𝓗𝓲𝓼 𝑅𝑒𝑖𝑔𝑛

•68•

Kailani leaned over the dock's edge, clutching her favorite plushie in her hands-a small, soft bear that Salvatore had given her, the very first one he ever gave her when they were still at the cabin and she was locked in that r-. She didn't notice how close she'd crept to the edge, her focus entirely on the doll's worn, comforting face. But in an instant, a sudden gust of wind tugged it from her grip, and before she could react, the plushie slipped from her fingers, tumbling off the edge and into the vast, deep ocean below.

"Salvatore!" she gasped, watching in horror as the bear bobbed in the water for a moment before slowly sinking.

In seconds, Salvatore was beside her, his gaze sharp as he took in the situation. Before she could even blink, he leaped from the dock, plunging into the ocean, the splash echoing as his powerful form cut through the water.

Kailani's heart raced as she watched him disappear beneath the surface. Her stomach twisted when she spotted sleek shadows moving below, dark shapes circling where he'd just gone under. Sharks. A primal fear gripped her as she realized the danger he'd willingly jumped into without hesitation, all for a simple plush toy.

Minutes felt like hours as she watched the surface, biting her lip hard, torn between terror and awe. Salvatore was a force of nature, fearlessly navigating the depths as if the predators surrounding him were no more than a nuisance. Finally, he broke the surface, clutching the bear tightly in his gloved hand.

As he climbed back onto the dock, soaked but unharmed, he tossed the bear gently into her hands. "You could have told me if you wanted it a bath," he muttered, his voice low and gruff. Yet, beneath the sharp edge in his tone, there was something softer-an unspoken relief, a fierce protectiveness that left her breathless.

She clutched the plushie, holding it to her chest, tears pricking her eyes. "I...I didn't mean for you to..."

But he pulled her into his arms, silencing her with the steady thud of his heart against her cheek. "For you, Kailani," he murmured, his voice softening as he ran a hand through her hair. "There's nothing I wouldn't face. Nothing."

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Salvatore's grip was firm yet tender as he led Kailani back along the winding path toward their private resort, his drenched clothes clinging to him, dark and soaked from his dive. The plushie rested in her arms, safe and sound, though her gaze kept darting to him, a mixture of awe and worry in her eyes.

The sun had nearly dipped below the horizon, casting warm orange and pink hues across the sky, blending beautifully with the gentle lights of the resort just ahead. The path wound through tropical trees, their leaves casting playful shadows across them as they walked in silence. She glanced over at him, his jaw clenched, his focus unwavering as he walked beside her. Even now, with the adrenaline of the dive still fading from his eyes, there was a fierce protectiveness in the way he held her hand, as if he needed the assurance that she was right there with him.

They reached the grand entrance of the resort, the soft lights from within illuminating them as Salvatore swept her inside. As soon as the doors closed, he guided her to the luxurious suite they shared, his hand slipping from hers only to peel his soaked jacket off, letting it fall to the floor with a wet thud.

"Salvatore..." Kailani began, clutching the plush bear against her chest. She bit her lip, unsure of what she wanted to say, the weight of what he'd done sinking in. He'd faced down sharks-all for her, for a simple bear that held more sentimental value than anything else. She shook her head, her voice barely a whisper. "You shouldn't have ever-"

He stepped forward, taking her chin gently between his fingers, his touch warm despite the chill of the ocean water that still clung to him. His gaze softened, the intensity of his eyes melting into something unguarded, something vulnerable.