Chapter 7 - The Safehouse
The secondary residence was a high-rise penthouse overlooking the glittering city skyline. The entire building was owned by the Romano corporation, fortified with bulletproof glass, private elevators, and armed guards discreetly positioned on every floor.
Bella sat on a plush, cream-colored velvet sofa in the sprawling living room, wrapped in a oversized silk robe that smelled faintly of Matteo's cologne. A maid had brought her warm tea and clean clothes, while Dr. Vance had checked her over for any minor injuries.
The penthouse was quiet, isolated from the violence of the morning.
The private elevator doors chimed open, and Matteo walked in. He had washed the blood from his face and changed into a clean black shirt and dark trousers. He looked tired, the dark circles under his eyes hinting at the massive war he was currently orchestrating to eliminate the Moretti threat once and for all.
He walked over to the sofa, standing over her for a moment before sitting down beside her.
"How are you feeling?" Matteo asked quietly.
"Better," Bella said, sipping her tea. "Dr. Vance said my sister is doing amazing. He said she might even be released next week."
"I know," Matteo said softly. "I spoke to him twenty minutes ago."
Bella looked at him, studying his sharp, handsome profile in the soft lighting of the room. "Why did you come back to the estate today, Matteo? Marco said you were at the docks."
Matteo turned his head to look at her, his expression serious. "When Marco got the report that the Moretti crew had breached the back gates, I knew they were going for my mother. But when I realized you were trapped inside that study... I left Marco to handle the docks and brought half my men back to the house."
Bella’s heart fluttered. "You came back for me?"
"I have spent my whole life protecting my family, Bella," Matteo said, leaning closer, his dark eyes fixated on hers. "In my world, loyalty is bought with money or enforced with fear. But you... you had no reason to protect my mother. You had no reason to stay. Yet you stood in front of a gun to save her."
"I couldn't just let her die," Bella said quietly.
"I know," Matteo whispered. He reached out, taking her hand in his, his large thumb stroking the soft skin of her wrist. "And that is why I cannot let you go back to that café, Bella."
Bella pulled her hand back slightly, her eyebrows furrowing. "Matteo, we talked about this. I have my own life—"
"The Moretti crew knows who you are now," Matteo interrupted, his voice dropping into that dark, serious tone. "They saw you at the estate. They know you are under the protection of the Romano family. If you go back to that café, if you walk those streets alone, they will use you to get to me."
Bella’s eyes widened with realization. A cold knot tied itself in her stomach. "So... I'm a target now?"
"Yes," Matteo stated bluntly. "Which means you stay with me. Under my protection. Permanently."
Bella stared at him, torn between the terrifying reality of his words and the undeniable pull she felt toward the dangerous man sitting beside her.
"I can't just abandon my life, Matteo," she said softly.
"You aren't abandoning anything," Matteo replied, leaning in until his lips were inches from hers. "You are starting a new one. With me."
Before Bella could respond, Matteo's phone rang on the coffee table. He picked it up, glancing at the caller ID, his face instantly hardening.
"Speak," Matteo commanded into the phone.
He listened for a few seconds, his jaw tightening into iron. "I see. Bring him to the private holding facility downtown. I'll be there in twenty minutes."
He hung up the phone and looked back at Bella.
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"What is it?" she asked, sensing the sudden shift in energy.
"We captured Victor Moretti," Matteo said coldly, standing up from the sofa. "The man who ordered the hit on my estate. It's time to end this war."
