Lahat ng Kabanata ng Isadora, The Mafia Queen: Kabanata 71 - Kabanata 80

IsadoraHe leaned against the bar, his arms crossed loosely as the club grew louder. His eyes were sharp and thoughtful, and the way he looked at me now was different— like he was trying to see through me.“So,” Viktor began, voice low enough for just us, “where were we?"I met his gaze and said lightly, “Well you did interrupt us, so you tell me."He shifted his weight, then shrugged. “We haven’t talked much since Ivan woke up.”I shrugged back, pretending to be casual though the tension between us was anything but. “Things have been… hectic.”“Yeah.” He smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “I’ve been watching you.”I raised an eyebrow. “Good to know.”“No, I mean it,” he said, voice dropping even lower. “Watching you. Watching how you move through all this. Dimitri, Cesar, Ivan… everything.”My heart picked up its pace. “You think I’m handling it okay?”He chuckled softly. “Better than okay. You’re strong.”“Thanks,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady, but inside, the weight wa

“You sure you don’t want me in there with you?” Rafael asked, his voice low as we pulled up to the old house.I stared out the car window at the building, the peeling paint, the place I used to call home.“No. I need to do this alone.”Rafael shifted in the driver’s seat. “I don’t like it, Isa. This place—.”“I know.” I unbuckled my seatbelt, glancing at the two men in the back— cold and armed. “You’ll be close. That’s enough.”He sighed, running a hand over his head. “Fine. But you say the word, and we’re in there.”I nodded, stepping out into the cool morning air. I hadn’t seen Giuliana, Georgio, or Franklin in months. Not since I’d been ripped out of their world and thrown into the cartel’s. They’d lied, betrayed me, sold me to Dimitri like I was nothing. Now I was back, and I wasn’t the scared girl they’d known.I knocked hard on the door, it creaked open, and Georgio stood there, a beer can in his hand despite the early hour. His eyes widened when he saw me.“Isadora?” His voice

"Can I talk to you for a second?"I was halfway to my room when Rafael called from the bottom of the stairs.I turned and looked back. “You really want to do this now?”“Yes,” he said. “Before your head starts spinning too hard to listen.”I hesitated, then followed him down the hall. We sat in the room— just the two of us this time. Rafael sat forward in the leather chair, elbows on his knees.“You gonna tell me how you’re really doing, or do I have to drag it out of you?”I folded my arms. “I told you. I’m fine.”“Don’t insult me, Isa.”I looked at him. “Why does everyone keep doing that? You, Ivan, Viktor. You all look at me like I’m about to fall apart.”“Because you’re acting like you didn’t just walk into the home that sold you like livestock and come out smiling.”“I wasn’t smiling.”“No,” Rafael said, “you were blank. That’s worse.”I ran my hands over my face. “I don’t know what to tell you. I faced them. Giuliana, Georgio, Franklin. Said what I needed to say. That’s it.”“Th

“Alright, talk to me,” I said, walking into the meeting room with my coffee the following morning.Ivan was already there, leaning against the far wall, arms crossed. Viktor sat at the table, scrolling through his phone. Rafael stood by the window, quiet.“I thought you were gonna sleep in,” Viktor said without looking up.“Didn’t feel like it.”Ivan glanced at me. “You okay?”I sat. “I’m fine. Just want to get this over with.”Rafael turned around. “Over with how?”“Whatever move we’re making next."“Good,” Viktor said, locking his phone. “Because I’ve got something.”Everyone turned to him.He looked at me. “I spoke to Cesar last night after our talk. Gave me a name and a location.”I raised an eyebrow. “Go on.”“There’s a club in the city. Not just any club— high-end, invitation-only. Belongs to Dimitri.”Ivan’s eyes narrowed. “He’s got real estate here?”“Apparently,” Viktor said. “Hidden under a shell name, but it’s his. I confirmed. And he goes there sometimes. Quiet, low-profil

“Are you seriously still in your pajamas?” Mariana asked, stepping into the kitchen the next morning, her hair messy and eyes half-sleepy.I poured coffee into two mugs. “It’s eight in the morning. What do you want from me?”She flopped into a chair beside the kitchen counter. “It’s giving spoiled cartel royalty. I like it. I thought you'd be all dressed in blazers and heels and all of that.”“You've clearly watched a lot of movies," I teased."Your life is basically a movie.""Okay now, you’re the guest here,” I said, sliding a mug toward her. “You don’t get to roast me.”“I slept on silk sheets last night, Isa. Roast me all you want, I died and went to luxury heaven.”I smirked. “Told you it wouldn’t be weird.”“I didn’t say it wasn’t weird. I said it was luxurious. Different things.”I sat across from her, yawning. “Well, thanks for coming.”Mariana stirred her coffee lazily. “You didn’t exactly sound like I could refuse.”“That's not true.”“It is. You called me like, ‘Come over.