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A shudder runs down my spine, but not from disgust; it's from a thrill that terrifies me. Anger, betrayal, and relief intertwine, forming a sick satisfaction at Juan's gruesome end. He can no longer harm me or anyone else.
While I should be repulsed by these details, they satisfy me. I begin to fear who I'm turning into, but after what Juan did to my father ...
"Clara, are you sure?" My voice trembles, the weight of the news sinking in.
"Positive. The assassin showered, cleaned up all the blood, covered his body, and left a 'Do Not Disturb' sign on the door before slipping away. The Illuminati doesn't mess around."
"Thank you for telling me, Clara." My fingers grip the phone so tight it feels like it'll shatter.
"You deserved to know, you called for this. Stay safe with the Carlisis." She hangs up, leaving me alone with the knowledge that my cousin is dead.
I press a hand against my chest, trying to steady my erratic heartbeat. I should be horrified. Instead, I'm filled with an unsettling excitement that gnaws at me, making me question myself – am I truly safe from the same darkness that claimed Juan?
"Isabella? Are you okay?" Felix's voice calls from the doorway, as he notices my erratic breathing.
"Juan is dead," I say, my voice wavering. "Killed by an assassin."
"Good riddance," Felix mutters, and I can't help but agree. But still, there's that nagging question rising deep within me. What does this mean for me, and for those I love?
I try to justify it by reminding myself of the fact that I hurt Juan like he hurt my father.
But then, my thoughts drift to Stefano, and the love we once shared. He never hurt me, so why did I keep all those secrets from him, running away without a note even? A part of me still yearns for him despite the lies and betrayal that have come between us, due to the things I've done. The lies I've spewed.
Am I slowly becoming evil, with regard for nothing but seeking my revenge?
"Isabella?" Felix repeats, his gaze searching my face. "You look like you're about to collapse."
"Sorry," I say, forcing a weak smile. "It's just… hearing about Juan's death. The details, they…" I trail off, unable to find the right words to express how I feel. "They didn't scare me."
"Listen," Felix says gently, placing a hand on my shoulder. "You've been through so much lately. When in doubt, remember, he was dangerous, and dangerous people must be dealt with, often in ways unfathomable to most. That is how you keep the peace."
I nod slowly, knowing he's right.
"Come now. Let's have breakfast."
The aroma of freshly brewed coffee and warm pastries fills the air as I sit down at the breakfast table with Felix and Rosalie. For a moment, it almost feels like a normal morning – or as normal as life can be in hiding. Their daughter, who is staying over with a trusted friend in Chicago calls.
Once they end the call, Felix gets down to business.
"Alright, let's go over what we know so far," Felix flips open his laptop.
"Juan was working with the Capo to murder my father, and they had struck some kind of deal," I begin, my voice steady despite the anger that still threatens to bubble over. "But we need to find out the exact terms."
Rosalie nods, her eyes narrowing in determination. "If we can prove their involvement, it will give us leverage against the Capo."
"Exactly," Felix agrees. He pulls up a series of documents on his laptop, evidence collected from various sources – hacked emails, covert recordings, and insider tips. It's a tangled web of corruption, but together, we're determined to make sense of it all.
"Here's something interesting," Felix says, pointing to a spreadsheet on his screen. "It looks like the Capo was promised 70% of the extracted gold, while Juan would receive the tequila production, land, and 30% of the gold."
"Greedy bastards," I mutter, clenching my fists. How many lives were destroyed for their twisted ambitions?
"Once we reveal the truth, we can tell the world how Diego Torres died. No one will trust Don Conti once we're done. This'll hit him where it hurts the most, diffusing his network of trusted allies."
I nod, but my mind drifts to Stefano. A part of me wonders if he too will suffer when Don Conti's world crumbles apart. If only there's a way to protect him.
The sound of the door creaking open startles me out of my deep thoughts. I glance over at Felix and Rosalie, who seem just as alarmed. Two of Felix's men enter the safe house, their faces tense.
"Boss, we've got some news," one of the men says, looking directly at Felix. "The Capo is still searching for Isabella, even after everything that's come to light."
