Page 208 of Tangled up in You

I watch as Isa’s eyes flicker to the bed, and I see the exhaustion on her face—the weight of everything she’s been carrying. She’s strong, no doubt about that. But even she needs rest.

“You should sleep,” I say, keeping my voice soft. “We’ll be right outside.”

She glances up at me, her dark eyes searching mine. “Are we really safe here?” she asks, her voice quieter than I’ve ever heard it.

I nod. “This place is locked down tighter than Fort Knox. No one’s getting in here without us knowing.”

Misha steps closer, his arms crossed over his chest, his expression hard and protective. “You’ve been through enough today. Rest. We’ll keep watch.”

Sal’s already leaning against the doorframe. He gives Isa a quick wink, but even his usual cocky demeanor is restrained.

“You’re not just safe, princess,” he adds. “You’re untouchable.”

ISA

I want to believe them. I want to let the tension drop from my shoulders and fall into the warmth of the bed. But there’s a nagging feeling in the back of my mind, the echo of my father’s voice, reminding me that nothing is ever truly safe.

But I’m too exhausted to argue. My body feels heavy, like it could sink into the ground and never move again. “Okay,” I whisper, my voice barely audible as I take a step toward the bed. The guys don’t move, still watching me, their presence both comforting and overwhelming at the same time.

I strip off my jacket, tossing it on a chair in the corner, and hesitate for a moment before pulling off my shirt. Their gazes linger on me, and I can feel the tension in the air shift, thickening as I reach for a t-shirt that was thrown on a nearbycouch. It smells clean, woodsy, masculine—and I pull it over my head, feeling comforted by it.

“I’ll sleep,” I say, turning to face them, “but only if you promise me one thing.”

Vito raises an eyebrow. “And what’s that?”

“Don’t leave me alone.”

SAL

Well, shit. I didn’t think I could get more turned on, but hearing her say that? Yeah, I’m fucking done for.

Danni snorts next to me, and I know he’s thinking the same thing.

“We’re not going anywhere,” I say, trying to keep the heat out of my voice. “But you need to rest, princess.”

She gives me a look—one of those ‘I don’t need your pity’ ones. Then, finally, she nods and climbs into the bed. The sight of her there, curled up in one of our shirts, her hair spilling over the pillows, makes something in my chest tighten.

Yeah, she’s more than just the woman we’re lusting for.

MISHA

I can see the way Sal’s looking at her. Hell, I can see the way all of us are looking at her. But that doesn’t matter right now. What matters is making sure she’s safe.

“We’ll be right outside,” I say, though I’m not sure if I’m saying it for her sake or my own.

Isa nods, her eyes already heavy with exhaustion, and I know she’ll be out in minutes. But that doesn’t stop the protective knot in my stomach from tightening.

ISA

As I lay back against the pillows, pulling the covers over me, I let out a long breath. My body feels heavy, sinking into the mattress like it’s finally giving in to the exhaustion. But my mind is still racing, still stuck in survival mode.

The guys leave the room, but I can feel their presence just outside the door. And somehow, that’s enough to finally let me close my eyes.

For the first time in what feels like forever, I let myself drift off, knowing that, at least for now, I’m safe.

ISA

The soft click of the lights going out wakes me from a restless sleep. At first, it’s just disorienting, the sudden pitch-black swallowing the room. I blink, eyes wide, trying to adjust, but the darkness is thick and absolute.

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