In His Grasp: A Mafia Romance

Chapter 68: What Are They

Emanuele ultimately restrained his thoughts. After their intense encounter, he was exhausted, and he needed to replenish his sleep quickly; otherwise, he feared he might drop dead at any moment.

Emanuele slept soundly for what seemed like an astonishing ten hours. Even during more tranquil times, he had never managed such a lengthy slumber, let alone during these turbulent days. He observed the sleeping woman next to him. Isabella lay on her side, curled up, clutching a corner of the blanket. She looked petite, much like a precious little kitten, invoking a strong sense of protectiveness in him.

Emanuele had been with his fair share of women, but none of them stirred his protective instincts like Isabella. He felt himself slowly succumbing to her. Emanuele gazed at her peaceful sleeping face, noticing her sweetness, her delicate fragrance, and he couldn't help but linger a bit longer on her lips. Soon, Emanuele retrieved a pistol from beneath his pillow, kissed Isabella on the lips, and quietly left the room.

Before departing, he glanced at Tony and Harry. "Make sure to keep an eye on Isabella. If she goes missing under your noses again, I'll take your lives." "Got it, boss," Tony and Harry replied.

Emanuele left, aware that the situation was far from resolved. He couldn't afford to be distracted by Isabella; it would only make his predicament worse.

As he sat in the car, watching the landscape rush by outside the window, Emanuele became lost in thought. What happened the previous night had taken him by surprise. Initially, he had only wanted to punish her, to make her understand how terrifying it was to escape his control. However, at some point, his desires took over, and he did things he had long yearned for. But now, with a clear mind, he felt perplexed. Desire had led him to passionately engage with Isabella, observing her experience multiple orgasms in his bed had satisfied him greatly. Sleeping with her had brought an unexpected serenity, a feeling he had never experienced before during sleep. Isabella had brought him a novel experience, but the more unique it felt, the more Emanuele believed that he should distance himself from her.

...

Isabella awoke from her slumber, only to find Emanuele missing from the bed. Where had he gone? Hadn't he promised to talk to her when she woke up? Isabella felt a bit vexed as she sat up, observing the traces of their passionate night and the lingering soreness.

The wild man, who had ravished her like a beast, had given her countless climaxes. She was grateful for the intrauterine device, as it meant she didn't have to rely on birth control pills.

But Isabella was still quite vexed. She changed into fresh clothes and headed out. Lilly had already prepared lunch for her, but she had managed to sleep until well past noon.

"Lilly, can you make me another cup of coffee?" Isabella thought as she needed a caffeine boost to shake off her drowsiness.

"Of course," Lilly promptly agreed, starting to grind the coffee beans.

Isabella sat at the dining table, even though Lilly's food was as delicious as ever, she found herself eating absentmindedly, her thoughts constantly drifting to Emanuele. She was in a state of confusion about her relationship with him after what happened last night.

They were nominally step-siblings, and if others found out about this, it could cause a major scandal. She wondered what Emanuele was doing right now, whether he missed her or remained his usual cold self. Isabella was unsure, but she knew her developing feelings for Emanuele were problematic. She was supposed to hate him for what he had done, but she couldn't deny that her emotions for him had shifted. She found herself caring about him, keeping him in her heart, and this feeling made her uncomfortable. It felt like Emanuele had stolen her heart.

Tonight, she had to return to the Lombardi family for their family gathering. Despite the tense situation, it was the safest place. She just needed to stay vigilant on her way there. Emanuele would probably be there tonight, and she intended to have a serious conversation with him about what was going through his mind.

In the evening, Isabella put on a light yellow dress and, guarded by her bodyguards, made her way to the Lombardi family. Although she had been here many times and was familiar with the people, she still felt nervous every time she visited. She despised the large mansion because it felt oppressive to her. She was always forced to come here for social events she didn't want to attend. Luckily, Chloe had returned home, so she wouldn't have to see her. In the living room, Sophia rushed in, giving her a tight hug.

"Isabella, are you okay? It's been a dangerous time, and Emanuele is busy with work. He rarely stays at the apartment. It's not safe for you to live alone. Why don't you move in with us?" Sophia was genuinely concerned for Isabella. She was her only daughter, and if anything happened to her, Sophia would be devastated.

"I'm fine, Mom. I'm living there just fine. Emanuele has arranged many bodyguards to protect me." Mentioning Emanuele, Isabella grew anxious. Everything that had happened the previous night was so wild and passionate. The memory made her heart race, but she didn't know what Emanuele was thinking. Did he like her, or was it just about sex?

"Alright then," Sophia didn't insist. Grazia also approached Isabella and greeted her. "During this time, Andrew and I are planning to visit Italy. Isabella, would you like to join us? Chicago's situation is too dangerous right now. Staying here, you never know what might happen. It's better to go abroad for a while until things settle down."

As the mafia princess, Isabella was clueless about most things. The only thing she could do was try not to trouble Emanuele during this time. She wanted to keep him focused on the task at hand. Isabella shook her head. "I'll stay here. As long as I'm careful, nothing should happen."

"

After all, she had attended her graduation ceremony just yesterday, and nothing had gone wrong. Isabella no longer had the initial fear and apprehension. She was adaptable, and her fear was only temporary. She wouldn't be easily defeated in these difficult times.

As they chatted, Emanuele returned.