Isaias

I didn't see her coming. It was too late to dock her small frame. Her soft body collided on mine and she let out a soft, startled shriek. She seemed disoriented the reason she didn't saw me coming. I'm glad my hands were fast enough to catch her by her waist before her back kiss the floor. "I got you!" I grumbled and pulled her up, my heart picking up speed. She grasped my neck as I pulled her against me, her body trembling slightly. She looked rattled as she looked up and meet my gaze. The color of her cheeks was gone, now pale and confused.

Her eyelashes fluttered as her gaze focused on mine.

"Are you okay?" I asked. "You look blanch," I said brushing away the hair that strayed across her cheeks and tucked it behind her ear.

She nodded her head. "I was startled, that's all," she replied in a tone that lacked strength.

I frowned.

She doesn't sound convincing. There was an uncertainty in her voice, and I wonder what rattled her.

Perhaps our collision had made her feel sick. My hands around her tightened involuntarily. "I'm sorry, I didn't see you coming. I wasn't paying attention either, si?" I said, my gaze holding hers, drinking in her scent.

She smelled terrific, and it triggered another wave of heat, surging through my veins like wildfire in the forest, burning me.

Not now, Isaias!

But her feminine scent was too overpowering to keep my sanity together, to drift my thoughts away from her.

Women are too dangerous to every men's sanity. No matter how small they were, how fragile they look, how innocent they are, we are no match. They control us good, and we are sorely helpless. The reason why I hate love before, but the happiness of being found one was beyond my expectation. And of course, I won't let her know that she got me under her control.

She dropped her hands to my chest, and her palm grazed across it lazily as she spoke, taking all my attention. My minds drifted to the most dangerous thoughts, urges skittering throughout my body. My heart thudded like horses hooves against my chest. My hands unconsciously tightened around her, including my muscles down on my nether region. My cock pulsated painfully underneath my pants, and the fabric agonizingly growing tight, I felt strained. I just had her not too long ago, but my body seemed too greedy of her. I can't get enough of her, and it's frustrating at some point.

Just like now. Some things needed my attentions, yet I couldn't place my thoughts exactly to where it should be, such as finding out about my father's and mother's intention, and of course, Martino's.

"I got lost." She mumbled, cutting through my trains of thought. A sheepish grin broke out on her lips, and a soft chuckle escaped my lips.

She was staring at me with intent. My gaze dropped to her luscious lips. Strong urge to swoop it down and kiss it hard slammed through me. "This estate is massive," she added causing me to rip my gaze off her lips and lingered on her beautiful eyes.

"So you didn't find Logan?" I spewed out without realizing, half of my wits still scattered and I was struggling to collect them together.

I suddenly want to punch myself. She's already upset with me because of him, and I just reminded her.

Great thinking, Isaias!

She shook her head.

She seemed to forget about him. A small smile broke out on my lips, rather a crook smile as relief flooded through me.

Our attentions were shifted to the clamoring crowds heading our directions. My body grew taut as Clave approached us. My eyes lingered on his bloodied shirt before dragging it back to his face marred with anxiety.

Simmering fear filled his brown eyes as he lingered his gaze on me. I gave him a warning look, but he was too lost to get the meaning of it. I already sense something that wasn't right, and then he spilled it.

"Tristan got shot!" he exclaimed as he looked at Angel, the panic on his face grew, his shoulders sagged as he tightened his fingers around the handgun's grip at his sides.

My jaws tightened as I leveled him a dark, menacing glower.

Angel let out a soft gasp. Then her body suddenly grew limp against me. I held her tight and threw Clave another dirty look. He got the message, but it was too late.

I gave him a dark scowl, and he stepped back.

Five others behind him are looking at me expectantly, but with simmering fear in their eyes. Most of them were Tristan's men.

"Wait for me downstairs!" I barked, and Clave without a second wasted turned on his heel and scurried off. The others hastily followed him.

"Let's go back to our room," I said as I held her firmly around her waist. Her small body trembling and my heart clenched for her. "He's fine," I said, trying to comfort her.

"You think so?" she murmured softly, her voice quivering. I could feel deep within me that she was not convinced.

"Of course he is!" I replied, forcing a reassuring tone.

Fear churned in my gut. My angel will be devastated if Tristan died.

Her body against mine relaxed a little bit. "Stay in our room and no matter what happened, don't go out, capisce?" I murmured as we walked along the hallway to the room reserved for us.

As soon as we entered the room, I let her go. I pulled my phone out of my pocket and dialed Vito, but his cell just kept on ringing. I dialed Leone next, but it only directs me to his voicemail.

Angel was staring up at me with a worried look.

I ran my finger along her jawline. "It will be fine, Piccola," I whispered and leaned in and kissed her forehead. My lips lingered on hers, and she sighed. Pulling my head up, I hovered over her. "Please stay here. I'll just talk to them," I said, my gaze swept over her face that I adored. Her eyes glistened, simmering fear lurking in the depth of her pale purple orbs.

It seemed like an iron hand grabbed my heart and squeezed it tightly.

"I want to come with you. I want to know what happened," she pleaded, her gaze sweeping my face then lingered on my eyes.

I shook my head.

Whatever she heard is more than enough. I don't want her to hear the worst, and she'll be devastated.

I don't know if I can bear seeing her in that state.

"No. I don't want you to worry even more, Piccola." I looked her into the eye, holding her gaze, giving her a reassuring look. I cupped her cheek with my right palm and stared at her begging to believe me that everything will be alright, and it has to. I will make sure of it. "Per favore, stay here. Will you promise me you will listen?" I asked, my voice growing tight.

My gaze locked on hers. She peeled my hand away from her cheek, then dropped it to my side. My eyebrows pressed tightly together, sensing her strong disapproval, my heart felt heavier than ever.

She straightened her shoulders. Her face grew taut as she gave me a disapproving stare. Her stubborn streak resurfaced.

She stared me down. "Tristan is my cousin, and he got shot!" she snapped. Her soft voice surprisingly hard. Her soft, trembling tone was gone. "I can't sit and wait here, Isaias. I need to know what is happening?" she ground out, her teeth clenched.

My palm involuntarily swiped down my lower face with blossoming frustrations while the other dug into my hips.

She jutted her chin up, her eyes sharp and determined.

She looked unbendable.

"We are a team, right? We do things together..." her voice breaking and she swallowed hard. She blinked away the tears. "Please stop treating me like I am a no brain doll just like what my father did!" Her voice hardening. My face fell upon hearing her words. I felt like her last words were like arrows, it flew straight to my heart and struck it right in the center, piercing my heart into pieces. "I'm through that. I'm somewhat happy when he died..." she paused, and no matter how much she tried to hide the bitterness in her voice, I felt it. She looked up heavenward and mumbled apologetic words incoherently, then she looked down and met my gaze. "I am free," her voice quivered a bit as she clenched her teeth.

My insides churned, stuck between a rock and a hard place. It reminds me of Leone when we found out who killed his parents.

"Am I, Isaias?" she asked after a short paused.

I swallowed hard. She just hit my weakest point. "If something happened to you, it would be the death of me," I said rather growled.

Her face grew soft. Dropping her head down, she stared at the floor. She sighed, then she slowly tilted her head up, she met my gaze with her brows drooping, her eyes enlarging over dramatically with a sad face. "Please," she begged, her gaze so innocent it nearly convinced me.

But then I realized, the resistance I've built around me crumbled the moment she used that pained voice.

I let out a sigh.

A defeated one.

I'm going to regret this I know, but I can't say no to her when she's giving me that puppy look, and the truth that she felt like she's being controlled, reminding her of her past.

My mind and heart battled internally, but just as how my heart took over me when I realized how much I love her, reigned over my whole being yet again.

"Fine," I said in a defeated tone. Her face lit up like a bulb, and I can't hold back the smile of joy seeing her face glowed with happiness and excitement. "But..." I paused. Her eyebrows veered into a deep frown, her spine steeled. "You can only listen, ask a question you think necessary, but other than that, I cannot allow you to come with us in that dangerous ground, capisce?"

She stared at me for a while. Perhaps, weighing the seriousness of the situation. Watching her face marred with sadness is painful enough.

Then she paced back and forth. "It's a man's job, Piccola." I pointed out in a tender voice I could muster. I wished, at this moment, I have Vito's charm to coax her to agree with me.

I battled with my heart, tamping down the urge to give in just to see her smile. I reminded myself that this is for her safety.

She stopped a few inches away from me. I stared her down. I need to stay firm. I can't bring her to that dangerous ground even if she had just told me she wanted to be a part of everything I do. "Piccola?" I said with such fierce determination, and she met my unwavering gaze. After a moment, she hesitantly nodded her head, her shoulders slumped.

I felt the heavy weight swelling in my chest a short while ago deflated, and then again, it hurt to see the disappointment on her face. I longed to see her smile, but I fought for it.

"Fine," she grumbled under her breath as she gave me a resigned look. She narrowed our gap. Placing her palm against my chest, she held my gaze. "Please, come back safe," she murmured, then she pulled her hands and curled it around me. She nuzzled her cheeks against my chest, her warmth seeping into my shirt, to my skin, like warm, cozy blanket enveloping my whole being. My hands automatically wrapped around her and pulled her against me until even air is nonexistent, then kissed her head a little longer, taking in her intoxicating smell, letting it fill my lungs.

Tingling sensations surged through my veins like a firestorm. I willed myself to keep my lustful thoughts at bay.

Stay focus, Isaias. You're acting like a teen sex deprived horndog. How could you think such inappropriate things in times of danger?

Pulling away a little bit so I can see her beautiful face, I gaze down at her, and her bright pale purple eyes swept over my face then lingered on my eyes. I can't help but feel thoroughly smug at the thought of snatching such exquisite woman. I don't know what I did to deserve such an angel. God -if ever existed- truly was forgiving and compassionate. He gave me just what I needed, what a man needed; a soulmate, his other half, or his heart.

And Angel is my heart.

The rapid beating of my heart gave it away how much I felt for her. It seemed that as the days pass by, it's getting harder and harder to keep my thoughts under control.

I kept a tight reign on my bodies' reaction. I held her gaze, noting the multiple worry lines settled on her forehead. "I will fight even death no matter what. I have now a reason to live, Piccola," I murmured against the top of her head, then my lips lingered on with my eyes closed. Reveling in her warmth seeping into my tensed body. We stayed close for a moment.

I pulled her away then led her to the grand staircase. Her steps hastened as she keeps up with mine, I didn't realize I was walking too fast, but she didn't say a single word of complaint. I slowed down a bit.

Batiste ran up to meet us at the last step, his face filled with apprehension.

"Signore Lorenzo," he said, his voice a little shaky but with unmissable respect.

I gave him a hard scowl. The color of his face was slowly draining as he promptly tore his eyes off mine, gaze sweeping unattentively over the empty hall before retracing it back to me.

"Is there anything you want to say, Batiste?" I inquired with a barely restrained temper, causing him to flinch back, and with that, it increases the suspicion building up in my system.

"If there's anything I could help, Signore Lorenzo," he tipped his head slightly before straightening his shoulders and rallied himself.

I stared him down for a moment and for once, he didn't back down. He met my hard gaze with unyielding ones.

Without blinking, "I need the truth," I probed as I regarded him with intent.

"Let's go," Angel tugged me by my forearm. My head snapped to her. She gave Batiste an apologetic look then led me out to the front of the mansion.

Logan was on his phone, and several crews of mine saw me heading towards them. They stood straight in unison, and shoulders stiffened as they watched us approached them.

Tristan's crew looked at me with apprehension, and Clave avoided my gaze, his eyes settled on the ground. His hands still clutching the gun tightly.

"Where is Tristan now?" I demanded as I planted myself a few inches away from them.

Clave met my gaze. His face grew taut.

"He's... he's-"

"He's getting treatment." Logan butted in, cutting through Clave's uncertain words as he strode closer to us, stopping behind Clave. "Boss Gio is with him in the hospital right now, and Boss Vito is nowhere."

I frowned.

What is Luigi doing there?

As if he could read my mind he supplied. "Martino is dead, Boss. Boss Tristan and his crew sneaked into their hideout, killed Martino and his men. The President came after, and one of his men shot Tristan just as he was about to jump into the van. Martino is believed to be working with the President," he elaborated further. My hands clenched along with my jaws. My muscles tightened with repressed anger.

When I looked at Clave, he nodded his head to confirm the report.

My vision turned red.

"Get inside, Clave and ask Batiste to send someone to clean your wounds before you get an infection," I ordered rigidly, and he nodded before he scurried off.

"Logan!" I barked, unable to control my voice. He flinched back at the intensity of my voice. I forgot about my angel standing next to me, his fingers tightening around my forearm. Logan swallowed hard.

"Boss," he gulped, his face growing pale.

"You-"

"You are going to be my personal security," Angel cut through my words and I whipped my head to her. I was about to order him to come with me to the scene, but she cut me off.

She widened her eyes at me. Her face grew taut as she opened her pretty, little mouth. "He didn't do anything," she whispered through her clenched teeth as she gave me a tight lip smile. Her nails around my forearm dug into my skin, knowing full well what it meant. It was a warning.

My jaws tightly clenched as I regarded her with intent. "You know he's an excellent choice?" she pointed out, and she knew she was right. She beamed victoriously at me. Knowing that she agreed to stay here, I was slightly relieved.

"I need more men to watch her, and you will lead them," I said without tearing my eyes off her. She gave me a full blown smile. Her face brightened with satisfaction. "And keep your eyes around you, away from Miss Viggorino!" I hissed as I tore my eyes off my angel. I caught her face crumpling. I leveled Logan a glowering look.

He swallowed hard before he nodded. "Yes, Boss," came his reply.

I pointed at a few securities lining up across me. "You stay here and don't let Miss Viggorino be out of your sight not even a single second unless... she needs the washroom," I stated grimly. "Neither let her be alone with anyone! Capisce?" I growled, and they all nodded.

Turning to look at Angel, she was staring at me with a sullen look. "Don't wander around. Not without Logan and the crew," I said, almost pleading her.

She acquiescently nodded her head.

"Be safe," she murmured. I nodded.

With a heavy heart, I leaned in and kissed her forehead, then her lips. Pulling my lips slightly- "I'll be back, and when I do, I will take you on a date," I whispered against her lips, then kissed her again, hard and demanding. When our lips parted, she was gasping for a breath of air.

I reluctantly turned on my heels and headed towards the cars that parked in the driveway. I didn't look back as I slid into the rear seat. One of my crews quickly got into the driver seat, another into the passenger.

The black car rolled out of the driveway. Much later, the car reached the highway, moving above the speed limit with the traffic heading towards the west of Palazzo's street.

My phone rang just as I was about to reach my gun tucked in my pants. Instead of my handgun, I pulled my phone out of my pocket.

It was Vito. "Where are you?" I barked.

Vito was breathing heavily. "I'm driving off the hide-out to the hospital. We need to keep Tristan's state concealed before the Police lead to him." I could hear the siren's in the background. "Police are now investigating, and the President was there. They seemed suspicious now after the death of your father's personal driver and Martino on the same day," Vito reported.

I growled under my breath, my chest rumbling. My whole muscles tensed. Frustration growing, roiling through me like a maelstrom. Rage was slowly consuming me.

"Where is he?" I grumbled, my jaws felt rooted.

"Is it fatal?" I asked before he could respond.

"Far from his jewel," he chuckled. "I guess it is not," Vito said between chuckling. I shook my head. Vito still finds humor in the serious situation.

The tension in my body loosened bit slightly.

......