Chapter 25
ISABELLA
Colombia is only one hour behind us this time of year, but I know the cartel, and I know they are moving quickly.
“Let’s get ready,” Lev says. “We need to fly to Colombia, Isabella. We’ll talk over breakfast.” I stifle a whimper at the loss of his weight on me when he gets to his feet. “Let’s find what you can eat.”
I blink. I knew it had to happen, but the reality of it all is giving me a bit of a shock. Yeah, it’s gonna be interesting heading up a cartel while being married to the king of the jungle.
But I suppose that will keep things interesting.
Turns out, I can eat anything. He’s made bacon and eggs, potatoes and toast. I slather butter on a crispy piece of toasted sourdough and hum approvingly at the rich, tangy taste.
I chase that with a few slices of crispy, salty bacon, scrambled eggs, and golden potatoes. I definitely earned this appetite.
“Oh my God, this is the best food I’ve ever eaten in my life.”
Lev pours me another cup of coffee. “Have you ever had coffee made in front of a campfire? Bacon still sizzling from the cast iron before the sun rises over the mountain? Eat that shit after a ten-mile hike the day before, and you’ll think you died and went to heaven.”
“Hmm,” I say, buttering another piece of toast. “Can’t say that I have, but I’m game to travel. But only if there’s running water. And maybe WiFi. Air-conditioning in the summer and heat in the winter. After, like… maybe the baby can walk.”
I don’t miss the way he cringes when I say baby.
“About that,” he begins, scratching at his bicep. I stare at the ink beneath his fingers, the dark script that reads Memento Mori.
“What does that mean?” I interrupt.
He looks down at the scroll thoughtfully. “‘Remember that you will die.’ I remind myself every day.”
I blink. “That’s not morbid at all.”
“It isn’t,” he says, shaking his head. “It just means, appreciate being alive. Today. Today could be the last day you have.”
I think of Javier’s lifeless eyes. The gravestones in Colombia with my parents’ names on them.
I think of the burgeoning life within me and wonder if it doesn’t all just make sense.
“I interrupted you. You were going to say something about the baby?” I’m still working on this food. It’s delicious, and I’m regaining my strength.
Lev nods soberly, his warm eyes meeting mine. “We need to be careful, Isabella. The life we’re stepping into isn’t just dangerous for us but for anyone we bring into it. If we’re going to have a family… we need to be sure.”
I pause mid-bite, the weight of his words settling over me. “You mean, if we’re going to have more children.”
He nods, his expression serious. “I want them to be safe. I want you to be safe.”
I put down my fork and reach across the table, taking his hand in mine. “Lev, I know the risks. And I know that our world isn’t perfect. But we’re building something new, something better. Together. And we’ll protect our family with everything we have.”
He squeezes my hand, his eyes softening. “I know we will. But it’s going to take time. We have to be smart about this.”
I nod, understanding the gravity of our situation. “Agreed. We take it one step at a time. For now, we focus on taking control and making the changes we need to. The rest will come when it’s right.”
Lev’s lips curve into a small smile. “You're indomitable, aren’t you?”
I grin, picking up my coffee cup. “That’s why you married me, isn’t it?”
“Among other reasons,” he says with a shrug. “It had something to do with you spying on us, if I recall correctly.” He winks.
It feels fitting that we met in the warehouse, and we ended Javier in the exact same place. A bookend of sorts. And now, what we needed, what I hoped for—it all lies before us.
I have to keep my head on straight and lean heavily into the strength of my new allies. “Let’s talk about our plans.”
We finish our breakfast, the conversation shifting to our plans for the day. We discuss our strategy for Colombia, the allies we need to contact, and the changes we’ll implement. Despite the challenges ahead, I feel a sense of excitement and purpose.
I like that.
After breakfast, Lev and I pack our bags quickly, preparing for our trip.
As I fold my clothes and place them in the suitcase, I can’t help but feel a bit of anticipation and nervousness.
This trip to Colombia is the first step in solidifying our power and ensuring the future we want, merging our families.
But first, we end the human trafficking.
God, I can’t fucking wait.
I look over what I packed. Anything else we need, we can find in my homeland.
My homeland.
A wave of nostalgia hits me when I think about going back to where I grew up, where I was raised… my people. I’ll never forget the lush, vibrant landscapes, the rolling hills, and the beauty of the Andes. The freedom and peace I felt when I rode my horse in the countryside. The wind in my hair.
The music and dancing during our traditional festivals, the sense of pride and joy I got from celebrating my heritage as if partaking in an ancient dance in which I was only a visitor.
My memories bring both comfort and pain, reminders of what I’ve forged and what I’ve lost.
But what lies ahead still thrills me.
“Are you alright?” Lev asks, his hand on my lower back. “Do you need crackers or lemonade or something?”
I smile at him. “How did you know those things can help?”
He shrugs. “I have a sister, a mother, and the internet.” I smile at him, but he forgot one thing—an interest in my wellbeing. I know that now.
“I’m good. There’s just so much that’s happened, and I have mixed feelings about going home to Colombia.”
He nods. “Makes sense.”
Leaning in, he gives me a quick peck on the cheek, but it’s all I need. I draw in a breath and square my shoulders, ready to go. We finish packing in record time.
Lev wraps his arms around me from behind, resting his chin on my shoulder. “Are you ready for this?”
“Yeah, but I need to know. Where is Renata?”
“She’s with Ollie,” he says, opening the car door for me and gesturing for me to get inside.
“With Ollie,” I repeat, but he doesn’t offer any more details.
“She’s fine,” he says. “Promise.”
She’s my best friend in the hands of men who were rival mafia this time last month. But he’s right—I must trust him.
“Can I talk to her?”
“Soon.”
I slide into the seat. It’s a cool day in autumn, but the seat is warm. “Did you heat the car up?”
“Seat warmer.” I didn’t know until now how much I needed this in my life.
I lean back and nod, drawing strength from his presence. “Let’s do this.”
He fields calls on his phone while I watch the world wake up around us. It’s a new day, a new beginning. And with Lev by my side, I feel almost invincible.
I wordlessly place my hand on my belly. The thought of having a baby with him… it isn’t as bad as I thought.
We make it to the plane in record time. He isn’t fooling around—no helicopters or commercial flights. It’s a private plane he secured just this morning.
We board the plane, and as it takes off, I gaze out the window at the shrinking landscape below.
Lev takes my hand, squeezing it gently. “To our future,” he says, his voice filled with determination.
“To our future,” I echo, smiling at him.
As the plane soars into the sky, I close my eyes and steel myself for what lies ahead.
I need to prepare. I need to know everything. My eyes still closed; I ask about the aftermath of last night.
“Was anyone injured?”
“Viktor shot Carlos several times and left him for dead. He then called in to update us; when he returned to collect him, his body was gone; he was found crawling through the woods a while later, it’s unclear if he’ll survive. Javier is confirmed dead. The clean-up crew took care of him.”
“Where are they taking Carlos?”
I open one eye in time to note a shadow crossing his features. With our shift in allegiance, it’s time for him to tell me confidential information. It will take time to build a comfortable place of trust. But we’re learning. Step by step, little by little.
“A safe house north of The Cove.”
My heart surges. He trusts me. He’s leaning into this as hard as I am.
I nod. I could ask for coordinates and details. I could ask that he patch me in to talk to whoever’s holding him.
Or I could trust that he will operate as he wishes within the confines of his family as I will mine.
Wordlessly, he reaches for my hand and gives it a squeeze. “Thank you for trusting me,” he says quietly.
I nod. “Thank you for doing the same.” I give him a sidelong look. “Does this mean we’re calling a truce?”
He looks back at me, a brow quirked as his lips curve downward. I shiver. I love Stern Lev. “For now. Don’t think I’m not gonna whip your ass for what you pulled.”
My jaw drops open even as a wave of excitement zaps my nerves. “What? Me? You were the one that fucked with my birth control.”
He grunts. “I know. I thought we made peace with that…”
“Excuse me, sir, I believe I can bring that up for at least nine more months.”
He pretends to be thinking it over. “Fair.” He shrugs. “You’re still going over my knee.”
I swallow hard. But the way his eyes are twinkling tells me everything I need to know. He knows I like this. He knows I crave this. And we both know what we need to do.
We’ll get there.
“Is everyone at home alright?”
“At home?” he repeats as if he needs to clarify which home I’m referring to. That’s where the merging of two families might get a little tricky.
“Yeah. Your mom’s place,” I say in a whisper.
“Yes,” he says. “Everyone’s fine. It’s you they’re worried about.”
I stare out the window at the thinning clouds and pale blue sky, so he doesn’t see my eyes water. I want to stay strong, but even I can’t completely ignore these damn pregnancy hormones. I swipe at my eyes.
“Oh?” I ask.
I fail at hiding my emotions. Wordlessly, his arm snakes around my shoulders, and he pulls me closer to him. He runs a hand down the back of my neck and kisses my forehead.