Bella woke to the feeling of warmth and strength wrapped around her. Damien's arm was draped possessively over her waist, his body pressed against hers as if even in sleep, he refused to let her go.
She let herself savor the moment. The quiet. The safety.
But deep down, she knew it wouldn't last.
Morelli wouldn't stop hunting her. And Damien… he was too ruthless to let a threat linger.
Her fingers traced the scars on his forearm. Marks of a past she barely understood.
As if sensing her thoughts, Damien stirred, his lips brushing against her shoulder. "You're thinking too much."
Bella turned to face him, meeting those dark, knowing eyes. "I don't want you to fight this war because of me."
His expression hardened instantly. "Too late."
She swallowed. "Damien—"
He silenced her with a slow, deliberate kiss, his grip tightening on her hips. "You think I'd let anyone take you from me?" His voice was low, dangerous. "You're mine, Bella."
A shiver ran down her spine.
She should have been afraid.
Instead, she felt something far more dangerous.
She wanted him to claim her.
Completely.
Irrevocably.
But before she could respond, a sharp knock at the door shattered the moment.
Damien was on his feet in an instant, gun in hand. Bella barely had time to sit up before Leo's voice came through the door.
"We have a problem."
Damien opened the door, and Leo stepped inside, his expression grim.
"They found us."
Bella's heart stopped.
The war had just begun.