Underworld Desires (COMPLETE)

Chapter 16: Captured

The room fell into a suffocating silence as Enzo fixed his gaze on Clara. Bella held her breath, her mind racing with possibilities. This moment—this confrontation—had been inevitable, but now that it was here, the weight of what could unfold was overwhelming.

Clara raised an eyebrow, feigning nonchalance. “Ask me what?” she replied, her voice smooth, but there was a flicker of something in her eyes—something that hinted at the storm underneath.

Enzo’s jaw clenched, the muscles in his neck tightening as he stepped closer to her. “You’ve been meeting with someone,” he said, his voice low but filled with barely restrained fury. “I want to know why.”

Clara blinked, her expression a mask of innocence. “Meeting with someone? Enzo, I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Bella felt her pulse quicken. This was it—the lie, the moment where everything could spiral out of control.

Enzo didn’t flinch. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small device—a phone. “We’ve been tracking you,” he said coldly. “I know you’ve been sneaking off. I know you’ve been feeding Moretti information.”

For a moment, Clara’s facade cracked. Her lips parted slightly, and her eyes widened in shock, but she quickly regained her composure. “You’ve been spying on me?” she hissed, her voice dripping with venom.

“I did what I had to do to protect this family,” Enzo snapped. “Now tell me the truth. How long have you been betraying us?”

The room was charged with tension, the air thick and heavy. Marco stood silently to the side, his eyes darting between Enzo and Clara, his hand instinctively resting on the gun at his hip. Bella stayed rooted in place, her heart pounding, knowing that this confrontation was about to erupt.

Clara’s eyes narrowed as she took a step toward Enzo, her voice laced with bitterness. “You want the truth? Fine. Yes, I’ve been meeting with someone. But I’m not the one betraying this family, Enzo—you are.”

Enzo recoiled slightly, confusion flashing across his face. “What are you talking about?”

Clara scoffed, folding her arms. “Do you really think you can run this empire with blind loyalty and brute force? The world is changing, Enzo, and you’re stuck in the past. Moretti offered me a way out—a way to secure our family’s future. But you’ve been too stubborn to see it.”

Bella’s stomach dropped. This wasn’t just betrayal—this was treachery on a deeper level, a calculated move that could unravel everything.

“You sold us out,” Enzo growled, taking a step closer to Clara. His voice was deadly calm, but Bella could see the storm brewing behind his eyes.

“I protected us!” Clara spat. “I’ve been trying to save us from your reckless decisions. Moretti is powerful, Enzo. You know that. I made a deal—one that would keep us alive.”

Enzo stared at his sister, the weight of her words crashing down on him. Bella could see the devastation in his eyes, the disbelief that his own flesh and blood had turned against him.

“You made a deal with the enemy,” Enzo whispered, his voice laced with betrayal. “You sided with Moretti, after everything we’ve been through?”

Clara’s expression hardened. “I did what I had to do to survive. And maybe if you weren’t so blinded by your pride, you’d see that too.”

Before Enzo could respond, the door to the study flew open with a loud crash. Bella’s heart jumped into her throat as a group of armed men stormed in, guns raised and pointed at everyone in the room.

Bella’s instinct kicked in, and she immediately reached for her gun, but a rough hand grabbed her arm, yanking her backward. She struggled against the grip, but the man holding her was too strong.

“Enzo DeLuca,” a voice boomed from the doorway. Bella’s head snapped toward the source, her blood running cold as she recognized the figure standing there—Moretti himself.

A slow, cruel smile spread across Moretti’s face as he stepped into the room, his eyes glinting with satisfaction. “Looks like you’ve been outplayed.”

Enzo’s face twisted with rage, but before he could make a move, Moretti’s men were on him, pinning his arms behind his back. Bella fought harder against her captor, but it was no use. Moretti had come prepared.

Clara stood frozen, her face a mask of shock. “This... this wasn’t part of the deal,” she stammered, her voice shaky.

Moretti chuckled darkly. “Deals change, Clara. You should’ve known better than to trust a man like me.” His eyes flicked to Enzo. “But don’t worry, darling. You’ll still get your reward.”

Bella’s heart raced as Moretti approached her, his eyes gleaming with cruel amusement. “And you must be the famous Isabella Romano,” he said, his voice dripping with mockery. “You’ve caused me quite a bit of trouble, you know.”

Bella glared at him, refusing to show fear. “I’m not afraid of you.”

Moretti laughed, a deep, unsettling sound. “Oh, I think you should be.” He turned to his men. “Take them both. Enzo and the girl.”

“No!” Clara’s voice cut through the tension. “Leave Bella out of this. She has nothing to do with our fight.”

Moretti’s grin widened. “Oh, but she does, Clara. You see, Bella has become quite important to your brother. And I think that makes her very useful.”

Bella struggled harder, panic rising in her chest as Moretti’s men grabbed her. Enzo’s eyes were locked on her, fury and desperation flashing across his face.

“Let her go, Moretti,” Enzo growled, his voice dangerous. “This is between you and me.”

Moretti shrugged. “Maybe. But I think having her with us will make things more... interesting.”

As Moretti’s men began to drag Bella and Enzo from the room, Clara stood frozen, her face pale and her eyes wide with disbelief. Bella could see the regret in her expression, but it was too late. The trap had been set.

As they were forced into waiting vehicles, Bella’s mind raced. They had been outmaneuvered, betrayed by someone they thought they could trust. But this wasn’t over—not yet. She glanced at Enzo, their eyes meeting in a moment of shared determination.

Whatever happened next, they would fight. Together.