ISABELLA POV “I know you do not have the decency, but at least I thought you would show up on time.” She rolls her eyes as I pull the private red curtains open. My feet clad with black stiletto heels and a red modest dress on my body, I take a seat beside her in the private booth. “I had Dominic accounts to care for.” I turn away from her, the high-pitched singer from below filling my eardrums. “Ouch.” I touch my ear in annoyance, and she throws me a dirty look. “No elegance whatsoever,” she rolls her eyes at me, turning back to the show. “Then why did you invite me here and not your darling daughters, Francesca and Rachel?” I mumble, crossing my legs across each other, the male singer joining the show. “When are you going to give the Delucas an heir?” She raises a brow at me, an odd look on her face. “Are you having any problems conceiving?” She turns to me slightly, a worried look now on her face. “No.” I shake my head, feeling uncomfortable from the questioning. “You
ISABELLA POV “You have such a beautiful wife, Mr Deluca,” the man opposite us in a tuxedo says sending me a creepy smile I want to stick to Dominic more but after our altercation before this party, none of us are in a good mood to speak to each other ….. “And? Is that why you have been calling me all evening? Because of your stupid mistress Grace?” I scream back at him pulling off my shoes in the bedroom as I prepare for the party He stands by the door, his hands in the pocket of his trousers, “how dare you do that without my permission? You almost killed her and left her stranded!!” he yells back at me “Then let her get a fucking job rather than leach off you then? Or is she so precious that you have to take care of her every need?” I raise my voice at him entering the closet and shutting the door with a bang. The argument doesn't end there, he pulls the door open, his face red from anger, “You will call the account manager and have him reinstate everything back this mo
ISABELLA POVDominic grabs me as fast as he can; protecting me with his body, he pushes me into an alley, and the gunshots continue. “What is happening??” I yell, my heart drumming in my chest as he drags me through the alley. “They went this way!!” I hear a deep voice scream.“We have to get to a bunker immediately!! Where is your phone?” Dominic grabs my arm, leading me through the dark like he knows the way. My lips quiver. My entire body trembles, the feeling of nausea overwhelms me once I realize my purse had fallen down when we got shot at. “Not to bother, there's a safe bunker just a few blocks from here!!” he says, his voice tense. We divert through another alley and come across four metal doors. He pulls open the second one, quickly locking us in; the room is dark and empty like a storeroom. “Oh my God, are we going to die?” My eyes fill with tears, my entire body trembling with fear as I wrap my hands around my body. “We are not dying tonight, okay?” He grabs my shoul
ISABELLA POV “Breathe Bella breathe!!” Dominic says calmly but filled with panic, his eyes looking around the bunker but he knows we can't get help while we are in here it just me and him. I hear another round of gunshots, this time closer and my heart nearly jumps out of my chest, the panic breathing continues and my breaths come out in bits “We are going to Die Dominic” I panic, “I don’t want to die, please” I shake my head tears streaming down my face His eyes turn to me intensely, panic on his face, he does the single thing I didn't expect him to do. He kisses me His lips mesh with mine, blowing air into my mouth and into my lungs, calming me down immediately, he removes his lips from mine as my breaths stabilize. “You-” I say but the words are halted by another round of gunshots My hands flag out in fear and I grab a hold of him, he doesn't push me away or show his usual annoyance at me, his fingers grip my waist pulling me closer to him as the gunshot intensifies. “If
ISABELLA POV We spend the night in the bunker, submerged in darkness, neither of us can sleep, there are loud sounds of gunshots every now and then but they start to calm down around 2 am. I turn my body to the edge, Dominic sleeping right beside me since there is no couch available here. By morning we hear a loud bang on the hatch door. “Wait!!” I stop Dominic before he can open it “What if it's one of the bad guys?” I raise a brow at him, my heart pounding in my chest, as I adjust my dress from last night “I am the bad guy Isabella” he whispers turning his head away and opening the hatch In fear, I grab the gun on the nightstand and stand pointing it to the entrance, Dominic sends me a coy smirk a head pops down, one of our guards i recognize. “Mr. Deluca, Mrs. Deluca” he nods, “The coast is clear sir” My racing heart calms down and I quickly drop the gun to the floor in haste “Are you sure you dont want to keep that one? For your protection, you seem pretty ready to use
ISABELLA POV “The Deluca’s and their arrogance” I roll my eyes “What did we do this time around?” Dominic cold voice fills my ears as he walks into the living room, a new black suit gracing his features “Nothing of your concern” I stand up, “Is it safe to go out? Or am I stuck here for the next few days?” I confirm with him, fear from the night before still having a hold on me. “I will take care of the people who did that last night, you may go out,” he says his tone dismissive as he walks towards the living room but he stops “Where are you going to anyway? He raises a brow at me “Your sister for some reason wants to see me, so I am going to attend to the princess of the Deluca’s” I fake bow with a roll of my eyes walking out through the entrance. The driver is set already and he pulls the car door open allowing me to slide into the car easily. “The La rouge restaurant please,” I tell him and he starts the drive In a few minutes, we make it to the restaurant. “Tab
ISABELLA POV “Where to Mam?” The driver says to me as I slide into the car “The boutique,” I say first having an idea in mind, there is no way I will barge into the office and ask and he will immediately give it to me. There was a different look I needed to achieve. The car comes to a stop In front of the boutique but I find it closed. “Closed!! It is 10 am in the morning, how is mom keeping her boutique closed by this time?” I frown deeply worried. I slide back into the car instructing the driver to take me home as I still had a full batch of clothing from the last time I went shopping with Dominic’s card The car comes to a stop In front of the house, I don’t spot his cars, “Great he’s not in” I walk up the entrance but I’m surprised to find a figure there already. “Rafaelle?” I frown walking towards him, “What are you doing here?” I say but pull him into a half-hug “Well, it’s been a while since we hung out so I thought I could come see you and take you out” He smiles movi
ISABELLA POV “What?” I pause not turning around to listen to him. “Turn around,” he says his voice deep and smooth I turn around my eyes meeting with him, “I never really see you on some mornings recently but is this what you wear around and for your errands?” He raises a brow at me moving forward, his face filled in anticipation of hearing my answer I look down at my dress, nervously patting it down, “No, I had an outing with Bianca” I lie. There is no way he will know I did all of this for him. “I thought Bianca was in Dubai?” He says with a coy smile on his face. I don’t even know how he knows that but I don’t answer him, quickly turning around I push the doors open, walking out into the receptionists still gossiping about me and probably Grace's appearance here today at almost the same time. “Such coincidence” I shake my head heading back home. I quickly send Rachel the message and she decides she will tell me at the party then. I sigh looking down at the lump of work I h
Isabella POV “What? No deal!!” he yells out, pacing the room I shrug, “Then we will be stuck here for a very long time Rafaelle” I mutter my eyes on his pacing figure “I can't trust you!” he turns to me with pointed fingers I sigh turning my head away from him as I put up more drama to make him believe in me. “I...I just want to see it live, see him one more time as he betrays me” I say my voice cracking as I speak, my cheeks staining with tears. “I need it as some sought-of closure before I move on with you Rafaelle” I grit out, trying to convince him He bites his lips, his expression changing as he stares down at me with a look of unbelief. “How can I trust you?” he lifts a brow at me, his voice low and threatening “Why the sudden change of heart?” he asks further, his voice cautious. “I can't run from you Rafaelle, you have made that clear, and if Dominic is actually going to betray me and marry Grace, then I want to see it,” I say harshly, convincing him completely He
ISABELLA POV I watch Rafaelle as his phone rings multiple times after his call with grace but he refuses to pick up the calls I frown still silent as I watch him, after force-feeding me he has barely spoken a word to me. The sunlight from the sun bounces into the cabin, the sound of the waves smashing against the side of the boat, and all I can think about is finding an escape out of here. Rafaelle walks back into the room, how eyes fixed on me, his unwavering gaze makes my skin crawl and I physically want to hurl myself out of the chair I'm tied to. “You know, Bella, Dominic will be married in a few days” he spreads his arm out, his voice low and menancing. “Can you believe it?” he smirks moving closer I roll my teary eyes ignoring his words, I feel a pang of sadness hit me that Dominic might be playing directly into their trap but at the same time, a tinge of hope fills me. “Dominic won’t marry Grace, Rafaelle and we both know it” I grit out finally responding to his
GRACE POV I smile to myself as I leave Francesca’s office, my kitten heels clicking on the marble floor loudly. My eyes move to my phone screen, tapping the stop button as I was recording the entire conversation between Francesca and I Now, all I have to do is alter the recording to ensure that only Francesca is seen in a bad light, and I? The victim. I smile happily to myself as I leave the office, “I need to continue with my next plan of action” I head back to my car, happy that my plan is coming to fruition, it's been months of waiting and planning, and finally, in a few days, I will have everything. I almost jump in the seat of my car as I take the long drive to the shipping docks. “Bianca” I mutter, my lips set in a thin line as I park my car. I walk directly to the caravan where we kept her and the guard eyes me. “Mam, you're here, Miss Francesca didn't inform me you were coming” he lifts a suspicious brow at me I pull out my purse, my fingers clenching the l
GRACE POV “Just a few more days,” I mutter to myself, pacing my new bedroom. Soon, I will be moving to Dominic's room, and nobody will be able to stop me. I sigh heavily, the sun reflecting down on my figure, I could swear Matilda and Dominic were talking about me last night in his bedroom but I could not hear them properly. I was sneaking closer to the room when they caught me, I pause, “I hope he doesn't suspect a thing yet?” I frown. I also can’t believe Dominic has yet to say yes to the wedding, he has been dragging his feet about it while Madam Deluca and I made preparations “I need to get him to agree to this quickly,” I mutter to myself, grabbing my purse. I need to find the man and get an answer from him quickly before our plans are destroyed. My car comes to a halt in front of his office and eyes follow my movement as I walk in. I know many of them have gossiped about me, especially after I released the news of our marriage to the press But I dont care, I'm li
Dominic POV I push the door of my bedroom open and my gaze lands on a sight that I've been dragging myself through for weeks since Bella’s kidnapping I sigh heavily, my eyes scanning the area, bottles of alcohol at the side of the bedroom, Bella’s clothes strewn across the bed where I had dragged them out in anguish, sleeping with the materials for weeks to no end. The balcony doors have been permanently shut close with a board displaying pictures and a list of suspects. My feet carry me to the board, and the feeling in my chest prompts me to reach out towards the table. I've never had a reason to suspect Grace in Bella’s kidnapping. “But maybe I should,” I say to myself, pulling out a picture of her, I turn to the board pinning it right beside Rafaelle. I mean she has motive now that I think about it and with her pushing for the wedding so bad, I have more reason to suspect her. I bit my lip nervously, I don’t know if I should straight up accuse her and then alert her
Bianca POV Just like a deer caught in headlights, Francesca runs towards me just as the elevator door opens behind me I try to run inside to close it but she grips me pulling out her phone. I grab her by the hair as the elevator doors close, shutting us away from Grace and Dominic. I try to fight, grunting slightly as I grab her by the shirt. We tumble on the floor together and she takes power over me, slamming herself against me and pushing my back into the cold metal floor She pulls out a gun from her side making me squeak out in fear “Don’t kill me!!” I yell out my eyes widening in panic. She laughs wiping the sweat from the top of her forehead, “You escaped and played right back into my trap, you are so dumb Bianca” she laughs pulling me to my feet the gun still pointed at my back “You won't get away with this, Dominic will find out, he will see the security footage” I grit out, my hands raised up in surrender She changes the course of the elevator down to the gar
Dominic POV “What are the both of you doing here?” my voice booms across the hallway, my eyes on Grace and Francesca as they whisper between themselves “Dominic!!” Grace sings, practically shouting while Francesca runs towards the elevator My eyes brows shoot up in shock at Francesca suddenly running away at the sight of me Does she think I'm angry about her taking numerous trips without my approval? I roll my eyes at that, I've been so stuck trying to find Bella that I've lost concentration on every other thing. I sigh heavily as my eyes settle on Grace properly, her eyes move between the elevator door and me as she struts towards me Annoyance bubbles in my throat and my gaze finally settles on the dress she's wearing. My eyes narrows at her impending figure, “What the hell are you doing wearing that dress?” I demand, my voice echoing off the walls She pauses looking down at the dress, “uhm, Dom, I saw the dress and thought you would like it” she says quietly her e
Rafaelle POV I stand on the deck of the ship, the wind whipping in my blonde hair. We are back on sea and on our way back to New York, I didn't know where else to go and Francesca gave no direction so this will be the best decision. And if they find Bianca they can easily bring her back to the ship My knuckles turn white as I grip the ship handle tighter, “No more playing by anybody's rules but mine” I mutter to myself I turn around heading below deck. Bella is seated at the head of the table, one hand tied to the chair and the other scrambling her fork across her plate of food. She looks up as I approach and I can see the fear in her eyes, I bite my lip, smiling slightly to reassure her but she looks away from me I sigh, one of the reasons I want to be back in New York is because I want to kill Dominic for myself, I know Francesca wants to do it but it's my revenge and I plan on taking out Dominic for good. Just as I sit down, my phone rings in my pocket. I glance do
Rafaelle POV “I need you to get Bella out of town, take her to a whole other continent I don’t care but get her out of here quickly before Dominic can get any ideas” Francesca rattles off as she walks towards the car quickly “I can't believe these idiots, one minute with her and they let her escape” My heart pounds in my chest as the evening breeze blows across my skin “Maybe if you had not sat down to drink and if you had carried her yourself we wouldn't be in this mess by now!” she yells back her eyes angry Annoyance erupts in my throat, rolling my eyes at her like she is the head of this plan, Like she controls us. I gulp, “Call Grace, I will get Bella out and I will call you when we are safe” I turn my back against her She huffs, entering the car to the private airport where she will take an urgent trip back to town, just incase Bianca heads there. My feet hit the floor quickly and adrenaline flows through my veins as I head inside the room with Bella. She's asleep