Veil of Vengeance

Chapter 7: Dangerous Games

Isabella's POV

The morning sun barely peeked through the curtains as I sat at my kitchen table, staring at the untouched cup of coffee in front of me. My mind was still reeling from the information Claire had handed over. The financial transactions linking Moretti to the city officials were either the break we needed—or a carefully laid trap. I couldn't afford to make the wrong move, not with everything on the line.

My phone buzzed, pulling me out of my thoughts. I glanced at the screen and groaned when I saw the name.

Alessandro Moretti: "Morning, bella. Hope you're not too stressed. Stress causes wrinkles, and we wouldn't want that, would we?"

I rolled my eyes, typing back a quick reply.

Me: "I'll take wrinkles over dealing with you any day."

His response was almost immediate.

Alessandro: "Ouch. And here I was, thinking we were becoming friends."

Me: "I don't befriend snakes, Moretti."

Alessandro: "But snakes are fascinating creatures. They're adaptable, quick, and always strike when the time is right."

Me: "Yeah, well, I've got a shovel ready in case any snakes get too close."

I set my phone down, trying to shake off the unease that always accompanied our exchanges. Alessandro's words had a way of getting under my skin, no matter how much I tried to ignore them. It wasn't just the arrogance in his tone or the way he seemed to enjoy toying with me—it was the fact that, despite everything, there was a part of me that couldn't help but be intrigued by him.

But I wasn't about to admit that, not even to myself.

I sighed, pushing the thought away. I didn't have time to get distracted by whatever strange dynamic was brewing between us. There was work to do, and I needed to focus.

Alessandro's POV

As I walked through the bustling streets toward one of my more discreet meeting spots, I couldn't help but smirk at the memory of Isabella's latest message. The woman had fire, I'd give her that. She wasn't like the others—so easily intimidated, so quick to back down. No, Isabella Rossi was a force to be reckoned with, and that made the game all the more interesting.

But it wasn't just her defiance that intrigued me. There was something else—a pull I couldn't quite explain. She was becoming more than just an adversary. She was a challenge, one I was eager to see through to the end.

I entered the small café, spotting Marco at a table in the back. He stood as I approached, his expression neutral.

"Everything's in place," Marco said as I took a seat. "The report has been verified, and the trail leads exactly where we want it to."

"Good," I replied, though my mind was only half on the conversation. I couldn't stop thinking about Isabella's reaction when she discovered the truth—when she realized just how deep this rabbit hole went.

Marco raised an eyebrow, noticing my distraction. "Something on your mind, boss?"

I shook my head, taking a sip of the coffee in front of me. "Just considering our next move. Rossi's getting too close, but I think we can use that to our advantage."

"She's persistent," Marco agreed. "But persistence can be a weakness. She's bound to make a mistake eventually."

I nodded, though my thoughts were already elsewhere. Persistence was indeed a weakness—but it was also a strength. And Isabella had both in spades. The question was, how far would she go before she realized she was out of her depth?