In His Grasp: A Mafia Romance

Chapter 39: Emanuele Wants to Move in With Her

Emanuele brought over a hairdryer to help Isabella dry her hair. Isabella had a lot of long, wet hair scattered over her, which he found to be quite troublesome. He pursed his lips, realizing that it might take a while to get it dry. Without further thought, he reached out and began to blow-dry her hair.

He had never done anything like this before, and he wasn't particularly skillful at it, but to his surprise, Isabella resisted his help.

"No need to trouble yourself. I can do it myself," she said, attempting to take the hairdryer from Emanuele.

The presence of this man suffocated her, and she despised the feeling. Emanuele's face turned icy cold. "Isabella, you're being disobedient again? Let me think... how should I punish you? Should I make you willingly obey me in bed? What do you say?"

Isabella's body trembled uncontrollably. Thinking about the events in the bathroom, she felt that everything was going terribly wrong. This man seemed to have complete control over her, ruling every aspect of her life. Isabella felt trapped and helpless.

Exhausted, she closed her eyes. So much had happened today, and she was tired.

As Emanuele dried her hair, he did so in silence, his presence imperceptible, which gave Isabella some respite. Unknowingly, she fell asleep.

After he was done drying her hair and was about to speak, Emanuele noticed Isabella's rhythmic breathing. He turned to see that she had fallen asleep without realizing it.

Seeing her tranquil slumber, free from the vigilant fear she displayed when awake, Emanuele couldn't help but smile. He reached out to gently touch her cheek.

This was a stark contrast to his previous rough treatment, as he now caressed her with great care. He was afraid that the slightest movement might startle her.

Honestly, he seemed to be less and less interested in her resisting and fearing him, though he couldn't fathom why.

Emanuele gazed at Isabella for a while before lying down beside her. He tenderly cradled her in his arms.

Isabella had a horrifying nightmare in which she found herself in a world drenched in blood. People were chasing her with guns and knives.

One person came closer, wielding a massive knife, ready to strike her down.

Isabella, holding a gun, instinctively fired a shot.

Bang!

The gunshot echoed as her assailant fell to the ground, lifeless.

Isabella woke up abruptly, finding that it was broad daylight, and she was alone in the room. Emanuele wasn't there, which relieved her. She touched her aching head, still haunted by the dream. Her heart was racing, probably due to the events of yesterday, when she had fired a gun and injured someone. It had filled her with fear.

She got up and went to the fridge, pouring herself a glass of cold water, which offered some relief. Isabella suddenly remembered Andrew and Harry. She had been too terrified and tired to recall what had happened after that.

Isabella decided to check on them. Tony drove her to a private hospital where Andrew and Harry were receiving treatment.

Isabella entered Andrew's room, and as soon as she reached the door, she heard laughter coming from inside.

It was Andrew and Grazia, and it was clear they were in good spirits.

"Oh, Isabella, you're here!" Grazia greeted Isabella warmly. She approached and hugged Isabella, planting a kiss on her cheek.

After the gunfight they went through yesterday, Grazia felt that their bond had deepened. Isabella felt the same way. No matter what, they had become friends who had faced life and death together. "Andrew, are you okay?" Isabella shifted her gaze to Andrew.

Recalling yesterday's events, it had been quite frightening.

Andrew raised his hand, showing it off. "Apart from the initial shock when I got hit, I'm fine. It's just a minor wound, isn't it?"

Isabella looked at Andrew's bandaged hand, which looked a bit swollen, and couldn't help but smile. It seemed like he was relatively fine.

"The doctor said you need to stay in the hospital for a week," Grazia chimed in. "Andrew wanted to check out right away, but I stopped him."

"I don't think it's a big deal, and staying in the hospital for so long is quite a hassle," Andrew complained, looking pitiful.

"No, for the sake of your safety, I suggest you stay in the hospital for a few more days," Grazia replied with a stern expression, giving Andrew no room for negotiation.

Observing this married couple banter, Isabella couldn't help but think, even in the world of the mafia, true love existed. Grazia was so kind and open-hearted. It made her wonder why Emanuele seemed like a demon in comparison.

After visiting Andrew, Isabella went to see Harry.

Harry's injuries were evidently more severe than Andrew's. He was still lying in bed, unconscious and in a worse condition than the day before.

"Is he doing okay?" Isabella asked Tony, her concern apparent. Harry's condition seemed much worse than the others, and she was deeply worried.

"The doctor said he should wake up in a couple of days," Tony reassured her.

Seeing Isabella's worried expression, Tony tried to comfort her. "When he wakes up, he can come back to work as your bodyguard."

Isabella immediately rejected the idea. "No, he can't. He needs to rest properly, especially after what happened."

The thought of them being put in danger because of her actions pained Isabella. However, she was also a victim in this situation. She was just an ordinary person, yet she had been forcibly drawn into this world. The recent attack had been terrifying, and she couldn't help but wonder what other dangers lay ahead.

Isabella didn't know and was filled with apprehension.

Her phone suddenly rang.

"Isabella, are you guys okay? I just heard from Emanuele that you were attacked," Sophia's worried voice filled the line. "Oh my God! May God keep you safe. You must be all right."

"I'm fine, Mom," Isabella reassured her. "But what about you? Are you okay?"

She suddenly realized that if she, as Emanuele's stepsister, was in danger, then Sophia, as Emanuele's stepmother, might be in even greater danger.

"Isabella, you don't have to worry about me. We're all in the estate right now, and we rarely go out. We have plenty of bodyguards here, so it's the safest place," Sophia replied. Isabella hoped that was true. She didn't want any more danger.

"By the way, Isabella, Emanuele told me that he has to protect you personally. So, starting today, Emanuele will move into the apartment with you," Sophia continued.

"No, I refuse!" Isabella exclaimed, surprised and her voice raising a notch. "We're both adults; it's not appropriate for us to live together."

Oh God, just thinking about the twisted things Emanuele had done before made Isabella feel very anxious. If that lunatic actually moved in with her, she was afraid she wouldn't be safe, not even her innocence