Chapter 50 Chapter 50
ISLA
My chest heaved, and I forced myself to take slow, controlled breaths, though each inhale felt raw and jagged. I hadn’t let him think he could intimidate me; I hadn’t let him believe he had the upper hand. He had made the mistake of thinking I was soft and fragile, someone easy to dominate. He was wrong, dead wrong, and even though I didn’t relish hurting anyone, I had no qualms about putting him down enough to make him run.
My body screamed in protest when I tried to move, reminding me just how close I’d danced with danger. My knees wobbled, and I caught myself on a stack of crates, forcing my muscles to obey. I was fine; I told myself I was just a little bruised, a little scraped, nothing I couldn’t handle.
I closed my eyes for a moment, letting the silence wash over me, the adrenaline slowly draining from my veins. And then, just when I let myself imagine that maybe I’d actually made it, I heard it, a sound at the warehouse entrance: footsteps that carried authority, precision, and caution.
I opened my eyes and saw them before I fully registered it. Nikolai. His dark suit was perfectly clean, his posture rigid, jaw set in that hard, unyielding line he always wore when something had pushed him past his patience. Behind him, a handful of his security team fanned out, eyes scanning every corner, every shadow, alert and ready.
My heart skipped a beat. Relief hit me like a punch, hot and sudden. He was here. He’d come, and even though he hadn’t exploded in anger, I could see it in the way his jaw was tight, the way his dark eyes swept over me, taking in every scrape, every mark, every detail. He was angry. I could feel it in the air, in the way the space seemed to shrink around him, in the silent weight of his presence.
“Isla,” he said, voice low and controlled, but I caught the edge of something underneath, anger, concern, something I couldn’t name. “Stay where you are.”
I nodded, though my body wanted to collapse against him. I wanted to rush into him, to let go of the tension that had been strangling me since the moment Lorenzo had stepped through that door. But I stayed put.
He came closer, and I saw the way his eyes lingered on my bruised arms, my scraped knuckles, and the small cut on my cheek. He didn’t say anything.
“You’re hurt,” he said quietly, almost as if speaking louder might break the fragile moment. “Minor, but you shouldn’t have been in this situation alone.” He said, and I could hear the anger in his tone.
“I’m fine. Where's Wesley and Ares?” I asked, the questions tumbling out before I could stop them.
Nikolai’s jaw tightened almost imperceptibly, but he forced a calm tone.
“They’re both fine," he said, his voice steady.
"Ares is with him. No one got hurt outside of the situation you just handled," he said, and relief washed over me. I let my hands fall into my lap, trying to release some of the tension that had built up since the fight. “Good,” I said, almost in a whisper.
He didn't answer; he picked me off the floor. Security turned around, his eyes staring into mine. He was still angry, but he wasn't taking it out on me. “Wrap your arms around me," he said, and I did. He walked out of the warehouse with me and got me into the car.
Once in the car, he still hadn't let go of me. I leaned into him, resting my head on his shoulder.
“You’re safe," he said with almost a whisper.
The drive back to the house was silent and filled with tension; I could feel the rage radiating off him, but he just held me tighter. I let myself breathe and leaned in closer to him, and I felt his entire body relax; he wrapped his arms tighter around me.
“How does he know about me?” I asked softly.
“I’ll find out," he said.
When the car pulled up to the front door, he got out with me; he still hadn't let go of me. When he walked in, Sophia was sitting in the living room. Nikolai didn't stop; he kept walking. Maria walked in at the same time.
“Maria, please serve; I'll be down shortly," I said over his shoulder as he walked up the stairs.
He walked straight into his room and into the bathroom. He put me to stand in the shower and pulled his jacket off.
“Nikolai, I can take a shower myself," I said, and he just looked at me and continued pulling his jacket off.
“Stop talking," he said, grabbing the bottom of my shirt and pulling it over my head. He stopped when he saw the black bruise on my left side and my shoulder, and his eyes went cold.
“I’m fine. I’ll take a shower myself," I said again. He didn't say anything; he turned around and walked out of the bathroom. I took the remainder of my clothes off and turned the water on.
I stayed under the warm water for a while longer. When I came out, there were clothes on his bed. I hurriedly dried my skin off and wore the clothes and headed down. He wasn't in the living room; he was probably in his office, losing his shit or plotting murder. When Sofia saw me, she stood up.
"I... I heard what happened. Lucas called me with another order," she said. I took a seat and nodded at her to continue.
“He called; he knew Lorenzo had you. He said to come here and find out what Mr. Fero’s reaction is and what he is doing to get you back. Also to drug Mr. Ferro to sleep with him," she said. At the same time, Nikolai walked in. He was dressed differently.
“Going somewhere?” I asked. He walked over to me and kissed me.
“I’ll be back late; don’t wait up," he said before walking out. The look on his face scared me.
“Nikolai will handle the Morettis. Do you have your important documents?”
"Yes," she said.
“Good. Tomorrow morning Sophia Michaels will no longer exist. It will be as if you just disappeared. You’ll be given a new identity, an entire new life, and your only job will be to befriend, infiltrate, and gain the trust of the Rhodes family.”
"Okay," she replied.
“The reason for this is the Rhodes took something from me, and I want them to suffer utter complete ruin," I said.
“I’ll do it.“ she said.
“Good, when you return, you will have no link or any connection to me or the Ferro family. If anyone finds out that I am Mrs. Ferro, then the outcome for you won't be good.”
“I’ll do it; I won't betray you, Mrs. Ferro," she said confidently.
“I believe you. Maria will show you to the guest room.”
“Thank you," she said standing up said.