Semua Bab Bait on the Battlefield: Bab 1 - Bab 10

Isabella Rossi's POVBrutality flared in Lorenzo's eyes. He shoved me away with a violent jerk, then wiped his fingers with a handkerchief as if cleansing himself of filth."Give this Soldato her check," he said coldly. "Then get her out of my sight."With that, he turned on his heel, leaving without a second glance. Just as he reached the door, he paused. His gaze, dark and sinister, locked onto me over his shoulder. "And one more thing," he added. "Elena is hosting a celebration tonight, and we're short on entertainment. Be there."I picked up the check from the floor, blowing gently on the wet blood until it was dry enough to fold, then slipped it into my inner pocket.The paper pressed against my fresh wound, but I felt no pain. "Fine. As long as you pay," I said flatly.…The Santoro Estate was ablaze with light.Once, this had been the Rossi ancestral home. Three years ago, when the Rossi famiglia fell, and I was sent to prison, Lorenzo seized our territory with ruthl

Isabella Rossi's POVThe next day, I was taken to an abandoned chemical plant in the western suburbs.The site was desolate—the perfect backdrop for a mafia hideout.The script Lorenzo gave me was simple. I was to play a hostage kidnapped by a rival famiglia, awaiting rescue by the Santoro security team.But I hadn't expected Elena to be there.Dressed in a tactical vest, she stood beside Lorenzo, her voice cloyingly sweet. "Lorenzo, I want to take part in the drill too. I need to toughen up so I won't be a burden to you later."To my surprise, Lorenzo actually agreed."Then stay by my side and don't wander off," he said softly. "The men playing the kidnappers are mercenaries from Sicanza. They're rough around the edges."… The drill began.I was thrown into a shipping container, my hands zip-tied behind my back.According to the plan, a "kidnapper" would set off smoke grenades ten minutes into the exercise to simulate a fire. Lorenzo's security team was supposed to breach

Isabella Rossi's POV"Isabella!" Lorenzo roared, veins bulging on the back of his hand as he gripped the phone so tightly that it nearly cracked.Leonardo seemed to relish the reaction. He drew a serrated blade, letting its cold edge trace the contours of my deathly pale face."Don Santoro, is she someone you can't bear to lose, or just a discarded pawn?""Name your price," Lorenzo rasped. He fought to steady himself, but his voice still shook. "How much do you want? Whatever it is, it's yours." "Money?" Leonardo threw back his head and laughed. "Lorenzo, you're rich enough to buy a country. If I asked for a billion, you'd pay it without blinking. But I don't need money. I need divertimento. I need entertainment."He added viciously, "There is a blood debt to be settled. If this woman hadn't led my men on a wild goose chase three years ago, you wouldn't have lived long enough to become the Don."Leonardo yanked a fistful of my matted hair. I shut my eyes instinctively, blood

Lorenzo Santoro's POVWhen I finally regained consciousness, I found myself in a hospital bed. I felt as though I had aged a decade in a single night. Gray was already streaking the hair at my temples.I ignored the doctors' frantic protests, ripped the IV from my arm, and stumbled my way back to headquarters.The first thing I did upon arrival was launch a full investigation into Elena.It took only one crack for the truth to spill out. Once the facade broke, the filth came pouring out.Elena had never been pregnant. Her "panic disorder" had been nothing but a curated performance. She wasn't the one who had saved me back then. She had merely found my unconscious body by the river and stripped me of my family signet.As for the fire, the Santoro tech division managed to salvage the footage from the scorched security camera inside the shipping container.In the video, Elena stood outside the container, her features twisted in a mask of pure malice. She held a custom-made lock and

Lorenzo Santoro's POVI refused to accept the end. I lurked outside Isabella's hotel like a desperate stalker until Dante finally came down to confront me."Save yourself the trouble," Dante said, tossing an exquisite velvet box at me.I clicked it open. Inside lay an antique signet ring engraved with the Rossi famiglia crest.My hands shook. "This is…""Three years ago, she put her life on the line acting as your live target and fighting a rabid dog—all just to buy this back for you."Dante's voice was as cold as the grave. "She had planned to put this on your finger herself on your birthday. Years ago, when the Rossi famiglia went bankrupt, you pawned this ring to secure the initial capital. She always believed her famiglia owed you for that sacrifice. But on that very day, you threw her into the crocodile pit."I clutched the ring to my heart, and finally, the dam broke. I collapsed, my tears falling freely.What I had mistaken for betrayal was devotion.What I had mocked a