Page 81 of Pride

“Do you know another way out of here?” I ask Bella.

Her lips purse and she nods. “The back, through the kitchen.”

“Let’s go,” I say, yanking her in that direction.

She doesn’t fight me as I rush her toward safety, my fight with James forgotten, for now.

We hustle through the kitchen and down a long, dark hallway, rounding a corner to a service exit. I open it and we burst out into the fresh air and into a staff car park at the back. And, instantly, I notice the guys Jane employed.

They’re bundling six kids into the van Jane is in, masks on their faces.

Bella stops dead in her tracks when she sees them. “Are those...” She doesn’t finish her question, shaking her head as tears pool in her eyes. “We need to help them.” She tries to move forward, but I grab her wrist and stop her.

“What do you mean?” I ask.

“The children! We need to save them.”

I shake my head and grab her cheeks, looking into her beautiful blue eyes. “They’re safe.”

Her brow furrows as she glances between me and the van. “Are you the one who started the fire?”

I shake my head. “No, I was with you the entire time.”

“You know what I mean. Did you plan this? A kidnapping.”

I clench my jaw, as I can’t admit it. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

She grunts in frustration. “If they are safe, it means you know those men!”

I crack my neck, feeling the tension building in my shoulders. “Let’s just say I’m not the kind of man who can watch as children are sold like they’re nothing more than merchandise.”

The admiration that briefly flashes in Bella’s eyes vanishes almost as soon as it appears.

“You’ve lost your mind, Isiah,” she hisses. “My dad will murder you.”

My lips feel dry as I lick them, hating how out of my depth I feel having to explain this to her. This wasn’t part of the plan. “Not if you don’t tell him.”

Her delicate features are so fiercely set, it’s almost as if she’s been carved from marble.

The last child is bundled into the van and the door is shut. Within seconds, the vehicle speeds away, taking those innocent children to safety. Jane intends to drop them all off at their homes to ensure they’re safe and back where they’re supposed to be. None of us trust anyone in this city to do the right thing, not after the corruption we found within the government.

Bella doesn’t say anything for a few moments, just keeps looking at me with intensity in her gaze.

“I won’t tell him,” she finally says, more to herself than to me. She looks right into my eyes. “But you can rest assured that I’ll find out your true motive for marrying me,” her voice drips with threat. “And when I do, I will make sure to put an end to whatever twisted plan you have against my family.”

It’s a rarity that anyone surprises me, but I find Bella’s strength remarkable, especially after everything I’ve put her through. And, I wonder, as I stare into her eyes if I’ve finally met my match.

Could Bella be a threat to my entire plan for revenge?

I couldn’t allow it. Revenge against the Benedetto family is all I’ve been living for since Aiden was taken from me. Grabbing her hip, I pull her close. “Have at it, love. I’ve got nothing to hide.” Pressing my lips to the juncture between her neck and shoulders, I murmur against her skin, “Your deliciousness is enough of a reason to marry you, Bella.”

Satisfaction races through me as she trembles. And then I sink my teeth gently into her skin, making her moan at the exquisite sting. “And I will have you, no matter what happens.” Moving my lips to her ear, I mutter, “If you tell your father what I did today, I’ll just kidnap you and make you my fucking pet. Do you understand? There’s no escape from me because I own you, mind, body and fucking soul.”

Her breathing is labored as she meets my gaze, her lips parting as desire overwhelms her. Bella has her own inner strength and yet she’s addicted to dominance. I see it in the way she melts every single time that I’m assertive with her, and that has to be enough to maintain control of this situation.

Bella is getting too close for comfort, and I can’t let her learn the truth.

26

---