The Phantom's Game | 18+

Chapter 1

A/N: This book contains violence, sexual content, a tiny bit of gore, and foul language. Do proceed with caution!

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Gunfire echoed through the narrow alleys of the city as Isadora sprinted, heart pounding in sync with the rhythm of her steps. In the darkness of the streets, her eyes gleamed with determination and fierce intelligence that matched her father's legacy. As the fearless leader of her father's criminal empire, Isadora knew that danger lurked around in every corner of the world, no matter where she was.

Tonight was no exception. A rival gang had dared to encroach on her territory, challenging her authority.

The brunette skidded to a halt as she rounded yet another tight corner, just avoiding plunging into a deep puddle that pooled at the bottom of one alleyway. As she battled to regain her breath, she muttered bitterly beneath her breath. She hadn't realized how much her body hurt until now. 

Fighting, on the other hand, was one of life's greatest pleasures—a chance to showcase her power, to prove to her father that he had raised his only daughter correctly. 

She'd never forgive herself if something bad happened to her tonight. There were so many people who relied on her, so many people who had grown like family to her through the years. She couldn't allow something like this to happen.

Isadora regained her balance and resumed her journey. She barely had a few minutes before midnight when the first fireworks were launched across New Venice, signalling the start of the New Year. She realized this was not the time to be hesitant; she no longer had the luxury of such indulgences. 

Furthermore, she was now the boss — after her father had passed down the role to her, and if she wanted someone killed, she was the one to do it herself. Whatever the case may be. 

Suddenly, a loud crash reached her ears, echoing through the alleyways. Curious, Isadora crept forward cautiously, peering around the corner of the building she had come to rest against. As the shadows cast on the ground grew longer, a group of thugs emerged from the gloom of the alley. Their movements were violent and quick, but sloppy and amateurish.

There was nowhere else to go in the tiny lane, despite the brunette's best efforts to fully avoid them. She pulled her gun from its scabbard without thinking and charged at the gang. The gang members turned to face her with surprising ease, lifting their weapons in preparation to engage the newcomer in combat.

The gang's leader took charge, shouting out commands. "You two with me, go kill that bitch!" The men complied, rushing towards her. Isadora held tight to the gun she carried with deadly precision, firing three bullets directly into the faces of her attackers. 

Fortunately, years of practice and training have paid off for Antonio Moretti's daughter. With practiced efficiency, she disarmed and subdued her adversaries without even blinking.

Her enemies lay unconscious on the ground in front of her, blood dripping down their lifeless faces. When she heard footsteps approaching, Isadora turned around, brandishing her weapon in their direction. 

Her jaw relaxed as she recognized the man heading her way. Her father's assistant – well, her assistant now, "Took you long enough. What held you back? Never mind, we got no time to lose, help me dispose these bodies."

The tall man nodded, stooping to grab two dead bodies by the wrists and pull them away from the main path. He tossed the bodies carelessly onto a nearby pile of trash, where they joined a small heap of other refuse.

"Where are the others?" the brunette questioned her subordinate, watching him closely.

He sighed deeply, taking a step back. "Waiting for you at the manor, boss. I told them to get to safety while I fetch you. Come, before anyone finds out where we are."

She stopped him before he could move or say anything else, "You go ahead, Enzo. There is something I need to take care first before returning to the manor."

Enzo looked uncertainly at her. He obviously wasn't happy about leaving her behind on such an important mission. Nevertheless, he still obeyed, dashing into the shadows.

She surveyed the scene one last time before fleeing to another location – back in her own territory with her supercar. Even after all this time, she was still amazed by the speed of her father's vehicles. It had been months since she'd received a single new vehicle. 

After her mother passed away, he decided to pass ownership of his business on to her instead, while she managed her own fashion business at the same time. He trusted her to be successful, he had faith in that. And she was proud of him for giving her the opportunity to succeed. Even if she did sometimes have her doubts about that faith.

When she pulled up to her desired destination, she check herself out in the mirror in her seat. Despite her years of working hard as a member of her father's criminal organization, her appearance had not changed at all. Her hair remained long and lustrous, while her dark brown eyes held their usual confidence and alertness. Though her physique had grown lean and toned from years of exercise and rigorous battle training, her body was flawless and graceful. She was also tall and willowy, a testament to her powerful father's genes. 

He was a good height for a man, nearly six feet, with a sturdy physique.

Once she finished checking herself out, she exited her car in the valet of a fine dining restaurant. Once inside, she went straight to her destination: a private room located on the top floor.

Entering the private room, she saw her dad, sitting in the chair across from her. The old man was tall and slender, possessing a delicate yet masculine beauty. He had light brown eyes and a sharp, angular facial features. Lines of old age grew more prominent each time Isadora visited him.

"Papa," Isadora greeted cheerfully, approaching her father quickly to plant a kiss on his cheek. "How long have you been waiting?"

Antonio Moretti grinned slyly at his daughter. "Only a couple of minutes, darling, but it felt far too long for my taste. Tell me, what took you so long?"

She shrugged modestly. "Well, the meeting earlier had gone awfully wrong. But I took care of it as soon as I could."

Antonio leaned forward in his seat, resting his elbows on the table in front of him. "And?"

Isadora pursed her lips, hesitating. She glanced warily at her father. "We've already gotten word that some of our rivals in the underworld have infiltrated our territory. I assume they'll come knocking on our doors shortly."

"I'm aware of that. I'm hoping you can dispatch them, as swiftly and efficiently as possible. We don't want any unwanted complications arising," Antonio replied casually, his gaze unwavering, but his words filled with grave seriousness.

The woman paused, weighing her options. Her father expected the best of her, of course. However, the fact remained: the situation was volatile. One mistake and their enemy could ruin everything. "Yes, papa... I understand."

"Good, now let us dine in and talk about your future, Izzy."