Chapter 27
“So, do we need to pay Henry a little visit?” Lorenzo asked, already toying with his knife.
“As much as I would love to skin him alive, there’s no need. Isabella put him in his place,” I cracked my neck and leaned back against the island.
“You stepped in though, didn’t you?”
“Yes,” I couldn’t hide the happiness in my voice, just as Lorenzo couldn’t hide his happiness that the date was a failure.
Naturally, he didn’t want his daughter to date anyone. I knew I'd be no exception to that.
“Well, I think I’ll head to bed too, now she’s home. Are you staying up?” Lorenzo asked, and it was then that I noticed he was in his loungewear and not his usual attire.
“I’ll head out for a smoke, then try and get some sleep.”
Lorenzo nodded before leaving me standing in the kitchen with nothing but my overwhelming thoughts.
Tonight had been a close call. Each time she pushed me, cracks appeared in my head allowing my demons freedom to creep their way back in.
And no matter how much I fought them they couldn’t be ignored.
Keep this up you twat and you’ll get her killed.
Not goin’ to happen. I can protect her.
You’ve lost everyone you ever loved. What makes you think she’ll be any different?
That ain’t goin’ to happen!
How, when you couldn‘t even keep your mum safe?
Get out of my head!
She’ll never care for you, you know… You’re just fooling yourself.
Shut up!
You can’t escape us, Arturo.
We’ll always be here.
I gripped the sides of my head, hoping the voices that had resided in there for years would leave, if only for tonight.
My body shuddered as the voices finally quietened. Over the years, the job had made great waves in suppressing them, but no matter how hard I fought, no matter how much guilt I carried, they still ate me alive at night.
But not tonight, tonight I knew what I had to do… what I needed to do.
As quietly as I could, I headed up the stairs and down the corridor that led me to Isabella’s room.
I’d never let my guard down with anyone before, and the fact I was considering doing that with her scared me.
But I was tired of keeping secrets from her.
Tired of having her close, yet so far out of reach.
I let out a steady breath and rested my forehead against her door before tapping against it lightly so I didn’t wake anyone. But there was no answer. Either she was already asleep or she was ignoring me. I hoped it wasn’t the latter.
I tapped again.
No answer.
Shit, here went nothing.
Turning the handle, I stepped inside the dimly lit space. As I gazed around the room, I spotted her dress was thrown over the chair in the corner and her shoes were thrown beside the closet. It was then that I heard the sound of water running. She was in the shower.
Shit.
I knew I shouldn’t, but my feet moved before I had time to stop myself.
With a shove the bathroom door floated open, revealing a very naked Bella, running her fingers through her long dark locks.
I swallowed as water cascaded down her body like a waterfall, making her skin glisten. The sight left me breathless.
Fuck, she’d never looked more beautiful.
With my heart in my throat, I stalked forward and pulled the door the shower open. The moment I stepped inside, instinct took over and I wrapped my hands around her waist, pulling her dampened body against mine.
“Arturo—” she gasped, her body shuddering
“Tell me to go and I’ll go,” I whispered, burying my face into her neck. Fear and panic thundered through my veins as I hugged her to me, allowing the water to soak into my hair and shirt.
There was a long pause before she turned to face me. Her eyes were wide and water clung to her lashes. She wet her lips and then said in a small voice. “I can’t… I don’t want you to go.”
Thank fuck.
“Bella,” I cupped both sides of her face, “forgive me.” Her eyebrows drew together.
“For what?” Her voice was hard. I deserved this. And I was prepared to get on my knees if I had to.
“For making you think I wasn’t crazy about you,” I replied, wiping water from her cheeks with my thumbs.
She glanced down away from me and took a shuddery breath.
I waited as she processed what I’d said and just when I was about to make a hasty exit, she pulled my head to hers and pressed her soft, wet mouth against mine.
Fire licked up my skin, sending my heart into overdrive.
With a groan, I sank my fingers into her hair and pulled her head back making her gasp.
After weeks of craving and torment, I lost myself in the taste of her.
Our tongues tangled and our teeth clashed in our need for each other.
And fuck me did she give as good as she got.
The more I pushed the more she did too. Her back collided with the wall as I scooped her into my arms and wrapped her legs around my waist. Sucking her lower lip into my mouth, I bit down and grinned at how it made her squirm.
The feel of her body against mine made my cock throb.
The way we fit together was like she had been crafted for me.
Where I was hard, she was soft. Where I craved control, she craved release.
This was everything. Underneath the warm, furious spray of Isabella’s shower, I felt my demons, fucked up memories, and painful doubts slowly wash away down the drain.
She was mine. But before I could fully make that happen in every way possible, I had to be honest. If I was going to tell her everything, it was now or never.
“Bella,” I groaned, barely managing to pull back, “there are things I need to tell you, things you need to know.”
“Then tell me,” she breathed, clinging to me as if scared to let go and lose the moment.
“There are things I’m not proud of… and if you decide you can’t forgive me, you should also know I won’t give up.” Her eyes softened as her fingers stroked my cheek.
“Do you think you frighten me, Arturo?” I frowned as she smiled. “I’m well aware of who and what you are. If you’re ready to talk to me, then I’m not going anywhere.”
I heaved a sigh of relief and whispered against her lips, “I’m ready.” She was here and she was prepared to listen. She wasn’t running.
Oh, she’ll run.
You’re broken.
Fucked up.
Why would she ever love you?
I shook the voices out of my head, and as if she could hear them, Bella wrapped her arms tightly around my neck and pulled me in close..
“Hey, it’s okay. I’m right here.”
I know you were.
Right where you belonged.
Bella sat cross legged on her bed in nothing but an old t-shirt and some shorts while I sat next to her, wrapped in a towel.
“So…” she started, her wide blue eyes seeing straight through me to my rotten core. “What happened? Why did you push me away?”
“I didn’t want to, but there were… reasons. Things that I had no control over.” I hung my head and gripped the back of my neck, struggling with what to say next.
“What reasons?” Her voice was soft and gentle as she took my hand in hers.
“The night you stayed with me was the first night I had no nightmares. It felt like for the first time in my shitty existence I had somethin’ good.
” I glanced to the side, looking for her reaction.
What I saw wasn’t confusion, but the expression of a woman who understood pain.
Something told me Isabella may just be fighting her own demons.
“That morning I woke up with you in my arms Bella, was the best day of my life… until it wasn’t. ”
“What do you mean?” she asked, edging herself closer to me.
“Fuck, I wish I didn’t have to tell you this… I don’t know who it is but somebody threatened you.”
“I don’t understand—” her forehead creased.
“They told me that unless I stayed away from you, they’d hurt you.” I leaned my elbows against my knees and sank my head into my hands. “I don’t know how they’re doing it but whenever I got close to you they just knew.”
“Wait, this all started the night I slept in your room?” Her voice was surprisingly calm. I nodded. She pulled my hands away from my head and cupped my face, drawing my gaze to hers.
“Arturo,” she laughed, “do you have any idea how many threats I get every day just being my father’s daughter?”
“You don’t understand, mi princesa. I’ve made some very dangerous enemies over the years and whoever it is, is watching our every move.” The guilt hung heavy in my heart. “I couldn’t bear it if anything happened to you.”
“And do you really think they’d succeed at taking my life, considering how many people I have protecting me? You included.” She said as I frowned at her.
“Isabella, this is serious,” I hissed. “You have no idea what some of these people are capable of. They wouldn’t just kill you, they’d torture you first just to get to me.”
“Then why didn’t you just tell me what was going on?” she pressed. “Why did you deal with this alone?” Fury erupted inside me.
“Porque era demasiado duro, porque no podía aceptar el hecho de que alguien quisiera lastimarte para castigarme.” I jumped from the bed, my mother tongue taking over.
“Arturo, stop!” She flung her legs off the bed as I paced the room back and forth, my arms gesturing back and forth between us.
“No puedo perderte, mi princesa, quieren destruirme y no les importa quién salga lastimado en el proceso.”
“Please, slow down.” I cursed and knelt down between her legs.
“Shit, I’m sorry,” I whispered, resting my hands on her thighs. “When I’m around you… sometimes I can’t help it.”
“I know,” she smiled, putting her hands on mine. I sighed and looked up at her.
“I didn’t tell you because I thought I was protecting you. But if I’m honest with myself… I was scared. Scared that when you found out someone wanted to hurt you because of the things I’d done, the people I’ve worked for, you’d never look at me the same way.”