Isabella's perspective
Maria carefully took Angelo's meager few pieces of clothing, her hands still trembling, and wiped the mine dust from my son's pale little face.
Before we could even approach the waiting convoy, a sharp, sarcastic voice pierced the oppressive silence.
"What a tragedy, Miss Isabella."
I turned around and saw my aunt's personal maid, Carla, standing beside the armored vehicle. She was wearing a brand-new, crisp wool coat, and her gaze swept over my mud-covered clothes, causing her to wrinkle her nose in disgust. She was Old Lady Moretti's mouthpiece, sent here to make me clearly aware of just how badly I had fallen.
"The general surrendered the Port of Chicago for you," Kara continued with feigned pity. "What a heavy price to pay for a wife who was abandoned. We've prepared seats for you and the young master in the cars in the middle of the convoy. That... is more in line with your current status."
She curled her lips into a cruel and triumphant smile, waiting to see me lower my head in shame.
I didn't blink, nor did I argue. I simply gripped Angelo's small hand and walked straight past her, my boots crunching on the gravel. I bypassed the ordinary sedan and headed directly for the lead bulletproof Cadillac-the vehicle reserved exclusively for those of the highest bloodlines.
Maria, who was always loyal, immediately ran forward and opened the heavy car door for me.
I settled into the luxurious leather seat, pulled Angelo into my arms, and rolled down the tinted window halfway. Kara stood frozen in the dust, her smug expression now replaced by utter resentment.
"Let's go," I said to her, my voice devoid of any warmth. "Don't fall behind."
Kara's face flushed red. "His Excellency Lorenzo Falcone has officially dissolved your marriage! You have no power now!" she retorted sharply, eager to regain control.
I let out a soft, sinister laugh. The empty words written by those self-proclaimed gods were meaningless to a woman who had already witnessed the end of the world. I rolled up the car window, completely shutting out her pathetic existence.
The journey back to Chicago was a blurry silhouette of a gray highway. When the magnificent iron gates of Moretti Estate finally came into view, a heavy gloom settled over me.
The convoy came to a sudden stop.
Through the windshield, I saw a sleek black sedan blocking the entrance. I recognized the man leaning against the hood immediately. Leo. Damian Valenti's most trusted soldier.
The blood in my veins instantly turned cold. In my previous life, Damian's men didn't come to take Angelo today, because by this time, my son would already be a cold corpse.
I pushed open the door and got out of the car, immediately shielding Angelo behind my legs for protection.
Leo straightened up and gave me a polite but stiff nod. "Miss Moretti. I've come on Godfather Valenti's orders. I've come to take young Master Angelo home."
"Go home?" The word was forced out of my throat, filled with venomous hatred. "Damian is a beast who would trade even his own flesh and blood like casino chips. He abandoned us to the wolves, and now he wants his heir back?"
Leo frowned and stepped forward. "This is for Angelo's future, miss. Lord Valenti and Miss Richie-"
"Don't mention her name in front of me." I interrupted coldly, my voice extremely calm yet carrying a chilling pressure. I stared directly into Leo's eyes, at his blind loyalty that would ultimately destroy him. "Go tell Damian that if he dares to lay a finger on my son, I will expose the Valenti family's most shameful and sordid secrets to the entire Chicago Mafia."
Leo froze, his hand instinctively reaching for the holster inside his suit jacket. "Miss Isabella, be rational. Serafina just wants-"
"I know exactly what Serafina wants," I interrupted him again, taking a step closer until I could see his pupils dilate slightly. I lowered my voice and dropped a truth he couldn't comprehend at the moment. "Soon, she will need a loyal man to handle some extremely dark and bloody troubles for her. When that day comes, Leo, you will find that the price of serving her far exceeds your capacity to bear it."
Leo froze. The chillingly certain look in my eyes struck a nerve deep within him, a nerve he himself was unaware of. Without a direct order from the Godfather to wage war on Moretti family territory, he dared not make a move.
He slowly backed away, his eyes fixed on me, before getting into the car.
I watched the Valenti family's car reverse and speed away before turning around. I held Angelo's hand tightly and stepped through the massive iron gates of my grandfather's estate. I had won the standoff at the gates, but the real battle had just begun; I had to arm myself first.
