Garden of Roses ✔️

Chapter 17

Zara

The past week that we've been here went relatively smoothly. I avoided Dante, and it seemed he also avoided me, which was not that hard, taking into consideration the enormity of the house.

My last encounter with him and his dogs was surprisingly nice. Although in the end, he seemed kind of uncomfortable. He said that I could hang out with Zeus and Adonis, but I just didn't want to run into him again, so I stayed away.

Bianca and Alex were thrilled when Dante assigned them to train the new recruits. They enjoyed beating them up and blowing off some steam. When they weren't training, they were working with Marco on some innovative weapons. Something related to poisonous explosives, I didn't even want to know.

Camilla, Gabi, and I were working on finding Isabella. I'm not going to lie, Gabi was doing all the work while Camilla and I just stood there, looking pretty, and brought her food and coffee when she needed it. Every here and there, we would go explore some lead that she gave us. They were mostly dead ends.

"I know where she is," I hear Gabriella say, not lifting her eyes from the laptop.

"What? Already?" Camilla and I ask at the same time. It's been a week since we got here, and she already managed to do what Dante and Camilla haven't for quite a while. I knew that Gabi had insane skills and she's really been working all day every day. Still, I expected it to last a little longer.

"Yeah well, I guess she's not trying to hide anymore," Gabi announces as if she's reading my mind. I don't even have to say anything. She proceeds with the explanation while typing furiously on the keyboard.

"Her estate is about thirty miles from here. It's surrounded by forest. From what I can see, it's also heavily guarded."

"Wait. What?" Camilla furrows her eyebrows while Gabi and I just look at her confused facial expression, waiting for her to elaborate on what exactly is escaping her understanding.

"Her estate? Heavily guarded? After my father died, she became a freelance assassin, working from the underground, alone, and even when she got out she was still like a shadow. She barely even existed. What's with the sudden extravagance?"

"That's another thing," Gabi says, taking a dramatic pause and looking at Camilla before she continues.

"What is it?"

"It looks like she's not working alone anymore. Judging by her moves in the past few months, I'd say she's probably raising her personal organization of professional assassins. And she's not even trying to hide it anymore."

"Well, damn. I have to tell Dante about this. Come with me."

Camilla stands up, motioning for us to follow her. We cross the long hallway to get to Dante's office where Dante, Carlo, and Lorenzo are already waiting for us.

"Please, do come in," Dante says sarcastically after the three of us just storm inside without even knocking first. Camilla enters first, and then Gabi and I follow her.

Dante of course looks immaculate in his dark suit and light blue button-up shirt. The ink on his torso beneath the shirt is almost invisible. His collarbone is exposed, showing what looks like a tree branch that ends on his neck.

I catch his glance as I lift my eyes.

I know that he noticed me staring at his tattoo. I expect a smirk and some smug comment from him about me staring, but he doesn't say anything this time. He doesn't seem to be in a good mood, and I can't help but feel a little anxious because his mood is only going to get worse now.