Chapter 14 – Isabella
ISABELLA
We’d barely stepped out of the room, where we waited until Mirabella was back, before Grey intercepted us and grabbed my sister.
The fluorescent lights of the communications center buzzed overhead, casting harsh shadows across Grey’s predatory features as he stared at my sister like she was a prize he’d finally claimed.
My heart hammered against my ribs as Grey’s fingers tightened around Mira’s wrist.
She winced, her face pale as chalk, eyes wide with terror as she stared at me.
Every protective instinct in my body screamed at me to act.
“Since you’re done here, why don’t you interrogate Mirabella here, while I have a little chat with Isabella?” Grey’s shark-like smile made my stomach churn as he stared at my sister. “Or should I call you Iset?”
The name hit me like a physical blow. They knew.
The blood drained from my face as realization crashed over me.
Somehow, they’d connected my digital alter ego to me.
And because of my stupidity, they thought Mira was me.
We weren’t just bargaining chips. They didn’t just kidnap us to put pressure on Vince.
This was targeted. They wanted Iset all along, and now they’d found her.
The weight of years of deception pressed down on me.
My entire life had been built on lies and secrets.
Iset was my shield, my weapon, my true self in many ways.
Through her, I’d finally mattered. I’d exposed corruption, redirected stolen funds—even from my father’s company—and protected the vulnerable.
Now, having my identity revealed meant losing everything I’d built, everything I’d protected, everything I’d lived for.
Which was exactly what put myself—and Mira—in Grey’s crosshairs.
I lunged forward instinctively, only to collide with Ivan’s solid form as he stepped in front of me. The impact knocked the breath from my lungs, but I pushed against his back anyway, desperate to reach my sister. “Move,” I hissed.
Ivan didn’t budge; he didn’t even turn around. His eyes remained locked on Grey, and his body was like a wall of muscle and determination. “Maybe we should give them a little more time to adjust. They’ve been through a lot in the past few days. Or at least keep them together.”
I peeked around him, but when I took a step to the left, he pulled his arms back and kept me in place behind him.
Grey’s smile didn’t waver, but something cold flickered in his eyes. “Your concern is noted, Zotov, but unnecessary. Isabella and I have much to discuss.” The way he emphasized “discuss” made my skin crawl.
I focused on Mira, could practically see her tremble beneath Grey’s grip. We locked eyes, and hers were wide with confusion and fear. She had no idea why Grey was so interested in me, why he was calling her Iset. But she would never reveal the truth, would never betray me.
A metallic taste flooded my mouth as cold sweat broke out across my skin. I couldn’t let this happen. I couldn’t let him take her.
“She’s not feeling well,” I blurted out, desperate for any excuse.
I pushed away Ivan’s hands, and this time, he let me get past but stopped me by reaching out and grabbing my arm.
I gestured frantically at Mira’s pale face, the dark circles under her eyes. It wasn’t a lie—she was exhausted. We both were. Days of captivity, stress, and fear had taken their toll. “Look at her—she’s exhausted and sick. Whatever you want to discuss can wait until tomorrow.”
Grey’s eyes flicked to me, dismissive and cold. “She’ll be perfectly comfortable at my villa. I’ve prepared everything we need for our…conversation. Right, Isabella.” His tongue lingered around her name, making it sound like a threat and him like a snake.
I felt my hands curl into fists, nails digging into my palms. The pain helped me focus, cleared the panic from my mind enough to think. What options did I have? The room was filled with Grey’s men, all armed, all watching us with blank expressions.
The only exit was a fucking elevator which was triple-secured and guarded. Ivan was between me and Mira. And Mira—my sweet, shy sister who’d never hurt anyone—was being mistaken for a hacker who’d apparently caused enough damage to warrant this level of pursuit.
I reached for Mira’s hand, stretching past Ivan to grasp her fingers. They were ice-cold and trembling against mine.
I squeezed, trying to convey strength I didn’t feel. I won’t let him take you. I promise.
From the corner of my eye, I noticed Nina’s confused expression as she looked between us.
The slight furrow of her brow, the way her eyes narrowed—she was trying to piece something together.
There was something familiar about her, something I couldn’t quite place.
The way she stood, the tilt of her head—it triggered a memory just beyond my reach.
Could she be an ally? Or just another threat?
“Grey,” Ivan’s voice cut through my racing thoughts, deep and authoritative. “Standard protocol would suggest using an official interrogation room. It’s already equipped with everything you might need.” His tone was respectful, but there was steel beneath the words.
Grey’s snake-smile vanished, and his eyes flashed with sudden anger. The transformation was chilling—from false charm to cold fury in an instant. “Sometimes I wonder where your loyalties truly lie, Zotov.”
The accusation hung in the air, dangerous and heavy. Ivan’s grip on my upper arm tightened, and a nerve jumped in his jaw. “My loyalty has never been in question,” he replied, each word precise and measured. “My character, maybe, my methods, definitely. But not my loyalty.”
The tension in the room thickened as they stared each other down, two predators sizing each other up. This was going nowhere.
Grey’s grip on Mira’s arm tightened further, making her whimper. The sound cut through me like a knife. Rage boiled up inside me, hot and dangerous.
No one hurts my sister. No one.
I caught Ivan shifting slightly, positioning himself closer to Grey and the door. A tactical move? Or was he genuinely trying to prevent Grey from leaving with Mira? His expression gave nothing away, but there was tension in every line of his body.
I locked eyes with my sister, reading the silent plea in her gaze.
Help me. Please. We’d spent our entire lives protecting each other.
I’d initially started hacking to create a safety net for us both, to have power in a world where we were just pawns in our father’s games.
I wasn’t about to stop protecting her now.
I took a deep breath, steadying myself. Then I stepped forward, shaking off Ivan’s restraining hand. “Interrogating her will get you nowhere. She’s not Isabella,” I said, my voice surprisingly steady despite my hammering heart. “I am.”
The room fell silent. All eyes turned to me. The hum of electronics seemed suddenly loud in the stillness.
“She’s not Iset,” I continued, standing taller. “I am. Always have been.”
Grey’s expression shifted from disbelief to predatory interest. He let go of Mira, then let his eyes rake over me as if seeing me for the first time. “Is that so?” His voice was soft, dangerous.
I caught Ivan’s subtle sigh from the corner of my eye before he hung his head.
How long had he known one of us was Iset?
How long had he known I was Isabella? He’d suspected.
Of course, he had. The way he’d looked at me during the video call.
The conversation afterward. He’d been piecing it together all along. Was that why he’d been so protective?
“Go ahead,” I challenged, stepping closer to Grey. “Take me instead. But if you touch my sister, I’ll burn your entire world to the ground.”
The threat wasn’t empty. As Iset, I’d accumulated enough dirt on powerful people to cause chaos.
I’d created backdoors into systems most people didn’t even know existed.
I’d collected information. If I survived, I’d use every tool at my disposal to destroy him.
And if I died, all of the files I’d collected would be leaked, as well.
Grey released Mira’s arm, his attention now fully on me. “Bold claims from someone in your position.”
“I’ve got nothing to lose,” I said, my voice dropping lower. “Don’t I?”
The tension in the room was thick enough to cut with a knife. I could feel Ivan’s eyes on me, intense and unreadable. Mira looked shell-shocked, her mouth slightly open in disbelief. Nina’s confusion had given way to something like calculation and grudging respect.
Grey took a step toward me, and I forced myself not to retreat. His cologne—expensive and just too much, filled my nostrils as he leaned closer. Then he looked up at Ivan. “You’ve been taken for a fool, Zotov.”
On the surface, it was just a statement, but I could feel the dig, the underlying satisfaction. Apparently, Mr. Grey had an inferiority complex regarding Ivan.
Mr. Grey focused back on me. “You’ve caused quite a bit of trouble, Isabella. I’ve been looking for you for a very long time.”
“Congratulations,” I replied, keeping my voice steady and dry. “You found me. Now what?”
His mouth stretched back into that snake-grin, but before he could answer, his phone rang. The sound was jarring in the tense silence. Grey glanced at the screen, irritation flashing across his face before he answered.
“This better be important,” he snapped. His expression darkened as he listened. “Now? That’s impossible. I’m in the middle of—” He was cut off by whoever was on the other end. His knuckles whitened around the phone. “Fine. I’ll be there within the next couple of hours.”
He ended the call with barely contained fury. “It seems our little chat will have to wait until tomorrow, Ms. Salvini. Or should I call you Iset?”
Relief flooded through me though I kept my expression neutral. One more day. One more day to figure a way out of this mess. “You can call me whatever you want, and I’ll be here.”