Chapter 111: He Will Kill You. Slowly And Painfully

POV: DIMITRI

Dimitri’s phone buzzed as he was reviewing contracts in his office.

A text from Marco.

Minor intel development on Isabella’s companion. Nothing urgent. Will brief you fully tomorrow when I have complete picture.

Dimitri stared at the message.

Minor intel.

Nothing urgent.

Which meant something was happening, but Marco didn’t think it required immediate action.

He trusted Marco’s judgment. If it was critical, Marco would have called.

Still...

Dimitri typed back: Keep me posted. Any changes to Saturday security?

Already handled. You focus on the gala. I’ve got the rest.

Dimitri pocketed his phone, tried to ignore the unease crawling up his spine.

Saturday was two days away.

Eve would be on his arm, beautiful and perfect and completely his.

And Isabella would be somewhere in that ballroom, watching them.

Hating them.

Plotting God knew what.

But Dimitri had eyes on her. Had protocols in place. Had Marco handling the security.

Nothing would go wrong.

He wouldn’t let it.

From the living room, he heard Eve laughing at something Nonna said.

That sound....that pure, joyful sound....was worth protecting.

Worth lying for.

Worth anything.

Dimitri stood, closed his laptop, went to join the two most important women in his life.

Saturday would be perfect.

He’d make sure of it.

No matter what Isabella tried.

***

POV: ISABELLA

Friday morning arrived cold and gray, the kind of weather that matched Isabella’s mood perfectly.

Tomorrow.

Tomorrow night was the Castellano Gala.

Tomorrow night, Dimitri would be there with Eve on his arm, looking perfect together, the Devil and his chosen queen.

And tomorrow night, Isabella would execute the plan that would either save her future or destroy her completely.

She sat in her hotel suite, coffee untouched on the table beside her, staring at her phone.

Any minute now, Catarina would arrive with the drug.

The compound that would create a need so powerful, so overwhelming, that even Dimitri Valentino’s legendary control wouldn’t be able to fight it. ℯ

Isabella’s hands shook slightly as she lifted her coffee cup.

This was it.

The point of no return.

She’d crossed so many lines to get here, lied to Enzo, betrayed their partnership, reactivated an order she’d promised to cancel, spent 200K on an illegal drug.

And for what?

A chance.

Not even a guarantee. Just a chance that Dimitri might turn to her when the compound took effect. That he might remember what they were supposed to be. That fourteen years of preparation might mean something.

Her phone buzzed.

Catarina: Downstairs. Coming up.

Isabella stood, smoothed her dress, tried to calm her racing heart.

Two minutes later, there was a soft knock at the door.

She opened it to find Catarina standing there with a small black leather case, her expression as neutral as always.

"Signorina Russo." Catarina entered, set the case on the coffee table. "Your delivery."

Isabella stared at the case like it might explode.

"That’s it?"

"That’s it." Catarina opened the case to reveal a small vial of clear liquid, maybe two ounces total, nestled in protective foam. "Compound X-7. Pharmaceutical grade. Tasteless. Odorless. Colorless."

"How much do I use?"

"The entire vial is calibrated for one adult male of approximately 200 pounds. Any less won’t have the desired effect. Any more would be dangerous."

Isabella picked up the vial carefully, held it up to the light.

Two ounces of liquid that cost 200K and could change everything.

"How long does it take to work?" she asked.

"Fifteen to twenty minutes after ingestion. The effects build gradually....warmth, heightened sensitivity, increasing arousal. By thirty minutes, the subject will be experiencing significant physical discomfort. By forty-five minutes, the need will be overwhelming."

"And the duration?"

"Four to six hours at full intensity. Longer if not relieved." Catarina’s voice remained clinical, detached. "The only way to alleviate the symptoms is through sexual release. Multiple times. The compound essentially hijacks the body’s arousal response and amplifies it beyond normal control."

Isabella set down the vial, her pulse racing. "And there’s no antidote? No way to reverse it once it’s administered?"

"None. Once ingested, the compound must run its course. The only relief is sex." Catarina paused. "Which is why you need to be very careful about dosage and timing. If administered incorrectly, or if the subject can’t access relief, the experience becomes extremely painful. Potentially dangerous."

"I understand."

"Do you?" Catarina’s cool eyes met hers. "Because once you use this, there’s no taking it back. If Dimitri Valentino discovers what you’ve done....if he realizes he’s been drugged....he will kill you. Slowly. Painfully. And no one will be able to stop him."

"I know the risks."

"Then you’re either very brave or very foolish." Catarina closed the case. "The vial is shielded against detection, it won’t show up in standard security sweeps. But you’ll need to be careful about when and how you administer it. Too public, and you’ll be caught. Too private, and you won’t have the opportunity."

Isabella nodded, her mind already working through logistics.

The gala started at seven. Cocktail hour first, then dinner, then dancing.

She’d need to wait until Dimitri had a drink....champagne, probably, or whiskey. Something he’d consume slowly enough that she could create a moment to dose it without being seen.

And then....

Then she’d need to be close when the effects hit. Available. Ready to offer herself as relief.

It was risky. Dangerous. Insane.

But it was also her last chance.

"Thank you, Catarina." Isabella pulled out her phone, transferred the final payment. "This stays between us. No one knows. Not Enzo. Not anyone."

"Professional discretion is guaranteed." Catarina moved toward the door, paused. "Signorina Russo. May I speak freely?"

"Of course."

"This plan....drugging a man to make him want you, it won’t give you what you’re hoping for." Catarina’s voice was gentle now, almost kind. "Even if it works, even if he turns to you in the moment, he’ll hate you for it afterward. Hate you for taking his choice. Hate you for violating him. And that hate will destroy any chance you ever had."

"I don’t have any chance anyway," Isabella said quietly. "He’s made that very clear."

"Then why do this?"