His Ruthless Redemption (Isabella and Dominic) novel Chapter 19

Isabella’s POV

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49

Morning light filtered softly through the guest room curtains as I slipped out of bed, careful not to wake Mateo who was still sprawled across the mattress with his arms wide and mouth slightly open. Peaceful. Safe.

But peace was just an illusion here.

I showered quickly and got dressed in the same clothes again, nerves buzzing under my skin. Last night had been chaos, fear, adrenaline, decisions forced upon me faster than I could process them. But now, with sunlight creeping into the room, the questions I’d shoved aside returned like a storm.

And Dominic owed me answers.

I found him in the kitchen, sleeves rolled, drinking coffee like he’d been up for hours. Of course he had. Dominic Russo probably didn’t sleep, he just plotted.

His eyes flicked to me immediately, sharp, assessing, yet somehow soft.

“Morning,” he said.

“Don’t,” I said, my voice cold.

His brows lifted. I wasn’t here for small talk.

“What happened yesterday—”

“I need answers,” I cut him off. “No evasion. No commands. Just the truth.”

He set the mug down slowly, folding his arms. “Ask.”

“Why were the Vitellis watching us? What do they want with me? With Mateo?”

He hesitated, the smallest pause, but enough for fury to flare up in my chest.

“It doesn’t matter,” he said finally. “All you need to know is that I’ll keep you safe.”

A cold laugh escaped me.

“That’s your answer?” I stepped closer, heat rising in my voice. “A man tried to break down my door, where my son sleeps, and I’m supposed to just not worry about why this is happening?”

His jaw clenched, expression darkening.

“Isabella-”

“No!” The sharpness in my voice startled even me. “No more secrets, Dominic. You did this before- shut me out of everything. Kept me ignorant about your world. Your enemies. Your danger. You made me powerless.”

…

21:45 Wed, Jan 14 ..

Chapter 19

His eyes flashed, pain, guilt, pride, everything tangled.

“That was then.”

“Then, now, what’s the difference?” I demanded. “You still think you get to control what I know.”

“It’s not about control,” he said, voice low. “It’s about keeping you out of things you shouldn’t have to carry.”

My laugh came out brittle. “You don’t get to decide what I can or can’t handle.”

“You wouldn’t understand,” he argued.

“Oh, God,” I breathed. “That again.”

49

All the old wounds tore open, every silent night, every moment he’d walked away without explanation, every secret that had left me drowning alone.

“I wish,” I whispered, voice shaking with anger, “that you’d let me decide what I can or cannot understand.”

Dominic’s throat bobbed. He looked like he wanted to reach for me, to bridge the gap between us, but I stepped back before he could try.

I

“How long are we staying here?” I asked stiffly.

“As long as necessary.”

“Wrong answer.” My voice was ice now. “Mateo and I have a life. School. Work. Friends. We’re not prisoners here. So whatever this is, you fix it. Fast.”

I didn’t wait for his reaction.

I turned and walked away, ignoring the burn of his stare on my back. My heart ached so violently I thought I might collapse, but I held myself together as I climbed the stairs.

Because Mateo was waiting. And Mateo came first.

He was sitting up in bed, hugging his knees when I returned.

“Mamma?” he asked, uncertainty quivering in his voice. “Are we going home today?”

I sat beside him, pulling him close. “Not today, sweetheart.”

“Why?”

I smoothed his curls back gently. “Do you remember the bad man from yesterday?”

His face scrunched. “The one who tried to come inside?”

“Yes. Until he’s gone, we have to stay somewhere safe. Think of it like a short vacation.”

He perked up a little. “Like the beach?”

21:45 Wed, Jan 14

Chapter 19

“I wish,” I smiled weakly. “More like a castle with too many guards.”

He giggled. “We should get Leo so he can protect us, too.”

Oh, my heart.

“We will,” I promised. “Very soon.”

A soft knock came from the doorway.

༡

49

Dominic stood there, hands tucked into his pockets, gaze flicking between us and landing on Mateo with something that looked like awe.

“Morning,” he greeted Mateo more gently than I had expected.

“Hi! Mommy says this is a castle,” Mateo announced proudly.

Dominic’s smile was faint but real. “A secure one.”

Mateo considered him. “Do you live here?”

“For now,” Dominic said. “And so will you.”

I stiffened. We hadn’t discussed that. At all.

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