Bella couldn't breathe.
His words wrapped around her throat like invisible chains.
I'm the only one who can keep you alive.
⸻
"No…" she whispered, shaking her head.
"You're lying."
But even she didn't believe it.
⸻
Rico didn't argue.
Didn't try to convince her.
That was the terrifying part.
⸻
Instead, he stepped back slightly, running a hand through his hair like he was already ten steps ahead.
"Get dressed," he said.
⸻
Bella blinked.
"What?"
⸻
"We're leaving."
⸻
Her chest tightened.
"Leaving? Where—"
⸻
"Safe house."
⸻
The words hit cold.
Heavy.
Real.
⸻
Bella let out a small, bitter laugh.
"So now I'm being relocated like some kind of… asset?"
⸻
Rico's eyes snapped back to hers.
"You are an asset."
⸻
The bluntness stung.
⸻
"To your father," he added.
A beat.
"And to me."
⸻
Her heart betrayed her again.
That dangerous, confusing pull tightening in her chest.
⸻
"I'm not going anywhere with you," she said, forcing strength into her voice.
⸻
Rico didn't move.
Didn't argue.
He just watched her.
Like he already knew how this would end.
⸻
"Fine," he said calmly.
⸻
Bella froze.
That was… too easy.
⸻
Then he reached into his pocket.
Pulled something out.
⸻
A syringe.
⸻
Her blood ran cold.
⸻
"What is that?" her voice came out barely above a whisper.
⸻
"Insurance."
⸻
Bella stepped back immediately.
"No. No—don't you dare—"
⸻
Rico moved fast.
Too fast.
⸻
One second she was backing away—
The next, her back hit the wall again.
⸻
"Relax," he murmured, gripping her wrist.
"You'll still be conscious."
⸻
"That's not comforting!" she snapped, struggling.
⸻
But it was useless.
He was stronger.
Always stronger.
⸻
The needle pressed lightly against her skin—
Then paused.
⸻
Rico's eyes lifted to hers.
Something flickered there.
Hesitation.
⸻
"Don't make me do this the hard way, Bella."
⸻
Her breath shook.
"Then don't."
⸻
Silence.
⸻
For a second… it looked like he might actually listen.
⸻
Then—
A voice echoed from down the hall.
⸻
"Boss!"
⸻
Rico's head snapped toward the sound.
⸻
Footsteps.
Fast.
Urgent.
⸻
A man rushed into view, slightly out of breath.
"Perimeter's been breached."
⸻
Everything stopped.
⸻
Bella's heart dropped.
"No…"
⸻
Rico went completely still.
Deadly still.
⸻
"How many?" he asked.
⸻
"Unknown. But they're not trying to sneak in anymore."
⸻
A pause.
⸻
"They're attacking."
⸻
Bella's stomach twisted violently.
⸻
Her father.
⸻
He wasn't waiting.
He wasn't negotiating.
⸻
He came to take her back.
⸻
Or worse.
⸻
Rico cursed under his breath, grabbing Bella's arm again—but this time, not to trap her.
To pull her with him.
⸻
"Move."
⸻
Gunshots rang out.
⸻
Loud.
Sharp.
Terrifying.
⸻
Bella flinched, her entire body shaking.
"This is insane—!"
⸻
"Welcome to my world," Rico muttered.
⸻
They rushed down the hallway, guards flooding the mansion, weapons drawn, voices overlapping.
Chaos.
Pure chaos.
⸻
Bella's heart pounded as Rico dragged her into a hidden corridor behind a panel she hadn't even noticed before.
⸻
The door shut behind them.
Silence.
⸻
Too sudden.
Too heavy.
⸻
Bella pulled her arm free this time.
"You said you could protect me!"
⸻
Rico turned sharply.
"And I am."
⸻
"This is your version of protection?!"
⸻
His jaw tightened.
"You're still breathing, aren't you?"
⸻
She stared at him.
Hurt.
Furious.
Afraid.
⸻
Then something hit her.
⸻
"Wait…"
Her voice dropped.
Shaky.
⸻
"You said… blood."
⸻
Rico went still.
⸻
"You said my father is coming for me because of what I saw," she continued slowly.
"But that's not all, is it?"
⸻
Silence stretched.
⸻
Bella's heart started racing again.
Faster.
Louder.
⸻
"There's something else," she whispered.
"Something about me…"
⸻
Rico didn't answer immediately.
⸻
When he finally spoke, his voice was quieter.
Heavier.
⸻
"Your blood isn't yours."
⸻
Everything inside her shattered.
⸻
"…what?"
⸻
Rico stepped closer.
Slowly.
Carefully.
Like approaching something fragile.
⸻
"The woman you call your mother…"
⸻
A pause.
⸻
"…isn't the one who gave birth to you."
⸻
Bella's vision blurred.
Her knees nearly gave out.
⸻
"No… no, that's not true…"
⸻
"But your father?" Rico continued.
"That man out there?"
⸻
His eyes darkened.
⸻
"He knows exactly whose blood runs in your veins."
⸻
Gunshots echoed again in the distance.
Closer this time.
⸻
Bella's entire world tilted.
⸻
"Then… who am I?" she whispered.
⸻
Rico held her gaze.
Unflinching.
⸻
"Someone worth starting a war over."