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"Absolutely." His conviction sends shivers down my spine.
"Then do it," I whisper, sealing my fate with three simple words.
As Vincenzo closes the distance between us, our eyes locked, time seems to slow to a crawl. We are suspended between two worlds—one of safety and beauty, the other filled with darkness and danger. As the weight of our decision hangs heavy in the air, we are left teetering on the edge of a precipice, the future of the ballet company balancing precariously in the balance.
And as our eyes lock once more, an unspoken understanding passes between us—a dangerous connection that threatens to consume us both.
Fifteen
Vincenzo
My heart pounds in my chest, a relentless drum echoing the urgency of the call I just received. The voice on the other end is breathless, one of my trusted allies delivering news that sends a chill down my spine.
"Boss, there's been a betrayal. Someone from our own ranks has turned, and they've taken Isabella."
I can hardly believe what I'm hearing. My grip tightens around the phone, my knuckles turning white as I struggle to keep my composure. My mind races, trying to process the information and understand how this could have happened under my watch. How did I let my guard down for even a moment, allowing someone to infiltrate my inner circle and take the one person who means everything to me?
"Who?" I demand, my voice a low growl, barely containing the fury that threatens to erupt within me. "Who dared to betray me?"
"We don't know yet, boss," my ally replies, their voice wavering with fear. "But we're working on it. We'll find out who's responsible and make them pay. I promise you."
"Damn right, you will," I hiss, slamming my fist onto the desk, making the meticulously organized objects on its surface tremble.
As I stand alone in my lavish office, surrounded by expensive furnishings and priceless works of art, I realize that none of it matters without Isabella here by my side. She is the light that brightens my dark world, the delicate beauty that captivates me like no other conquest ever has. And now, she's been taken from me, snatched away by the very people I trusted to protect her.
My thoughts whirl in a storm of anger and fear, as I try to piece together the puzzle that has suddenly been thrust upon me. How could this have happened? Who among my loyal subordinates would have the audacity to betray me in such a cruel manner?
I should have seen it coming. I should have been prepared for the possibility that someone would try to use Isabella against me, to exploit my only weakness in an attempt to bring me down. But I was blinded by love, distracted by the sweet allure of her innocence and the gentle touch that soothed my tortured soul.
Now, more than ever, I must take control of the situation and ensure that Isabella is returned to me safely. And when I find out who is responsible for this betrayal, they will pay dearly for their treachery. This, I swear.
The heat of my anger spreads through my veins like wildfire, consuming me with a single-minded determination to save Isabella and make those responsible pay for their treachery. I can feel the power behind each beat of my heart, fueled by the knowledge that every second wasted puts her further in danger.
"Find out who's behind this," I growl into the phone, my voice low and dangerous. "I want names, and I want them now."
"Understood, boss," comes the reply, the voice on the other end trembling with fear. It doesn't matter if they're afraid. It only matters that they obey.
As I hang up the call, my hands tremble, the force of my emotions threatening to shatter the composed facade I've carefully crafted over the years. I clench my fists, hoping to find some semblance of control as the raw fury courses through me. But even as the rage simmers beneath the surface, the haunting image of Isabella's face remains etched in my mind, her beautiful eyes filled with terror and confusion.
How could I have let this happen? How could I have been so blind as to underestimate the lengths my enemies would go to hurt me? The thought drives me mad, the guilt gnawing at the edges of my conscience like a relentless predator.
"Vincenzo," a voice calls from behind me, a tentative hand touching my shoulder. I turn to see one of my most trusted men, his eyes filled with concern. "We'll get her back, boss. We'll bring her home safe."
"Damn right we will," I snap, my voice cracking under the weight of my emotions. "And when we do, there will be hell to pay for those who dared to lay a finger on her."
"Leave no stone unturned," I command, my eyes boring into his soul. "Do whatever it takes."
"Of course, boss," he replies, the determination in his voice matching my own. "We won't let you down."
As he leaves to carry out my orders, I am left alone with my thoughts once more, the weight of what's at stake settling heavily on my shoulders. I know that the road ahead will be fraught with danger, that every step I take toward saving Isabella will only bring me closer to the heart of darkness that has consumed my life for so long.
But there is no turning back now. For her sake, I must embrace the darkness within me, wield it as a weapon against those who seek to destroy us both. And when the dust settles, and the last drop of blood has been spilled, I will finally have the chance to hold her in my arms again, to feel the warmth of her body pressed against mine and forget, if only for a moment, the brutal world that surrounds us.
For now, though, all I can do is fight—and pray that it will be enough.
* * *
The rage still simmers beneath my skin as I pace back and forth in my lavish office. The plush carpet sinks beneath my feet, mocking me with its softness—a stark contrast to the turmoil churning inside me. Isabella's fate hangs in the balance, and every second that ticks by feels like an eternity.
