Page 70 of Dangerous Devotion

The silence that followed was deafening—no more laughter from Bella, no more of Jemma’s sarcastic quips.

Just…emptiness.

I remained motionless, staring at the spot where the cars had vanished as if, by sheer will, I could bring them back.

But I knew better.

This was necessary.

This was to keep them safe even if it felt like I was being ripped apart from the inside out.

Even if it felt my life was being ripped apart, piece by piece.

She’d buried herself so deep into my heart, into my life—and now she was gone.

I clenched my fists at my sides, nails digging into my palms. The pain was a welcome distraction from the ache in my chest. I took a deep breath, trying to center myself.

“Are you okay?” Hero, who’d been standing next to me, asked.

I turned to him. His face looked concerned.

“Of course,” I lied, my voice flat. Every cell of me ached for her, missed her already, but I wouldn’t let it show. Falling apart wouldn’t help, not when I wanted her back as soon as possible.

There was work to be done. Enemies to face. My family to protect.

I steeled myself for the fight ahead and pushed down the emotions. I couldn’t afford weakness now. Not when so much was at stake.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Istared out the window of the SUV, my mind still back at how lonely Vince had looked when he stared after the cars.

Rationally, I knew this was the best decision. The safest one. But it broke my heart. I didn’t want to be apart from him, didn’t think I was safer without him and he without me. The warmth of his hands cupping my face lingered on my skin, a stark contrast to the chill settling in my chest.

Isa and Mira sat quietly beside me, their presence both comforting and suffocating.

My fingers absently traced the zipper of my coat—one of the last things Vince had touched—and his words echoed in my head.

“You’re stronger than you think, and remember, you’re a Salvini now. Gotta represent.”

Even in a situation like this, he was still joking. The only problem was I didn’t feel strong. I felt hollow like I’d left a vital part of myself behind.

The tense atmosphere in the car was palpable. Hawk’s gaze constantly flicked between the road and the rearview mirror, his knuckles white on the steering wheel. Birdie, in the passenger seat, had her hands on her semi-automatic, scanning our surroundings with laser focus.

Their vigilance should have made me feel safer, but it only heightened my anxiety. The reality of our situation was ever-present, but it settled in deeper with every breath, with every thought. Fee was still fighting for her life while we were running—not unlike I’d planned to do before all of this began.

Only now, Vince was a part of my life—a part I didn’t want to be without.

I caught Isa’s eye, seeing my own worry reflected there. She reached out and squeezed my hand in silent support. Mira, on my other side, leaned her head on my shoulder. “He’ll be okay, and we’ll be, as well.”

I side-eyed her and wasn’t sure if she was trying to convince me or herself. But I smiled and nodded, not trusting my voice. My gaze drifted back to the window, watching the foggy landscape flying by. And with each second, each mile that passed, the ache in my chest grew.

The car hit a bump, jostling us. Hawk muttered a curse. His eyes narrowed as he checked the mirrors again while he sped up.

“Spike strips,” Birdie muttered, and the tension in the vehicle suddenly ratcheted up another notch.

My heart leaped into my throat as our SUV suddenly lurched and died, all the electronics going completely dark.

The convoy screeched to a halt, leaving us vulnerable on the open road.

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