Page 36 of The Devil's Fire

“Dinner will be ready in a few hours. I hope you'll have a comfortable stay.” Rosana and Sofia smiled as my bags were placed inside the room.

“Thank you!”

Once the door closed, I couldn't resist doing a small spin to take in the room. A wide grin spread across my face as my eyes fell on the enormous bed. Unable to contain my excitement, I belly-flopped right onto the plush mattress.

“Feels like a cloud.” I sighed in bliss. It practically sucked me in, and the silk sheets made it feel like heaven.

I closed my eyes, almost giving in to the urge to take a nap before I forced myself off the bed to explore the rest of the manor.

“How can one have this much money?” I murmured in awe when I opened the ensuite bathroom.

Everything was in a glossy beige marble design, with a bathtub and separate shower. There was even a mini chandelier hanging from the ceiling, and this time, I whistled out loudly.

I should ask if he’s hiring.

I snickered at my own joke as I explored the rest of the bedroom and finally went to the double doors that led right out to a balcony to watch the sunset.

The view had me gasping.

There was a grand staircase that led right down to a swimming pool, with sprinklers shooting water high into the air. Beyond the pool, there stood a two-winged staircase, leading down to a beautiful garden filled with huge trees and flowers of all colors, creating a scene that belonged only in a fantasy world.

What left me even more in awe was how the two-winged staircase gracefully curved around a waterfall, its water glistening as the sun slowly set.

With such a breathtaking view, I was sure these people were secretly royals.

I reached for my satin nightgown and started the shower while tying my hair into a bun. A blissful sigh escaped me as the hot water slowly melted away the tension. Even though we escaped unharmed, I couldn't shake the anxiety of being shot at for the first time in my life.

It left me wondering how these people were so immune to it that they could go on with their lives like it was nothing.

With a sigh, I finished showering and untied my hair as I opened the door and turned off the lights, but immediately stilled when I saw a dark figure sitting in the armchair.

It was Damiano.

Damiano's intense eyes locked onto me, tracing my every step with an unwavering gaze, leaving me breathless in the magnetic pull of his captivating presence.

“You’re okay.” I said in relief. I didn’t want to admit it to Cara, but I had been worried sick about Damiano.

He risked his life for me.

Damiano remained silent, his expression unreadable, as he extended his hand for me. Without giving it a single thought, I went to him and placed my hand in his. A small gasp escaped me when he deftly pulled me onto his lap, positioning me in a straddle. My hands instinctively found their place on his shoulders, steadying myself from the sudden move.

“How are you?” He asked, and my body tingled when he caressed me.

“I should be the one asking you. You’re the one who acted like a bulletproof vest for me.” I chuckled. He let out a genuine smile, and my breath quickly caught in my throat. It was a rare, beautiful sight that had my stomach fluttering uncontrollably.

My body acted on its own and I placed my hand on his cheek, caressing him with my thumb. I couldn’t understand why I was feeling like this with him. He was a sinisterly dangerous man. I have witnessed that. It should be more than enough for me to leave and never return.

But the way he was making my heart beat faster whenever I thought of him, and the way he was making my entire body tingle just with his presence, gave me a hard time trying to think straight at all.

Damiano frowned when his eyes landed on the cut on my cheek.

“I’m okay. It doesn’t hurt that much anymore.” I reassured him. He cupped my face, his thumb softly traced over it.

“I should have put a bullet in his head.” Damiano’s eyes hardened, and his other hand tightened on my hip.

“Hmm, I did wish for him to get shot.” I chuckled.

“Do you want me to?”