Chapter 75: Neutral Territory

"Maybe. Or maybe they’d respect it. Strength. Independence. Proving we don’t need Dimitri’s shadow." He paused. "Besides, what’s the alternative? Spend the rest of our lives watching the people we love be happy with other people? Following orders from fathers who see us as tools instead of children?"

Isabella was quiet for a long time.

"You’re serious about this," she said finally.

"Dead serious."

"And what about...." She gestured between them. "This. Us. What would we be?"

"Partners," Enzo said simply. "Allies. Friends, maybe, if we’re lucky. I’m not asking for your love, Isabella. I know that belongs to someone else. I’m just asking for a chance to build something that’s ours. Something we choose."

She studied his face, searching for deception, for weakness.

She wouldn’t find any.

For the first time in his life, Enzo knew exactly what he wanted.

Not Dimitri’s approval. Not Antonio’s pride. Not even Isabella’s love.

Just freedom.

"Alright," Isabella said slowly. "Tell me more about this plan."

Enzo smiled.....sharp and determined.

"First, we need resources. Money. Connections. Territory that isn’t tied to Antonio or Lorenzo." He pulled out his phone, opened a secure messaging app. "I have contacts in Eastern Europe. The Volkov family. They’ve been looking to expand into our territories for years."

"Working with the Russians? That’s...."

"Strategic," Enzo finished. "And it sends a message. We’re not bound by the old alliances. We’re forging new ones."

Isabella leaned back, her mind clearly racing.

"If we do this.....if we actually try this....there’s no going back. Antonio will disown you. my father will see me as a traitor."

"Good. Then we’ll finally be free of their expectations." Enzo met her eyes. "But I need to know you’re all in, Isabella. This only works if we trust each other completely."

She was quiet for a long moment.

Then she extended her hand.

"Partners," she said.

Enzo took it, shook it firmly.

"Partners."

They spent the next three hours planning. Mapping out territories. Identifying weaknesses in their fathers’ organizations. Discussing which families might be willing to break from the old guard.

It was exhilarating.

For the first time in his life, Enzo felt like he was building something instead of living in someone else’s shadow.

Around 2 AM, Isabella stood, stretching.

"I need sleep. My brain is too full." She looked at him. "The guest room is made up. You can stay there."

"Thank you."

She started toward her bedroom, then paused.

"Enzo?"

"Yes?"

"Thank you. For telling me. About how you feel." Her expression was soft. "I can’t give you what you want. But I want you to know.....you’re not disappointing. You’re not second-best. You’re just... seeing yourself through their eyes instead of your own."

His throat tightened. "And what do your eyes see?"

"Someone strong enough to walk away from everything he’s ever known to build something better." She smiled. "That’s not disappointing. That’s brave."

She disappeared into her bedroom, leaving Enzo standing alone in the suite.

Brave.

No one had ever called him that before.

He walked to the windows, looked out at the city his brother controlled.

Dimitri had Eve.

Dimitri had the empire.

Dimitri had everything.

But maybe....just maybe....Enzo could have something too.

Not Dimitri’s empire. Not Antonio’s approval.

His own.

His phone buzzed. A text from one of his contacts in Moscow.

Heard you might be looking for new partnerships. The Volkov family is interested. When can we meet?

Enzo smiled.

The game was changing.

And for the first time in his life, he was playing to win.

Not against Dimitri.

For himself.

***

POV: ISABELLA

Isabella stood on the balcony of her suite, watching the sunrise paint the city in shades of gold and amber.

She hadn’t slept.

Couldn’t sleep.

Not after everything that had happened last night.

Enzo’s confession played on repeat in her mind: I’m in love with you. Have been since I was fifteen.

Eight years.

He’d carried that secret for eight years, watching her pine after Dimitri, never saying a word.

Isabella understood devotion. Had lived it her entire life...every choice, every action oriented toward becoming worthy of Dimitri Valentino.

But what Enzo described was different.

He’d loved her knowing she’d never love him back. Knowing she was promised to someone else. Knowing it was hopeless.

And he’d loved her anyway.

That kind of love is selfless, patient and enduring was foreign to Isabella. In her world, love was a weapon. A tool. A means to an end.

But Enzo’s love seemed... pure. Untainted by strategy or ambition.

It terrified her.

Because if she let herself think about it too much, she might realize that what she felt for Dimitri wasn’t love at all.

It was obsession. Possession. The desperate need to have what she’d been promised.

She heard the suite door open behind her.

"You’re up early," Enzo’s voice came from the doorway. He held two cups of coffee, steam curling in the cool morning air.

"Couldn’t sleep." She accepted the coffee he offered, their fingers brushing. "Too much to think about."

"The plan?"

"Among other things." She took a sip, let the bitter heat ground her. "Enzo, about last night...."

"You don’t have to say anything." He leaned against the railing beside her, careful to maintain distance. "I meant what I said. I’m not expecting anything from you. We’re partners. That’s enough."

"Is it?"

He was quiet for a moment. "It has to be."

Isabella studied his profile in the dawn light. Strong jaw. Dark eyes that had seen too much disappointment. The faint bruises on his throat from where his own brother had nearly choked him.

"You deserve better than this," she said quietly.

"So do you." He looked at her. "We both deserve better than spending our lives chasing people who’ll never choose us." ℯℯ𝑙.

"Hence the plan."

"Hence the plan." He smiled, and it was different from his usual practiced charm it was genuine and almost almost hopeful. "Speaking of which, I heard back from Volkov. They want to meet. Tomorrow night."

Isabella’s strategic mind immediately engaged. "Where?"

"Neutral territory. The Celestial Club. Private room. Just us and Alexei Volkov."

"Just Alexei? Not his father?"