The night was silent, but inside the Blackwood penthouse, a storm was brewing.
Isabella Blackwood had spent the past hour pacing, her mind racing with everything that had transpired at Russo Industries.
She had anticipated Dante's retaliation, but not like this—not with Lily at the center of it.
She hated losing control.
And yet, here she was, watching as the walls she had carefully built around herself began to crack.
The sound of her front door unlocking pulled her out of her thoughts.
Lily entered, her expression unreadable, but Isabella could sense the tension radiating from her.
"We need to talk," Lily said, closing the door behind her.
"I figured." Isabella leaned against the bar, arms crossed.
"Go ahead."
Lily's hands clenched into fists.
"You didn't tell me about the funding issue."
Isabella exhaled sharply.
"I didn't think it mattered."
"It mattered to me," Lily shot back.
"Do you know how humiliating it was to find out through Adrian? He's the one who told me—not you."
At the mention of Adrian's name, Isabella's expression darkened.
"Adrian shouldn't be involved in this."
Lily scoffed.
"That's not your decision to make."
Isabella's jaw tightened.
"Lily, you don't understand. This isn't about just one deal or one company. It's about control, about keeping everything in order. If I let emotions dictate my decisions—"
Lily cut her off.
"So you'd rather burn everything down, including the people who care about you?"
Isabella's chest tightened, but she forced her voice to remain steady.
"I don't need anyone to care about me."
Lily's eyes softened, but there was disappointment in them.
"That's the saddest thing you've ever said."
Silence stretched between them before Lily shook her head and turned for the door.
Before leaving, she muttered, "I hope you don't regret that, Isabella."
The door clicked shut behind her.
Isabella exhaled slowly, rubbing her temples.
She wouldn't regret it.
Because regrets were for the weak.
*************************************************
Meanwhile…
Dante Russo had always prided himself on control.
But as he stood in his private study, whiskey glass in hand, he realized Isabella Blackwood was a problem he hadn't fully accounted for.
She was reckless.
Smart.
Calculating.
And most of all, unpredictable.
And Adrian—his best friend—was suddenly caught in the middle.
The door opened, and Adrian walked in, his usual smirk nowhere to be found.
"We need to talk," Adrian said, mirroring Lily's words from earlier.
Dante took a sip of his drink before setting it down.
"About?"
Adrian shut the door behind him.
"Isabella."
Dante raised a brow.
"You're taking a sudden interest in her."
Adrian sighed, running a hand through his hair.
"It's not sudden. I just found out she's Lily's twin."
Dante leaned back against his desk.
"And that changes what exactly?"
Adrian exhaled.
"It changes everything."
Dante narrowed his eyes.
"You're involved, aren't you?"
Adrian tensed.
"Not in the way you're thinking."
Dante wasn't convinced.
"You don't even like her," Dante said, watching Adrian closely.
Adrian scoffed.
"And you do?"
Dante didn't answer.
Because he didn't know.
Isabella was infuriating, but she was also the most challenging person he had ever encountered.
He didn't trust her, but he couldn't ignore the way she got under his skin.
Adrian sighed.
"I just want to make sure you know what you're getting into. Isabella doesn't just play the game—she rewrites the rules."
Dante smirked.
"So do I."
Adrian shook his head.
"You don't get it, do you? You think this is some strategic move between you two, but it's not. It's personal."
Dante stiffened.
"You're wrong."
Adrian held his gaze.
"Am I?"
For the first time in a long time, Dante had no response.
*************************************************
LaterThatNight…
Isabella arrived at her office, needing a distraction.
The city lights stretched beneath her floor-to-ceiling windows, but her mind was elsewhere.
Then, the door opened.
She didn't have to turn around to know who it was.
"Couldn't stay away, could you?" she said smoothly, pouring herself a drink.
Dante's voice was calm.
"You should be more careful, Isabella."
She finally turned to face him.
"Why? Because I pissed off your little inner circle?"
Dante walked closer, eyes locked onto hers.
"Because you're making enemies faster than you can handle."
She took a slow sip of her drink.
"Let me guess—Camila sent you?"
"Camila doesn't control me." His tone was firm.
"But she's right about one thing. You're playing a dangerous game."
She smirked.
"I thrive in danger."
Dante stepped even closer, close enough that she could smell his cologne.
"Then tell me, Isabella—how does it feel to finally lose control?"
Her fingers tightened around her glass, but she forced herself to maintain her composure.
"I don't lose control," she said, her voice low.
Dante's lips curved into something that wasn't quite a smile.
"Then why do you look so afraid?"
Her breath hitched.
Because he saw it—the smallest crack in her armor.
And that was dangerous.
Before she could respond, her phone vibrated on the desk.
She glanced down.
A message.
From an unknown number.
"Becarefulwhoyoutrust,Isabella.Noteveryonewantstoseeyouwin."
Her grip on the phone tightened.
Dante saw the shift in her expression.
"What is it?"
She looked at him, debating whether or not to tell him.
Then, deciding against it, she smirked.
"Nothing I can't handle."
Dante didn't believe her.
But before he could push, Isabella walked past him, heading for the door.
The moment she was gone, Dante pulled out his own phone and made a call.
When Ethan answered, Dante's voice was sharp.
"Trace an unknown number that just contacted Isabella."
A pause.
Then Ethan responded, "Got it."
Dante ended the call, his mind racing.
Because for the first time since this war started…
He had a bad feeling Isabella wasn't the only one being played.
*************************************************
TheNextMorning…
Lily had barely stepped into her office when she noticed a letter on her desk.
Her name was written in red ink.
Frowning, she opened it.
And what she read made her blood turn cold.
"Youthinkyou'resafe, Lily?YouthinkbeingaBlackwoodprotectsyou?Itdoesn't. Watchyourback. Becausenexttime…Iwon'tmiss."
Her hands trembled.
This wasn't business.
This was a threat.
And whoever sent it… wasn't bluffing.