Chapter 175: Enzo Called

"You think Lorenzo will involve her?"

"Eventually. Isabella’s been out of the loop since Dimitri broke the engagement, but she’s still family. Still has access to information. And Lorenzo’s going to need her soon, Antonio Valentino is positioning for something big, and the Russos will need every advantage." Dante turned back. "When that happens, when Isabella becomes useful to her father again, we’ll be listening to every word."

"And Dimitri? When do we move against him directly?"

"When we have leverage. Right now, he’s fortified. Protected. Expecting us to come at him." Dante’s eyes were hard. "But when he thinks the threat has passed, when he relaxes his guard, that’s when we strike. Not at him. At everything around him. His operations. His people. His woman."

"Eve Thorne."

"Exactly. Dimitri Valentino’s greatest weakness is that he loves someone who doesn’t belong in our world. Someone soft. Vulnerable. Easy to hurt." Dante’s smile was predatory. "And when I’m ready, when I’ve gathered enough intelligence from Isabella and positioned enough pieces, I’m going to make sure Dimitri knows exactly what it feels like to lose someone he loves."

Luca nodded, made notes on his tablet.

"The surveillance teams in New York have identified Eve Thorne’s routines. Office, home, occasional outings. Always with security, but security can be overcome."

"Not yet. Let Dimitri think his precautions are working. Let him think he’s protecting her." Dante moved back to his desk. "We have time. Months, if necessary. I’m not my brother, I don’t rush into ambushes that get me killed. I plan. I strategize. I wait for the perfect moment."

"Understood, boss."

"Anything else?"

"One more thing. Enzo Valentino has been making inquiries about us. Reaching out to contacts in Rome, asking questions about the family structure, your identity, our operations."

"Enzo." Dante considered. "Antonio’s younger son. The one who runs New York operations with Dimitri."

"Not exactly with Dimitri anymore. Our intelligence suggests they’re rivals. Competing for territory, for Antonio’s approval, for dominance." Luca pulled up a file. "But recently, there’s been communication between them. After your brother’s death, Enzo reached out to Dimitri. Warned him about you."

"Interesting. So the brothers are building an alliance against me." Dante smiled. "Good. That means I’m enough of a threat that they’re setting aside their rivalry. That’s exactly where I want them, united against a common enemy, predictable in their responses."

"You want them working together?"

"For now. United enemies are easier to manipulate than divided ones. They’ll share intelligence, coordinate strategy, make decisions together. Which means when I compromise one, I compromise both." Dante’s eyes gleamed. "And compromising them starts with Isabella Russo, Dimitri’s former fiancée, who’s currently so desperate for affection that she’ll let me into her bed and her life without question."

Luca nodded slowly. "You’ve thought this through."

"I’ve thought through every angle. Every possibility. Every move and counter-move." Dante’s voice was absolute. "By the time I’m done, Dimitri Valentino will wish he’d died in that Rome alley with my brother. Because what I’m going to do to him, what I’m going to take from him, will be so much worse than death."

***

POV: ISABELLA

Isabella stood in her bathroom, staring at her reflection in the floor-length mirror, phone still clutched in her hand.

He’d said maybe.

Maybe he’d come tonight. Maybe he wouldn’t.

Maybe she was worth his time. Maybe she wasn’t.

The casual cruelty in his voice had made her want to cry.

But also....God help her, had made her desperate for him to show up.

What was wrong with her?

Isabella set down her phone, looked at herself properly.

She was wearing black lace lingerie. Expensive. The kind designed to drive men crazy.

Her hair was down, styled in loose waves. Makeup perfect....smoky eyes, red lips.

She looked like a woman preparing for a lover.

But she felt like a woman preparing to be used.

Because that’s what this was, wasn’t it?

She was getting ready for a man whose name she didn’t know to come to her apartment and fuck her while she pretended he was Dimitri.

And she was begging him to do it.

Pathetic.

That’s what he’d called her.

And he was right.

Isabella felt tears prick behind her eyes but blinked them back.

No crying. Not tonight. Not when he might actually show up.

Her phone rang again.

Isabella grabbed it, hoping....

But it wasn’t him.

Enzo.

Isabella stared at the name on her screen, surprised.

She and Enzo hadn’t spoken in over a month. Not since she’d returned to Rome. Not since everything had fallen apart.

Why was he calling now?

She almost didn’t answer.

But curiosity won.

"Enzo," she said, keeping her voice neutral.

"Isabella." Enzo’s voice was careful. Concerned. "I wanted to check on you. See how you’re doing."

Isabella looked at herself in the mirror.....lingerie, styled hair, makeup designed to seduce, and felt something twist in her chest.

How was she doing?

She was preparing for a stranger to fuck her because she couldn’t have the man she actually wanted.

She was begging for scraps of attention from someone who treated her like garbage.

She was so broken that this....this desperate, pathetic existence....felt normal.

"I’m fine," Isabella lied. "Why?"

"Because I haven’t heard from you in weeks. Because you left New York abruptly and no one’s seen you since. Because...." Enzo paused. "Because I’m worried about you."

"You don’t need to worry. I’m handling everything."

"Are you? Because Lorenzo mentioned you’ve been distant. Not answering his calls. Missing family dinners."

Isabella’s jaw tightened. "I’ve been busy."

"Busy with what? You’re not working. You’re not involved in family operations anymore. What exactly are you doing in Rome, Isabella?"

"None of your business", she wanted to snap.

But Enzo didn’t deserve her anger. He’d always been kind to her. Had never treated her like a political pawn the way Antonio and her father had.

"I’m just... taking time," Isabella said carefully. "Processing everything. Figuring out what I want now that..." Her voice caught. "Now that the engagement is over."

"Isabella...."

"I’m fine, Enzo. Really. I appreciate you checking on me, but I don’t need....I’m handling it."

"Handling it how? By isolating yourself? By cutting off everyone who cares about you?"