I made it three steps before Vince blocked my path, his eyes cold with fury. Tension radiated from him like heat from a furnace.
“Where the hell do you think you’re going?” he demanded.
“To get your sister back,” I replied, attempting to move past him.
He planted himself firmly in my way, hands clenched at his sides. “This is your fault. Your organization. Your fucking boss took her!”
The accusation struck me like a physical blow because I knew it was true. This was my responsibility. My failure. I should have moved Isabella off the island the moment I realized how obsessed Grey was with her.
I should have seen it coming and should’ve taken action. “Move,” I ordered, my voice dangerously quiet. “Every second we waste here?—”
“Why should I trust you with her life?” Vince cut me off, rage vibrating through every word. “How do I know this isn’t part of some elaborate game? For all I know, you’re working with Grey.”
The suggestion that I might be complicit in Shorty’s situation nearly broke my control. I stepped closer, invaded Vince’s space, rage making my voice vibrate.
“If I wanted to hurt Isabella, I would’ve had plenty of opportunities.”
Cristo appeared beside us, his normally playful expression replaced by cold determination. “We don’t have time for this.”
Matt joined him, adding, “The boats are almost to the yacht. If we’re going to intercept them, it has to be now.”
I locked eyes with Vince. “Isabella is my responsibility. I’ll bring her back or die trying.”
“Your responsibility?” he repeated, incredulous. “Since when?”
The question hung in the air between us, demanding an answer I had barely admitted to myself. The room seemed to go silent, and the storm outside faded into the background as I faced this moment of truth.
Since I fell in love with her.The confession was on the tip of my tongue.
More true than anything I’d ever said. But I hadn’t told her, hadn’t even let myself admit those feelings fully.
“She’s mine. Mine to protect. And nobody, not even you, can stop me.” The words felt like they were torn from my throat. “I’d rather die before I let them hurt her again. So fucking move, or I’ll do it for you.”
The raw honesty and desperation of my declaration silenced even Vince for a moment. Behind him, I could see Mira’s eyes widen, Matt’s expression shifting from hostility to reassessment. Cristo exchanged a look with Anton that I couldn’t quite interpret.
Then Vince raised a single challenging eyebrow. “Since when?” he asked again.
I sighed. “Since I fell in love with your sister. I’m responsible for bringing her here. I put her in danger. But I promise I will take care of her.”
Shock registered on Vince’s face as I continued, unable to stop the flood of truth now that the dam had broken.
“You’re in love with my sister?” Vince finally asked, his voice lower but no less intense.
“Yes.” The single word carried more certainty than anything I’d ever said.
He studied me for a long moment, searching my face. Whatever he saw there seemed to convince him.
“Okay, let’s move then.”
I seized the opening. “You need to stay here. Tell them what’s been going on.” I gestured toward Director Kozlova and the Paraskia leadership. “Get everything sorted. And keep the other women safe.”
“What? No?—”
“Who knows what Grey plans? He might be circling back. He might have accomplices and come after the women here. He’s got the upper hand right now. He’s been leading us on like we’re his own damn personal puppet show. Let’s not let him catch us off guard.”
Vince’s jaw worked as he processed my words. Beside him, Cristo stepped forward.
“He’s right about Grey…and Uncle Marcus,” Cristo said. “We need to divide and conquer.”
