“She won’t ever come close to you again,” I whispered, each wordforged out of steel. “I promise you. As long as I’m breathing, no one will ever lay a hand on you.”
Adele sniffled, her small fingers curling into my palm. And as I held her, feeling her heartbeat slowly steady against mine. After some time, I managed to get Adele back to bed. I was grateful she could fall asleep after everything that happened. By now, security had already removed Selene’s body from the room.
I sat on the edge of the bed, staring at my hands. They were scraped and bruised from the fight, but otherwise clean. No blood. No visible evidence of what I’d done. But I could still feel it. The impact of my kick connecting with Selene’s chest. The sickening crack of her neck breaking. The absolute finality of watching her crumpled body at the bottom of the stairs.
I’d killed someone.
The thought kept circling in my mind, unable to find purchase. I should feel something—guilt, horror, regret. Anything other than this cold, hollow relief.
Soon enough, Dimitri returned. I heard him before I saw him, his footsteps pounding down the hallway, urgent and purposeful. Then he was bursting through the door, his eyes immediately scanning the room, cataloging everything.
Adele asleep in the bed. Me sitting on the edge, still shaking.
“What happened?” He was at my side in two strides, his hands framing my face. “Are you hurt?”
My gaze landed on his bruised knuckles, and I knew instantly he must have given security a piece of his mind before coming here.
“No. I’m—” The words stuck in my throat. “Selene came. She got past security somehow. She was in Adele’s room with a knife.”
Every muscle in Dimitri’s body went rigid.
“I tried to stop her. We fought. She fell down the stairs.” I forced myself to meet his eyes. “She’s dead, Dimitri. I killed her.”
He pulled me into his arms so hard I could barely breathe. “Thank God. Thank God you’re both okay.”
“I killed someone,” I repeated, like if I said it enough times, it would start to feel real.
“You defended yourself and our daughter.” His voice was fierce against my hair. “That’s not murder. That’s survival.”
My brain started processing so many things. The aftermath. How would we tell the news to the world? Would they believe me? What would her family do? Oh, God! Her family. Her father.
“Her father is going to want revenge, Dimitri.”
Dimitri went very still. Then he pulled back to look at me, his expression grim.
“You’re right. This is going to trigger diplomatic hostilities. Probably worse than that.” He stood, pacing to the window. “Cornelius loved Selene despite everything. And the way she died—falling down the stairs in my building, killed by my Mate—he’s going to spin this as murder.”
“It wasn’t, Dimitri. I swear to you.”
“I know, I know,” He was at my side in an instant, wiping a strand of tears from my face. “Trust me, Isabella, I believe.”
He wasn’t just saying it. He meant it. I saw it in his eyes, and that made me feel relieved.
“But, Isabella, it won’t matter to Selene’s father. It won’t matter to his pack. They will come for you. Not just one, all.” He caressed my cheek. “Which is why I think you and Adele need to leave. Tonight. I’ll arrange for immediate transport to Zurich. Crane can protect you there while I handle the fallout.”
“No.”
“Isabella—”
“No.” I stood, my legs steadier now despite the lingering adrenaline. “I’m not running, Dimitri. Not again.”
“This isn’t running, this is staying alive.”
“Adele needs to be safe. I agree with that. But I’m done hiding.” I moved closer to him.
“Isabella, this is different. This is a pack war—”
“Then we fight it. Together.” I reached for his hand. “You said I’m your Mate. That we’re a family. That means I stand beside you, not behind you. Not hiding in another country while you face this alone.”