The letter burned in Isabella's hands long after Matteo had left the room.
She sat frozen on the edge of the bed, staring at the words again and again as if they might suddenly rearrange themselves into something less terrifying.
You trust too easily. He is not what he seems. Protect your child… before it's too late.
Her heart pounded violently against her ribs.
Who wrote this?
And more importantly… what did they mean?
Matteo had been cold from the moment she met him, ruthless even. But he had never lied about who he was. He was a mafia heir. Dangerous. Feared. Untouchable.
But the letter suggested something deeper. Something hidden.
Something she didn't know.
A knock on the door startled her.
She quickly folded the letter and slipped it under the pillow just as Maria stepped inside carrying a breakfast tray.
"Good morning, Miss Isabella," Maria said gently. "You should eat something."
Isabella forced a small smile.
"Thank you."
Maria placed the tray beside the bed. But instead of leaving immediately, she hesitated.
Her hands trembled slightly.
"Is something wrong?" Isabella asked.
Maria glanced nervously toward the door before leaning closer.
"You must be careful," she whispered.
Isabella's stomach tightened.
"Why?"
Maria looked terrified.
"There are people in this house who don't want you here… people who think the baby will destroy everything."
Isabella's breath caught.
"Who?"
Maria shook her head quickly.
"I cannot say. If they find out I warned you—"
Footsteps suddenly echoed down the hallway.
Maria instantly straightened.
"I should go."
Before Isabella could say another word, Maria hurried out of the room.
Silence returned.
But now it felt heavier.
More dangerous.
Across town, Matteo sat inside the private office of the DeLuca headquarters.
The room was dark except for the dim light from the city skyline behind him.
His men stood around the table, silent.
Enzo was there.
So was Luca Romano, Matteo's second-in-command and the man who had been by his side for nearly ten years.
Matteo leaned forward slowly.
"Someone ordered that attack on the warehouse," he said calmly.
No one spoke.
His voice dropped lower.
"And that someone knew Isabella would be there."
The tension in the room thickened.
Matteo's icy eyes moved across each face.
"Which means the traitor is inside this room… or very close to it."
Luca crossed his arms.
"You're accusing your own men?"
"I'm stating a fact," Matteo replied coldly.
Enzo stepped forward.
"We're running investigations already. Phone records. Movements. Everything."
Matteo nodded once.
"Good."
He stood slowly.
"But understand this."
His voice turned deadly quiet.
"When I find the person responsible…"
His gaze hardened.
"I won't just kill them."
The room went still.
"I will make an example of them."
Back at the mansion, Isabella couldn't shake the uneasy feeling crawling beneath her skin.
Every hallway seemed darker.
Every whisper sounded suspicious.
Even the servants avoided her gaze.
She walked slowly through the garden courtyard, hoping fresh air would calm her nerves.
Instead, she found someone waiting.
Luca Romano.
He leaned casually against the fountain, smoking a cigarette.
When he saw her, he smiled politely.
"Good morning, Isabella."
She forced a polite nod.
"Good morning."
Luca studied her carefully.
"You seem… nervous."
She folded her arms.
"I suppose that's normal when someone tries to kill you."
He chuckled softly.
"Fair point."
There was something about him that made her uneasy.
He was handsome, charming even—but his eyes held something calculating.
"You know Matteo trusts you a lot," Luca continued.
"He protects you more than anyone I've ever seen."
Isabella looked down at her stomach instinctively.
"He's protecting the baby."
Luca's smile widened slightly.
"Of course."
But something about the way he said it made her stomach twist.
"Take my advice," he added.
"Matteo's world is dangerous."
His voice lowered.
"People close to him often get hurt."
A chill ran through her.
"Are you threatening me?"
Luca laughed.
"Not at all."
He flicked his cigarette into the fountain.
"Just… warning you."
Then he walked away.
Isabella watched him leave, her instincts screaming that something wasn't right.
Later that night, thunder rolled across the sky.
Rain hammered against the mansion windows.
Isabella lay awake, unable to sleep.
Her mind replayed every word from the letter.
Every warning.
Every strange glance from the people around her.
Then suddenly—
A scream echoed from downstairs.
Isabella sat upright instantly.
Voices shouted in the hallway.
Footsteps pounded.
Her heart raced as she rushed toward the door.
But before she could open it—
The door burst open.
Matteo stormed inside.
His shirt was soaked with rain.
And blood.
Her eyes widened.
"Matteo!"
He slammed the door shut behind him.
"You stay inside this room," he ordered.
"What happened?"
His jaw tightened.
"One of the guards is dead."
Her stomach dropped.
"What?"
"He was poisoned."
The words hit like ice.
"Poisoned?" she whispered.
Matteo nodded slowly.
"And before he died… he said something interesting."
Fear crept through her chest.
"What did he say?"
Matteo stepped closer.
"He said the traitor had already moved to the next stage."
Her pulse quickened.
"What stage?"
Matteo looked directly at her.
"Getting closer to you."
Her blood ran cold.
Meanwhile, somewhere inside the mansion—
A shadow moved quietly through the dim hallway.
The figure stopped outside Isabella's bedroom door.
A gloved hand slowly reached for the handle.
Inside the room, Isabella felt a sudden wave of dread.
She turned toward the door.
"Did you hear that?" she whispered.
Matteo's eyes narrowed.
"Yes."
The handle slowly began to turn.
Matteo pulled a gun from his jacket instantly.
Silence filled the room.
Then suddenly—
The door burst open.
Matteo fired.
The gunshot echoed through the mansion.
But the intruder had already disappeared into the darkness of the hallway.
Matteo cursed under his breath.
Isabella's heart pounded violently.
"They were trying to kill me…" she whispered.
Matteo's expression hardened.
"No."
He looked toward the empty hallway.
"They were testing the security."
His voice turned colder than she had ever heard.
"They're preparing for something bigger."
He turned back to her slowly.
"And when they make their next move…"
His eyes darkened with fury.
"I will be ready."
But deep inside, Isabella knew something terrifying.
The traitor wasn't finished.
The real attack…
Was still coming.