Page 32 of Isabella

“Good. I’ve been in contact with my supplier, so we need to get access to a port soon. I promised them we would get back on track, so see to it that it gets done, Niccolò. They’ll only wait so long before they move onto someone else, and we cannot lose out on that income. Do whatever it takes to make her yours, and get her to convince that foolish brother of hers to give me back what’s mine.”

I’m about to excuse myself when my dad’s question stops me. “And what did I tell you about your clothes?”

I glance down at my jeans, shirt, and black leather jacket. “I rode my bike here.”

“And what did I fucking tell you about that damn bike of yours?”

My dad’s never liked the fact I ride a motorcycle. He thinks my ass should only be parked in the back of a two-hundred-thousand-dollar vehicle with a private driver instead.

When I don’t respond, my dad scoffs and says, “Just get out of my office and get the damn DiMaggio girl.”

I grind my teeth and say, “I’ll get it done” before excusing myself from his office.

On my way to the elevator, my phone rings.

“What’s up, Dante?” I answer.

“We’re at Liana’s boutique on Fifth Avenue. Your girl just showed up.”

Pressing the button to go down to the underground garage, I say, “Anyone else with her?”

“Two guards, Rocco and Gianni, and Matteo DiMaggio’s wife.”

Talking to her won’t be easy, but I have to fucking try. “Keep tabs on her, and let me know if she moves. I’ll be there in fifteen.”

I pull up to Liana’s boutique and park my bike right in front of the store while Dante and Leo hop out of their car.

I greet them quickly before rushing into the boutique where I’m immediately stopped by the DiMaggio guards, my shoulders running straight into their hands.

I should’ve known walking into the boutique wouldn’t be too easy.

Knocking both of their hands off my shoulders, I look Rocco and Gianni over, locating the slight protrusion in each of their suit jackets where I’m sure they’re packing heat.

“Something I can help you with, fellas?” I say dryly.

“You know you shouldn’t be in here,” Rocco says, looking me and my guys over.

“I just need to speak with Isabella. Surely, you can look the other way for a few minutes, Rocco.”

I move to barrel through them but am stopped again. Leo and Dante step in, grabbing hold of them and tearing their hands off me. We square up to each other, and I have to give it to Rocco and Gianni. They’re outnumbered, and if we got into it with each other, we could easily take them down, but they still stand their ground. Protecting what they’re supposed to be protecting. Doing their jobs.

“What the hell is going on over here?” a voice hisses from behind Rocco and Gianni, and I know right away it’s my girl. I’d recognize that voice anywhere.

I glance between the two guards before making eye contact with Isabella, who looks as beautiful as ever in a long-sleeve ivory shirt that tucks into her dark-purple high-waisted pants. Her fierce eyes are pinned on mine in a glare that would have anyone else running right out this front door, but not me. I’ll take her glare over silence—it’s something.

“What are you doing here?” she hisses once more, trying to keep her voice quiet, as to not disturb the customers.

I look at Gianni before settling my gaze on Rocco’s. “Mind moving so I can speak to Isabella?”

Neither of them answer and remain rooted in place, so I look through the space between them at Isabella and speak loud and clear, drawing any unwanted attention I know she’ll hate our way. “I need to speak with you, and I’m not leaving here until I do.”

Isabella’s eyes widen as she looks around, taking in the few bystanders that have stopped their shopping to see what’s going on.

“I’ll cause a scene if I must, Isabella.” My voice remains loud, firm, and uncaring. “I’ve already started, so it’s up to you if you’d like me to stop.”

She snaps her gaze back to mine and clenches that pretty, little jaw of hers but still makes no move to tell her guards to back down. So I try one last time.

“Do you want me to make a scene in the middle of your cousin’s store in front ofallof her customers?” I glance around at the shoppers. “There sure is quite the audience here. I think it might be fun to put on a little show for them.” I cock a brow and give her a smirk, letting her know she’s turning this into a game for me. One I’ll make sure I win.

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