"How many of theirs?" Matteo asked.
"Twelve confirmed dead, no survivors,"Rafa replied. Isabella felt sick. Twelve men were dead because of her. Because they wanted her.
The metallic smell of gunpowder stayed heavy in the air, mixing with the scent of marble dust from bullet-chipped pillars. Isabella's ears still rang from the gunfire.
She could see bloodstains spreading across the pristine white floor, a stark reminder of how quickly her world had changed.
Her hands trembled as she set down the pistol, the weight of taking a life settling into her bones. This wasn't the quiet servant's life she'd known just hours ago.Her fingers still tingled from the gun's recoil. The sound of her own heartbeat filled the silence."Why do they want me so badly?" she asked.
"Because you work for me now," Matteo replied. "That makes you a target."
"I don't understand."
"In our world, everyone connected to a family becomes part of the game." Matteo said as he was reloading his gun. "Enemies will use anyone to get to their target."
"But I'm just a servant."Isabella said, glancing around as she shivered in fear.
"Not anymore, you are my assistant now,"Matteo said. His voice carried a finality that made her spine straighten. Something had shifted between them forever.
The front door opened as more De Lucamen entered with weapons drawn as they quickly secured the area.
"All clear, boss," one of them reported. "But we found this on one of the bodies."
He handed Matteo a folded piece of paper as Matteo read it. His expression darkened.
"What is it?" Isabella asked.
"Nothing serious," Matteo said.
"Just be careful, not to be triggered by what you would see," Isabella said, clearly watching his face.
"Obviously." Matteo said as he folded the paper and put it in his pocket.
Isabella felt exhaustion wash over her. "How long will this go on?" she asked.
"Until one of us is dead,"Matteo said. The weight of those words settled over her. This wasn't just about debt anymore. This was war.
"Sir?" Rafa interrupted. "There's something else." He held up an elegant white envelope. "This was delivered during the attack. Someone left it at the front gate."
Matteo took the envelope, his name was written on it in elegant script. He opened it carefully.
"What does it say?" Isabella asked again.
Matteo's expression shifted from suspicion to surprise. "It's an invitation," he said slowly.
"To what?"
"A meeting." He looked up at her"From the other families."
Isabella blinked. "The other families?"
"Don Salvatore Rossi, Don Marco Benedetti, Don Luca Romano and Don Giuseppe Conte." Matteo's voice was serious. "They want to meet tomorrow night."
"What do they want?"
"To discuss the recent attacks, territory disputes." Matteo folded the invitation. "They want to maintain peace."
"That sounds... good?"
"It could be," Matteo said thoughtfully. "Or it could be a trap."
Isabella felt nervous just hearing about it. "Will you go?"
"I have to," Matteo replied. "When the five families call a meeting, you don't refuse."
He paused, looking at her."I want you to come with me," he said suddenly.
Isabella's eyes widened."Me? But... why?"
"Because I trust you," Matteo said simply. "And after today, I don't want to leave you here alone."
"But they don't even know me,"Isabella said.
"They don't need to know you. You'll be there as my assistant." Matteo's voice was gentle. "You'll sit quietly, take notes if needed, answer a few questions and stay close to me."
"What if they ask me questions?"Isabella asked as she kept tapping her feet signaling her fear.
"They won't. You're not part of their business." Matteo looked at her seriously. "But if they do I will be there to help you out and also I will feel better knowing you're safe with me."
Isabella felt scared but also... honored? He trusted her enough to bring her to an important meeting."Is it dangerous?" she assumed unconsciously as she touched her throat, remembering how close the bullets had come to ending everything.
"Everything is dangerous now," Matteo replied. "But this meeting is on neutral ground. There are rules about these things. Which include no weapons, no violence. Just talking." Matteo smiled slightly. "Very civilized for a bunch of criminals."
Isabella touched the brass key in her pocket nervously."What should I wear?"
"Something simple and professional," Matteo said. "These men are old-fashioned. They like people to dress respectfully. And it will be hosted at Don Romano's restaurant in a private dining room." Matteo checked his watch. "Tomorrow at eight."
"Will there be many people?"
"Just the five family heads and maybe one advisor each," Matteo explained. "You'll be the only woman there."
That made Isabella even more nervous. "What if I do something wrong?"
"You won't," Matteo said confidently. "Just be yourself. Stay quiet unless spoken to. Follow my lead."
"Why do you really want me there?" Isabella asked softly.
Matteo was quiet for a moment. "Because you make me feel... calmer," he admitted. "And I might need that tomorrow night."
Isabella felt something warm flutter in her chest. "Okay," she said finally. "I will come."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes." She met his eyes. "If you trust me to be there, then I trust you to keep me safe."
Matteo smiled for real this time. "Good. We'll leave at seven-thirty."
Outside, sirens wailed in the distance.Soon, the police would arrive to clean up the mess. More questions would be asked , more lies would need to be told.
But tomorrow night, Isabella would sit beside the most powerful man she'd ever met.
In a room full of the most dangerous men in Italy. Not because she belonged there but because he wanted her there.
And somehow, that felt like the most important thing in the world. "Boss," Rafa said quietly, "I'll prepare security for tomorrow."
"Light security," Matteo instructed. "We don't want to look like we're expecting trouble."
"And Miss Isabella?" Rafa asked.
"She'll be with me the entire time," Matteo said firmly. "Nothing will happen to her."