She nodded, her face buried in my neck. "More than okay," she whispered, her lips brushing against my skin. "Alive."
In that moment, with her heart beating against mine, I realized that this—this raw, unfiltered connection—was what it meant to truly live. And I knew, without a doubt, that 'I'd do anything to keep her safe, to keep us alive, together. But as I held her, the weight of our secrets, our fears, and our shared past pressed down on me. This wasn't just about desire anymore. It was about a son, a legacy, and a love I couldn't afford to lose.
An hour later, after Isla had fallen asleep, I carefully extracted myself from her arms and returned to my office.
Marco was waiting, his expression grim.
"The driver talked."
I closed the door behind me and moved to my desk. "And?"
The Castellano family recruited him three weeks ago. His job was simple: report your movements, especially anything involving the woman and the kid." Marco's voice was cold. "He told them everything. The park visit. That you've been spending time with them. That they're living in the Morrison building."
"What did he tell them about Leo?"
"Didn't know he was your son—just that you were protecting them. But he gave Matteo enough to plan the ambush."
My jaw clenched. I thought about Leo's terrified face when I'd found him in that warehouse. About Isla's screams. About how close I'd come to losing them both forever.
"Where is he now?"
"Holding cell in the basement. Waiting for your orders."
I stood and moved to the window, looking out at the city lights. Matteo was gone—dead or disappeared into whatever hole he'd crawl into to lick his wounds. But the driver remained. The man who'd made it all possible.
"Make it look like an accident," I said quietly. "The kind that sends a message to anyone else thinking about selling information about my family."
"Done." Marco paused. "And boss? Marcus died during surgery."
Grief and regret flooded through me. "Notify his family and tell them I’ll cover everything. I won't forget what he tried to do."
"Already arranged."
After Marco left, I stood at the window for a long moment. The driver would be dealt with. Marcus and Carlo would be properly mourned. Matteo was neutralized. He’d been rescued, unfortunately, but he had disappeared from the hospital. On my orders. He was as good as dead.
I returned to Isla's room. She'd barely stirred, exhausted from the ordeal. I slid back into bed beside her, pulling her close.
She murmured something in her sleep, pressing closer to me.
Safe. They were both safe. And I'd made sure everyone knew what happened to those who threatened my family.
There wouldn't be another betrayal.
CHAPTER 20
Isla
Ijerked awake to the sound of screaming.
For a disorienting moment, I was back in that warehouse—concrete walls, darkness, Leo's cries echoing from somewhere I couldn't reach. Then reality snapped into focus. The soft bed beneath me. The city lights beyond the window. The penthouse.
Safe. We were safe.
But the screaming continued.
"Leo!" I threw off the covers and ran, my bare feet silent on the hardwood. His door was already open, light spilling into the hallway.
Cassian knelt beside Leo's bed, his voice low and soothing. "Hey, buddy. It's okay. You're safe. I'm right here."
