17. Bella
SEVENTEEN
Bella
I wrap myself in a dressing gown and head to open the door.
The hotel manager stands there, his expression stern. “I don’t want any trouble,” he says, his voice firm but not unkind. “We let you both stay overnight out of respect for the Rossi family, but now you must go.”
His words hit me like a bucket of cold water. “You waited until I was alone to tell me,” I say, trying to keep my voice steady. “Scared of him, are you?”
The manager’s eyes narrow, his patience clearly wearing thin. “I need you to leave now. Vince Russo is tearing the city apart looking for you. I don’t want trouble. Just leave, please.”
I take a deep breath, channeling my inner Lily. She would be confident, unyielding. I square my shoulders and look him in the eye. “Come back when Alex is here. We’ll sort it out then.”
He shakes his head, a look of pity crossing his features. “You have no idea who you’re sleeping with, do you?”
A chill runs down my spine. “Enlighten me.”
The manager steps closer, his expression grave. “Alex Pierce is not just a hitman. He’s death in human form. Run while you can, because you will never escape his side alive.
I’ve known mob bosses cry at his feet. I’ve seen killers beg for their life in front of him. He knows no mercy. Any emotion he shows is a lie. The man is a killing machine, nothing more.”
My mind reels, trying to process his words. Alex, a hitman? It doesn’t seem possible, yet a part of me knows it fits. His intensity, his skills, the way he always seems to be on edge. It all makes sense now, but it’s too late to change how I feel about him.
Before I can respond, the door swings wide open, and Alex steps in, his presence commanding the room. “Go away,” he tells the manager. “I’ll talk to you later.”
The manager hesitates for a moment, then nods and leaves without another word.
I stand there, my heart pounding, staring at Alex. He closes the door and turns to me, his eyes softening. “Are you okay?”
I nod, swallowing hard. “The manager said we have to leave. He said you’re a hitman. Is that true?”
Alex sighs, running a hand through his hair. “I’m sorry you had to hear it from him. I wanted to tell you myself, but there never seemed to be a good time.”
I take a deep breath, trying to steady my emotions. “So it is true?”
He steps closer, taking my hands in his. “I swear to you, Bella, I will never hurt you. My only goal is to keep you safe.”
“He wanted us gone, right? I thought he recognized me last night. Should have gone to see him then.”
I nod, still processing the conversation I had with the manager. “Where did you go?” I ask, needing to fill the gaps in my understanding.
“I was out sorting stuff for the wedding. Picked up a few things,” he replies, holding up a bag. He hands it to me, and I peek inside to find new clothes.
As I start to get dressed, the reality of my situation weighs heavily on me. “I’m struggling with all this,” I admit, my voice trembling slightly.
He watches me with a mix of concern and determination. “It’ll be fine. I’ll make sure of it.”
I pause, looking at him with a mix of hope and fear. “Will I ever get used to this life?”
“Yes,” he says firmly, his eyes locking onto mine. “I promise.”
I swallow hard, needing some form of reassurance. “Promise me you won’t ever lie to me.”
His expression turns serious, and he steps closer, taking my hands in his. “I can’t tell you some things, but I promise I won’t lie to you.”
The honesty in his eyes makes me believe him, but the uncertainty still gnaws at me. “I’m going to lose my job over this,” I say softly, the reality of my situation sinking in. “I’ll be homeless again.”
“Is that the problem?” Alex’s grip tightens on my hands, his eyes never leaving mine. “I can pay for everything you want. How much money do you need?”
The question catches me off guard, and I let out a nervous laugh. “A million should last me a few days,” I say, throwing out the figure as a joke.
Without hesitation, he pulls out his phone and taps on the screen. “Done. I’ve transferred it.”
I blink, staring at him in disbelief. “You’re shitting me?”
“Killing pays well,” he says, his voice steady. “I’ll be back soon. Don’t spend it all at once.”
“Where are you going?” I ask, fear creeping into my voice.
“I’m going to speak to the manager,” he replies. “No one talks to my wife like that.”
My heart skips a beat. “We’re not even married yet.”
He shakes his head, a small smile playing on his lips. “Figure of speech. I’m just going to speak to him, that’s all. I’ve told Mia where you are. She’ll be here soon.”
“Who’s Mia?”
“You’ll see.”
Before I can say anything else, he turns and leaves, closing the door softly behind him.