiss deepened, not with urgency, but with a quiet desperation—like both of them needed to remind themselves they were still here, still together. When she finally pulled back, her forehead rested against his, her breathing unsteady.

“Stay,” Leo whispered, his voice rough with exhaustion. “Just stay with me tonight.”

She didn’t hesitate. Isabella slipped off her shoes and carefully laid beside him, curling against his good side. His arm went around her immediately, holding her close, protective even in his weakened state.

The steady rhythm of his heartbeat against her ear lulled her, and his breathing slowly evened out as sleep overtook him. Leo slept peacefully—with Isabella in his arms, safe where she belonged.

And before long, Isabella’s eyes fluttered shut too, her last thought being how right it felt—like no matter the danger, this was where she was always meant to be.

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The Next Morning

Isabella stirred first. Her lashes fluttered open, and she found herself still curled against Leo’s chest. His arm was wrapped around her protectively, his grip loose but possessive, as though even in sleep he refused to let her go. For a moment, she just lay there listening to his steady heartbeat, her fingers absently tracing the outline of his hand.

She shifted slightly, careful not to hurt him, and tilted her head to look at him. His features were softer in sleep, stripped of the sharpness he carried when awake. He looked… almost boyish. Vulnerable. A version of Leo she doubted many ever got to see.

“Staring at me, mi amore?” Leo’s voice was low, husky from sleep, but there was amusement laced in it.

Isabella froze, caught. Then she smiled softly. “You were supposed to be asleep.”

His eyes cracked open, warm brown meeting hers. “How could I sleep when I feel you watching me like I’m going to disappear?”

Her throat tightened. “Because you scared me. You almost did disappear.”

His arm around her tightened just a little. “I’m not going anywhere. Not while you’re here.”

They stayed like that for a moment, lost in each other’s presence, until a sharp knock at the door broke the stillness.

Leo let out a deep sigh. “If that’s Matteo, I swear—”

“It is Matteo,” a voice came from the other side, muffled but firm. “Leo, Isabella, I hate to interrupt your… rest, but we have news.”

Isabella sat up quickly, glancing at Leo. He pushed himself up carefully against the pillows, wincing slightly but hiding it with his usual pride.

“Give us a minute,” Leo called back, his voice carrying authority.

Matteo didn’t argue, though his footsteps could be heard retreating down the hall.

Leo turned back to Isabella, catching her worried expression. His hand brushed over hers gently. “Don’t look at me like that, bella. We’ll face whatever this is together.”

Isabella nodded, her chest tightening. She leaned forward, kissing his forehead softly before slipping off the bed. “Then let’s hear what he has to say.”

Leo smirked faintly, eyes following her as she moved. “One condition, mi amore—you stay by my side. No running off.”

She gave him a small smile, though her heart raced. “Always.”

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Matteo stepped into the room, his shoulders squared, face dark and unreadable. The atmosphere shifted immediately—gone was the warmth of Leo and Isabella’s private moment, now replaced by the cold weight of business.

Leo straightened in his wheelchair, jaw tight. “What is it, Matteo?”

Matteo’s gaze flickered briefly to Isabella, as if unsure if he should speak in front of her. But Leo caught the hesitation.

“Say it,” Leo ordered firmly. “She stays. Whatever it is, she has the right to know.”

Matteo nodded once, then exhaled. “We’ve intercepted communications. The Russians who attacked us weren’t acting alone.”

Isabella’s breath caught. “What do you mean?”

Matteo’s eyes hardened. “They had help… from inside. Someone leaked your movements that night. Someone knew exactly where Leo would be and when.”

Leo’s expression went ice cold. His hands clenched into fists on the armrests of his wheelchair, veins visible against his skin. “A traitor.”

Matteo gave a sharp nod. “Yes. And not just any mole—this person is close. Too close. They fed details only someone in our inner circle could know.”

Isabella’s heart dropped. She turned toward Leo, panic in her eyes. “But… who would—?”

Before she could finish, Matteo added quietly, “We’re not sure yet. But we do know one thing—the Russians are regrouping. They’ve taken the failed hit personally. They’re planning another move, bigger and deadlier. This wasn’t the end, Leo. It was only the beginning.”

Silence blanketed the room.

Leo leaned back slowly in his chair, his jaw locked, fury simmering beneath the surface. Then, in a voice cold enough to send a chill through both Isabella and Matteo, he spoke:

“Find the rat. I don’t care what it takes. Whoever betrayed us… is already dead.”

Isabella’s chest tightened at the finality in his tone, but she said nothing. She only reached for his hand, gripping it tight. He didn’t look at her, his eyes fixed on Matteo, but his thumb brushed against her skin—subtle, reassuring, grounding.

Matteo gave a short nod. “I’ll handle it. But you need to be careful, Leo. Until we find who it is, no one can be trusted.”

Leo finally turned to Isabella, his expression softening only slightly. “Mi amore. From now on, you don’t leave my sight. Not for anything.”

Isabella swallowed hard, realizing just how deep she was in this world now.