LOGINIsabella's POV]I“Richard Hale,” Dante repeated, staring at the frozen image on Enzo’s laptop.Nobody spoke for several seconds. The man in the recording looked ordinary: silver hair, expensive suit, a careful smile. I had seen his face in business magazines, usually beside photographs of ribbon cuttings and charity donations. He was the kind of man people trusted because he looked like he belonged behind a podium, not in a room where someone planned a murder.“Tell me you can prove he was there,” Luca said.Enzo replayed the recording. The image shook, then settled on Richard speaking to someone outside the camera’s view. The audio was damaged, but the words were clear enough. Victor must die tonight. Once he’s gone, the girl will belong to us. Then another voice, lower and rougher: Make sure Roberto gets his payment.“That proves a conversation,” Enzo said. “Not who recorded it, when it was recorded, or what the girl means. It could be me. It could be a trap.”“Could the girl be me?
Isabella's POV]By the time we returned to the safe house, my head was pounding.Elena's photograph was on the table in front of me.Dante stood near the window, speaking quietly to Luca. Matteo paced around the room, while Enzo worked on his laptop.Nobody had told me what we were going to do next.I was beginning to lose patience."What is the plan?"Dante ended his conversation and turned towards me."We're not handing over the evidence.""Then Elena dies.""We don't know that.""Look at the photograph!""I have.""Then why are you acting as though we have all the time in the world?"His expression hardened."Because rushing into an ambush won't save her."I pushed my chair away from the table."You keep saying that, but what exactly are we waiting for? Another photograph? A phone call telling us she's dead?""Isabella," Matteo said gently."No. I'm tired of everyone telling me to wait while somebody else decides what happens to my life."I picked up the photograph and held it towa
Isabella's POV]Nobody answered him.Dante raised his gun and positioned himself between me and the entrance. Luca moved towards the side window, while Matteo quietly pulled me away from the kitchen.Enzo slipped the flash drive into his pocket."How did he get here before us?" I whispered."He probably left the safe house before we did," Enzo replied. "He knew about the cabin and guessed we'd come looking."I stared at the documents scattered across the kitchen table.Roberto had known about the evidence all along. He had known Elena was connected to Victor's death, and he had known there was something hidden beneath the floor.How much of his story had been another lie?"Isabella," Roberto called again. "Please. You need to listen to me."I stepped towards the door but Dante caught my wrist."Don't.""I want to hear what he has to say.""He's already shown you what his words are worth.""Then let me decide that for myself."Dante's jaw tightened, but he released my hand.I moved tow
Isabella's POV]"Roberto is missing."Dante's voice carried through the safe house as the brothers gathered around the dining table. Nobody looked particularly surprised, which somehow made me even more nervous.Luca slammed his palm against the table. "How does one man keep escaping from a house full of armed guards? Please somebody tell me how?""Perhaps because your guards are not as good as you think," Enzo replied without looking up from his laptop.Luca turned towards him. "Would you like to repeat that?""Not particularly.""Both of you, enough," Dante interrupted. "Enzo, find out where Roberto went. Luca, check the vehicles. Matteo, make sure we're ready to leave.""And me?" I asked.Dante looked at me. "You stay here.""No."He slowly raised his eyes towards mine. "Isabella, this isn't the time.""Roberto has escaped twice, someone is hunting me, and Elena might be our only chance of exposing Marco. I'm not sitting in a room while everyone else decides what happens to my life
The lights went out, and someone screamed upstairs.Dante grabbed my arm."Stay behind me."A gunshot rang through the house.I felt a shock. Luca rushed towards the stairs.Matteo followed him, pulling a gun from beneath his jacket."What the hell is happening?" I whispered.Enzo was already reaching for his phone."They've cut the power.""Can you turn it back on?""Do I look like an electrician?""Now isn't the time, Enzo!"He glanced at me. "You're right. Sorry."He tapped his screen, illuminating the room with a faint blue light, while Dante moved towards the doorway, listening carefully.Another shot sounded, this time from outside."Enzo, get her out through the rear exit," Dante ordered."I'm not leaving without knowing what's happening."Dante turned towards me. "This isn't a discussion.""Then stop treating me like a child!"His jaw tightened."Stay behind Enzo. If he tells you to run, you run. Understood?"I nodded reluctantly.Enzo led me through the corridor, using his p
"Roberto moved her?"Enzo nodded.I stepped away from him, trying to understand what he'd just said. Roberto was locked in the basement, guarded by Luca, and had been under the Valenti brothers' watch since the previous day. How could he have moved anyone?"When?""That's what I'm trying to find out.""Then find out,”Enzo raised an eyebrow. "You know, most people at least pretend to be polite when asking me for help.""Most people aren't trying to find a woman who might be murdered because my father decided to hide her."His expression changed.For once, he didn't have a clever response."Fair enough,""Come with me."He led me down the hallway to his equipment room. I'd passed it several times but had never been inside. The room was smaller than I'd expected, with two desks, several monitors and cables running along the walls.Enzo pointed to a chair."Sit."I remained standing.“Sit Isabella,”“I'm doing just fine standing,”He turned back to his computer.On the largest screen was







