Babelle bay in bed, staring at thecelling the echoes at Don’s with played over and over in her mind, a constant drimbeye of doubt. “Talian boss,” “argantaad crime,”
sch word seemned duker than the last
She had known Mattewwas complex, but this? How halaman like him become lobed in something so shadowed by violence and fear?
The revelation about Albert halvaught her offered, too. Not only was he Matteo’s diber and trainer, but his adepthe father? It painted an entirely different picture. Alberto wasn’t just another loyal companion, he was Emily, bound by Hles stronger than blood. Isabelle wondered if that meant Maltes had been groomed for this led the very start Was hissinghe effortless charm andrenitel hatamask over something far more dangerous?
She hit her Ts, bet mind wandering to the countless victins she had real about hi tratticking cases. Innocent lives were tom apart, and people were reduced to commodities. Her chest tightened at the thought. Il Matico truly had any hand in this, could she contine feeling anything for him? No Shepshed the thought aside. She couldn’t let her emotions cloud be judgment. Whatever was happening here, she needed to find out the truth–and if there was a way to put an end to it, she’d make site & happened.
A knock interrupted her thoughts, and she looked up an Siema entered, lint espressione arefully neutral “You’re requested for dinner in the courtyard with Matteo,” she anned, het pane modding isabelle’sas il sensing the storm brewing will in her.
babelle gave a slight no. “Tell him be there,” she replied, string a calmness she didn’t f
Once Senna lett, Jubelle took a deep breath, allowing herselt a few ininutes to gather her thoughts. She chose a simple but elegant dress, something that would keep her composed and give her the centidence she needed bar whatever this dinner might entall. She wouldn’t let Mares see her confusion, her doubt at least not until she was ready
Dubade in the courtyard, the air was thick with the sent et jasinine and the faint glow of lanterns. Metten was already there, leaning casually against a stone pillar, his expression
nable but controlled.
As she stepped forward, be tumed, flashing her that tamilar smile as it nothing had happened, as if he hadn’t just dropped a bombshell on her life.
“Good evening, Isabelle,” he said smoothly, gesturing toward the table set with wire and meticulously arranged dishes. His tone was calm, as though he were trying to sweep ay yesterday’s tension with the mere gesture of his hand.
Isabelle barely nodded, her arms crossing as she met his gaze, refusing to let him steer the moment with charm one “So, after yesterday, you think you can just summon me to dinner, serve wine and tood, and expect me to forgive you like nothing happened?
Her voice held a slight edge, but her stare was steady, unflinching
Matteo blinked, taken aback, and for a brief moment, she thought she caught a feet of gene regret in his area. Then he sighed, glancing say, almost as if he were deciding
how much topol
“jubelle, I’m not enjoying this secrecy any more than you think, “he began quietly. “If I could tell you everything, I would. But there are things in my past—things I’menly keeping from you because I believe it’s for your own good.” He paused, searching her face as though hoping she might understand.
“Like your past with Alberto? Isabelle ventured carefully, keeping her expression netral though her mind was racing
Matteo’s jaw nightened, but he nodded. “Yes. Alberio saved me, trabelle. My parents…they died when I was very young, Turas atngle accident, but…” he stopped, his voice laced
ith a deep, unspoken pain, “Alberto took ein. He taught me everything I know Without him, I wouldn’t be here now.”
Isabelle teed surprise, her bows lining just slightly. She didn’t want him to ispect that she’d already learned places of this from Don. “So, he wasn’t just your trainer?“; murmured. lening the words linger
Me shook his head. “No. He’s far more than that. My let’s not simple, Dubelle. There’s a lot more going on under the surface, a lot of business that demands my
tention.” His gaar grew distant, and his voice took on a cryptic edge as though rach word had been chosen with greater.
Isabelle’s heartbeat quickened as she realized just how vast and shadowed Matteo’s work was. Yet, beneath it all, she could see a glimpse of his vulnerability. I was as if the charming exterior had been built on layers of loss and loyalty, a twisted sense at duty that kept him bound to secrets she wasn’t yet privy to.
When she remained slem, he seemed to setem, his expression shuting from guarded to almost tender. “I’m telling you this because. Toare about ·
The words struck her, and for a fleeting moment, Isabelle delt her resale waver. She wanted to believe that he cared and that bis secrecy was just his spaded attempt to shield bes from a dangerous world. But she couldn’t ignore the gnawing doubts in her heart.
They shared a quiet meal, the tension between them slowly caning as they exchanged a few lighter remarks. But Isabelle’s mind was still being over his words, her heart waging war with her intens. Matteo was hiding something something that went deeper than loyalty to Alberto, something cooted in a network of shadows that had bem woven wound him long before she’d entered his te
As the meal drew to a close, Mateo glanced at his phone, the soft glow casting shadows across his face. “I need to take this,” he said, rising from his seat and excusing himself with a nod
helle wonched him go, feeling the tug of curiosity fla
Her heart beat louder as she glanced around the courtywed, confirming that they were alone.
She slipped off her seat, her footsteps soft as she followed the direction he’d gone, her senses alex
Mortes’s valor floated through the air, low and tense, the weeds barely discemible. But as she crept closer, pressing herself against the cool stone of the courtyard’s archway, she could just make out a few pleases.
*_business_Yo, make sure in away No mistakes.
Adull ran down her spine as she hid behind the tabish Her heart was racing, and her mind ran at a thousand miles an hour.
just when she was trying to cotince herself that Mateo wasn’t what he was being made out to be by Don, she saw something that hinted at a darker side to Mateo.
What was this businein that Mateo was trying to make go away! She stood there from her thoughts as she tried to piece together, only to pock out of the bushes and not see himmymuer
“Where did he go?” she wondered out loud, but he was number in sight, just as she finally gave up and decided to make her way back to the table to avoid suspicion, she turned
around only to bump to hi
