Chapter 21

Marcella

I left him standing there in the living room about twenty minutes ago with the intention to eat my breakfast and lock myself in the room. But the full pantry with all the products a baker can only wish to have was right in front of me and I'd be an idiot to not use them. And anyhow I had to distract myself from the mountain of man now stewing somewherein the house.

The clatter of the baking sheet against the countertop reverberated through the kitchen, a sharp contrast to my muddled thoughts. "Rose, where do you keep the vanilla extract?" I asked, my voice steady despite the chaos brewing inside me.

"Top shelf, behind the flour," Rose replied from the other side of the island, eyebrows raised in silent understanding.

I retrieved the bottle, my fingers brushing the cool metal of the spice rack. Baking had always been my refuge, a sweet escape from the complexities of life—especially now, as I found myself entangled with Killian, a man who was as intoxicating as he was infuriating.

"Can you pass the sugar?" I requested, keeping my hands busy to prevent my mind from wandering back to him. To the vulnerability he had shown her last night, revealing scars from his childhood that no one had ever kissed better. I wanted to be the balm for all his hidden wounds, but his hot and cold demeanor left me reeling.

"Here." Rose slid the bowl across, leaning in. "You okay?"

"Last night, Killian... he opened up to me. I felt this connection, you know? But today, he just..." I trailed off, the wooden spoon mixing batter in slow, heavy circles. Rose was the only sane person in this house. Her words always made sense when nothing else did.

"Killian's been through a lot. He's not good at this." Rose’s words were a gentle attempt to defend him, but I only half-listened.

"I know, but how am I supposed to deal with his mood swings?" I sighed, staring into the golden swirl of cake mix as if it held answers.

"Give it time," Rose murmured, but I wasn’t sure time would heal the wounds they both carried.

About an hour later, the scent of vanilla and warmth filled the air. I bent over the oven, peering through the glass to check on the rising cake. That's when I sensed him—Killian's familiar presence filling the doorway. I didn't turn around, couldn't bring myself to face him just yet.

"Marcella," his voice came, hesitant, from behind me. I tensed at his voice. He was always confident, stoic. Hesitance was not a trait he was familiar with as far as i knew.

I wiped my hands on a towel, my movements deliberate as I began to clean up without looking at him. The silence stretched taut between them.

"Once this mess is over, I'll let you go," he finally said, his voice low.

Anger flared in my chest. This is what he wanted to say? I spun around, locking eyes with him. His usual stoic facade wavered, revealing a glimpse of something akin to loneliness, and my resolve softened. Not so much to calm me down.

“What do you mean you’ll let me go?”

“You were never supposed to be in this situation. It started off as getting to Ana but it soon changed to protecting you from Tonys grasp. As soon as the threat is dealt with, you can go back to the bakery.” He took a step forward and removed his hand from his pocket. “Here”.

I was shocked to see what was in his hand.” Is that…Is that my phone?”

He nodded and shook the phone slightly which was dangling straight from his fingers. I tentatively moved to take it from him. I never knew what was going to happen next with him. I turned on the open and saw it was open and the wifi was connected as well. There were about a hundred messages from Lexi and calls from so many people.

“Why? Why are you giving this back?” I took a small step towards him, still leaving a lot of space between us. “Arent you afraid I’ll call someone for help? Or distract you?” I raised my eyebrows at my last words, showing him I was still pissed at him for that.

His lips slightly lifted from the sides to show his amusement but he immediately turned them down back to the cold look. “It won't make sense to call someone for help when i’ll be letting you go.” my heart crushed at his words. I didnt want to go. I was finally feeling like I belonged somewhere for the first time in my life. How could i let this feeling go.

"Killian," I began, my voice a mixture of frustration and tenderness. "I don't want an out. I want..."

He closed the distance in a few strides, towering over me , his eyes searching mine. "What do you want, Marcella?"

"Promise me something," I said, steadying my breath. "Promise me you'll come back to me after you deal with Tony. It's the only way we can start fresh."

His hand reached out, fingers grazing my cheek, leaving a trail of fire in their wake. “What do you mean?," he whispered.

“I smiled and reached up to wrap my hand in his hair, slightly pulling him down. “I mean,” pressing a small kiss on his lips, I continued, “I’m staying. I won't go back”

“Why?” He wrapped his arms tightly around me, his voice on the verge of desperation.

“For now, that's just for me to know and for you to find out when I want. But I’m not leaving you. Now it's up to you to decide if you want to keep me Killian.”

“You are never leaving me mia belleza.” he then kissed me, sealing the vow that tangled our fates even tighter.

"Then I'm not letting you go, Killian. Not now, not ever," I declared, my heart committing to the fucked up, dark romance that was ours alone.

"We should..." Killian's words trailed off as soon as we heard footsteps closing in and Jonah barged in, followed closely by Dom.

"I smell cake!" Jonah practically yelled, his nose twitching like a bloodhound on the scent of prey.

Marcella laughed, hand on her stomach as she turned to open the oven. "You're such a child Jonah."

"What can I say, you make a mean cake babe." He winked at her, and my jaw dropped at his words.

“How do you know that?” I was suddenly alert. Jonah moved his eyes to Killian behind me and turned back to me with a sly smile on his face.

“What did you think I did when I was keeping an eye on you? Before bringing you here. I was at your bakery ordering almost everything. It was magnifico.”

I raised my eyebrows at him and Killian chose then to slide up behind me and wrap his arms tightly around me. “He means magnificent.”

I pointed the knife in my hand at him and moved it around. “You mean kidnapped me. Say the right words. And thank you” I told him with a smile on my face and everyone laughed. Even Dom had a smile on his face. It was rare to see him like this. Without his laptop.

I cut the first slice and placed it on the plate, giving it to Dom first, flashing a teasing smile at Jonah. Here a frustrated “Hey” from him.

“Here you go Dom. Let me know if you like it.” He nodded his head and took the first bite.

“Hmm, its good.” Dom said with in his small voice but he kept eating it so I took that as a good sign.

The red frustration on Jonah's face was charming, but it quickly faded as soon as I cut him a piece of the cake.

"Fuck me this is good." Jonah said with his mouth full.

I couldn't help but giggle at Jonah's childish antics. "One day, you're going to meet a girl who'll tame your potty mouth."

"Nah, I don't think so, or she wouldn't be my type," he said, winking at Dom who rolled his eyes.

Killian stepped forward and gently tugged at my apron string. "And what about me? I'm still waiting for my piece here, or do I need to get it myself?" He gave her a playful smirk, his eyes darkening with mischief.

I huffed, feigning annoyance, but my cheeks burned red. "Fine, fine, Mr. Impatient," I teased, cutting him a generous piece of the cake.

"Mmm... Perfection. Like you." Killian praised, his eyes never leaving hers as he took a bite. And I definitely turned red as a tomato. This new Killian was my favorite and I wanted him to last.

“Come on. Its time to go now.” Killian turned to look at Jonah and Dom once they finished their pieces.

"Alright, alright, let's go. Time's a-wastin," Jonahsaid, wiping the crumbs from his lips.

Killian set his fork down and pulled me into a hug. "We'll be back before you know it, alright?"

"Promise me," I said, my voice shaking slightly.

"I swear on my life, we'll all come back in one piece," he replied, planting a soft kiss on my forehead.

Jonah came and gave me his one sided hug. “Thank you for the cake Little Mama. See you soon.” And Dom gave me a nod and they left the kitchen together.