Chapter 18: His highness won't allow it

Belle Rose

“I’ve got to head out, ~kitten~. There’s some business I need to handle. You’re free to roam the house, but Ranger will be keeping an eye on you. He’ll make sure Rafael doesn’t try anything.”

“Leo and Luca are coming with me,” Enzo informs me, planting another kiss on my lips and flashing a smirk before exiting the room.

I can’t deny the feelings I have for Enzo, they’re strong and undeniable. He’s different from the rest; he seems to care, even if he’s reluctant to show it.

It’s clear that he has feelings for me too, that he can’t help but care.

And he’s giving me the freedom to roam the house, do as I please, because he knows I’m on good terms with Sofia in the kitchen and he wants to keep me happy.

I don’t know why I feel so at ease around him, and safe even though he enjoys punishing me. I know he wouldn’t push the punishments too far, unless I really messed up.

Which in my case, if he discovers who my father was, who my uncle is, that I'm Isabella Moretti, he might push it too far.

I dress in the most modest outfit I can find with him not around today and Ranger acting odd towards me.

Once I’m ready, I step out of the room to find a frowning Ranger, his arms crossed over his chest, leaning against the wall.

“Morning,” I greet him with a polite smile.

“You seem happy,” he observes, positioning himself in front of me so that he appears more intimidating and cold when he speaks to me.

“Why?”

“Well, especially after what he showed you yesterday, I would think you would be upset,” he points out. What’s with his sudden change in attitude? It’s unsettling.

“I asked this before, but you didn’t give me a satisfactory answer. What’s your problem?” I ask, halting in my tracks.

“Belle,” he warns, stopping as well when he hears my footsteps stop. “Let’s move.”

“Not until you answer my question,” I assert, standing my ground. Despite the fact that he’s a massive guy, as big as Enzo, with muscles and much more strength than me, I should be scared.

But he wouldn’t do anything, would he?

“I want to keep you safe, Belle. Falling for a guy like Lorenzo, that’s not safe,” he replies, sighing. Why is he saying this? Enzo is his boss. I ~belong~ to Enzo. Why’s he trying to dissuade me from trusting him?

“I don’t understand. Why do you care?”

“Isn’t it obvious? I like you, Belle,” he confesses, rubbing his hands over his face and huffing.

“You like me?”

“Yes, I do.” He starts walking back towards me, reaching out to touch me, but I flinch, avoiding his reach. Enzo wouldn’t like this. “You are right under his thumb, aren’t you? The obedient little girl.” His tone is bitter, as if he’s speaking out of jealousy. Is he jealous?

He likes me, and I belong to Enzo. He shakes his head at me, and I narrow my eyes at him. I don’t like this side of him. He’s been showing it to me for weeks, but I haven’t realized it.

He’s the mole.

Oh no.

I need to tell Enzo. Will he believe me? I have no proof except the fact that I know men. I can tell. Maybe if I tell Enzo what he said to me, something will happen.

Enzo doesn’t like people trying to take me away from him. I don’t want to be away from him, as pathetic as that sounds. I have given in to him. But I don’t think that’s a bad thing.

I’m no stranger to his type of life, my family was from that life. I’m not a stranger to murder and violence. But Enzo doesn’t hurt me, not really, or threaten to kill me. I know he cares about me.

He hasn’t forced himself onto me. He’s not like the other men I’ve been with. He’s not that kind of monster.

But Ranger might be. Although he hasn’t tried anything. He does work for my uncle though, a man who's trying to find me as well as in a war with Enzo and his family.

What if Ranger has said something about me?

I just have to act normal. I’ll tell Enzo when he gets back.

“I’m obedient to him. I belong to him after all,” I declare, stepping back further from Ranger. He scoffs, stepping closer to me.

“Belle, you can’t believe that. Do you?”

“Yes, I do,” I confirm.

“No, you can’t trust him.” He tries to get close to me again but I sidestep him, now heading towards the kitchens. “You won’t even let me touch you because his highness won’t allow it.”

“His highness is your boss.”

“I know. But when he turns impressionable girls like you into his puppet, I have something to say about it.”

“Especially because you like me. But I am his highness’. So you should back off,” I tell him and head into the kitchens, getting away from Ranger.

“Belle, coming to help?” Sofia asks, throwing her head back in exaggerated boredom. I chuckle a little and head over to help her.

“You shouldn’t be in here,” Marissa tells me.

“He said I could go anywhere I wanted today.” She raises an eyebrow at me in question and narrows my eyes. I keep a sincere look on my face to assure her and she lets me carry on.

“He’s sent you back to the kitchens,” Gia snarks, giving me her most smug smirk. “I told you he would get bored with you.” I roll my eyes and just ignore her, carrying on helping Sofia in the laundry room adjacent to the kitchen. Gia joins in, having been sent by Marissa. “We should compare notes. He got me to call him master whilst he fucked me from behind.”

“I wouldn’t know,” I mumble.

“What?” Gia’s voice spikes in surprise, causing me to lift my gaze to two puzzled faces.

“I said, I wouldn’t know,” I repeat, my brows knitting together at their confusion.

“You’ve been in his bed, you sleep there. Luca told me,” Sofia points out.

“Sure, I sleep in his bed. Doesn’t mean anything’s happening,” I shrug. “He hasn’t made a move.”

“~Cazzo~,” Gia grumbles. “Maybe he’s just not into you.”

“Why would she be in his bed if he wasn’t into her, ~genio~?” Sofia retorts. “I think it’s the opposite. He’s into her.” She shoots me a knowing smirk, which I dodge. “Right, you don’t like gossip.”

“No, she’s too busy batting her eyelashes at every guy here. Wouldn’t want the boss to find out,” Gia adds. Sofia swats her arm in reprimand, but Gia just raises her eyebrows. “You’ve seen how Ranger looks at her. He talks to her more than anyone else, even the boss. And he’s always shooting daggers at the boss’ back when he sees them together.”

“He doesn’t look at me like anything. Enzo told him to keep an eye on me,” I clarify.

“Oh, so it’s Enzo now?” Sofia teases, nudging me with her elbow. “He lets you call him that?” I stay quiet, sighing inwardly. I’m just feeding into her teasing.

“Belle,” Ranger’s voice rings out as usual, but his gaze is intense as he walks into the room, taking the shirt I was folding from my hands. “We need to talk,” he announces, motioning for us to leave the room.

“I think I’m good,” I respond tersely, meeting his gaze. The room goes quiet as Ranger and I lock eyes. He glares, I glare back. I’m not backing down. He has no control over me. He’s just a spy for my uncle.

After a few tense moments, he shakes his head and walks out, letting out a frustrated huff once he thinks he’s out of earshot.

“What the hell was that?” Gia asks, her eyes wide with confusion and surprise. “The boss isn’t going to be happy.”

“About what?” I snap back.

“The tension between you two. The chemistry,” she answers, looking smug again. “Have you slept with him?”

“No!” I protest, indignant. “I know you’re jealous that the boss likes me, but stop stirring the pot. Ranger is just an asshole.” They both look taken aback, Gia avoiding my gaze while Sofia smirks.

“I always thought Ranger was nice,” Sofia muses. “You know if the boss finds out about the bad blood between you two, he won’t be pleased.”

“I know,” I mutter.

Bang! The sound of a door slamming reverberates through the house. The cacophony of Italian curses fills the air, and above it all, Enzo’s voice rings out.

Loud and clear.

“~Leo abbiano sparato al cuore~. ~Chiama un cazzo di dottore~!” My heart drops. Leo's been shot?