Under His Protection

Chapter 35: Taylor's POV

The morning sunlight seeped into the small room I was staying in, casting a warm, familiar glow across the walls. The bed felt different, but the scent of lavender from my childhood room made everything seem a little less overwhelming. My heart still pounded with the realization that everything had spiraled out of control so quickly.

My mom's voice echoed in my ears from our call last night. She had called me out of nowhere, her tone panicked and full of tears. She hadn't said much—just that something was happening at home, something dangerous. I couldn't ignore it. Not with everything going on with Travis and the crew, with Santino lurking in every shadow. I had to go. I needed to check in with her. I had to make sure everything was okay.

But when I left without warning, I hadn't told Travis. Not because I wanted to hide anything from him, but because in moments like those, words always seemed to escape me. I just packed a small bag, slipped out in the dead of night, and followed the uneasy pull of obligation back to my mom's house.

I sat on the worn-out couch now, my knees pulled up to my chest. The room was filled with family photos, remnants of a life before everything became about mafia meetings, power plays, and endless tension. The world outside was quiet for once, but the uncertainty gnawed at me.

Suddenly, the sound of a car pulling up in front of the house made my heart stop. The unmistakable engine growl sent relief and dread washing over me at once. My eyes flicked to the window, and there he was—Travis. My Travis.

He strode up the porch steps, tall, broad, and with that signature intensity that made everyone else think twice. But with me, his eyes always softened. Even now, with everything going on, with the fear that Santino might have targeted us, Travis wasn't angry. He wasn't mad. He was something far more dangerous: concerned, loyal, and unyieldingly protective.

I rushed to the door before he could knock. The moment our eyes met, my throat tightened.

"Angel," he said, his voice a mix of relief and fury simmering just below the surface. "Why the hell didn't you tell me you were coming here? You think I don't worry about you every damn second?"

He pulled me into his arms, his massive arms encasing me like a protective wall. I rested my head on his shoulder, feeling the tension in his body slowly ease.

"I'm sorry, Trav." My voice was shaky. "My mom called me. There was something happening. I had to come. I couldn't just ignore it."

He pulled back slightly, just enough to look into my eyes. His gaze searched mine, scanning every corner of my face like he was trying to find every trace of danger.

"I don't care about what happened. You could've told me, Angel. You always tell me everything." His jaw tightened, but his expression remained soft. "You don't have to do this alone. Not now. Not ever."

I wiped a tear that I hadn't even realized was falling. "I didn't want you to worry, Travis. Not with everything you're already dealing with."

He shook his head, a flicker of that possessive intensity bubbling to the surface. "Don't you ever do that. Don't ever think I don't have your back, okay? You're mine, Angel. And I don't let anything happen to what's mine."

He glanced around the small house, the photos of me as a kid, the fridge magnets shaped like smiley faces, and the well-worn kitchen table where we'd once shared breakfasts together. It was a stark contrast to the ruthless world we lived in now.

"I checked the perimeter," he continued, his eyes never leaving mine. "My team's got eyes everywhere. We've got people keeping watch here. No one's getting past us. Not Santino, not anyone."

His words made my chest tighten but also filled me with a strange sense of safety.

"I just... I wanted to make sure she was okay. Lily. She looks like me. Mom said she needed my help."

Travis's brows furrowed. "Lily? Why the hell would she need you, Tay? What's going on?"

I shook my head, the reality of everything still too overwhelming to process. "I don't know. But I couldn't ignore it, you know? Not when she's... well, she's family. She looks like me, but I never wanted you to think I was running from you or hiding things. I'm sorry, Trav."

His voice dropped to a whisper as he held me tighter. "I don't need apologies, kitten. I just need you safe. No matter what it takes. We'll figure this out together. We'll find out where Lily is, we'll deal with Santino, and we'll do it my way. The only way—my way. With me, with us."

His words sank into my heart, a lifeline in a world that felt like it was falling apart. Travis wasn't just my bodyguard, my protector, or even my mafia king—he was my partner, my home, and everything that reminded me that even in a world of shadows and danger, there was still love.

Travis kissed the top of my head before pulling back to look me in the eyes. "Come on, let's figure out how we bring her home. Together."

He was a man of power, of unwavering control, but with me, he showed that power was not just about dominance. It was about loyalty, protection, and an unbreakable commitment that never wavered. Not now. Not ever.