His Ruthless Redemption (Isabella and Dominic) novel Chapter 54

Chapter 54

Isabella’s POV

I noticed it the moment we stepped out of

Dominic didn’t move away from me.

my

office.

10 vouchers

Not fully.

He walked close, too close to be accidental, his presence at my side a solid, unyielding thing as we followed Luca down the corridor towards the conference room. Every time Luca slowed, Dominic adjusted his pace so he remained just half a step ahead of me.

Almost as if he was shielding me.

The realization made my stomach twist in a way I didn’t know what to do with.

I told myself not to read into it.

s

b

43

This was Dominic. He was protective by nature. Possessive in a way that had nothing to do with romance and everything to do with control. He had always been like this, especially when it came to things he considered his responsibility.

And I was one of them.

I was Mateo’s mother.

That explanation was enough.

W

Luca stopped at the conference room doors and turned to us, smiling easily. “I’ll grab Chiara. Won’t be a minute.”

The moment he was gone, Dominic shifted, subtly angling his body so he stood directly in front of me now, blocking my view of the hallway.

I looked up at him. “You’re doing it again.”

“Doing what?” he asked calmly.

“Standing like that.”

His brows drew together faintly. “Like what?” qu

“Like

you think someone might steal me if you blink.”

Something sharp flickered across his face, annoyance, maybe? Or something closer to discomfort? But it was gone before I could figure out what it meant, his expression shuttering into the indifferent mask he usually wore.

“That’s not what I think,” he said.

I crossed

my arms, mirroring his rigidity. “Then what do you think?”

Chapter 54

He hesitated just long enough for irritation to spark in my chest.

“You’ve been through enough,” he said finally. “You don’t need distractions.”

The words hit wrong.

“Distractions,” I repeated quietly. “Is that what you think another man would be?”

10 vouchers

“I think-” He stopped himself, jaw tightening. “I think your priorities should stay where they are. Mateo needs stabili

I

you think I’d forget that?”

aid.”

implied.”

darkened. “You’re twisting my words.”

?” I challenged. “Because it sounds an n life.”

I trust you,” he said sharply. “I just

The edge in his voice startled

I stared at him. “Why

Silence.

Not the t

comin

e you don’t trust me to know what’s good for my

e else around you.”

ngerous kind, the kind that meant I might not like the next words

y said, my tone soft, unwilling to start arguing with him again, “there’s league. My friend.”

plied immediately, too fast, too certain.

es flicked away for hal

ing to mine. “Because I would know.”

would know,” I

d, let alone

to jud

Dominic?” I probed.

ardly known me that well when we had been

anged woman. I didn’t think he knew me ght about him.

Chapter 54

His jaw worked, tension rippling through him like a warning tremor.

“Because,” he said slowly, “I pay attention.”

My pulse spiked. Did he?

“And paying attention means you can know who means what to me?”

10 vouchers

“In this case, it does,” he said, frustration bleeding through his control. “Look, I just don’t want you distracted. I don’t want you pulled into something unnecessary when you already have responsibilities.”

tared at him, unable to decide what to say to him.

metimes with the way he acted, it seemed as if he was concerned about me, about the men I was around, and then sometimes, it felt as if he was only saying that because it was his duty to make sure I wasn’t distracted from taking care of Mateo.

But he couldn’t be concerned about me like that, could he? He had Alessia waiting at home for him. And me? I was only Mateo’s mother to him.

I decided it was probably the latter he was concerned with.

“I’ve managed my life just fine without you,” I finally said to him, my voice quiet. “I raised Mateo. I built my career. I didn’t fall apart.”

“I know,” he said. “And that’s exactly why-”

16

hy what?”

ned into mine.

I don’t want anyone else stepping into spaces that are mine to protect.”

The world seemed to tilt at his words.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify