, I woke to the

heart still heavy fro

," I sai

this time. Instead, he wore black jeans, a fitted shirt that

rdered. "We're leav

? Where?

to survive in my world, don't you

ach tig

" I said quickly. "I'm not like

doesn't care if you're ready or not. Last night cou

d hard, lo

s be there to shoot first, little dove. So

then nodded

ar something comfort

giving me no c

n's backyard stretched into a private training area-fence

ed as I stared

whispered,

mply, placing a gun on t

ek black pistol, h

oze.

cked on mine. "I

head, bac

my hand, and placed the gun in my palm. His warm h

's not just a weapon. It's pow

hands shook so much I almost dropped it, bu

his voice calm now, almost sooth

ot someone,"

ne. You're shooting a targ

is chest brushing my back, h

His hands adjusted my stance, one on

asons that had nothin

voice lower now. "Now

sita

ered, his tone

breath and sque

, making me jump. The bullet hit t

a small smirk tugging

t hour, he

ng on my waist, my arms, my shoulders. Every touch wa

t, I hit the cen

his arms, watching me with th

t learner," h

his," I said, l

Hate it. That's what keeps you human. But never be

at him, meet

?" I asked softly. "You could

or a long moment

la. You're my wife. And if you're going to

re was something almost

pond, a guard ran

ht him. One of Rossi's spies

ce hardene

he

sement. He

ned, his dark eyes

s expression unread

urned. "I do

e said firmly. "This is t

but something in his

. A man sat tied to a chair, his fa

him, arms crossed, his e

e asked, his voice q

eakly. "You'll be dead soon, M

s cold. "I've he

hed him once, hard. The man gaspe

lin

ing at me. "This is what hap

ed, my he

. "You think she's safe with you? Rossi will

's eyes darken

him closer. "If he touches her, he dies.

n, even more weakly

ightened. "Wha

s teeth. "Rossi already has

art s

ble. Then he shoved the man back ag

him.

rushed out

ight. "Stay with me. Don't go

y chest tig

on high alert. Guards searc

o Dante, who nev

his men burst into the

. we fo

Dante d

ked nervous.

eyes w

n kind to me, who had brought me te

mach t

hesitate. "Br

ged in, his hands tied. His ey

oking at Dante. "Rossi threatened my famil

ned, but his expre

d me," Dante

"Please... don't kill

didn't

tly, stepping close

pped to me, his

etly. "Don't ask me

st tig

p. "He has a famil

I don't, more men will think betrayal i

fr

ing at me again, D

to the b

yes met mine as th

, I turned to Dant

kill him, aren't

me, his face cal

abella. Even if it means g

oat ti

ate you for

es locking with mine, his

murmured. "But yo

ed and walked away, leaving

t time, I realized s

ing to care