Page 20 of Crown Of Blood

A small voice.

Soft. Sleepy.

"Papà?"

My heart drops straight through me. I release Isabella's wrist and turn fast.

Sofia stands in the doorway in her princess nightgown, curls falling over her shoulders, holding her favorite stuffed rabbit by the ear.

"Principessa," I exhale, running a hand down my face. "You're supposed to be asleep."

"I was," she says with a tiny yawn, rubbing one eye. "But I needed a drink."

I sigh, every ounce of fury bleeding out of me. I step toward her, but before I can say another word, she spots the woman behind me.

"Hi." Her voice is small and polite. "I'm Sofia."

Isabella blinks, caught off guard, but then smiles—softly, gently. "Hi, Sofia. I'm Isabella."

Sofia tilts her head. "Bella?"

Isabella's smile falters. "Most people call me Isabella."

"Well, I like Bella better." Sofia nods once, like it's settled law. "Are you friends with my Papà?"

The question hangs in the air.

Isabella looks at me, eyes wide and uncertain, before turning back to my daughter.

Sofia grins up at her, completely unfazed by the tension strangling the room. "You have to be his friend," she says solemnly. "Only his friends get to come to our home."

My throat tightens.

Then Sofia notices Isabella's hand—swollen, bruised. She gasps and takes her other one.

"You're hurt."

"It's okay, sweetheart," Isabella says softly, voice gentler now.

Sofia shakes her head. "No. I'll help you get all better. And my Papà will find out who hurt his friend Bella and make them say they're sorry."

The world stills around me.

My men stand silent.

Isabella looks down at my daughter as if she's never seen anything so pure in her life.

And me? I can't breathe.

Because seeing them together—my world and my weakness—shatters something I didn't know I was still holding together.

"Principessa," I manage, "why don't you go get that drink? I'll take you back to bed in a minute."

She nods, trusting and sweet, and pads toward the kitchen.

I turn back to Isabella, forcing my composure.

"Bella," I say quietly, tasting the name, watching the way it changes her eyes. "Go sit in the living room. I'll be right there."