Chapter 7: The Power Struggle
Isla's heart raced as she walked down the dimly lit hallway at Inferno, the thumping bass of the club's music still vibrating through the floor beneath her. She had managed to escape the chaos of the main room, seeking a brief moment of solitude to think. The club was alive with energy, but for Isla, every step closer to the backrooms of Inferno felt like she was entering another world—one where she had to keep her composure, where secrets were traded like currency.
She had come here with a single purpose: to get closer to Dante, to learn everything she could about the DeLuca family, and to get revenge for the brutal execution of her father. But the deeper she ventured into this world, the more dangerous it became. And the more dangerous it became, the more she found herself drawn to Dante in ways she couldn't control.
Her thoughts were interrupted when a strong hand gripped her wrist. Before she could react, she was yanked into a dark hallway, her back pressing against the cold, unforgiving wall. The sound of her breath catching in her throat was the only noise that broke the silence around them.
She didn't need to look up to know who it was. The familiar scent of expensive cologne, the presence that could fill a room without a single word—it was Dante.
His eyes locked onto hers, dark and intense, the kind of gaze that could cut through anyone, strip them bare of all pretenses. He was standing so close to her now, his breath warm against her skin.
"You like playing with fire, don't you?" His voice was low, dangerous, like a promise.
Isla swallowed hard, forcing herself to keep her composure. The heat between them was palpable, but she couldn't let herself be consumed by it. Not yet. She needed to stay focused, needed to remember why she was here.
She forced a small, breathless laugh, trying to hide the shiver that ran through her at the feeling of his fingers brushing against her skin as he leaned in closer. "You're the one who keeps chasing me," she said, her voice steady despite the thundering of her heart in her chest.
Dante's lips twitched into the faintest smile, but there was no humor in his expression. His fingers slid along her jaw, tracing the line of her neck, and Isla instinctively held her breath, her body tensing in response. She couldn't let him get under her skin like this.
"I don't chase," Dante said, his voice so calm it was almost unnerving. "I claim."
Heat coiled in Isla's stomach at the implication in his words. She hadn't expected him to be so blunt, so commanding, and yet… it stirred something deep inside her. She hated how easily his presence affected her, how his every word seemed to strike her at the core.
She needed to escape this moment—this chemistry that was burning her alive. But how? How could she escape a man like Dante?
With a slow, defiant smirk, Isla tilted her chin up slightly, her eyes daring him to push her further. "Then why haven't you?" she asked, her voice laced with challenge.
Dante's grip on her wrist tightened for a brief moment before he slowly let go, as though testing her resolve. His eyes burned with an intensity that sent a shock through her body, making her heart race even faster.
"Not yet," he replied, his voice low and full of something she couldn't quite decipher.
And just like that, he was gone, leaving Isla breathless and shaken, her body still vibrating from the touch of his fingers, the weight of his gaze. She pressed a hand against the wall, steadying herself, trying to regain some semblance of control. Her heart was still pounding in her chest, and she knew—knew—that she was in far too deep. She had let herself get too close to Dante, and that was a dangerous thing.
She had come here with a purpose, a plan. But every time she tried to remind herself of that, every time she tried to stay focused on her mission, Dante's presence seemed to pull her further into his orbit. It was becoming harder to ignore the dangerous allure of him, the magnetic pull that made it harder and harder to resist. She had to stay focused. She couldn't let him distract her. Not now, not ever.
Isla took a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves, but her mind kept returning to the same thought: Not yet.
The words haunted her, echoing in her mind as she pushed herself off the wall and forced her feet to move forward. She couldn't afford to be distracted. She couldn't afford to let Dante get under her skin. Not when she was this close to her goal.
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Luca's Suspicion Grows
Elsewhere in the club, Luca Moretti stood in the shadows, his gaze fixed on Isla as she made her way down the hallway. He had been watching her for some time now, ever since Dante had taken an interest in her. And now, seeing the way Dante had interacted with her, Luca knew one thing for sure—Bella Caruso wasn't who she claimed to be.
Luca's jaw clenched as he watched her disappear into the backrooms. There was something about her, something that didn't add up. She wasn't the innocent, charming woman she pretended to be. She was hiding something. And it was his job to figure out exactly what that was.
His eyes flickered toward Dante, who was still in the main room, surrounded by a small group of associates. There was a tension in the air, an unspoken understanding that Dante was increasingly distracted by Bella, and Luca didn't like it. He didn't like it at all. The DeLuca family was built on power and control, and the last thing they needed was a woman who could potentially ruin everything.
Luca's mind raced with possibilities. What was Bella's game? Was she working for someone else? Had she been sent here to infiltrate the DeLuca family, to bring them down from the inside?
He needed answers. And he wasn't going to stop until he got them.
His thoughts were interrupted when he felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned to find Elena Ricci, Dante's intended fiancée, standing behind him, a knowing smile on her lips. Elena was beautiful, cold, and dangerous in her own right. She was the perfect match for Dante, but Luca knew there was a part of her that was constantly trying to keep her place in the family secure.
"Elena," Luca greeted her with a nod. "What brings you to the shadows?"
Elena's smile widened, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. "Just watching," she replied, her voice smooth and controlled. "It's interesting, don't you think? How Bella seems to have Dante wrapped around her finger."
Luca's eyes narrowed. "That's what I'm trying to figure out."
Elena's gaze shifted toward the hallway where Isla had disappeared, a knowing look passing over her face. "You don't trust her, do you?"
"No," Luca said, his voice low. "And I'm going to find out exactly who she is."
Elena's lips curled into a slight smile, but there was something in her eyes that suggested she wasn't entirely opposed to the idea of Bella being a threat. "You should be careful," she warned. "Dante's temper is one thing, but if Bella really is a threat, we'll need to take care of it before it gets out of hand."
Luca nodded, the wheels in his mind already turning. "I'll handle it. You focus on keeping Dante… occupied."
Elena gave him a sharp look, but said nothing more. She knew what Luca was capable of, and she knew better than to question his methods.
Luca turned back toward the shadows, watching the hallway where Bella had disappeared. He was sure of one thing—he would find out who she really was, no matter what it took.
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Isla was in far deeper than she realized. And the danger surrounding her was growing with every passing moment.