Page 10 of Deadly Don's Savage Vows

She steps off the last stair and tilts her face towards me. I run my hands over her long waves of soft hair. “The blonde looks amazing on you.” I lift her chin higher, looking into her now blue eyes. “The green though - your natural eyes - I feel as though you are hiding your true beauty behind these contacts.” I smile, knowing I shouldn’t be saying anything close to shit like this. Say goodbye and let her leave.

“You like my green eyes?” She asks, sounding shocked. Her cheeks glow a gorgeous shade of pink. I don’t think she’s used to getting compliments.

“Your green eyes are the window to your soul - and your soul is magical, Bella.” I take a deep breath. Don’t ask her to stay. It’s not fair. You can’t do that to her. “You must take care of yourself out there. I’ve done everything I can to keep you safe. But you still need to be careful, ok.”

She nods, smiling tightly.

“Thank you, Nico. What you did for me - I’ll never forget it.”

“Stay out of trouble, princess.” I chuckle. “That’s how you can thank me.”

I hand her a new identity and she stares at it.

“Bella Rose.” She says, touching the image of her face. “You kept my first name.”

“I thought it would be easier to adjust to, but far enough from your own name that no one will link it back to you. You have a new social security number that you’ll need to learn. Everything is new. It’s a fresh start.”

She grins and her face shines brightly with hope. In that moment, stupidly, I can’t stop myself. I grab her jaw in my hand and I kiss her.

Our lips press together and my heart beats to the rhythm of her beauty, her energy, everything about her pulling me into her.

It takes all the self-control I have to step away from her.

Her lips are a little swollen from the kiss. Glossed and red. I brush my thumb across them.

“Goodbye, princess.” I say.

She bites her lip.

“Goodbye, Nico.”

She steps out of the door and walks towards the waiting car.

And her new life.

My heart is tight and constricted in my chest. I huff, wondering what the hell has gotten into me. This isn’t me. I don’t get emotional about anything. I turn away from the car retreating into the distance and back into the house. Suddenly, it’s cold and empty.

Gathering up my things I get ready to leave. There is no point in hanging around here, anyway.

I have to get back to town and deal with whatever the hell chaos I’ve caused there. I don’t know if Marcus has pinned it on me or not. I had my guys erase the video footage, but there is no telling if he saw me when he arrived at the hotel.

It was worth the risk though.

I will never forget the night I spent with her.

She is going to be etched into my skin forever, having forged her way into my heart without me knowing how.

Back in the city my phone won’t stop ringing. Lina has called me about twenty times. I need to get back to her, I need a little time to refocus and push aside whatever the hell was going on with me this morning.

I am in my mansion, about to call my sister back when she bursts in through the doors.

I jump, not expecting her at all.

“Fuck. I forgot I gave you your own keys.”

“What the hell, Nico? Why didn’t you call me back?” She says in an angry rush of words.

“I just got back, ok, everything worked out fine. It wasn’t a small thing you asked me to do, Lina.”

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