Isla Saves Dante

Chapter 49: Isla Saves Dante

The night felt suffocating, the air thick with tension as gunfire echoed in the distance. Nico's men had been relentless, storming the DeLuca estate, but Dante and his men had fought back with equal ferocity. Yet, through it all, Dante's mind was focused on one thing: Isla. She had become the focal point of his existence, and if anything happened to her—if he lost her—nothing else would matter.

Isla's heart raced in her chest as she stood next to Dante in the midst of chaos. The sounds of men shouting, bullets being fired, and explosions echoed throughout the mansion, but the only thing Isla could hear was the steady beat of her own pulse. She had never imagined her life would end up like this. She had never imagined Dante would be the reason her world had been turned upside down. But now, there was no turning back.

"Stay close," Dante commanded, his hand gripping her wrist tightly as they moved down a narrow corridor. His dark eyes were trained ahead, watching for any sign of danger, but even in the midst of the madness, there was a clear tenderness in the way he held her.

"I'm right behind you," she said, her voice low but steady. Despite everything happening around them, despite the fear and uncertainty, she knew she would fight to the end to stay by his side.

They reached the grand foyer, where a large group of Dante's men were engaged in a fierce firefight with Nico's soldiers. Bodies littered the floor, blood staining the marble tiles. It was clear that both sides had suffered significant losses. But they were winning. They had to be.

And then, a shadow moved in the corner of Isla's vision. She barely had time to react before she heard the distinct sound of a gunshot. Time seemed to slow as she saw the muzzle flash—Nico's weapon aimed directly at Dante.

"Dante!" Isla screamed, her body moving on instinct as she pushed him out of the way.

The bullet pierced her side before she could even register the pain. She stumbled, her vision blurring as she fell to her knees, gasping for breath. The world spun around her, the floor cold beneath her hands. She could feel the warmth of blood pouring from her wound, pooling on the ground beneath her.

Dante's eyes went wide in horror as he turned toward her. "Isla!"

His voice cracked with panic as he rushed to her side, his hands shaking as he cradled her face.

"Don't… don't leave me," he whispered, his voice hoarse.

Isla's breath came in shallow gasps, and she could feel the overwhelming weight of the pain in her side. But through it all, she managed to look up at him, her vision hazy but her resolve unwavering.

"I'm not going anywhere," she whispered back, her voice weak but steady. "I promised you, Dante. I'll always be by your side."

Tears filled his eyes as he pressed his palm against her bleeding wound, his fingers slick with her blood. His face was a mixture of fury and fear, his entire world shaking in that moment.

"Nico," he spat, his rage boiling over. "He will pay for this."

Isla, though weak, reached up and touched his cheek. "Don't… don't go after him now. We need you."

But Dante didn't hear her. His mind was already set on revenge. He leaned down and kissed her forehead gently before pulling back.

"Stay here," he ordered, his voice hard, his tone leaving no room for argument. "I won't let him get away with this."

He stood up, but before he could take a step, Isla grabbed his hand with what little strength she had left.

"Dante," she gasped. "Please. You've already lost so much."

His face contorted with anger and helplessness as he gazed down at her.

"I can't lose you," he muttered, his voice trembling. "I can't lose you too."

"You won't," she promised softly. "You have to trust me."

Dante's expression softened, and for a fleeting moment, Isla saw the man she had come to love, the man who wasn't just a mafia boss, but a person who was capable of tenderness. He nodded, his eyes dark with determination.

"I'll make him pay," he said quietly. "But not before I make sure you're safe."

Isla closed her eyes as Dante turned, his steps swift as he moved toward the door, fury radiating off him. His body was tense, but she knew he wasn't truly going after Nico out of blind rage. He was doing it for her, for the woman he now couldn't live without.

It was only moments later that Isla heard the sounds of more gunfire. She tried to push herself to her feet, her body screaming in pain, but the blood loss made it impossible. Her head swam, and she felt light-headed, but she refused to give in.

She had to keep fighting. She had to stay alive for him.

She could feel her consciousness slipping, but she forced herself to stay awake, focusing on the sounds of battle, trying to make sense of the chaos that surrounded her. She could hear Dante's voice shouting orders, the clash of weapons, the shouts of men as they continued to fight.

And then she heard Nico's voice.

"You should have stayed out of this, DeLuca," Nico sneered, his voice dripping with venom. "You've sealed your fate."

But Dante's voice rang out, strong and unyielding. "You'll never break me, Nico. Never."

And just as quickly, the sound of Nico's footsteps retreated, fading into the distance.

Isla could feel her vision fading, but her heart clenched as she heard the promise in Dante's voice—the promise that he would stop at nothing to protect her, to make Nico pay for what he'd done.

And then, just as everything began to blur, Dante returned to her side.

He was breathing heavily, his suit bloodied from the skirmish, but his eyes were fixed on her. His gaze softened when he saw her struggling to stay awake, her lips pale and her breath shallow.

"Isla, stay with me," he said urgently, kneeling beside her once more.

"I'm right here," she whispered, her eyes barely open.

He pressed his palm against her wound again, trying to stem the bleeding, but it was too much. Too much for her body to handle.

"No…" she whispered, trying to fight the blackness closing in around her. "I'm… I'm not leaving you, Dante."

His face twisted in anguish as he shook his head. "I won't let you go. Not like this. I'll make you a promise—I will never let anyone hurt you again. You're mine, Isla. Forever."

And as the darkness overtook her, she knew one thing for certain: no matter what happened, Dante would keep that promise. He would stop at nothing to protect her.

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End of Chapter 49