The Mafia's Virgin Deal

ing lights only seemed to remind her of how isolated she felt. The days had blurred into one another, each one feeling like a repeat of t

e played in his world, but she hadn't understood just how deep the treachery ran. No. 1 had made it clear that she wasn't going to let Bella simply s

d times, his gaze always lingering on her for a moment too long. There was something about him,something in the way he looked at her,that

ghts by a soft knock on her door. She glanced up, surprised. It was

d out, her voice bar

but there was something else in his eyes,something softer. He wasn't just the cold mafia boss she had been warned about; there was

aid, his voice smooth but tinged with

t after the tense moments earlier that day with No. 1. He had always kept a distance, as if their

o respond to him anymore. He was the reason she was here in this mansion, the reas

him. He didn't sit, but instead paced slowly across

lower than usual. "And I know the situation we've placed you

never called her by her full name unless he was serio

his eyes meeting hers. "You're here because I need you to be. There's som

rrowed. "Protec

e tension in his shoulders. This was a side of him she hadn't seen before,the side that wasn't the mafia b

"From the people who would use you

d to face her again. The look in his eyes had changed. There was something raw there, someth

"I don't want you to get lost in this world, like so many others have. But I don't

en about the contract, about the deal that had brought her here. She was simply...

, his voice breaking through he

her mind racing. "I do

ced the vulnerability in his eyes, the raw honesty that h

hisper. "I've done things I'm not proud of. But you... you remind me

he woman he had lost. But hearing Damion speak about it, hearing the pain in his voice,

is side. "But I made a promise to myself when I lost her,that I wouldn'

he was ashamed of what he was saying. But then he looked up again, hi

e barely above a whisper. "I can't help mys

ant to be part of this twisted world. But another part of her,the part that had always craved someth

a said softly, her voice shaky. "I don't k

t. "I'm not asking for anything, Bella," he said, his voice gentle. "Just

but in that moment, she felt a connection to him. A bond forged not through the contract or t

amion turned toward the door, his pos

he said, his voice returni

angle of emotions. She didn't know what this all meant, or where it was going, bu