Veil of Vengeance

Chapter 4: The Games We Play

Chapter 4: The Games We Play

Isabella's Point of View

The next morning, I found myself staring at the skyline from my office window, nursing a cup of coffee that had long gone cold. My mind kept circling back to the mysterious figure from the docks and the folder now sitting on my desk. It was like a puzzle, and I was trying to fit the pieces together. But every time I thought I had it figured out, something new came up.

I was snapped out of my thoughts by a knock on the door. Claire peeked in, her usual chipper self, carrying a tray of fresh coffee and croissants. Bless her.

"You look like you're about to solve world hunger," Claire said, placing the tray on my desk. "Or maybe just contemplating how to take down Mr. Mobster Extraordinaire."

I snorted. "If only it were that simple. Moretti's like a snake—slippery, hard to pin down, and incredibly annoying."

Claire took a seat across from me, propping her feet up on the edge of my desk, much to my chagrin. "Well, I'm here for moral support. And by moral support, I mean I'm going to eat one of these croissants and listen to you rant."

I smiled despite myself. Claire had been my rock for as long as I could remember. Smart, loyal, and never one to shy away from speaking her mind, she was exactly what I needed on days like this.

"Thanks, Claire," I said, taking a sip of the hot coffee. "But ranting aside, I've got a new lead. Someone handed me a folder last night at the docks. It's got a lot of dirt on Moretti's associates."

Her eyes widened. "And you're just telling me this now? Spill!"

Before I could respond, the door burst open, and in strolled my best friend, Antonio De Luca. He was dressed in his usual effortlessly stylish manner, with a leather jacket slung over one shoulder and a smirk on his face. The man had the uncanny ability to always show up when things got interesting.

"Am I interrupting something, or is this a secret meeting of the 'Take Down Moretti' club?" Antonio quipped, dropping into a chair beside Claire.

"Perfect timing, as always," I said dryly. "And no, you're not interrupting. We were just talking about you, actually."

Antonio raised an eyebrow. "Oh? All good things, I hope?"

Claire grinned. "She was just saying how she can't figure out why a guy like you is still single."

Antonio smirked. "Because I'm waiting for the right woman, obviously. Preferably one who doesn't think she can outsmart me in a court of law."

I rolled my eyes. "You'd be lucky if you could outsmart a squirrel, Tony."

"Touché, Bella," he replied with a wink. "Now, what's this I hear about you playing detective down at the docks? You know how dangerous that is, right?"

I shrugged. "Dangerous, maybe. But it's the only way to get ahead of Moretti. And I've got this." I pointed to the folder on my desk.

Antonio glanced at it, his expression turning serious. "You're really getting in deep, Bella. Just... be careful, okay? Moretti's not a guy you want to cross lightly."

I nodded, appreciating his concern. "I know. But I can't let him keep doing what he's doing. Someone has to stop him."

Claire, sensing the tension, piped up. "So, what's the next step? Are we going to dig through that folder and find something we can use against him?"

"Something like that," I said. "But first, I need to figure out who gave me this information and why."

"Sounds like a plan," Antonio said, leaning back in his chair. "But before you dive back into work, how about we grab lunch? You could use a break."