Chapter 9 - The Seaside Bakery

The small, quiet bakery in the coastal Oregon town smelled warmly of cinnamon and fresh bread.
Isabella stood behind the wooden counter, arranging pastries. She wore a simple, beautiful floral dress. She was heavily pregnant, absolutely glowing with peace and health, completely insulated from the violence she had escaped.
The small brass bell above the bakery door chimed softly.
Isabella turned around to greet the customer, and her breath hitched in her throat.
Dante was standing in the doorway. He wasn't wearing a tailored, intimidating mafia suit. He wore a simple, worn leather jacket and jeans. He looked exhausted, humbled, and completely terrified to even look at her.
Isabella didn't scream. Her realistic facial micro-expressions remained guarded. She slowly reached her hand under the counter, hovering her fingers over the silent panic button she had installed.
"I told you not to look for me, Dante," Isabella said, her voice firm and unshakable. "If you take one step closer, the ledger goes to the feds."
Dante didn't step closer.
Instead, the terrifying, undefeated mafia boss slowly dropped to his knees right in the middle of the bakery floor. He looked at her heavily pregnant belly, and thick, heavy tears began to stream down his tattooed, hardened face.
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"I didn't come to take you back, Isabella," Dante wept, his voice cracking with raw, devastating emotion.
👉 Isabella braced for a manipulation tactic, but Dante was about to hand over his absolute, unconditional surrender.