Chapter 5: Under the Surface

Bella's POV

The room seemed to shrink the moment Vince Reyes entered.

Bella's heart raced, her stomach knotting in a mixture of dread and anger. The man who had once been her fiancé—the man who had destroyed everything she loved—was now standing in front of her, his cold eyes locked onto hers like a predator's.

Ethan shifted in his seat, his body tense, his jaw clenched. Bella could feel the heat radiating off him as he stared at Vince with an intensity that sent a wave of unease through the air.

"Vince," Bella said, her voice steady but laced with a quiet fury. She had hoped to never see him again, but here he was, a reminder of the worst chapter of her life.

Vince's lips curled into a smirk, his dark eyes gleaming with malicious intent. "Bella, it's been a while," he said, his voice smooth and low. "I see you've moved on... or at least tried to."

The way he looked at her, as if he owned her, made Bella want to slap that smug expression off his face. But she knew that would only fuel his twisted games.

"Not that it's any of your business," she replied coolly, standing to face him. "What are you doing here?"

Vince took a slow step toward her, his gaze flicking briefly to Ethan before returning to Bella. "I think we both know why I'm here," he said, his voice dripping with condescension. "You've got some unfinished business, don't you?"

Bella's stomach churned. "This has nothing to do with you," she shot back, her eyes narrowing. "You're not welcome here."

Ethan stood up then, his voice low but full of authority. "I think it's time for you to leave, Vince."

Vince's gaze shifted to Ethan, and the two men stared each other down. There was a silent understanding between them—Ethan was protective of Bella, and Vince would stop at nothing to have control over her.

Vince's smirk widened, but there was something darker beneath it. "You don't want to get involved in this, Carter," Vince warned, his tone now chilling. "I've got more power than you think."

Ethan's expression hardened, but Bella's heart skipped a beat at Vince's words. Power? What kind of power was Vince talking about?

But before she could process any more, Vince turned his gaze back to her. "I've been looking for you, Bella," he said softly, as if they were the only ones in the room. "I didn't want it to end this way. You and I… we could still have what we had before. Just the two of us. Think about it."

The words hit Bella like a slap, but she kept her composure. Vince had always been manipulative, always trying to make her feel like she was nothing without him. He was a master at pretending to care, but underneath it all, he was as cold and calculating as they come.

"I've moved on, Vince," she said firmly, crossing her arms. "I don't want anything to do with you."

Ethan's hand shot out and gripped her arm, his touch firm and possessive. "I don't think she's interested, Reyes," he said with a coldness that matched Vince's.

Vince's eyes flicked between the two of them, and for a moment, Bella swore she saw something dark shift in his expression. A flash of anger, perhaps, or maybe it was something more dangerous. He wasn't going to let this go. Not now, not ever.

He took a step back, giving them both one last look, but his voice was low and threatening as he spoke. "You think this is over? It's only just begun." He turned on his heel and stalked out of the café, leaving a heavy silence behind.

Bella exhaled slowly, her entire body stiff with tension. She turned to face Ethan, whose eyes were locked on the door where Vince had just exited. The air between them crackled, a mixture of confusion, anger, and unspoken emotion.

"Who the hell was that?" Ethan demanded, his voice rising slightly. "What did he mean by 'unfinished business'? What does he want with you?"

Bella's mind spun, but she knew she couldn't tell Ethan everything—not yet. Not when Vince's threat loomed over them, dark and dangerous.

"He's… he's my ex-fiancé," she said, her voice faltering slightly. "And he's dangerous, Ethan. I don't know why he's back in my life, but I have to keep him away from you… from all of us."

Ethan's jaw tightened, his face hardening. "I don't care who he is. No one threatens you, Bella. No one threatens your family."

Bella swallowed hard, the weight of his words settling on her chest. She could see the raw protectiveness in his eyes, and it made her heart ache. But this wasn't just about them anymore. Vince wasn't just a ghost from her past—he was a dangerous man, someone with the power to destroy everything.

And now, Ethan was involved.

Her thoughts were interrupted when Ethan reached for her hand, his grip firm and reassuring. "I'm not going to let him hurt you, Bella. I'll do whatever it takes."

For the first time in five years, Bella allowed herself to believe those words. She had been so determined to keep Ethan at arm's length, to shield herself from the pain of loving him again. But now, with him standing in front of her, that old spark—the one that had never truly died—was flickering to life again.

But she knew the risks. She couldn't let herself be blinded by the past. Not when so much was at stake.

"There's more you don't know," she said, her voice tight. "Vince has something over you. Something that could destroy you. I don't want to bring you into this, but—"

"I'm already in it, Bella," Ethan interrupted, his voice low and dangerous. "No matter what, you're not going through this alone. I'll handle whatever it is Vince is threatening you with. I'll protect you, and I'll protect our family."

Family.

The word struck her like a lightning bolt. She couldn't deny it any longer. Ethan wasn't just a man from her past. He was part of her future. He had to be.

But the storm she had been running from had followed her here—and now, it was about to consume them both.

Bella looked into his eyes, searching for any sign of doubt, but she found none. There was only unwavering determination.

And that was when she realized. This was bigger than them. This was a war they were about to fight, one that neither of them could escape unscathed.