Under His Protection

Chapter 13: Into the Fire

The morning light filtered through the curtains, casting a soft glow over the room. Taylor stirred, the warmth of Travis's body beside her anchoring her in a rare moment of peace. She stretched lazily, her fingers grazing over his bare chest, feeling the steady rhythm of his heartbeat beneath her touch.

For a fleeting moment, everything felt perfect. But the weight of reality crashed back into her as she remembered what lay ahead. Santino, the looming threat, and the impending showdown that could change everything.

Travis shifted beside her, his arm pulling her closer as if sensing her thoughts. His eyes blinked open, still hazy with sleep, but as soon as he saw the look on her face, his expression darkened.

"What's going on in that head of yours, Kitten?" he asked, his voice rough from sleep.

Taylor sighed, resting her head on his chest. "I'm just... worried. About what's coming. About you."

Travis's hand slid up her back in slow, soothing strokes. "We've got this. Santino's not going to win, I promise you that."

"I know you're strong, Travis. But this isn't just about strength, it's about strategy. And he's smart, too."

Travis exhaled heavily, his hand stopping as he ran his thumb along her spine. "You're right. It's not just a fight—it's a game. And that's why we're not going in blind. Ross and Patrick have been working on our next move, and we're going to make sure Santino doesn't get the upper hand."

Taylor pulled back slightly to look at him, concern still etched into her features. "What if something goes wrong? What if he makes a move before you're ready?"

Travis sat up, taking her hand in his. His eyes softened, showing her a side he reserved for only her. "I've prepared for this my whole life, Taylor. I'm not walking into this fight without knowing every possible outcome. But I need you to trust me."

Taylor met his gaze, her fingers tightening around his. "I do trust you. It's just hard to sit here, knowing what's at stake. Knowing that you could be in danger."

Travis leaned in, kissing her gently before pulling back, his forehead resting against hers. "I'm not going anywhere. Not now, not ever. We've got something worth fighting for, and I'm going to make damn sure we come out of this together."

Taylor nodded, her resolve strengthening in the face of his certainty. But deep down, she couldn't shake the nagging feeling that something was about to change.

Later that afternoon, Travis met Patrick and Ross at the warehouse, where they'd been planning the hit on Santino. The atmosphere inside was tense, the air thick with anticipation. Every move they made from here on out had to be perfect.

Patrick, always the level-headed strategist, stood by a large table scattered with blueprints and intel. Ross leaned against a wall, his arms crossed and expression hard as stone. They both looked up as Travis entered the room, their gazes grim but determined.

"You ready for this?" Patrick asked, his tone serious.

Travis nodded, stepping up to the table. "We don't have a choice. Santino's closing in, and if we wait any longer, we're giving him the upper hand."

Ross unfolded his arms, stepping forward. "Our intel shows he's been moving his operations out of the city. He's setting up a new headquarters in a secluded location, somewhere he thinks we can't reach him."

"Too bad for him, we already know where it is," Patrick added, pointing to a spot on the map. "This is our chance to strike before he solidifies his new base. We take him out there, on his turf."

Travis studied the map, his mind already calculating the risks and advantages. "What's the security like?"

"High, but not impenetrable," Ross replied. "We've got men on the inside feeding us information. We'll know when the time is right."

Travis nodded, his jaw tight. "We hit him hard, and we don't leave until it's done. No loose ends."

Patrick and Ross exchanged a glance, their expressions mirroring the seriousness of the situation. This was it—their shot to take down Santino once and for all.

"I'll have our men ready by tonight," Patrick said, already pulling out his phone to make the necessary calls. "We move at dawn."

As the plan came together, Travis's thoughts drifted back to Taylor. He hated the idea of leaving her behind, knowing she'd be worried, knowing the danger he was walking into. But he couldn't risk her safety by bringing her closer to the fight. He'd have to trust that she'd be safe at the penthouse, waiting for his return.

Back at the penthouse, Taylor paced the living room, her mind racing. Travis had told her that everything was under control, but the tension in his voice had been impossible to miss. She could feel the shift in the air, the growing storm that was about to break.

She hated the waiting. Hated the helplessness. She wanted to be there with him, standing by his side, but she knew Travis wouldn't allow it. His world was dark, dangerous, and unpredictable—and he would do anything to keep her out of it.

But Taylor wasn't afraid. Not anymore. She loved him, and she was willing to fight for him, just like he fought for her.

Just as she was about to head toward the kitchen to make herself a distraction coffee, her phone buzzed. A text from Brittany lit up the screen.

Hey, how are you holding up?

Taylor stared at the message, her thumb hovering over the keyboard. She knew Brittany meant well, but there was nothing anyone could say to calm the storm of emotions swirling inside her. Still, she didn't want to shut her out.

I'm okay, she replied. Just worried.

A few seconds later, the reply came. I get it. Patrick's been on edge too. But they're good at what they do, Taylor. They'll come back to us.

Taylor took a deep breath, trying to let Brittany's words soothe her anxiety. But something in her gut told her that this time, things were different. She couldn't just sit and wait—not when so much was at stake.

She needed to do something. Anything.

Her mind raced as she tried to think of a way to help Travis, to be there for him without putting herself in danger. And then it hit her—Santino had eyes everywhere, connections in places they might not expect. If she could dig into those connections, she might be able to find something useful, something that could give Travis the upper hand.

She grabbed her laptop from the coffee table and opened it, her fingers flying over the keys as she began searching for any trace of Santino's network. It was a long shot, but it was better than sitting here, waiting for the worst to happen.

Hours passed as Taylor worked, her focus unwavering. She scoured databases, cross-referenced names, and pieced together fragments of information. And then, just when she was starting to lose hope, she found it—a name, buried deep in a financial report tied to one of Santino's shell companies.

It was a small connection, but it was something. And right now, anything that gave Travis an edge was worth gold.

She immediately texted the information to Ross, knowing he would know how to handle it. Then, she sat back, her heart racing as she hoped she had done enough to help.

Travis had promised her they'd get through this together, and now she was holding onto that promise with everything she had.