Under His Protection

Chapter 10: Bloodlines and Boundaries

The penthouse felt different the next morning. A calm had settled over the place, but beneath it lingered an unspoken tension. Travis lay awake in bed, his arm wrapped protectively around Taylor as she slept soundly on his chest. His mind was already at work, calculating, preparing for the challenges ahead. He had made a choice, and that choice was Taylor—but being with her meant bringing her even deeper into his world, a world full of threats she didn't fully understand.

The soft knock on the door pulled him from his thoughts. He gently untangled himself from Taylor and slipped out of bed, careful not to wake her. Grabbing a pair of sweats, he moved to answer the door.

It was Ross.

"Morning," Ross said, leaning casually against the doorway, but there was a seriousness in his eyes. "We need to talk."

Travis sighed and motioned for him to come in. They walked into the living room, the air heavy with unspoken tension.

"What's going on?" Travis asked, his voice low but alert.

"Santino," Ross began, running a hand through his hair. "He's not backing down. He's been making moves—quiet ones—but it's only a matter of time before he makes a bigger play. Word is, he's targeting the people closest to you."

Travis's jaw clenched, the muscles in his neck tightening. "He's making this personal."

Ross nodded, his eyes narrowing. "Yeah. And that means Taylor could be in real danger. We need to put her somewhere safe, at least until we take care of Santino."

Travis didn't respond right away, his mind racing. He had expected Santino to retaliate after their last encounter, but targeting Taylor? That was crossing a line.

"She's not leaving my side," Travis said firmly, his voice hard. "I'm not hiding her away like some damsel. She stays with me."

Ross raised an eyebrow, folding his arms. "You sure about that? Santino's ruthless. He'll exploit any weakness, and right now, she's yours."

Travis's eyes flashed with anger, but before he could respond, Taylor's voice broke through the tension.

"What's going on?" she asked softly, standing at the edge of the room, wrapped in one of Travis's shirts. Her hair was slightly tousled, and she looked between the two men with concern.

Travis moved toward her, placing a hand gently on her waist. "It's nothing you need to worry about, Angel," he said, trying to keep his tone calm.

Taylor wasn't convinced. She looked at Ross, then back at Travis. "I can tell when something's wrong, Travis. What aren't you telling me?"

Ross glanced at Travis, waiting for his cue to either stay or leave. Travis sighed, knowing he couldn't keep her in the dark any longer. Not if they were going to be in this together.

"Santino's making moves," Travis explained, his voice tight. "Ross just brought word that he might try to target you."

Taylor's face paled slightly, but she didn't flinch. "So what's the plan?"

Travis stared at her, surprised by her calm reaction. Most people would have freaked out at the mere mention of a mafia boss targeting them, but Taylor was different. She was tougher than he gave her credit for.

"We're figuring that out," Travis said, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "But I'm not letting anything happen to you."

Taylor held his gaze, her voice steady. "I'm not running, Travis. I'm not hiding. If this is your world, then I'm in it with you. Whatever that means."

Ross watched the exchange silently, his expression unreadable. He had seen enough in this life to know that love could be both a strength and a weakness. But the determination in Taylor's eyes told him that she wasn't the kind of woman to be kept in the shadows.

"Alright," Ross said, stepping forward. "If she's staying, then we need to tighten security around her. I can get a few of our best guys to keep watch, but she can't be left alone, not even for a second."

Taylor looked between the two men, nodding slowly. "I trust you to keep me safe. But I'm not going to sit around and pretend I don't know what's going on. If I'm part of this now, I want to be involved."

Travis frowned. "This isn't your fight, Taylor."

"It is now," she said firmly, her voice leaving no room for argument. "If Santino's targeting me because of you, then I want to know what I'm up against. I'm not just some bystander in this."

Ross smirked slightly, clearly impressed by her boldness. "She's got guts, I'll give her that."

Travis shook his head, running a hand through his hair. He admired her strength, but the thought of her getting too close to this world still twisted his gut. He had spent years protecting the people he cared about by keeping them at arm's length, and now Taylor was pulling herself right into the center of it all.

"Alright," he said finally, his voice resigned. "But you listen to me, Taylor. When I say something's too dangerous, you back off. Understood?"

Taylor nodded, her expression serious. "Understood."

Travis pulled her close, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "I'm going to keep you safe, Kitten. No matter what."

Ross cleared his throat, drawing their attention. "We'll handle Santino, Travis. But you need to be ready for whatever comes next. This isn't just about you anymore."

Travis nodded, his grip on Taylor tightening. He had made his choice. Taylor was his, and he wasn't letting anyone take her away from him. But Santino wasn't the kind of enemy to go down easily, and Travis knew the battle ahead would be bloody.

As Ross left the penthouse, Travis looked down at Taylor, his eyes filled with both love and fear. He couldn't lose her, not after everything they had been through. But with Santino lurking in the shadows, the future felt more uncertain than ever.

"We're in this together," Taylor whispered, her hand resting on his chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart.

Travis nodded, his eyes dark and intense. "Yeah, Angel. Together."

He leaned down, capturing her lips in a slow, deliberate kiss. The weight of the world around them faded as their bodies pressed closer, the heat between them rising once again. But this time, there was something different—a deeper connection, born from the knowledge that their lives were about to get a whole lot more dangerous.

Taylor broke the kiss, her breath shallow as she looked up at him, her fingers tracing the tattoos on his chest. "I'm not afraid," she whispered.

Travis's eyes darkened, a mix of desire and protectiveness swirling inside him. "You should be," he murmured, his hands sliding down her waist. "But that's what makes you mine."

And with that, he kissed her again, harder this time, as if sealing the promise they had just made—to face whatever came their way, together.