Fifty-three

Fifty-three
Isabela

The morning sun filtered through the curtains as I stepped into Gabriel’s office. His desk was cluttered with files, papers, and a coffee cup that had long gone cold. He was on the phone, his voice low and steady, though I could hear the strain behind it.

“Yes, confirm the transfers, but don’t alert anyone to our movements,” he said before ending the call and glancing up at me. “Is everything okay?”

I hesitated, clutching the tablet Clara had handed me earlier. It contained updates on Miguel’s security and reports from Laura. “We need to talk,” I said, my voice firmer than I expected. “About André’s latest move.”

Gabriel motioned for me to sit, his sharp gaze fixed on mine. “What did Laura find?”

I handed him the tablet. “She’s flagged a new communication between André and one of his operatives. It’s vague, but it mentions me by name.”

Gabriel’s jaw tightened as he scrolled through the report. “He’s trying to manipulate you. This is his way of forcing a reaction.”

“What if it’s more than that?” I asked. “What if he’s planning something specific, something aimed at Miguel or you?”

Gabriel’s hand rested on the desk, his fingers tapping an erratic rhythm. “He’s desperate. That makes him unpredictable, but it also makes him sloppy. We can use this to our advantage.”

Later that day, Laura arrived with more details. She spread a map across the dining table, pointing to locations marked in red.

“These are the places where André’s operatives have been spotted recently,” she explained. “One of them aligns with the communication we intercepted. It’s a remote villa outside the city.”

Gabriel studied the map, his expression unreadable. “If André is hiding assets there, it’s worth investigating.”

“It’s also a trap,” Laura countered. “There’s no way André would leave something that critical unguarded.”

I watched the exchange, my chest tightening. “What if I… spoke to him?” I said, the words slipping out before I could fully think them through.

Both Gabriel and Laura turned to me, their eyes wide with disbelief.

“Absolutely not,” Gabriel said, his voice hard. “You’re not going anywhere near André.”

“Just listen,” I insisted, standing my ground. “If he’s already targeting me, maybe I can use that to draw him out. Make him slip up.”

Gabriel shook his head, his expression a mixture of anger and concern. “It’s too dangerous. André’s not someone you can negotiate with.”

Laura’s gaze shifted between us before she spoke. “It’s risky, but Isabela has a point. If André sees her as a vulnerable target, it might be enough to throw him off balance.”

“Or it could put her in his crosshairs permanently,” Gabriel shot back.

I stepped closer to him, lowering my voice. “Gabriel, I know you want to protect me, but I’m part of this whether I like it or not. If there’s a chance I can help end this, I have to take it.”

His hands clenched into fists at his sides before he exhaled sharply, his shoulders dropping. “I don’t like this. At all. But if we’re going to do this, it’ll be on my terms. And you won’t be alone for a second.”

The plan was set in motion quickly. Gabriel arranged for a controlled meeting, ensuring that every detail was monitored and every escape route covered. I could see the strain in his posture as we went over the plan for the third time that evening.

“If anything feels off, you leave,” he said, his voice leaving no room for argument. “I don’t care what’s at stake. Your safety comes first.”

“I understand,” I said softly, placing a hand on his arm. “And I’ll be careful. But we need to trust each other on this.”

Gabriel’s eyes searched mine, and for a moment, the weight of everything fell away. “I do trust you,” he said quietly. “I just can’t lose you.”

The raw vulnerability in his voice broke through the wall I’d been holding up. Without thinking, I leaned in and wrapped my arms around him, feeling his tension ease slightly as he returned the embrace.

The day of the meeting arrived faster than I expected. I stood in front of the mirror, smoothing the fabric of my jacket and taking deep, steadying breaths. Gabriel appeared behind me, his presence grounding.

“You look strong,” he said, his voice low.

I met his gaze in the mirror. “I hope I feel that way when I see him.”

He placed his hands on my shoulders, his touch firm but gentle. “You will. And I’ll be right there if anything goes wrong.”

The villa was as remote as Laura had described, its sprawling grounds surrounded by thick trees. Gabriel’s team was stationed discreetly, their presence invisible but reassuring. As we stepped inside, the air felt charged, every sound magnified.

André was already waiting, his demeanor calm but predatory. He stood as we entered, a faint smile playing on his lips.

“Isabela,” he said, his tone dripping with false warmth. “I’ve been looking forward to this.”

I forced myself to hold his gaze, every nerve in my body screaming to turn and run. “Let’s skip the pleasantries,” I said, my voice steady. “Why did you want me here?”

André’s smile widened as he gestured for me to sit. “Straight to the point. I can respect that. But first, tell me… how much has Gabriel told you about what’s really at stake here?”

Behind me, I could feel Gabriel’s tension like a storm cloud ready to break. André’s words were bait, and I knew better than to take it. Still, his presence was suffocating, his every move calculated to unsettle.

“Enough to know you’re losing,” I replied, keeping my tone calm but firm.

André chuckled, leaning back in his chair. “We’ll see about that.”

The conversation continued, each exchange feeling like a game of chess. Gabriel’s team listened in, waiting for any sign of danger. I could feel Gabriel’s eyes on me, his silent support anchoring me as André’s veiled threats grew sharper.

But as the meeting ended and we left the villa, I couldn’t shake the feeling that we’d crossed into dangerous territory—and that André wasn’t done playing his hand.