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“I told you before to trust me.” His thumb drew circles against my skin, talking quietly, Dante smiled. “We're leaving . . . Together, Ivy. I can't give you back to him, you deserve better. I'm going to give you better.”

I wanted to be happy and I was pissed at myself for not being as excited as I thought I should be. But the fear was still there.

Dante was a Pisani. That meant his father would be after him, Remo would be after him.

And caught up in the middle of this mess was me.

He wasn't just risking his life, he was risking it for me.

“Dante, they're going to kill you, your father—he's going to be out for blood if you disobey him.”

Wrapping his arm around my waist, his face crept closer to mine. “I don't care, Ivy, let them come for us. I won't give you back, you're mine.” His lips grazed mine, barely touching. “I love you.” Grabbing my wrists, he unlocked the cuffs, and they fell like paper to the ground. I didn't hear the metal hit the pavement, I didn't hear the sound of the steel as it broke away. All I heard were his words. “I never thought I'd say that, but I do. I love you and I'm not giving away what I found. If my father can't accept that, then fuck him.”

Staring into his eyes, I wondered if he was really ready for what he was saying. “Are you sure about this? Are you really willing to die to save me?”

His smirk seemed to be a permanent fixture on his face. Reaching into his pocket, Dante pulled out a phone. It was different than the one I had seen him with before. I wasn't sure why it surprised me that he had two phones—maybe even more than that. The idea made sense considering his line of work. “Here,” he said, placing it into my hand. “Call your family.”

My chest began to tighten, heart pounding loud as crashing cymbals against my ribs. “Are you serious?”

“Do I look like I'm playing a joke on you?” Brushing the tip of his nose against mine, he said, “I've never been more serious about something in my life. But you need to know you won't be able to go home. . .” His eyes flicked down then up, searching my face for some sign of acceptance. “Maybe one day, but after all this, it'll be too dangerous. They'll look for you there and I won't risk losing you.” Cupping my cheek, his thumb glided over my jaw. “You can understand that, right?”

Forcing my mouth onto his, I kissed him. I kissed him like I'd never felt lips on my face, like the air was new and my body was finally finding out it was alive for the first time.

“I love you, Dante. I love you for stealing me away, I love you for making me yours, I love you.” Tears pricked my eyes as I realized that this love was more than just two people.

We were two people who were going to have to learn to live again. And I was more than willing to learn life all over with this man.

We were two lost bodies living in a world of rules and orders. But now we would be living in a world we would create together.

Nothing was what I had.

Now everything had finally found me.