Chapter 79 Back Home
Isabella POV
He crossed his arms over his muscled chest, his ink stretching down both arms and up his corded neck. “I don’t know.” I had no idea what I was doing at this point. I just knew I needed some space. “I think I’m going down south to spend time with my family. I want to put up my artwork at the winery anyway. Might be good for me to have a change of scenery”
“Are you going to tell them?”
I knew exactly what he was asking if I was going to tell them everything about him. If I did, my family would immediately mobilize and prepare to bury him six feet under. I could start the war and give them the upper hand. “No. And that’s only because I believe you’ll make the right decision.”
“You need to stop seeing the good in others when it’s not there.” “There’s good in you, Dante. It’s just buried so far down that you can’t see it.” I finished wrapping all the paintings then set them on the floor. “If you
do decide you’re going to move forward with it, I want to know first.'
He continued to lean against the doorframe.
“I want to warn them what’s coming but I’ll be on the other side of the battlefield and this time, I will kill you dante.”
His expression didn’t change, but I knew he was fighting to keep his face neutral. I meant what I said. If he made me choose between him and my family, I would choose my family. I didn’t have the strength to kill him when it was
just the two of us, but if my parents’ lives were on the line, I’d shoot him right between the eyes. I knew it in my heart. I picked up two paintings and then moved toward the door even though his massive frame was blocking it. “Will you do that for me?”
He cocked his head to the side slightly, examining me with those pretty eyes. “Alright.”
“Promise?”
He gave a slight nod. “Promise.” He stepped out of the way to let me pass. “Can you give me a ride home?” I didn’t have a car or a way to transport all of my things. I moved into the hallway and turned around when I didn’t hear him follow me. He remained in front of the doorway, pressing his hands against the frame. All the muscles of his torso tightened, his displeasure obvious. He fought the urge to say no, fought the urge to tie me up and keep me there forever. He clenched his jaw before he answered, his words coming out restrained. “Yes.”
He assisted me in carrying all of my things into the apartment. My place wasn’t ideal to house all of my paintings. We leaned them up against the wall in the living room, the images taking up all the available space in the area. There
was hardly room for my easel. Thankfully, they wouldn’t be there for long since I would drop them off with my parents. I set my bag on the couch then looked at him, feeling the tension increase between us. The silence was deafening, nearly bursting my eardrums because it was so loud. Goose bumps formed on my arms, and the hair on the back of my neck was standing up. All my emotions were contradictory because I wanted him to stay, but I also couldn’t wait for him to leave. He stood by the door, his arms crossed and his t-shirt stretched. His jeans hung low on his hips, and since he hadn’t shaved for a few days, his jaw was sprinkled with masculine scruff. I liked the way it felt between my legs when his mouth was pressed to my most tender areas.
I’d never seen a more beautiful man all my life. I’d never been so passionate with someone, needed someone the way I needed him. It was the only way to explain my behavior, my impulse to save his life. If he didn’t mean anything to me, I would have looked the other way and let it happen but something told me I would be devastated if I lost this man but knowing my actions weren’t enough to spare my family made me resent him, even if he said he would consider ending the war. I was relieved I was free, but just because he gave me permission to do what I wanted didn’t
necessarily mean I was free from this man because I could still feel the connection between us. It was overwhelming and powerful. “When are you leaving?” He broke the silence with his masculine voice, his deep and reverberating baritone vibrating his throat.
“Tomorrow.”
“How long will you be gone?”
“I’m not sure probably a week or more.”
His eyes showed his disappointment, but he didn’t voice it. “Can I stay with you?”
I’d never heard him ask for anything since the day I met him. There was no such thing as him asking for permission. He just took what he wanted and everyone else had to accept it. I could feel the anger in his voice when he asked the question because it was so difficult for him to do. He still felt like he owned me even after he’d set me free. “No. I just want some space right now.” I’d spent every waking hour with this man, and I needed some time alone. After all this time, I thought I understood him, but I realized I didn’t understand him at all.
He clenched his jaw hard but didn’t give in to the rage inside his chest. He gave me a slight nod. “Call me if you need anything.”
“Alright.” I was surprised he was actually going to listen to me. I assumed he would storm across the room and kiss me until he got what he wanted. “I mean it. Anything at all.”
“I know…”
He gave me a long look before he turned around and left my apartment.He actually left.
I really did have my freedom back, my independence. I thought it would give me a high sense of power but his absence only made me feel alone.