Underworld Desires (COMPLETE)

Chapter 15: Crossfire

The mansion was still recovering from the aftermath of the attack. Broken glass and debris littered the grounds, a stark reminder of how vulnerable even the DeLuca stronghold could be. But as Bella looked around, she realized it wasn’t the mansion’s walls that concerned her. It was the invisible cracks forming within the people closest to her.

Clara had been quiet, too quiet. And Marco’s warning about the rumors swirling among the men only increased Bella’s anxiety. Trust, once fragile, was quickly crumbling around her. But the biggest threat was still looming in the shadows: Clara’s betrayal.

Enzo was in the study when Bella entered, his back turned to her, staring out the large window overlooking the estate. His usually composed figure seemed more rigid, tension coiling in his shoulders.

“Enzo?” Bella asked softly, the weight of what she was about to reveal pressing down on her.

He didn’t turn to face her immediately. “We’re moving ahead with the plan against Moretti. His supply routes were just the beginning. Next, we take out his lieutenants.”

“Enzo, we need to talk,” Bella said, her voice laced with urgency. She could feel her heartbeat quickening, the confrontation she had been avoiding now unavoidable.

He finally turned, his dark eyes locking onto hers. “What is it?” His tone was clipped, tired.

Bella hesitated. Telling him about Clara wasn’t just a risk—it could destroy the fragile alliance between them. But if she stayed silent, Clara’s betrayal could cost them everything.

“There’s something you need to know,” she began, her hands trembling slightly. “Clara... I think she’s been leaking information.”

Enzo’s expression didn’t change immediately, but a dangerous stillness settled over him. “What are you saying?”

“Clara has been acting strange,” Bella continued. “She told me she suspects someone inside the family is feeding Moretti information. At first, I believed her. But now... I think it’s her. She’s been too close to the inner workings of our plans. Too quiet.”

Enzo’s silence was chilling. He stepped forward, the weight of his presence pressing against Bella. “Clara? My sister? Do you realize what you’re accusing her of?”

Bella swallowed hard. “I know this is hard to believe, but think about it. Who else has that level of access? Moretti’s been too precise, too prepared. She could be playing both sides.”

For a moment, Enzo seemed frozen in place, his fists clenched at his sides. Then, without warning, he lashed out, his fist slamming into the wall beside him with a loud crack. Bella flinched, but stood her ground.

“She’s my sister!” he snarled, the raw emotion in his voice sending shivers down Bella’s spine. “She’s family. She wouldn’t betray me.”

Bella’s heart pounded in her chest. She had known this wouldn’t be easy, but Enzo’s reaction was fiercer than she had anticipated. “Enzo, I wouldn’t bring this to you if I didn’t think it was true. I’ve seen the signs. Clara—she’s not the person you think she is.”

Enzo paced the room, his hands in his hair, wrestling with his thoughts. Finally, he stopped, looking at Bella with a coldness that sent a chill through her. “If you’re wrong, Bella, this could tear everything apart.”

“I know,” Bella whispered. “But if I’m right, and we do nothing, Moretti will destroy us from the inside.”

Enzo’s jaw clenched, his eyes burning with fury and doubt. He was torn between blood loyalty and the growing evidence that something was deeply wrong. “I’ll handle Clara,” he said finally, his voice tight with barely restrained anger. “But I’m warning you—if you’re wrong, it’ll cost you.”

Bella nodded, her chest tight with anxiety. She had just ignited a fuse that could explode at any moment. The question was, how much damage would it do?

Later that night, Bella found herself unable to sleep. The tension in the mansion was suffocating, and every creak of the old house seemed to echo the uncertainty that gripped her. She couldn’t shake the feeling that Clara knew what was happening—that her own steps were being watched.

Suddenly, there was a soft knock at her door. Bella tensed, reaching for the gun Enzo had given her, before quietly moving toward the door. She opened it a crack and saw Marco standing there, his face grim.

“Can I come in?” Marco asked quietly.

Bella nodded and stepped aside, closing the door behind him. Marco’s presence had always been reassuring, but tonight, the weight of what he had to say made the air feel heavy.

“I found something,” he said without preamble. “Clara’s been meeting with someone outside of the family. I don’t know who yet, but I’ve got a bad feeling about it.”

Bella’s stomach twisted. “So it’s true?”

Marco sighed, running a hand through his hair. “It looks like it. Enzo hasn’t said anything to me about your conversation earlier, but I can tell he’s not taking it well.”

“He won’t,” Bella said, her voice barely above a whisper. “He’s torn.”

Marco’s gaze softened. “You did the right thing. But we need to be careful. If Clara’s working with Moretti, she’ll make a move soon. We have to be ready.”

Bella nodded, her heart heavy with the weight of her choices. “And if Enzo...”

Marco cut her off, his voice firm. “I’ll watch over him. He’ll do what needs to be done when the time comes.”

Bella bit her lip, nodding again as the enormity of the situation sank in. She had always known the world she had entered was ruthless, but this felt like a different kind of danger. It wasn’t just external enemies they had to fight anymore—it was the people closest to them, the ones they trusted.

“I’ll keep my eyes on Clara,” Marco said, moving toward the door. “You just keep doing what you’re doing.”

As he left, Bella stood alone in the silence of her room, her mind racing. There was no turning back now. Enzo’s world was filled with deception and betrayal, and she had willingly stepped into the heart of it.

The only question was, how far would she go before it consumed her completely?

The next morning, Bella was on edge, every interaction with Clara feeling like a game of chess. She watched the woman closely, noting every flicker of emotion, every sideways glance. It was like walking through a minefield, knowing that one wrong step could destroy everything.

Enzo was distant, his usual commanding presence tempered by the storm brewing within him. He hadn’t spoken to Bella about their conversation since, and that silence was more unnerving than anything.

By evening, it was clear something was about to break. Enzo gathered his key people in the study, including Bella, Marco, and—unavoidably—Clara. The tension in the room was thick as Enzo began laying out their next moves against Moretti, his voice sharp and precise.

But Bella barely heard him. Her eyes were on Clara, who was watching Enzo with an unreadable expression. Was she planning something? Or was she already in the middle of executing it?

Suddenly, Enzo stopped mid-sentence, his eyes narrowing as he looked directly at Clara. Bella’s heart leapt into her throat.

“Clara,” Enzo said slowly, his voice low and dangerous. “There’s something I need to ask you.”