A week had passed since Isabella started training with Dominic. Their sessions had become a regular part of her routine, each one more intense and challenging than the last. She had earned a spot in every meeting where they discussed plans to take down Russo, proving her worth time and again. The rest of her time was spent with her mother, cherishing their bond despite her distaste for the "womanly" ways her mother tried to teach her. But she did it to make Sofia happy.
One late afternoon, Isabella stood outside, watching the guards patrol the grounds. The sun cast long shadows, the air filled with the sounds of chirping birds and rustling leaves. She felt a pair of warm, huge hands land on her shoulders, tightening slightly. The familiar scent of cedarwood and musk filled her senses.
"D
