Under His Protection

Chapter 33: The Edge of Shadows

Afternoon sunlight streamed through the windows, casting golden hues over the warm tones of the living room. Taylor sat curled on the couch, her legs tucked beneath her, as she absentmindedly rubbed her growing belly. A book Brittany had lent her rested in her lap, unopened. Something felt... off. The house was too quiet, save for the low hum of Travis's muffled voice coming from the study.

She glanced at the clock. For the last few days, time had felt slower. Travis's new security measures were stifling—necessary, yes, but still suffocating. Every window was reinforced, every door monitored, and guards roamed in pairs around the perimeter.

The sound of a door opening and closing drew her attention. Travis emerged, his phone in hand, his expression tight.

"Hey," she called softly.

He looked up, his eyes softening when they met hers. "Hey, Angel. Sorry, work stuff. How are you feeling?"

"Fine," she lied, patting the spot on the couch next to her. "What's going on? You've been in there for hours."

He hesitated before sitting down, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "There's something I need to tell you. It's about Santino."

Taylor stiffened. "What about him?"

Travis sighed, running a hand over his face. "He's not backing off. Ross and Patrick confirmed it this morning—he's got someone tailing us. Watching you."

Her heart skipped a beat. "Me?"

He nodded grimly. "Private investigator, hired to get information on us. Probably hoping to find a weakness. And, Angel... they know about the twins."

The room seemed to tilt. Taylor gripped his arm. "How? I've barely told anyone."

Travis's jaw tightened. "I don't know. Maybe the doctor's office was compromised, or maybe someone close to us slipped up. Either way, Santino knows, and that puts you and the little ones in more danger than ever."

A Meeting in the Shadows

That evening, Travis called an emergency meeting with Ross and Patrick. The three of them gathered in the dimly lit study, their voices low but intense. Taylor stood in the doorway, listening, her presence unnoticed.

Ross leaned against the desk, his expression dark. "This PI's been thorough. He's got names, locations, and a timeline of your moves. Santino's been playing the long game."

Patrick nodded. "We've tightened security, but if Santino's this close already, it's only a matter of time before he makes his move."

Travis crossed his arms, his face a mask of controlled fury. "Then we strike first. I want this guy found. I want everything he knows—and I want Santino to feel the heat. We take out his resources before he even thinks about making a move on Taylor or the boys."

Ross frowned. "That's risky, Travis. If we go too hard, too fast, we might corner him. A man like Santino is dangerous when he's desperate."

Travis's voice dropped, low and lethal. "I don't care. He's made it clear he's not stopping until he gets what he wants. And I'm not letting him anywhere near my family."

From the doorway, Taylor stepped forward, her voice steady despite the fear coursing through her veins. "Then let me help."

The room fell silent as all three men turned to her.

"No," Travis said firmly, his eyes narrowing.

"Travis, listen to me," she insisted, stepping closer. "I know you're trying to protect me, but I'm part of this now. I can't just sit back and let you fight this war without me."

Patrick glanced at Ross, raising an eyebrow. "She's got guts, I'll give her that."

Ross smirked. "More than most of us, I'd say."

Travis shook his head. "Taylor, this isn't your fight."

"Yes, it is," she countered. "It became my fight the moment I fell in love with you. And now that I'm carrying your children, it's not just about me anymore. If Santino's coming for us, I need to be ready. I need to know what we're up against."

Travis stared at her, his jaw working as he struggled with the war inside him. Finally, he sighed, pulling her into his arms. "You're the bravest damn woman I've ever met," he murmured. "But you're also the most important thing in my life. I'll let you in on this—on some of it—but you need to trust me when I say I'll do whatever it takes to keep you safe."

Taylor nodded, burying her face in his chest. "I trust you."

Meanwhile...

Santino sat in the dimly lit back office of his warehouse, swirling a glass of scotch in his hand. The investigator stood before him, trembling slightly under the weight of the mob boss's cold gaze.

"They're aware of your surveillance," Santino said, his voice calm but deadly.

The investigator nodded quickly. "Yes, sir. But the information we've gathered is still valuable. Kelce's tightening his defenses, but his paranoia makes him predictable. And Swift—she's carrying twins. That gives us leverage."

Santino's lips curled into a sinister smile. "Leverage, indeed. And what about their security detail?"

"Kelce's brought in more men, but their focus is on the perimeter. There are gaps—windows of opportunity if we act carefully."

Santino leaned back in his chair, the smile lingering. "Good. Keep watching them. And when the time is right, we'll strike where it hurts the most. No mercy."

Later that night, as Taylor slept in Travis's arms, the house was eerily quiet. The new security cameras blinked steadily, their footage streaming live to the guards outside.

But miles away, in a dark room filled with monitors, the footage played on an unauthorized screen. A shadowy figure leaned forward, their fingers flying over a keyboard as they bypassed the firewalls Travis had put in place.

On the screen, the camera focused on the nursery-in-progress—a room filled with soft blues and tiny cribs. The intruder's lips curled into a malevolent grin.

A single message was typed out and sent to Santino's phone:
"We're in."

The reply came seconds later:
"Good. Begin Phase One."

Travis slammed the phone down on the table, his jaw clenched tight. The private investigator's report lay in front of him, damning evidence that Santino wasn't just lurking in the shadows—he was orchestrating something far more dangerous.

Taylor watched him from across the room, her face pale but determined. "What does this mean, Travis?"

"It means," he said, his voice low and menacing, "Santino's closer than I thought. And we're not just dealing with surveillance. This is the start of something bigger."

Taylor's hand instinctively went to her belly. "What do we do?"

Travis crossed the room in two long strides, pulling her into his arms. His lips brushed her forehead, his voice softening for her alone. "We stay ahead of him, Angel. But I'm not taking any chances with you or the boys. Not now. Not ever."

As Taylor nodded against his chest, Travis's phone buzzed again on the table. Another message, another warning. He didn't need to read it to know one thing: Santino was already making his next move.

Outside, in the shadows beyond the property line, a pair of headlights flickered on before disappearing into the night.