Chapter 5

“She’s playing disguise, Russo. Same as you.”

The handler’s words haunted me through the entire day. Today’s work involved fixing minor errors in the system and organizing the company’s site. Maybe that’s why I couldn’t shake his words. The easier the task, the louder they echoed in my head.

Since my station is in the back corner, it sits across from Isabella’s office. She has a separate room for herself that’s made with glass. From here, I could see her every move, from how she professionally picks up the phone without losing focus on her monitor, fixes her hair before typing at her keyboard, and motions to her secretary to make her coffee.

It was no wonder why the entire department admired her. She was efficient and effortless. 

I was still studying her when a folded paper slid across my desk. I glanced up. A woman from Team A walked past me, angelic in looks with golden hair and wide, doll-like eyes. She turned back and winked at me before proceeding to her seat.

I unfolded the note. A phone number, written in neat handwriting, with a little heart drawn at the end.

Cute move. 

Lazily, I crumpled the paper into a ball and flicked it into the trash bin without even looking. I wasn’t the type to be flustered over flirting attempts. I had no interest in dating, especially in this life, on this job, where emotions could be used against you. I’d seen enough to know how they worked. They make people make irrational choices just for the people they love.

That wasn’t going to be me. 

The clock finally struck six, and everyone was on their feet. People stretched, joked, and hurried out to whatever plans awaited them for the night. Some greeted me goodbye, and I waved back casually. Another ordinary workday for everyone else.

But not for me.

I shoved my chair back, slung my bag over my shoulder, and waited for Isabella to finish. She closed her monitor, organized the folders on her desk, and checked her phone before sliding it into her bag. 

Finally, she stood. Her heels tapped lightly against the floor as she walked out, her secretary trailing a few steps behind. I followed her immediately, making it obvious that I was doing so. Sure enough, she turned to her secretary and gave her a last-minute instruction. The young woman did not hesitate and veered off in the opposite direction from the elevator.

She didn’t even look back to see if I was still following. She already knew.

Now it was just the two of us.

Since most employers had already left, we were the only people inside the elevator. Just like I suspected, Isabella pressed the button heading to the rooftop instead of heading down. 

“So.” She broke the silence. “Are you going to keep pretending? Or are we finally dropping the act?”

Her words hung in the air like a blade’s edge.

“I would have already killed you if it wasn’t for that stupid CCTV.” I pointed out.

“Oh don’t worry. Evidence or not, you still wouldn’t be able to kill me.” Isabella didn’t even look at me when she spoke.

Finally, the elevator dinged, and the door slid open to a gust of cold air. The rooftop was almost pitch black, if not for the dim light flickering above the entrance. Most corporate buildings around us already have their lights off. 

She stepped out first. I followed, loosening the tie at my neck, the night air cool against my skin.

Without a word, she slipped out of her blazer and laid it neatly over the railing. By the time she turned back toward me, her stance had shifted. What stood before me now was Isabella Moretti, the princess heir of the Moretti clan. 

She reached behind her back and drew two daggers. I stood in front of the dim light, so it gave me a moment to catch the details of the blade. Red wine dagger with a silver rose carving.

It was her. Isabella.

“You’ve got to be kidding me.” I aimed the gun straight at her chest. My finger hovered over the trigger, but I didn’t squeeze. One gunshot here, and the whole building would know something was wrong.

She lunged towards me with her lips curving in that infuriatingly calm smile. “What’s wrong, mafia? Can’t pull the trigger because of the noise it’ll make?”

“Smart assassin,” I sneered, shifting my aim just a hair. “But don’t worry, I’ll still kill you.” 

Her blade flashed toward my side. I twisted, barely dodging, the edge grazing fabric instead of flesh. I used the butt of my gun against her forearm, attempting to disarm her. But she was no easy opponent, as she could withstand my strength. 

She was fast. Too fast. Every strike came like sharp lightning in the storm.

I aimed once, instinctively, but she kicked my wrist just as I pulled the trigger. The shot cracked through the air, and the bullet sparked harmlessly against the rooftop railing. It had a silencer, however, the impact of  the bullet caused a loud scene. This made Isabella flinch for a second, and it was all I needed to pull out my nunchaku and strike.

She ducked, aiming her dagger at my knees. “You really came prepared, huh?”

“Anything for your death, sweetheart.” I slammed the nunchaku down, blocking her attempt. I would have shot her using my spare gun, but that didn’t have a silencer, and I don’t want to use my bare hands, ever.

“I wonder how that passed security?” She spun with grace and aimed the dagger this time at my ribs. Isabella isn’t just fast but precise when aiming at a human’s weak spot. Any vital hit would have ended my life instantly.

Too bad, I’m no average person.

“Speak for yourself, do you only have daggers in your waist?”

We were breathing hard now, eyes locked, the rooftop around us broke down as it became our battlefield. It was indeed a lot messier than it was initially. 

“You’re interesting, Keigh Russo,” she said, still catching her breath. “This isn’t over.”

I wiped the sweat off my forehead. “What do you mean? We’re just getting started.”