CHAPTER 9

LOVE IN THE LINE OF FIRE

Ethan sat on the edge of the hospital bed, his side still aching from the bullet wound. The tension from the earlier visit from Daniel's man still hung in the air, thick and suffocating. Isla stood by the window, arms crossed, staring into the night.

Silence stretched between them.

Finally, Ethan spoke, his voice low. "You should leave, Isla."

She turned sharply, her eyes flashing. "Are you serious?"

"You know I am." His jaw tightened. "This is getting dangerous. I don't want you involved."

She took slow steps toward him. "Ethan, I am involved. That was decided the moment you walked into my life."

He looked up at her, something dark and unreadable swirling in his gaze. "I don't want to be the reason you get hurt."

Isla swallowed, forcing herself to hold his gaze. "And I don't want to be the reason you fight alone."

Ethan exhaled heavily, running a hand through his hair. "You don't understand. There are things about me, about my past, that you don't know."

She took another step closer. "Then tell me."

His fingers curled into a fist. "If I do, you'll hate me."

Isla reached for his hand. "Try me."

A muscle ticked in Ethan's jaw as he hesitated. But Isla was stubborn. She wasn't backing down.

So, against his better judgment, he pulled her closer—so close that she could feel the heat of his breath against her lips.

"Isla…" His voice was strained, his control slipping. "I want you to walk away."

Her fingers tightened around his. "And I want you to stop pushing me away."

A sharp knock at the door shattered the moment.

They both froze.

Ethan's instincts kicked in immediately. He pushed Isla behind him, ignoring the pain in his side as he grabbed the gun hidden under his pillow.

Another knock.

Then a voice. Low. Dangerous.

"Open up, lover boy."

Ethan's blood ran cold.

Daniel.

Isla's hand gripped his wrist. He felt the tremor in her fingers.

"Stay quiet," he whispered.

Ethan moved toward the door, positioning himself so Isla was out of sight. He took a deep breath, then pulled it open just a crack.

Daniel stood there, dressed in a sleek black suit, looking every bit the predator he was. A twisted smile curved his lips.

"Surprised to see me?" he mused.

Ethan didn't answer. His grip on the gun tightened.

Daniel's gaze flicked past him, toward the dimly lit hospital room. "Not alone, I see." His smirk widened. "How sweet."

Ethan clenched his jaw. "What do you want, Daniel?"

Daniel let out a low chuckle. "Straight to business. I always liked that about you." He leaned against the doorframe. "I came to remind you of something. You're mine, Ethan. You owe me. And if you think hiding behind some girl will change that, you're dead wrong."

Ethan's muscles tensed.

Daniel took a step forward. "Tell me, how far are you willing to go to keep her safe?"

Ethan didn't blink. "As far as it takes."

Daniel's smirk vanished. "Then I guess we'll find out."

With that, he turned and walked away, his words hanging in the air like a death sentence.

Ethan shut the door, locking it. When he turned back to Isla, her face was pale.

"He's not going to stop, is he?" she whispered.

Ethan ran a hand through his hair, his eyes dark. "No. And now, he knows about you."

Isla exhaled shakily. "So, what do we do?"

Ethan stepped closer, his gaze burning into hers.

"We fight."

The gravity of his words settled between them, thick with unspoken emotions. Isla searched his face, looking for hesitation, for doubt.

She found none.

Instead, she found something else.

A dangerous, undeniable pull.

Her heartbeat pounded in her ears. "Ethan…"

He reached for her before she could say another word, cupping her face with both hands. His touch was rough, calloused—yet when his fingers brushed her skin, it was as if she had been set on fire.

"I shouldn't want you," he murmured, his forehead resting against hers. "But I do."

Isla's breath hitched.

"Then stop fighting it," she whispered.

His control snapped.

Ethan crashed his lips against hers, claiming her in a way that felt both desperate and inevitable. The kiss was raw, fueled by fear, by adrenaline, by the weight of what they were up against.

By the forbidden love neither of them could deny anymore.

Isla clutched his shirt, pulling him closer as he deepened the kiss. His hands moved to her waist, gripping her like she was the only thing keeping him anchored.

For the first time in a long time, Ethan wasn't thinking about his past. About the danger. About Daniel.

All he could think about was her.

And how he would burn the world down to keep her safe.

Ethan pulled away; his breathing heavy. Isla's lips were swollen, her eyes dazed.

"We have to get out of here," he said.

She blinked. "Now?"

He nodded, already moving. "Daniel doesn't make threats for fun. If he came here, it means he's already planning his next move."

Isla swallowed. "Where do we go?"

Ethan grabbed a duffel bag from under the bed, stuffing it with whatever he could find. "Somewhere he won't expect."

She frowned. "And where's that?"

Ethan paused, meeting her gaze. "Home."

Isla's eyes widened. "Your home?"

Ethan gave a grim smile. "The one place Daniel won't think to look for me."

A beat of silence.

Then, Isla nodded. "Let's go."

Ethan took her hand.

And together, they ran.