Hello, fabulous readers!

I want to give you guys a huge thank you for pushing La Bellissima over the one-thousand followers mark. It's always my goal to get my stories to hit those 1k+ icons on the side of them. If you haven't had a chance to follow or fav please do! The support keeps me going. It's my form of payment for a job (hopefully) well done ;)

Now, on to chapter 15. It's on the shorter side, but it's an important one!


EPOV

Sleep doesn't come easy despite the comfort of holding Bella close and knowing she is safe and protected. The Petrovs are a problem, and I have a feeling the situation is about to escalate.

Trying not to disturb the angel curled into my side, I slip from bed to retrieve my phone from the pocket of my slacks.

Ten messages.

From Emmett:

Vladimir was spotted at Dad's casino.

From Jasper:

I've put security on high alert.

If any Bratva enters the premises, they are to be dealt with immediately.

A few from my team with nightly updates.

The last from my father:

Call me

My head tilts back, and I sigh in frustration.

A floorboard creeks as I walk through Bella's bedroom. She rustles in her sleep but doesn't wake. A big part of me wants to say fuck it all to my relentless work and climb back in bed— until I remember that Vladimir Petrov threatened her safety. For me, there's no greater priority than keeping her protected.

When did that happen?

Maybe when it became clear that there was no living without her.

Shit.

The bedroom door closes with a quiet click, and I retreat to the living room to make a phone call I would rather not deal with at two am.

My father answers on the third ring, his voice gravelly with sleep. In the background, my mother complains, telling him it's too early in the morning for business. I can picture her half awake, hair a mess, scolding her husband. He tells her to go back to sleep, then whispers for me to "hold on a minute."

"Edward," he finally greets me, voice louder, the effects of slumber falling from his tone. "What the hell happened at La Bellissima."

My jaw locks, and I push my hand through my hair in frustration. "I already told you. The Petrovs are causing problems."

"Yeah. You didn't tell me they were making things personal," he snaps. "You didn't tell me you had a weak spot they could exploit."

"What's that supposed to mean?" My leg begins to bounce because my secret affair with a showgirl is about to become not-so-secret.

"Who is Isabella Swan?"

The woman who gives me a reason to breathe.

My future wife, wrapped in a body built for sin.

Everything I never knew I was waiting for.

Fuck.

"She's a showgirl. She dances at my hotel."

"Bull shit. The Petrovs wouldn't be cornering a random showgirl." Liquid pours in the background, and I know my father has reached the scotch decanter in his office.

"Look," I mutter, searching for the right way to explain my burgeoning relationship. "I've been seeing her recently. Is that okay with you?" Sarcasm drips heavily in my tone.

"I don't know. I'm hearing rumors she's got a father who might cause us some trouble."

"Jesus Christ. I'm not sharing trade secrets with her."

He chuckles. I'm not amused. "No, you're just sleeping with her."

"It's more than that," I admit before I can stop myself.

My father sighs and pauses, likely to sip at the strong liquor he's decided to drink for breakfast. "Where are you right now?"

"Does it matter?" I grimace because, yeah, to him, it does.

"I know you're not at the hotel. Emmett told me you ran off as soon as you saw the security footage. My guess is you're holed up with this showgirl. She's going to cloud your judgment, Edward."

"Oh really? Like Mom clouds yours?" Unable to sit still while my father berates me, I stand, pacing the floor.

"We're married. That's different. And your mother is from our world."

"Yeah, well, maybe I want to marry Bella."

The conversation stops as the reality of what I've said hits us both. Is that really what I want? Am I ready to settle down, build a home, and start a family? Marriage always felt so far away. After tonight, despite my attempts to fight off my feelings for Bella, it's clear that I have a future with her.

"Edward," my father sighs.

I pause my circles in front of the dining table, focusing on the swirled glass of the vase in the center. "It's non-negotiable."

"Fine. If this woman is off limits, we have to send a message to the Petrovs. It's unacceptable to bring women into our disagreements."

My lips purse. "This is more than a disagreement."

"I'll talk to Aro in the morning. He'll relay the message that Isabella isn't to be approached again."

"Yeah, sure." Fucking Aro. I don't trust our cousin with anything, especially the safety of my woman.

"You have a game plan if Vladimir shows up again?"

"Security is on high alert. He won't get far into my property without dealing with me or Emmett."

My father pauses and swallows another sip of his drink. I cringe listening to the unattractive sound. "I've got my guys watching too. And, Edward?"

"Yeah?"

"I want to meet this Isabella soon."

My cheeks puff up with air. Great, that's exactly who I want to introduce Bella to— my mob boss father. "Sure."

"I'll talk to you tomorrow."

I don't bother with a goodbye because the line goes dead before my father gives me the chance to respond.

Knowing he's on my side with one thing regarding the Russians, I should be relieved, but it's not enough. Until he sees them as a threat to our city, I fear I won't be able to fully put a stop to the Bratva's invasion.

Rubbing at my temple, I turn toward the bedroom, where a beautiful woman waits.

Except she's not in the bedroom. She's standing in the hallway right in front of me.

Bella blinks, her unfocused gaze fixated on the carpet between us while the nail of her thumb catches between her teeth. My eyes slip closed as a muttered "Fuck" slips through my lips.

"How much did you hear?" I ask, pinching the bridge of my nose.

She shakes her head. "Who was that?"

"My father."

We're silent as the air around us lies thick.

With shuffling steps, Bella crosses to the couch, sinking down. "Edward, you said… married?" Her voice rises with disbelief as she attempts to comprehend the conversation she overheard.

How do I answer her without coming off as insane? We've known each other for such a short period, and here I am, ready to run to the nearest chapel.

"I'm all in." My chin dips, and my shoulders shrug. "You've hooked me like no one ever has. My priorities are changing, Bella, and you've taken the place at the top of the list."

"This was supposed to be casual. A fling." Her fingers fidget in her lap as my heart pounds in my chest. Is that what she'll see me as in the future, a man she jumped in bed with once upon a time?

Before I can register my actions, my legs carry me to the spot in front of her, and I drop to my knees. My palm finds its way to her chest, pressing between her breasts so I can feel the rhythm of her pulse.

"Tell me. Is that all I am to you?" My question is a plea. I never beg, yet here I am, bearing all in front of this woman who has me enthralled. Some might say obsessed.

Her hand covers mine as her eyes slip closed. I wait, forgetting to breathe as she formulates a response. "No," she whispers. "You're so much more."

"You're mine." It's a declaration, not a question.

She answers anyway. "I'm yours."

Impossible to hold back, I rush forward, catching her lips with mine. I claim possession as I steady her with a hand wrapped in her long hair and my tongue sweeping through her parted mouth.

The devil in me rumbles, wakening with greed.

Mine.

From this moment on, no other man will claim this woman as theirs. She's made a deal she probably doesn't understand the ramifications of. I will kill and maim for her— bury any threat to her safety in an early grave. If Vladimir Petrov confronts her again, he'll be the first to go.

She's eager to return my passion with her own. Quickly, our positions switch, so I am leaning into the cushions of the couch while she hovers between my open legs. She breaks our kiss just long enough to sink her knees onto either side of my hips and straddle my thighs. Her heated panty-covered core settles against my straining erection. With only thin fabric between us, her soft folds tantalize me, urging my fingers to hook onto the material of my boxers and tug.

"Edward, I need you inside me." Her wanton cry is accentuated by her tongue tracing the cords of my neck as she grips my shoulders and rolls her hips over me.

"Hang on, Bellissima. Right now, I can't be gentle."

A whimper breaks from her chest as I pull one side of her panties taut and rip the lacy fabric. They shift to the side, allowing me access to her dripping center. With a single thrust of my hips, my cock slips past her lower lips, and I revel in the tight heat that surrounds me.

She curses and moans while I grit my teeth and pump into her. I buck wildly, one hand guiding her rhythm while the other returns to hold a firm grip on her mahogany locks.

"Tell me who you belong to," I growl against her clavicle before I bite down, marking her, claiming her.

"Yours, Edward! I'm yours!" Her breasts bounce in the most alluring way, making me crave access to her pert nipples. I pull on the hair at the base of her skull, making her yelp in pleasurable pain, and arch backward until my mouth can lock onto one fleshy mound.

I'm rough in my ministrations, sucking and biting. She doesn't cower or tell me to stop. If anything, she grows wetter, her movements becoming choppy as she climbs close to orgasm.

This woman is built for me.

Suddenly, more than anything, I need her to know who she's promised herself to. I need her to understand that this monster I'm releasing as I fuck her is not confined to the bedroom.

"You love this, Bella? You love how my cock ruins you, and my bites mark you?"

My hold on her hair releases slightly so her eyes can meet mine. They glisten with unshed tears, emotion she can't hold inside as she gives me everything she has. "Yes, Edward. Yes, please don't stop."

I pump harder, faster. Her walls tremble as her fingers dig into my skin.

"I will kill for you, Bella."

My voice drops with the severity of my truth. Bella's eyes flutter, and a single tear traces the slight crease on the corner. Her pussy squeezes me tighter than I've ever felt while she pulses around me and calls out her release.

Bucking forward until I'm buried to the hilt inside her, I hit her cervix with a force that I know must cause her discomfort. My heart skips, and my body clenches as the shock of euphoric bliss explodes in my abdomen. Adrenaline and endorphins run through each of my limbs as I spill my seed. I come so hard my vision goes black, and the world around me falls from consciousness.

"Edward?" It's Bella's tentative voice whispered against my neck that reminds me I'm still alive. I squeeze her body flush against mine.

"Yes, Bellissima?" I slur my words as I bask in the aftermath of my release.

"I believe you."

It's not until her breath evens in slumber that I regain enough awareness to understand what she's said.

She accepts the demon lurking inside me.


A/N: There's no turning back for these two.

Chapter 16 is probably going to take me a bit to get to you guys. I'm in the middle of selling our GA house and buying a new one in FL. Add on to that work and my husband's crazy travel schedule, and my stress is through the roof. See you as soon as I can!