Garden of Roses ✔️

Chapter 29

Zara

"What did you just say?" I push the words through my teeth, trying to sound calm, without success. Her words cut through me like a knife, and my whole body starts to feel cold as the realization of her words settles inside me. That is exactly what my assumption was. That she knew who I was. Hearing her confirm my fears sent electric shocks through my body.

Camilla mentioned that Isabella was one of Bonifacio's most trusted people, which made me wonder if she knew about what happened to my family. She would've been too young to be involved with the tragedy, but she could've known all about it.

Monstrous black eyes watch me carefully as the wheels turn in my head, trying to connect the dots. I still don't know absolutely anything except that Isabella knows my real identity.

What was she planning? Why am I still alive? She could've killed me if she wanted to, so what stopped her? And what was she going to do with this information?

There are so many questions in my head and I don't understand the first thing about this woman in front of me or her motives.

"How did you know?" I start with my first question and decide to go from there. I straighten my back and pull a plastic chair closer so I can sit down. I have a feeling this conversation isn't going to end very soon, and I'm tired from the walk I took to get here.

"How did I know what?" Isabella shows a false surprised expression again and I get the sudden urge to punch her in that already bruised face. I don't. She is already difficult to talk to, and punching her probably wouldn't make her any more willing to cooperate.

"How did you know I was even alive and that it was me?" I sit down on the chair slowly, making sure not to make any sudden movements. She gives me a look, indicating that the answer to my question is beyond obvious.

"I know everything." She shoots me a smug smile, once again showing her dark red teeth. "I also know exactly how your parents died."

"Big deal, they both died in our house that night Bonifacio sent his people to kill us all. I know that too. Now tell me how you recognized me."

"All in due time, sweetheart. Now you tell me how's Dante doing? You know, he hasn't been here in a while. My bruises are starting to heal and I'm starting to miss him. You must know how hard it is to go without his touch on your skin."

What the hell is she implying? There is nothing going on between me and Dante. Although, now that she mentioned it, I did kind of miss him too, even though I've seen him this morning. Unfortunately, our encounter was very brief.

"You're such a weird person," I say, rolling my eyes in the process, and my statement only makes her laugh.

"Well, I did want to be an assassin when I was little. Some people would call that weird, but I guess you could say I've succeeded in life."

"Yeah, you're really living the dream right now. Who wouldn't want to be chained up and beaten in a dark moldy basement, right?" My comment makes her laugh harder until she starts coughing.

I hope she chokes to death.

"Oh, don't you worry about my current living situation. I won't be here for much longer. Now let's get back to Dante. Does he miss me? He does, doesn't he? We may have had some disagreements lately, but there was a time when we got along pretty well. If you know what I mean," Isabella winks at me with her less bruised eye.

What is she talking about? Did the two of them use to date or something? The mere thought of it is ridiculous, but I still feel an unusual wave of jealousy washing over me as if I have something to be jealous of. First of all, nothing is going on between Dante and me, and second, what am I even jealous of? This manipulative psycho? I don't think so.