35. Isabella
ISABELLA
I lie in bed, unable to sleep. I can't stop my thoughts from racing. What if Alessandro fails? What if my father and Enrico somehow survive? Win?
Each sound I hear in the hall I fear is Georgio coming to whisk me away because Alessandro has failed.
When Elena showed up to pack my bag, I wanted to send her away. But I promised Alessandro I’d do as he instructed so I and the baby could live free.
“You have the basics, Mrs. Dante,” she says. “And a few for the baby.” She holds up a yellow onesie. “Don Dante wanted to make sure the baby had something from him. And this… ” She holds up an envelope. “Money and a letter.”
My heart both swells and aches thinking of Alessandro buying something for our baby while preparing for war. While preparing for the possibility of his death.
The house remains quiet, the minutes feeling like an eternity as I wait for news of what's happening at the place I grew up.
Is Alessandro bleeding out? Are my father and brother somehow gaining the upper hand?
I rise from bed, sore but feeling stronger. I was able to shower the other day, which did wonders in perking me up. But my wounds still ache, and my body is still scratched up.
I go to Alessandro’s closet and pull out one of his coats, inhaling his scent. I put it on, wrapping myself in it, in him.
A sudden commotion erupts downstairs. Voices shouting, heavy footsteps pounding. My heart races. Either Giorgio is coming to whisk me away to safety, or my father and brother are coming for me.
The bedroom door crashes open.
Alessandro stands there, blood splattered across his shirt, a cut above his eyebrow. His hair is disheveled, but his eyes blaze with life and triumph.
"Alessandro!" I cry out.
Without thinking, I launch myself at him. He catches me easily, his arms wrapping around me as my legs encircle his waist. I'm sobbing against his neck, breathing him in.
"You're alive. Tell me it's done. Tell me it's over."
"It's done.”
I pull back just enough to search his face. "And my father? Enrico?"
Something hard flashes in Alessandro's eyes. "They've been brought here. I wanted them to face their judgment where everyone could see. A warning to anyone else who might think of betraying me."
"When?" I ask.
"Tonight. And then it will truly be over. We can begin our life without their shadow hanging over us." He sets me down, his eyes scanning me. “You have my coat on.”
“I wanted to be close to you.”
“I’m here, now and forever. I just wanted to check on you, let you know it’s done. I still have more to do tonight, so you get some rest—”
“I want to be there when you pass judgment.”
Alessandro's jaw tightens. "This isn’t retaliation. Your father and brother will die tonight by my hand."
"I know." I hold his gaze so he can see how serious I am. "And I want them to see me standing beside you when it happens."
"You think you want that now, but afterward..." He shakes his head. "I've seen how violence changes people. I don't want it to change how you look at me."
"I know exactly who you are, Alessandro Dante." I lift my chin. "Just as you now know who I am. I'm not some delicate flower who needs to be sheltered."
His lips twitch upward. “No, not a delicate flower, but still—”
I push away from him and go to the closet, pulling out a simple black dress that seems suited for an execution. "I need them to see that I've chosen you. His men and your men will need to see it too. They need to know that I'm a Dante."
Alessandro watches as I begin to change. “You’re fucking amazing.”
I smile. “I know, right?” I turn my back to him. “Zip me, will you?”
He turns me, his hands cupping my cheeks. “I don’t like it. I don’t want the ugliness of this world around you or the baby.”
“Don’t coddle me, Alessandro. I’m made of stronger stuff.”
He's silent for a long moment, and I can see the conflict raging within him. “You’re my queen.”
“Yes, I am.” I press my lips against his. Then I think of one other person in this equation. “What about my mother?”
“We found her in her room, just sitting. Like she was waiting for death to descend on her. We’ve got her in another location than your father and brother, but still imprisoned.”
“Does she have to die?” I ask, my stomach twisting that my mother had a lifetime of misery, only to have her life taken. It doesn’t seem right.
“What do you think?”
“I think she’s no longer a person. She’s lost and doesn’t deserve being killed because of my father.”
His jaw tightens. “She’s a Vitale.”
“Well, her DNA is Scarletta. My father wiped out her family. Took everything from her. Maybe with our love, with a grandchild, she can find herself.”
He doesn’t look sure.
“I know this is a lot to ask.”
He laughs. “You should know, I’ve already vowed to give you whatever you want.”
I grin. “Oh, goodie.” Then I become more serious. “I want my mother to live. Unless she gives a reason, which I don’t think she will.”
He finally nods.
I slip on my shoes. "I'm ready.”
Alessandro takes my hand, his grip reassuring. "Remember, Isabella. After tonight, we look only forward. Never back."
I leave the room with him, walking downstairs. Part of me is terrified of what I'm about to witness. But I know without a doubt that I need to witness it. To know they can’t hurt me again. For them to see that their plans failed. That I’m a Dante.
The room falls silent as we enter. Alessandro's men have Marco and Enrico on their knees. My mother is there too, her head down, hands in her lap. Alessandro is right. She looks like she’s waiting patiently for all the pain to be over.
"Isabella," my father spits in disgust. "You stand with him now? Your own blood means nothing?"
I take a steadying breath. "No, Father, you’re the one whose blood means nothing."
“I swear my loyalty to Don Dante,” Enrico says. For the first time in my life, I hear fear in his voice.
“Fucking pussy. We’re here because of you,” my father says with disdain. “Let me put the bullet in his brain, Don Dante.”
I glance at Alessandro, whose brow furrows as if he can’t believe what he’s seeing.
With a shake of his head, he looks over at Adriano. “Take Mrs. Vitale to the back guest room.”
He nods and helps my mother up. Like an automaton, she goes with him.
“She’ll be locked there, but safe and comfortable,” Alessandro says to me.
Then Alessandro moves to stand directly before my brother. “Not so tough now, are you?” Then he makes a face. “Did you just piss your pants?” He looks at his men. “How did he get to be so feared when he’s a fucking coward?”
“I can serve you—”
“No.”
My father strains against his bonds. "You think he sees you differently, Isabella? You're nothing but a whore—”
"Enough," Alessandro cuts in. "Marco Vitale, you have attempted to destroy my family. You conspired with the Bratva, poisoned my men, and tortured my wife."
Marco's chin lifts defiantly. "And I'd do it again. The Dantes have always been unworthy of their power. Your father was a—” His words are cut short with a bullet into his forehead.
I gasp at the noise, the splatter of blood. But I hold my composure as my father falls. Alessandro glances over me, and I nod to tell him I’m okay.
“Fuck, fuck, fuck… ” My brother chants. “You don’t have to do this. I can help you.”
Alessandro holds his gun inches from Enrico’s forehead. "Any last words?"
"She'll never be happy with you," Enrico snarls. "She'll always be a Vitale."
I lift my head high. "No. I'm Isabella Dante now."
The shot comes, and Enrico’s body slumps forward. I feel relief.
I am free.
Alessandro gives orders for cleanup and business issues, but Alessandro is in the living room with his brothers and Cristian. Eva is there as well, her expression showing the same relief I feel.
Luca's deep laugh carries across the room as he teases Adriano about something, while Eva rests a hand on her rounded belly, smiling. Cristian is deep in conversation with Alessandro, their heads bent together in that serious way men have when discussing business.
But when I enter the room, Alessandro is quickly by my side. “You okay?” He kisses my temple.
“Yes.”
“Quick! Look out the window. I think pigs must be flying. Alessandro grew a heart,” Adriano teases.
“Har-har.” He puts his arm around me. “We’re here to celebrate a great victory. One that couldn’t have happened without all of us.”
“Luca too,” Adriano jokes.
“Luca too.” Alessandro’s eyes narrow at Luca. “You were fucked by our father. I knew the leader in you. I hated you for it. I always knew you’d have been the better heir—”
“Shut the fuck up.” Luca shakes his head. “Father would be proud of you, but who the hell cares? His opinion means jack shit when you realize that you did what he couldn’t do. Bratva gone. Vitales gone. You’re stronger than Father, and I suspect it’s because of a woman.”
Alessandro looks down at me. “I suspect you’re right.”
“Gag.” Adriano makes a noise.
“Oh, please,” Alessandro says. “I had to endure you being a sad sack for years over Eva.”
“He’s not wrong,” Adriano admits.
“The point is, we need to celebrate. The Dantes are on top.”
“Hear, hear,” Luca says, holding up his whisky and drinking.
For a moment, I hope it’s not poisoned. When he doesn’t keel over, I let out a breath.
“I’m hoping Luca and Cristian can stay a few days, just to help quell any attempts at retaliation and take over the Vitale organization.”
“I can stay,” Luca says.
“Valentina will likely chew my ass, but—”
“You love it when she chews your ass.”
“That is our sister,” Alessandro says to Adriano.
“Why don’t Katerina and Valentina and the kids come to New York? They can get to know their new sister-in-law better,” Eva suggests.
“Good idea.” Alessandro looks at me. “If you’re up to it.”
“I’m always up for family.”
He smiles, and it’s one I haven’t seen before. There’s no hint of tension. It’s just plain happy. “Good, then we can tell them about the baby.”
The room explodes with cheers. Eva is the first to reach me and pull me into a hug. "Our children will grow up together."
One by one, they surround us. Luca claps Alessandro on the back. Adriano kisses my cheek and promises to be the fun uncle. Cristian offers congratulations, saying that nothing will keep Valentina away now.
And through it all, Alessandro never lets go of me.
Later, as the celebration continues around us, he leads me out onto the terrace. The night air is cool and clean. I feel like I can breathe.
"Are you happy?" His voice is uncharacteristically uncertain.
I look up at him. "I used to dream about escaping. About running far from my life.”
His jaw tightens slightly, but I smooth away the tension with my fingertips. “I found my life. With you.”
Alessandro pulls me close, one hand cradling my face while the other tugs me close to him. "We're going to build a life together, Isabella Dante," he murmurs against my lips.
For the first time in my life, I belong. I have love. I have a family.