Chapter 187: Dante Works For The Covenant!

The two men Enzo sent arrived at Isabella’s penthouse at 2:47 PM.

Both were professionally dressed, both moved with the same careful awareness she’d come to recognize as the mark of serious operatives.

The taller one introduced himself as Luke, no last name and the other as Victor.

"We’re going to conduct a full sweep of your apartment," Luke said, his voice clipped and professional. "We’ll check for listening devices, tracking equipment, anything that shouldn’t be here. I need you to stay in one room....preferably the bedroom, while we work. Don’t touch anything. Don’t interfere. Just let us do our job."

Isabella nodded, barely able to breathe.

These were soldiers. Real soldiers. Enzo’s soldiers.

Which meant the threat was real.

Which meant someone had actually been monitoring her.

She went to her bedroom, sat on the edge of the bed, and tried not to think about the implications.

For the next hour, she heard them moving through her apartment.

Heard equipment beeping. Heard their low voices discussing findings.

Heard Victor say: "Found another one behind the mirror in the bathroom."

Found another one.

Multiple devices.

How many?

How long had she been monitored?

Who had done this?

Finally, Luke came to the bedroom door.

"We’re finished," he said. "We found seven devices total. All removed. Your apartment is clean."

Isabella felt relief flood through her.

Seven.

She’d been bugged in seven different locations.

But they were gone now.

She was safe.

"Do you know who did this?" Isabella asked, her voice small.

"Not yet. But Enzo’s working on it." Luke pulled up a device on his tablet. "This is a new system we’re installing, it’ll alert you if anyone tries to plant surveillance again. It monitors for unauthorized devices twenty-four seven."

"Will you....will you stay? For a while?"

"We’ll be in the living room," Victor said from the hallway. "We’re not leaving until Enzo gives the all-clear."

Isabella nodded, grateful.

For the first time in hours, she felt like she could breathe.

***

Enzo called at 6 PM.

Isabella was in her bedroom, trying to relax, still feeling the weight of being watched.

"How are you holding up?" Enzo asked.

"Better. Now that the devices are gone." Isabella’s voice was steadier. "Did you find out who did it?"

"Still working on it. But Isabella, I need to ask you something." Enzo’s tone turned careful. "Has anyone been in your apartment recently? Anyone at all? Anyone who could have planted the devices?"

Isabella’s mind immediately went to Dante.

To the countless times he’d walked through her door. To the nights he’d spent in her bed. To the fact that he had access, he had opportunity, he could have....

But no.

Dante was crude, yes. Cruel, yes. But he didn’t seem like the kind of man who’d conduct sophisticated surveillance operations. He was a thug. A user. A stranger she fucked to forget her problems.

Not someone capable of bugging her apartment.

And besides....why would he? What reason would Dante have to monitor her?

Unless he was working for someone who did.

But she couldn’t admit to Enzo that she’d been fucking strange men. Couldn’t admit how broken she’d become. Couldn’t face the judgment in his voice.

"No," Isabella lied. "No one’s been here. I’ve been keeping to myself mostly."

Enzo was quiet.

Then: "Okay. But if you remember anything, if anyone visits you, if anything seems off....you tell my men immediately. Understood?"

"Understood. And Enzo....thank you. For sending them. For helping."

"Always, Isabella."

She hung up feeling worse than before.

She’d lied to the one person who was actually trying to help her.

And she’d lied because she was too ashamed to admit the truth.

***

POV: DANTE

Dante listened to Isabella’s phone call through the listening device embedded in her phone itself.

Listened as she lied to Enzo about having anyone in her apartment.

Listened as she pretended to be a poor victim instead of admitting she’d been spreading her legs for a man she didn’t know.

Perfect.

She’d lied to protect her dignity.

Which meant she wouldn’t tell Enzo about him.

Which meant Enzo’s men had no idea who’d bugged Isabella.

Which meant Dante’s plan was proceeding flawlessly.

He immediately called Luca.

"The devices have been removed," Dante said without preamble. "And Enzo doesn’t know who planted them. Isabella didn’t mention me."

"What’s the next move?"

"We let them install their new security system. And then we install devices they won’t find." Dante pulled up his calendar. "But first, we have a bigger problem."

"What?"

"The emergency meeting. At headquarters. In two hours."

Luca’s voice came through the phone. "You’re not usually invited to emergency meetings."

"I am now. Because apparently, I need to know about our arrangement with The Covenant."

There was a pause.

Then Luca said carefully: "Sir, I don’t think you want to discuss that over the phone."

"Then we’ll discuss it in person. At headquarters. In two hours." Dante ended the call, stared out at Rome.

The Covenant.

His organization had been doing business with them for years.

Which meant the Romano family wasn’t just a criminal organization, they were part of an international bioweapon network.

Which meant Dante knew about the virus being released.

Which meant Dante had leverage that neither Dimitri nor Enzo even knew existed.

And if Dante played his cards right, if he navigated the politics correctly....he could use The Covenant to destroy both Dimitri and anyone else who got in his way.

***

The conference room was exactly what Dante expected.

Dark wood. Expensive furniture. Maps on the walls showing Romano operations across Southern Europe.

But what he didn’t expect was the man already sitting at the table.

Mid-sixties. Silver-haired. The kind of power that came from decades of moving through shadows.

"Dante Romano," the man said, gesturing to the empty chair. "Welcome to a conversation you weren’t supposed to have for another five years."

"Who is this?" Dante asked, remaining standing.

"This is Nico Deluca," Luca said quietly behind him. "He represents The Covenant in our negotiations."

Dante’s mind raced.

The Covenant didn’t send representatives to regional meetings. They didn’t expose themselves to local organizations.

Unless the situation was serious enough to warrant it.

"Sit," Nico said. "We have much to discuss. And very little time to discuss it."