“You underestimate us, Vitale,” he yells over his shoulder. “It will be your downfall.”
16
ISABELLA
It feels counterintuitive to even indulge in the idea. But as I walk back to my apartment building, I can’t shake the feeling thatno oneis watching me.
After weeks of constantly looking over my shoulder, of noticing patterns in license plates parked outside my home or my favorite coffee spot. Even those darting movements in the corner of my eye if I turn around too quickly are gone.
All of it is gone.
And I should be very, very happy about this. Ecstatic even. If the Guild has finally backed down, that means that I actually start living my life again as normal, without looking over my shoulder every five minutes.
This is absolutely brilliant news.
Truly.
I can’t imagine anything better.
Except that means he’s not watching me anymore.
Before I go to bed, I look out my window at the street below. Cars stop and start along the road, pedestrians march, stumble, or amble on by.
None of them linger. one of them look up.
In a moment of insanity—to test a theory, I tell myself—I write a simple note and place it in my window.
“Are you still there?”
When I wake, the note remains, and nothing is amiss.
I go about my day as usual. New gym, new coffee shop. No one follows me. I return home that evening, and the note is still there, and my apartment hasn’t been touched.
My fingers twitch at the sight. With one stride, I snatch the note and tear it to pieces.
I don’t bother dressing up for the casino. My brother isn’t hosting a meeting, and I’m in no mood to stick around after and play poker bait.
So, when I push open the second staff-only door and make my way up to Leon’s office, I’m in jeans and a simple tee.
The surprise on his face is evident when he looks up from his desk after I knock on the door. “Issy! I barely recognized you.”
“The Guild has stopped following me around everywhere.”
Leon sighs as he stands up, his shirt stretching over his too-large pecks. “Hello sister. It’s good to see you again, too. I hope you had a nice time while I was away.”
I roll my eyes but go to embrace him anyway. “How was your business trip?”
“Lucrative,” he squeezes me once before stepping away. “The Californians agreed to a loan. We should have more than enough to arm and supply our men if war breaks out.”
“Right,” I bite my lip. “And that’s still the plan, then?”
“Why wouldn’t it be? It’s not like you’ve made any progress convincing him to back down.”
I shrug him off. “Like I said, I’ve not seen the Guild in days. You don’t think they’ve given up?”
He snorts. “More like a tactical retreat. I paid Vitale a visit the other day.”
I blink for a moment, my mouth going dry. “You saw him? What did he say?”
