Veil of Vengeance

Chapter 6: Unraveling the Threads

Isabella's POV

The day had dragged on longer than I anticipated. By the time I returned to my apartment, the sky had already darkened, and the city was alive with the hum of nightlife. The folder sat ominously on my coffee table, a silent reminder of the tangled web I was stepping into.

I poured myself a glass of wine, hoping it would ease the tension coiled in my shoulders. As I took a sip, my phone buzzed with a new message. I glanced at the screen and froze when I saw the name.

Alessandro Moretti: "I trust you're enjoying your evening. Sleep well, Isabella. We both have a big day tomorrow."

I stared at the message, the wine suddenly tasting bitter on my tongue. How did he get my number? And what did he mean by a "big day tomorrow"? I was already on edge, but this was another level of intrusion. Before I could think better of it, I dialed his number.

The phone rang twice before his infuriatingly calm voice answered, "Isabella, to what do I owe this late-night pleasure?"

"Cut the crap, Moretti," I snapped, pacing the length of my living room. "How did you get my number, and what exactly are you planning?"

He chuckled softly, the sound making my skin crawl. "I'm not planning anything you should be worried about—unless, of course, you've got something to hide."

I gritted my teeth, trying to keep my composure. "You're seriously testing my patience."

"And you're testing mine, bella," he replied smoothly. "But I have to admit, I'm enjoying our little game."

I could hear the smugness in his tone, and it only fueled my frustration. "This isn't a game to me, Moretti. People's lives are on the line."

His voice turned cold. "And you think I don't know that? Every move I make, every decision—it's all calculated. But you... you're a wild card. That makes you dangerous."

Dangerous. The word hung between us, heavy and unspoken, laden with implications. I didn't know whether to be flattered or offended. "You don't scare me," I finally said, my voice steady.

"I should," he responded without missing a beat. "You're smart enough to know that. But I'll let you in on a secret: I don't scare easily either."

The line went dead before I could respond. I stared at the phone, the dial tone buzzing in my ear like a taunt. Alessandro Moretti was trying to get under my skin, and damn it, he was succeeding. I tossed my phone onto the couch and took another sip of wine, but the taste had soured. This was going to be a long night.

Alessandro's POV

I ended the call with a smirk, tossing my phone onto the desk. Isabella Rossi was exactly what I expected—fiery, determined, and completely unwilling to back down. But what intrigued me most was her unpredictability. She wasn't like the others who had tried to take me down. She was different, and that made her dangerous.

Marco walked into my office, his expression as stoic as ever. "Everything's set for tomorrow," he said, his voice low.

"Good," I replied, leaning back in my chair. "And Rossi?"

"She's digging, but she hasn't found anything substantial yet," Marco reported. "She's persistent, though. I'll give her that."

I nodded, a flicker of admiration crossing my mind before I pushed it aside. "Let her dig. We'll feed her what we want her to see. But keep a close eye on her. If she gets too close to the truth, we'll have to step in."

Marco's jaw tightened, but he nodded. "Understood."

As he left the room, I turned my attention back to the cityscape outside my window. Isabella was a complication I hadn't anticipated, but one I was willing to entertain. After all, a little challenge never hurt anyone. But if she pushed too far... well, I had my limits.