Page 127 of Isabella

Isabella gives me a small smile before turning her attention back to her brothers. “Nicco checked it earlier, and I don’t need stitches. It looks a lot worse than it actually is because I haven’t been able to wash all the dried blood off yet.”

Enzo looks at me. “We waited in the room next to your office for longer than I’m willing to admit. We should’ve fucking known something was up when a few minutes had gone by and we still hadn’t heard you guys go to your office.”

“The only reason we were able to determine what had happened is because we had our guy hack into your security system,” Matteo says, which draws an irritated scoff from my mouth.

“You were able to get in?” I ask, shocked that their guy broke through my firewall. It’s supposed to be nearly impossible.

“It took him some time, but he was finally able to. I don’t know who set up your system, but it’s pretty impressive,” Enzo says. “You might want to get our guy on it though.”

I fucking set it up because I trusted no one else to do it, but now I’m second-guessing my talents.

Enzo lets out a small chuckle. “That look on your face tells meyouinstalled your security system, huh?”

I tense my jaw and remain silent, giving them the answer they already know.

Matteo raises a brow at me as if he’s impressed. “It was pretty good according to our guy but not fool-proof. I’ll send you his information. If my sister is going to be living here, you’re going to need a professional to do your system.”

I nod, knowing Matteo’s right. I can install a decent security system for myself, but I will not put my girl at risk. I can swallow my ego if it means her safety isn’t a question.

“Look, Teo, Enzo, I’m really tired,” Isabella says, the exhaustion taking over her voice. “Nicco and I are both fine, so I’d really appreciate it if we could hold off on the interrogation until tomorrow.”

Matteo opens his mouth to argue, but I stop him by saying, “I think a bath would be good, Isabella. Why don’t you head to our room, and I’ll be there in a few minutes to draw you one.”

Isabella says her goodbyes to her brothers and cousin before heading down the hallway, but that doesn’t keep her from shooting a worried glance at me from over her shoulder. I give her a warm smile, letting her know everything is okay, and she continues down the hall.

“Start talking, Niccolò,” Matteo says, and I bring my attention to him.

“Liana, let’s go to the kitchen and do… something,” Enzo mutters.

“But I want to?—”

Enzo places his hand on Liana’s elbow and leads her out of the room. He goes in the opposite direction of the kitchen, but I don’t think that matters to him.

Once they’ve cleared the room, I bring my attention back to Matteo. “My dad and Mauricio took me and Isabella to an abandoned building in Brooklyn. It’s not one I’ve been to before.”

“We sent people to every warehouse we knew Silvestri owned. No wonder we couldn’t find you guys,” he says.

Silence fills the air around us while Matteo watches me, waiting for me to continue. I can see the questions swarming behind his eyes.

“Your sister is strong, Matteo. Don’t mistake her for not being able to handle herself. When my dad and I walked in, she already had Mauricio on his ass, moaning like a bitch, and she’s the reason I was able to get us out of there in the end.”

That breaks the tension in the room, causing Matteo to chuckle. “I guess I wouldn’t expect anything less from her.”

I take a deep breath before saying, “Look, I know we made a deal that I’d let you take out my dad, but you have to understand, he had her?—”

“I know,” he says. “I know.”

“I wasn’t going to let anything happen to her, so I took the shot when I had the best chance I had. He had to die.”

Matteo nods. “All that matters is that my sister is unharmed and your dad and Mauricio are dead.”

“They’re both very much dead,” I confirm.

Matteo nods again. “Have you sent anyone to clean it up?”

“No. My dad smashed my phone, so I haven’t been able to get ahold of Dante or Leo to call it in.”

“I let them know you were back after we got off the phone. They were going to come over, but when I told them we were almost back to your place, they said to let you know to call them when you had a chance. I think they wanted to give us all a moment.”

---