Chapter 70

The Romano safe house was hidden deep in the countryside, far away from prying eyes. It wasn't luxurious-just a reinforced, secluded cabin stocked with weapons, supplies, and enough tension to snap a steel wire.

Inside, the air was thick with anger, frustration, and barely contained violence.

Enzo paced like a caged animal, his jaw tight, his fists clenched. Isabella was gone. Taken. And he had done nothing but watch.

His men sat around the wooden table, weapons spread out, awaiting orders. But Enzo wasn't thinking straight. His blood was too hot.

"I say we burn their whole operation to the ground," he growled, slamming his fist against the table. "No more games. No more waiting."

Luca, his second-in-command, sighed heavily. "Enzo, I get it, man. You wanna go in there, guns blazing. Hell, we all do." He gestured to the rest of the crew, who nodded grimly. "But let's be real-if we charge in like lunatics, Isabella will die."

Enzo gritted his teeth. He knew Luca was right. Charging in without a plan wasn't bravery. It was stupidity. And stupidity got people killed.

Another voice spoke up. "We need to outthink them."

Enzo turned, eyes narrowing.

A new face.

A man leaned against the wall, arms crossed, smirking like he belonged there.

"Who the hell are you?" Enzo demanded.

The man chuckled. "Name's Rafael. You might remember me as the guy who tried to kill you once."

Luca groaned. "Oh, great. Another guy with a vendetta."

"Relax," Rafael said. "I'm not your enemy-not anymore." He walked forward, pulling up a chair like he had all the time in the world. "I was working under Moretti. I thought he was at the top of the food chain. Turns out, he was just a puppet. The real power? The people who took Isabella."

Enzo's jaw twitched. "And why should I trust you?"

Rafael smirked. "Because I hate them more than I hate you."

The room fell into tense silence.

Then Enzo exhaled sharply and grabbed his gun off the table.

"Then let's finish this tomorrow."

The room was dark and cold and smelled like damp concrete. A single, flickering bulb overhead cast eerie shadows on the cracked walls.

Isabella sat in the center of the room, hands bound behind her back, her mind racing.

She wasn't scared. She was furious.

Across from her stood the mastermind. The man who had orchestrated everything. He studied her like she was a puzzle to be solved.

"You're tougher than I expected," he mused. "Most people break by now."

Isabella smirked. "Yeah, well, I have a high tolerance for annoying men in expensive suits."

The mastermind chuckled. "You're sharp. But even sharp things can be dulled." He leaned closer. "Do you know who Enzo really is?"

Isabella glared at him. "I know enough."

"Do you?" he countered smoothly. "Because I don't think you do."

He circled her like a predator. "Enzo isn't the man you think he is. He's a killer, a liar, a man who has been manipulated his entire life without even knowing it."

Isabella rolled her eyes. "Yeah, yeah. Evil mastermind speech. Very original."

The mastermind's smirk didn't falter. "You don't believe me now. But you will."

He nodded toward one of his guards. A thick, burly man stepped forward, arms crossed.

"We can make you talk, you know," the guard growled.

Isabella sighed dramatically. "Oh no. Not talking. What a nightmare."

The mastermind narrowed his eyes. "We'll see how much you're joking after a few hours."

Isabella's face was unreadable. She had spent enough time around powerful men to know their greatest weakness-arrogance.

They thought she was just Enzo's weakness.

What they didn't know was-she had a plan.

She dropped her gaze, sighing as if she were finally giving in. "Fine. Maybe you're right," she murmured.

The mastermind's eyes gleamed with victory. "Good girl."

As he turned away, Isabella's fingers twitched.

The guard had been too close.

And now, his knife was in her hands.

She wasn't waiting to be rescued.

The enemy compound was a fortress, surrounded by guards, armed to the teeth. But that didn't matter.

Enzo was coming.

And he was bringing hell with him.

Hidden in the shadows, his men moved into position. Guns were loaded, silencers screwed on, knives strapped tight. The air buzzed with tension.

Luca crouched beside Enzo, whispering, "Rafael says they have snipers on the north side. We take them out first, then move in."

Enzo nodded. His heart wasn't beating-it was pounding. Isabella was inside. He wasn't leaving without her.

With a silent signal, the attack began.

Gunfire exploded through the compound. Guards shouted, scrambling to defend their base. But Enzo's men were faster, sharper. They had come for war.

Enzo moved like a shadow, slipping between enemies, taking them down with ruthless efficiency. Every step brought him closer to Isabella.

Then-through the smoke and chaos-

He saw her.

Isabella. Running toward him.

She was covered in blood. Too much blood.

Enzo's breath caught. Was it hers? Was she hurt?

She stumbled, and he was there in an instant, catching her before she hit the ground.

Her eyes fluttered open, locking onto his. "It's over," she whispered.

And then-

BOOM.

A distant explosion shook the ground beneath them.

The war wasn't over.

It had just begun.

Enzo lifted Isabella into his arms and started running. The explosion had taken out a section of the compound, but the fight wasn't over. Behind them, the rest of his crew kept firing, covering their escape.

"Rafael!" Enzo barked. "Get the car!"

"For once, I actually agree with you!" Rafael shouted back, already sprinting toward the getaway vehicle.

Luca tossed a grenade over his shoulder. "Just a little going-away gift!"

The explosion rocked the ground again, sending debris flying. Enzo didn't slow down. He kicked open the compound's back door, finally stepping into the cool night air.

Isabella coughed. "Put me down, Enzo. I can walk."

"You're bleeding."

"It's not my blood," she said with a smirk.

Enzo paused, staring at her. "I love you."

She grinned. "I know. Now, let's get out of here before more of your enemies show up."

Enzo chuckled and placed her down carefully. She was right-this wasn't over. But they had made it out.

For now.

Rafael honked the horn of the SUV. "Let's go, lovebirds! Before the rest of the place decides to explode!"

Enzo helped Isabella into the backseat while Luca and the others jumped in. As the car sped away, the burning compound disappeared behind them, smoke curling into the night sky.

Isabella exhaled. "That was fun."

Enzo gave her a look. "That was not fun."

"Speak for yourself," she said, leaning her head against his shoulder. "I got to steal a knife and stab a guy. That's a good night in my book."

Enzo sighed, wrapping an arm around her. "You're insane."

"And yet, you love me."

"Damn right, I do."

The war wasn't over. But for now, they had won this battle.

And tomorrow?

They'd be ready for whatever came next.