Chapter 24: Nowhere to hide

"Pack your things."

Alessandro's words echoed in Isla's mind, but she remained frozen.

He had ordered her around before, dictated the terms of their arrangement with his usual arrogance.

But this wasn't arrogance.

This was fear.

And Alessandro Romano did not fear anything.

Her pulse pounded. "You're overreacting."

Alessandro's jaw ticked. "Do I look like a man who overreacts?"

No.

He looked like a man who was barely holding his rage in check.

Before she could respond, he grabbed his phone, dialing a number.

"Double security at the estate," he commanded the second the call connected. "No one in or out without my approval."

A pause.

His expression darkened. "And pull everything you can on my enemies. If someone wants to challenge me, I want to know who."

He ended the call and turned back to her.

"Upstairs. Now."

Isla crossed her arms. "You don't get to bark orders at me."

Alessandro exhaled sharply, raking a hand through his hair. "Dio, you are impossible." He stepped closer, his voice dropping. "This isn't a game, cara mia. Someone is coming for you. And I will not let them touch you."

A shiver ran down her spine.

It wasn't just his words—it was the way he said them.

Dark. Deadly.

This wasn't about their contract anymore.

This was personal.

She swallowed hard. "Who would want to come after me?"

Alessandro's gaze hardened. "Someone who wants to hurt me."

Her stomach twisted.

Before she could argue further, a sharp knock on the front door made her jump.

Alessandro's entire body went rigid.

Then—

Glass shattered.

A gunshot.

Isla's breath caught.

Alessandro moved.

In an instant, he grabbed her wrist, yanking her behind him as he reached for the gun hidden in the drawer of the entryway table.

More glass shattered as another bullet pierced through the window.

Alessandro cursed under his breath. "Stay behind me."

Heart pounding, Isla gripped his arm. "Who—"

"Not now." His voice was sharp, clipped.

The security alarm blared. Footsteps thundered outside.

And then—

Silence.

Seconds stretched into eternity before a voice called out.

"All clear, Mr. Romano!"

Alessandro didn't relax.

His grip on the gun was firm as he slowly moved toward the door.

He cracked it open just enough to see the armed guards securing the perimeter. A man in a black suit approached, his face grim.

"They were gone before we could catch them," the guard said. "But they left a message."

Alessandro's jaw tightened. "What message?"

The guard hesitated before holding up an envelope.

Alessandro snatched it, tearing it open with one hand.

Isla watched as his eyes scanned the paper.

And then—

His expression turned to ice.

She swallowed. "What does it say?"

Alessandro's hand curled around the note, crushing it.

His voice was low, lethal.

"They know about the contract."

Her breath hitched.

"They know you're not really my wife."

For the first time since this all began, a cold realization settled in Isla's chest.

Whoever was after Alessandro—whoever had just sent a bullet through their window—

They weren't just coming for him.

They were coming for her.

And this time, there was nowhere to hide.