Underworld Desires (COMPLETE)

Chapter 14: The Heart of Deception

The tension in the DeLuca mansion was palpable in the days following Clara’s revelation. Bella couldn’t shake the thought of a traitor lurking among them, feeding information to Moretti. It was a gnawing fear that shadowed her every move, especially as they prepared for the next phase of their assault on Moretti’s empire.

Enzo, ever the strategist, seemed more focused than ever. He had no idea that his trust in one of his men could be misplaced, and Bella was torn between telling him what Clara suspected and waiting until they had more concrete evidence. But each passing hour only increased the risk.

That evening, Bella found herself in Enzo’s office once again, reviewing plans for their next move. They had identified Moretti’s key supply routes, which were critical to his operations. Hitting them would be a major blow. Yet, as Bella stared at the maps, her thoughts drifted.

Enzo stood behind her, close enough that she could feel the heat radiating from his body. “You’re distracted,” he said, his voice low and edged with concern.

Bella blinked and looked up at him. “It’s just... there’s a lot at stake.”

Enzo stepped closer, his hand brushing her arm as he leaned in to look at the map. “This is war, Bella. There’s always a lot at stake. But you’re not alone in this.”

His touch sent a spark through her, but beneath that fire was the cold reminder of what Clara had revealed. She forced herself to focus. “I know. It’s just—Moretti is clever. We can’t underestimate him. He’ll be expecting us.”

Enzo’s expression darkened. “Let him expect us. I don’t care how clever he thinks he is. He’s going down.”

The intensity of his words, coupled with the closeness of their bodies, made the air feel thicker, charged with unspoken tension. Bella could feel her pulse quicken, her resolve weakening under his gaze. They had both been dancing around this attraction for too long.

She turned to face him fully, her breath catching as their eyes locked. “Enzo, there’s something I—”

Before she could finish, he closed the distance between them, his lips capturing hers in a fiery kiss. The world around them seemed to fall away, the weight of their shared secrets and fears melting into the background. It was just them—two people caught in a storm, desperate for something real amidst the chaos.

Bella’s hands slid up Enzo’s chest as he pulled her closer, his kiss deepening with a hunger that left her breathless. For a moment, she let herself forget the danger, the lies, the betrayals. In his arms, she felt safe, even if only temporarily.

But reality crashed back in as they broke apart, their foreheads resting against each other as they struggled to catch their breath.

“This is complicated,” Bella whispered, her voice shaky.

“Everything about us is complicated,” Enzo replied, his voice rough but filled with something deeper, something tender. “But I won’t let anything happen to you, Bella. Not now, not ever.”

She wanted to believe him, wanted to trust that his words could shield her from the darkness closing in around them. But she knew better. In their world, promises were fragile things, easily shattered by bullets and betrayal.

“We have to be careful,” Bella said, pulling away slightly, though the heat between them still lingered in the air.

Enzo’s expression softened, but his eyes remained intense. “I know. But I meant what I said—I need you by my side, no matter how messy this gets.”

Bella nodded, her mind racing with the implications of their growing connection. She had already crossed too many lines, fallen too deeply into a world she never expected to be a part of. And now, her heart was entangled with Enzo’s in ways that terrified her.

The following morning, they moved forward with their plan to strike Moretti’s supply routes. Bella was in constant communication with Marco, coordinating the attacks while keeping a close eye on the men involved. Every glance, every movement felt like a clue, and she couldn’t shake the suspicion that someone was watching her just as closely.

Clara, meanwhile, had been working in the background, quietly gathering information about the suspected traitor. She had grown more withdrawn, her eyes clouded with worry each time they crossed paths.

“Be careful today,” Clara warned Bella as they stood in the hallway outside the control room. “If there’s a rat in our ranks, they’ll be watching your every move.”

Bella nodded, her chest tight with anxiety. She felt as though she was walking a tightrope, one wrong step away from plunging into chaos. But there was no turning back now.

The strike went off smoothly—too smoothly. Bella watched the feeds with mounting unease as Moretti’s supply lines were hit without much resistance. Marco’s team returned unscathed, and everything seemed to go according to plan.

Yet something felt wrong. The hairs on the back of Bella’s neck stood on end as she glanced at the screens, trying to shake the nagging feeling of unease. She had expected more pushback from Moretti, more resistance. It was almost as if they had walked into a trap—one that hadn’t been fully sprung.

As she moved to leave the room, Marco appeared, his expression grim. “We need to talk,” he said quietly, glancing around to ensure no one was listening.

Bella’s stomach dropped. “What is it?”

“I’ve been hearing things,” Marco said, his voice low. “Whispers among the men. Some of them... they don’t trust you. They think you’re the traitor.”

Bella’s blood ran cold. “What? That’s ridiculous.”

“I know,” Marco replied, his eyes hard. “But the rumors are spreading fast. If we don’t shut them down, it won’t be long before Enzo hears about it. And if he starts doubting you...”

Bella’s heart raced. She had been prepared for betrayal, but not like this. The traitor had turned the tables, using her own position to throw suspicion onto her. She was being set up, and if she didn’t act fast, she would be the one facing Enzo’s wrath.

“We need to find the real traitor, Marco,” Bella said urgently. “Before it’s too late.”

Marco nodded. “I’ll keep digging. But you need to be careful, Bella. The walls are closing in.”

As Marco left, Bella stood frozen, her mind racing. She had always known that being with Enzo would come with risks, but she hadn’t anticipated how deeply those risks would cut into her own safety.

Now, more than ever, she needed to keep her head above water. Because in the underworld, one wrong move could cost her everything.