Chapter44: A New Plan of Action

*Maddox* I should have told Isla I love her, too, but I didn’t. A million reasons why that isn’t a good idea flock my mind as I hold her in my arms, looking down at her beautiful face. I want her to know that I love her more than anything, that I will do whatever I can to protect her, but I know that she is in a dangerous position because she loves me. Clearly, that has been demonstrated in the past few days when Zabrina and her minions tried to kill her. Promising her that she is completely safe now would be foolish and dishonest of me. I want to do everything I can to protect her, and I will, but having just failed her, I find it impossible to know for certain I can do that. I couldn’t even protect Rebecca from herself. Isla isn’t sure how to respond to my statement, and I can’t blame her. I lean down and kiss the top of her head and then slide from the bed. “I need to go,” I tell her. I find my boxers and put them back on. “Are you going to look for Zabrina some more?” she asks me a