No promises

Isabella’s POV

I walked into the back room of the café and shoved my few belongings into my bag. My laptop. A few changes of clothes that I managed to buy from thrift market. And the ultrasound photo, which I tucked deep inside a book.

When I came out, Dante was waiting by the door.

"I am ready.” I said, lifting my chin.

He took the bag from my hand without asking.

Outside, a sleek black car was waiting. It was polished, dark, and dangerous just like him.

He opened the passenger door for me. I hesitated. Getting into this car meant leaving "Alessia" the free woman behind. It meant walking into the lion’s den. I touched my stomach instinctively.

For the baby, I reminded myself. I need food. I need a roof. I need safety.

I slid into the leather seat. Dante got in the driver's seat. He didn't call his chauffeur. He drove himself while his two ‘associates’ followed us in another car.

The silence was awkward. So I pulled my phone out to text Irene.

Me: I’m coming back to Rome. I got a job. Don’t worry.

I didn't tell her who the job was with. If Irene knew I was in the car with Dante Galante, she would have a heart attack.

“Relax, Moretti.” Dante’s voice broke the silence as he drove with one hand on wheel. His eyes remained on the road. “Put the phone away.”

“I am allowed to tell my friend I’m not dead.” I retorted, though I locked the screen.

“You are not dead. You are mine now.” He muttered.

The possession in his voice made my stomach flip. I didn't know if it was fear or something else.

“I am your employee.” I corrected him. “There is a difference.”

Dante glanced at me. His eyes stayed unreadable. “There is a cooler in the back seat.” he said abruptly. “Eat.”

I blinked. “What?”

“I said eat. You are hungry.”

My stomach answered for me with a loud growl. I blushed.

Dante’s lips quirked up, then it vanished. "I’ll take that as a yes."

I hesitated, then reached back and opened the small cooler. Inside, there were fresh sandwiches, fruit, and a bottle of sparkling water.

I opened a bottle of water, trying to ignore the sudden lump in my throat. “Thank you.”

“Don't thank me.” He responded. “I need your brain functioning. Starving brain make mistakes.”

We arrived in Rome when the sun was setting. Dante drove up the winding roads to the Aventine Hill, the most exclusive part of the city.

He stopped in front of a massive iron gate. It opened automatically as the car approached.

The house looked like a fortress. Modern, sleek, made of glass and dark stone, hidden behind high walls and ancient pine trees.

“Welcome to Purgatory.” Dante muttered as he killed the engine.

“Is that what you call your home?”

“It’s what my enemies call it.”

I didn’t ask why. I was afraid it would make me second guess my choice.

Dante got out, opened my door and grabbed my bag.

I followed him to the massive front door. He didn't use a key. He placed his hand on a scanner. A green light flashed, and the door clicked open silently.

Biometrics, I noted. Top-tier security.

We stepped inside. The foyer was huge. The floors were dark marble, the walls were white. There were no family photos, no flowers.

I saw sensors everywhere. Cameras. Motion detectors. This place was more secure than the Pentagon.

“Your room is upstairs, second door on the left,” Dante said, dropping my bag in the foyer.

“Shower. Rest. Dinner is at eight.”

“And the work?” I asked. “You said there was a breach.”

Dante turned to me. He stepped close again, invading my space until I had to tilt my head back to look at him.

“Tomorrow. You will meet the team. You will have full access to the mainframe. You will find the breach." He said as he reached out and tucked a strand of loose hair behind my ear. “Right now, you look like you are about to collapse. And as I said... I don't like damaged goods.”

I swatted his hand away. “I am not goods.”

“We will see.”

I swallowed as I noticed the amusement flickering in his eyes. "And the conditions?" I asked.

"I am not interested to know what past you are hiding. That's safe with you. The second... My manager is already preparing the cash." He stated as he shoved his hand into his pocket. "And as for the 'looming'..." He paused as his eyes dropped to my lips, then back up.

The air in the room suddenly felt very hot.

"I will try my best to keep my distance." He said, his voice dropping to whisper. "But I make no promises."

He turned and walked toward a dark hallway, leaving me standing alone.

I had to grip the fabric of my sweater to stay still. My heart was hammering so loudly against my ribs.

Evening my breaths, I walked up the stairs and found the second door on the left.

I opened it and gasped.

It was a not a guest room but a suite. A massive bed sat in the center with white linens. A balcony in the corner overlooked the city lights. And on the bedside table, there was a small box wrapped in velvet.

I walked over and opened it.

Inside was a brand new, state-of-the-art phone and a black credit card with no name on it.

A note was tucked underneath.

“Condition 2: In case, you get bored with cash, use this. No limits. - D”

When on earth did he prepare all this?

I sat on the bed, gripping the card.

He was arrogant. He was controlling. He was dangerous. Everything I didn't like.

But as I looked around the warm,

room, touching my stomach, I realized something I hadn't realized in years.

Mateo had thrown me away like trash when I was drowning. Dante had picked me up, wiped me dry, and put me in a warm palace.

“Who are you, Dante Galante?” I whispered to the empty room. “And why do you look at me like you want to devour me?”