Page 35 of Twisted Vows

She searched his gaze, something shifting in the air between them. Despite the chaos, despite the war raging above, she trusted him in this moment more than she ever had before.

Matteo checked his ammo, then glanced ahead. "This tunnel leads near the river. I have a safe house there."

Isla nodded. "Then let’s move."

As they made their way through the passage, the echoes of Enzo’s men searching above kept Matteo on edge. He knew they had minutes—maybe less—before they were discovered again. The tunnel was tight, forcing them to move cautiously, every step disturbing loose gravel and dust.

At the tunnel’s end, Matteo spotted a rusted iron grate leading up to a narrow alleyway. He climbed first, pushing it open just enough to scan the empty street before helping Isla up. She grimaced as he lifted her, her wound slowing her down.

Matteo’s grip on Isla tightened as they moved, the hush of the ancient streets swallowing the distant sounds of sirens and gunfire. His every step was precise, calculated—urgent. His focus narrowed to keeping her upright, ensuring she didn’t slip through his fingers.

“Hold on just a little longer. We’re almost there,” he murmured, his voice rough with something he refused to name.

Isla let out a sharp breath, her fingers gripping his shirt as if anchoring herself. “I’m not dying tonight,” she gritted out. “You still owe me answers.”

A smirk ghosted across Matteo’s lips. “Then let’s get you patched up so you can demand them properly.”

They reached the weathered wooden door of the safe house, nestled between two shuttered wine cellars. Matteo pressed acode into the panel, the lock clicking open, and guided her inside.

And for the first time in a long time, Matteo felt the weight of something bigger than power settle in his chest.

Something he wasn’t sure he could control.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Matteo sat beside Isla in the safe house, his fingers tight around hers. Her breathing was shallow, her face unnervingly pale, but she was stable. He had never been a man to beg, never a man to feel powerless. But as he watched her, he realized he would burn the world to keep her breathing.

Luca stepped inside, his gaze flicking between Matteo and Isla before he let out a quiet sigh. "She’s strong. She’ll make it."

Matteo nodded but didn’t speak. He had seen strong men die in seconds, had watched power slip through fingers like sand. Strength alone wouldn’t save her. This wasn’t about being strong anymore. It was about being ruthless, about cutting out the rot before it could fester further.

"The villa is secure," Luca continued. "I’ve flushed out the traitors. They’re waiting in the basement."

Matteo’s jaw clenched. He had suspected there were men working against him, but now there was proof. "And Enzo?"

Luca cursed under his breath. "He set this up. Thought tonight would be the end of you. He’s been playing the long game, waiting for you to make a mistake." He hesitated for a moment before continuing, his gaze darkening. "And there's something else, Matteo. I can't shake the feeling that he wasn’t working alone. What if Enzo wasn’t just after you? What if he was working with Leonardo Marino?"

Matteo let out a slow breath, his fists tightening at his sides. "Not yet. But I need to find out before he makes another move. If she hadn’t been there, it might have been."

Luca studied him carefully, his eyes narrowing slightly. "She saved you."

Matteo nodded once, his throat tightening. "And that means they’ll come for her next."

Luca exhaled, his sharp gaze locking onto Matteo’s. "Then we hit back. Hard. But what about her?"

Matteo looked back at Isla, something dark and unrelenting settling in his chest. "She saved my life tonight. And now she’s part of this, whether she wants to be or not."

Luca hesitated. "You think she’ll stay? After everything?"

Matteo didn’t answer right away. He had spent so long convincing himself he didn’t need her, that she was just another piece on the board. But as he watched her, fragile but still fighting, he knew the truth.

"I won’t give her a choice," he admitted finally. "I can’t let her go."

Luca let out a dry chuckle. "You realize that’s not how trust works, right?"

Matteo’s lips twisted into something that wasn’t quite a smile. "Trust isn’t what I’m asking for."

A low groan came from the cot. Both men turned as Isla stirred, her fingers twitching against the blanket. Matteo was beside her in an instant, his breath caught in his throat as her eyes fluttered open.

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