Isabella
The door crashes open, startling me awake, terror coursing through me. Are we under attack?
Alessandro stands in the doorway, his shoulders filling the frame. The air crackles with electricity, but not the kind that usually sparks between us. This is dangerous. Lethal.
"Pack your things," he says. His voice is colder, angrier than I’ve ever heard. "You're going back to your family."
I blink, certain I've misheard. "What?"
"I won't repeat myself.” He crosses the room and pulls me from the bed by my arm. “Pack your things and get the fuck out of my home before I… "
He doesn’t finish, but he doesn’t have to. He’s looking at me like he might strangle me to death.
I stumble to get my feet under me. "Alessandro, I don't understand—"
"Don't you?" His laugh sends a chill down my spine. “I nearly believed you."
I’m terrified, but I also know whatever reason he’s angry, I’m not a part of. I can only guess my father or brother or both have acted against him. "What do you think I did?"
"I have a video of your brother destroying my warehouse tonight. Using my personal key to get in." His eyes bore into me. "The key that was in my office."
Understanding crashes through me. "You think I took it? I would never—"
"Save it." He leans in close to me, and any affection I might have seen in his eyes before is gone. All I see now is hate. "Go back to your family. Tell your father his plan failed. Tell him the alliance is over. If he wants war, he’s got it."
"Alessandro, please." I reach for him, but he jerks away and stares at me in revulsion. "I'm your wife. I love you."
His eyes flash with even more anger. "I don't want your lies."
“I didn’t betray you. I wouldn’t.”
“This isn’t a fucking discussion. Pack or not… you’re out of my home now.”
I stagger back, pressing my hand over my stomach, over our child. A child he still doesn’t know about. Should I tell him? Would it make a difference?
I’m not interested in being a father.
No, the news won’t save me or my child.
"Fine.” The fight drains out of me. "I'll go. But please, send me anywhere but to my father. I'll go to a hotel, another country. Anywhere but back to him."
"Why?" His voice is filled with contempt. "Afraid Daddy will be unhappy with your work? The warehouse was destroyed, but I'm still breathing."
I stare at him, wondering how he could possibly believe I’d betray him.
"You deserve your family," he says coldly. "And they deserve you."
“Do you really believe that?”
For one moment, I think I see his resolve waver. But then it's gone, and his eyes are empty again. "You have forty-five minutes to pack whatever you can carry. Security will escort you out. Georgio will drive you home."
I watch Alessandro's back as he walks away like I’m nothing. Like the moments we shared were nothing.
My legs wobble, but I can’t afford to break down.
Two men appear in the doorway, their faces expressionless as they watch me gather what little I can into a small suitcase. My hands shake so badly, I can hardly zip it closed.
"Mrs. Dante. It's time."
I’m escorted out. No one is there to say goodbye. Then again, it’s the middle of the night. It’s probably how he wants it.
During the car ride back to the Vitale estate, I stare out the window knowing my life is going to be worse at home, and my mind is working to figure out other options. Could I run? Start over somewhere with my baby? But I have no money of my own, nowhere safe from either the Dantes or the Vitales.
The driver pulls up to the gate, and one of Alessandro’s soldiers exits the front seat and opens the back door where I’m sitting. He grips my arm and pulls me out. Leaving me standing by the car, he returns to the front passenger seat and they drive away.
If I’m going to run, this is the time. But it’s the middle of the night and I have zero resources.
I press the button at the gate and let one of my father’s guards know I’m here. For a moment, I wonder if they’ll let me in. Moments later, the gate opens, and I walk up the long drive to the house.
The front door opens as I approach. My father stands there in his robe, his expression a scowl. Behind him my mother waits, her head down. Enrico stands on the lower landing of the stairs, irritation in his eyes.
I wonder if Alessandro called them.
“What is the meaning of this?” My father steps aside so I can walk in. “It’s nearly four in the morning.”
I step over the threshold, and the door closes behind me. I grew up in this house, but I don’t feel like I’m coming home.
"So, the great Alessandro Dante has returned you as damaged goods,” Enrico sneers.
My father glares at him over his shoulder. “I hope you didn’t run away—”
“He sent me away. He believes I betrayed him."
"And did you?" Enrico asks, his voice casual.
“No. You did.”
My father turns to Enrico. “What does she mean by that?”
“Perhaps Don Vitale would like to meet in his office,” Mr. Paolo, the butler, says, appearing in his robe. “I’ll have Mrs. Benetti make coffee.”
“Yes, yes.” My father waves me and Enrico to his office. My mother is never allowed in there, but she waits until we’re gone before ascending the stairs. At least someone is getting some sleep tonight.
“So, what do you mean Enrico knows?” My father pours himself a drink and then sits behind his desk.
I remain standing in front of it. “He’s got Enrico on surveillance destroying something at one of the Dante warehouses.”
“Lies. All lies.” Enrico smirks.
“You’re on camera,” I say.
He shakes his head. “Impossible.”
I sigh, feeling exhausted. “Well, I’m sure you can explain to him when he shows you the evidence.”
My father’s eyes narrow at Enrico. “Is this true?”
“There’s no evidence.”
Interestingly, he didn’t say he didn’t do it.
“Why would Alessandro think there is?” my father demands.
Enrico shrugs as he pours himself a drink. “Don’t know. All I know is that there was no operable surveillance.”
“Oh, fuck. What did you do?” My father scrapes his hand over his face. It’s the first time I’ve ever seen him look old and tired.
“He disrespected me… us,” Enrico spits. “I’m tired of waiting. He’s weak now, we should—”
My father rises, pointing a finger at my brother. “Too fucking bad. I’m the Don here. You’ve just ruined everything. First with that whisky stunt—”
“It got us the key. That warehouse is their largest—”
I don’t know the details, but I’ve heard enough to realize that somehow, during the delivery of the whisky or perhaps the commotion of the poisoning, someone took Alessandro’s key. Had Enrico paid someone on the house staff or had he snuck someone in?
“You are not in charge.” My father moves toward Enrico, pushing him against the wall. Enrico’s eyes flare with violence, and I wonder if he’s about to usurp my father. “We had a plan.”
“Mine is better. Why let Dante recover? Why sully Isabella? We need to strike… ”
“You fucking idiot. How many times have I told you to never underestimate a Dante?” My father gives him a look of disgust before releasing my brother and turning to me. “What did he say to you?”
“He told me to get out, and he had me dropped off. He thinks I was helping you.”
“You would have had your brother not royally fucked things up—”
“She’d never help us.” Enrico looks at me with the same disdain my father just showed him. “She’s in love with him. She’s a Dante now. For all we know, this is some play between the two of them for her to get information from us.”
My father appears to consider that.
“Don Dante would never use a woman to do a man’s job,” I say. Dante men are too protective of their women to use one in their dirty work. “Only you’d do that.” I glare at Enrico.
Enrico’s hand lands on my face, the sting of it bringing tears to my eyes. “You don’t talk to me like that.” He grabs me, pushing me against the wall. “Dantes don’t hurt women either, apparently, but I have no such problem.” He pulls back his fist, and all I can think of is my baby.
I cover my stomach. “Don’t. I’m pregnant.”
Enrico’s hand stops mid-flight. “What?”
“Enrico, let her go. Fucking hell. The two of you are utter disappointments.”
Enrico turns to my father while keeping me pinned to the wall. “Did you hear what she said? She’s carrying Dante’s heir.”
My father’s eyes light up, but I know it’s not at becoming a grandfather. "A Dante heir. Isabella, this is perfect!"
"Perfect? My husband just threw me away. There's nothing perfect about this."
Enrico laughs. "Don't you see? This changes everything. Alessandro's blood in a Vitale vessel."
Vessel? “I’m a person. This is a child. My child.”
"Our leverage," Enrico continues as if I haven't spoken. "Father, imagine it. The Dantes won't harm the mother of his heir. And if something were to happen to him—"
"The child would be next in line," Father finishes, a slow smile spreading across his face.
Horror floods me. "You're talking about murdering my husband and using my baby to take over the family." Adriano would never allow it. None of Alessandro’s men would.
"I'm talking about taking what's rightfully ours," Enrico snaps. “If the Bratva hadn’t failed, Dante territory and business would be mine—”
“Ours,” My father growls.
Enrico nods in respect, but I see what’s happening now. Enrico is tired of being held back. He’s ready to lead, to be the Don of not just the Vitale family, but of the Dante family.
“You want this war,” I say to Enrico.
He laughs. “There’s no way this doesn’t end in war, Isabella. You’re smart enough to know that.”
“But, perhaps we just need to get rid of Alessandro. Isabella’s child is the heir.” My father’s face shows triumph as he imagines taking the Dante business.
Neither seem to consider that I might have a girl. "I won’t let you use my child in your sick games.” I know I’ll pay for those words, but I’m no longer the obedient Isabella. I have a child to protect. "This child is mine and Alessandro's. Not yours.”
Enrico's smile vanishes, replaced by something ugly. "You stupid little bitch. You think you have a choice?"
"I do have a choice.”
“Did Dante let you think that? He’s a bigger pussy than I thought if he let you think you had any power.”
"Enough." Father's voice cuts Enrico off. "Isabella, you disappoint me. I thought you understood your duty to this family."
"My duty? Why would I have a duty to you? You used me as collateral in your deal with Alessandro.”
“It’s your role, little sister.”
"I won't be used!" I declare, knowing I won’t win this battle but needing to stand up for myself. For my child. "I'd rather die than help you destroy Alessandro."
Something shifts in Enrico's eyes. "That can be arranged. But not before you've served your purpose."
He glances at my father, who lets out a reluctant sigh but then nods.
Enrico opens the door. “Tony.”
A hulking man enters the room.
“Take her to the basement.”
“What?” Before I can turn, strong hands grip my arms. "What are you doing?" I struggle against his grip. "Let me go!"
Father rises from behind his desk. "You need time to reconsider your position, Isabella. A few days alone should help you figure out where your loyalties should lie."
"You can't do this!" I thrash wildly. "I'm pregnant! The baby needs—"
"The baby will be fine," Enrico cuts me off. "Pregnant women have endured far worse than a little discipline."
I spit in his face. His palm connects again with my cheek, the force of it whipping my head to the side.
"Get her out of here," Father orders. “Take her to the cellar room.”
The cellar room. The place they kept Enrico when he misbehaved as a teenager. Cold, damp, windowless.
"Please," I beg as Tony drags me down the hallway. "Don't let them do this to a pregnant woman. Please."
His grip loosens slightly, but his voice remains firm. "I'm sorry, Miss Isabella. Orders are orders."
The cellar door creaks open, revealing stone walls and a narrow cot. The smell of mildew hits me as they push me inside. The door slams shut. The lock clicks in place.
Alone in the darkness, I sink onto the cot. Tears burn my eyes, but crying won't help me or my baby now. I have to find a way out. But I can’t imagine how, and if I did, where would I go? Alessandro believes I betrayed him. My family has imprisoned me. I have never been more alone in my life.
But it’s not just me I have to consider. I have a life beyond my own that is dependent on me. In the pitch black of my prison, I begin to plan my escape.