Chapter 50: The leak

IZZY'S POV

“Yes.” I ran a hand through my hair. “It’s the only explanation.”

She gave me a long look. “You need to be careful. If you start accusing people without proof, it’ll backfire.”

“I don’t care if it backfires,” I snapped. “I’d rather look paranoid than blind.”

Janet shook her head. “And what’s your plan then? Call everyone into a room and point fingers?”

“I’ll question them,” I said. “I’ll look them in the eye. I’ll know who’s lying.”

She let out a dry laugh. “That’s not how it works, Izzy. People can lie and make it sound like the truth. If you go swinging wild, you’ll end up turning everyone against you.”

“Then what do you suggest?” I asked, my voice sharp.

“Watch and wait. Put pressure in the right places, people crack when it gets too hot. That’s when you’ll see who it is.”

I pressed my lips together. I hated waiting, but she wasn’t wrong. Still, the thought of doing nothing made me feel like I was choking.

“Fine,” I muttered. “But I can’t just sit around. I’ll call the guards, I want to see their faces when I bring it up.”

Janet exhaled. “Alright. But don’t make promises you can’t keep.” She said and walked out.

A few hours later, I was in the council room. Six of the senior guards stood against the walls. They looked tense, like they already knew this wasn’t going to be good. Janet leaned against the far table, quiet, watching.

I folded my arms. “You all know why I called you here.”

They glanced at each other. Finally Pietro, the oldest of them, spoke. “No, Miss Izzy. We don’t.”

“Then I’ll tell you,” I said, my voice flat. “Someone in this house has been feeding information to the Romanos and I want to know who.”

The room went dead silent.

Nobody moved, nobody spoke.

I let the silence stretch. Then I said, “Well? None of you have anything to say?”

Pietro cleared his throat. “With respect, we don’t know anything about that.”

“Of course you don’t,” I said coldly. “Traitors don’t raise their hands and admit it. But here’s the truth, if I find out one of you has been talking, there won’t be a second chance, not from me.”

One of the younger guards, Marco, shifted nervously. “Miss Izzy, none of us would do that. We’ve been loyal since the beginning.”

“Loyalty doesn’t mean much when the Romanos are paying,” I shot back. “Everyone has a price.”

Marco’s face reddened. “Not us.”

I took a step forward. “Then prove it. If you’re all so loyal, then help me find the leak. Because until I know who it is, I’ll be watching all of you.”

The guards exchanged tense looks. Pietro’s jaw tightened. “You want loyalty? You’ll have it, but don’t accuse us without proof. That makes you look weak.”

His words hit like a slap. I felt my anger flare. “Don’t mistake my words for weakness, Pietro. If I wanted to, I could have you dragged out and questioned right now.”

He didn’t flinch. “And that would make you a tyrant, not a leader.”

We stared at each other, neither backing down. Finally, I waved my hand sharply. “Get out. All of you, but remember this, if I catch the traitor before you do, there will be no mercy.”

They filed out, stiff and silent.

When the door closed, Janet let out a low whistle. “Well. That could’ve gone smoother.”

I glared at her. “I don’t care if it was smooth. I care about results.”

“And if none of them are guilty?” she asked.

“Then it’s someone else. But I won’t rest until I know who.”

That evening, Serena came into my father’s office without knocking. She had that smug look she always carried, like she already knew everything.

“You’re making noise,” she said.

I frowned. “What does that mean?”

“Word’s out you accused your guards of being traitors,” she said. “Half the house is buzzing. They think you don’t trust anyone.”

“Good,” I said bitterly. “Maybe it’ll scare the real traitor into slipping up.”

“Or maybe it’ll make you look paranoid,” she said. “And a paranoid leader is easy to control.”

I slammed my hand against the desk. “I’m not paranoid. Someone is leaking. I know it.”

She leaned on the edge of the desk. “Then who is it?”

I froze. I didn’t have an answer, not yet.

She smirked. “Exactly. You don’t know. Until you do, all you’re doing is swinging at shadows. Careful, Izzy. Swing at the wrong shadow and you’ll make enemies you can’t afford.”

I glared. “So what? You’re saying I should just sit and wait?”

“I’m saying watch and listen,” she replied. “The truth always comes out. If you’re patient, you’ll have proof and proof is power.”

I leaned back, exhausted. “I don’t have time to be patient.”

Serena straightened. “Then keep rushing, see where it gets you.” She gave me a sharp smile. “But don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

And then she left, just like that.

The room was already full when I walked in. The underbosses sat around the long table, talking in low voices. Some stopped when they saw me, some didn’t even bother.

I stood in the doorway for a moment. My father’s chair was at the head of the table. Big, dark leather, higher than the rest. It felt like every eye in the room was waiting to see if I’d dare sit in it.

I walked forward slowly. My heels clicked against the floor, the only sound in the room. I didn’t let myself look down or hesitate. When I reached the chair, I pulled it back and sat down.

Silence filled the place, then I heard a laughter, it was Marco.

“Well, well,” he said, leaning back in his chair. “The little girl finally plays queen.”

A couple of the others chuckled. One of them, Carmine, smirked and shook his head.

I folded my hands on the table. “This isn’t a game.”

Marco raised his brows. “Could’ve fooled me. Your father’s not dead, and yet here you are, sitting in his place.”

“Someone has to run things,” I said. “And until he can, it’s me.”

“Run things?” Carmine repeated, his tone mocking. “You don’t even know half of what’s on this table.”

I kept my voice flat. “Then teach me.”

He blinked, caught off guard. “What?”

“You think I don’t know? Fine. Tell me what you think?

nk I don’t know. I’ll learn, but make no mistake, I’ll still be sitting here when you’re done talking.”

That shut him up for a moment.