Testing Loyalty

Testing Loyalty


IZZY’S POV

I gathered everyone in the conference room the next afternoon, not for a meeting but at least not one they knew about. This was a test, a simple one, but it would tell me what I needed.

Matteo stood at the back, silent, letting me lead. Three names were circled in my notes, three people I trusted or used to. If one of them was the leak, this would flush them out.

“Alright,” I said, walking to the head of the table. “I called this meeting because there’s been a change in one of our plans. It’s important everyone’s on the same page.”

Serena was the first to speak. “Change? What kind of change?”

I kept my tone even. “The shipment that was supposed to move next Friday? It’s not happening, it’s postponed. I don’t want anyone acting on old information, everything stops until I give the word.”

I watched their faces closely. Serena nodded quickly, too quickly. Marco, leaning back with his arms crossed, didn’t say anything and then there was Lena, calm, collected, but her eyes flicked toward Matteo for half a second before returning to me.

“Postponed indefinitely?” Marco asked.

“For now,” I said. “We’ll reassess later.”

They all nodded. On the surface, it was just a normal update but the real plan hadn’t changed. That shipment was going out Friday, just as scheduled. If anyone repeated what I’d said, I’d know.

“Anything else?” Serena asked, shifting in her seat.

“No,” I said. “That’s it. Go about your business.”

They started to get up. “Lena, stay for a second,” I said casually.

She froze just slightly, then nodded and sat back down, the others filed out. Matteo closed the door behind them.

“What’s up?” Lena asked, trying to sound relaxed.

I leaned on the edge of the table. “I’ve noticed you’ve been asking more questions lately, about routes, schedules, names. Anything you want to tell me?”

Her face didn’t change. “Just trying to stay informed, you told us to pay attention.”

“Paying attention is one thing,” I said. “But some of those questions were about things you don’t usually handle.”

“I’m trying to learn,” she said. “You know I want to take on more responsibility.”

I nodded slowly, studying her. “I appreciate that but be careful. Curiosity is fine, loose talk isn’t.”

“I don’t talk,” she said quickly. “I know better.”

“Good,” I said, standing up straight. “Because if I ever find out someone’s sharing information they shouldn’t… it won’t go well for them.”

She swallowed hard. “I understand.”

“Alright,” I said, giving her a small smile. “You can go.”

She left without another word. Matteo waited until the door closed. “You think it’s her?”

“I don’t know yet,” I said. “But that look toward you, she’s nervous or hiding something.”

“She could just be scared you’re suspicious,” Matteo said.

“Maybe,” I said. “But I’m not betting on marbe.”



I called another small meeting the next day. This time, I waited until everyone was relaxed, talking casually. Then I dropped the bait.

“There’s a plan to meet with the Vassari group,” I said. “Private, off the books. Only a few people need to know.”

“Where?” Marco asked, too quickly.

“Not important,” I said. “What matters is that no one breathes a word. If this leaks, the whole deal falls apart.”

They all nodded. I watched their eyes, Serena looked worried. Lena looked thoughtful. Marco looked hungry, like he already knew who he wanted to tell.

When the meeting ended, I didn’t leave the office, I watched and waited. Matteo checked the calls, the messages, the casual conversations.

Two days later, a message reached one of our allies. I heard Izzy’s planning a quiet sit-down with Vassari. Might want to check that out.

The message was traced back. Marco.

Matteo dropped the report on my desk. “It’s him.”

I stared at the page, then at the door. “Bring him in.”

Minutes later, Marco walked in, still confident, he tried to smile. “You wanted to see me?”

“Yeah,” I said, leaning back in my chair. “We need to talk.”

He glanced at Matteo, then back at me. “About what?”

“About loyalty,” I said calmly. “And what happens when someone doesn’t have any.”

His smile faltered. “What are you talking about?”

“You told someone about the Vassari meeting,” I said. “Information only a handful of people knew.”

“That’s not true,” he said quickly. “I didn’t say anything.”

“Don’t lie,” I cut in. “We traced the message. It was you.”

He stared at me, his mouth opening and closing. “It wasn’t what you think.”

“It’s exactly what I think,” I said. “You talked. You betrayed my trust, you betrayed this family.”

He swallowed hard. “I didn’t mean to cause trouble. I just thought…”

“You thought wrong,” I said, my voice cold. “And now you’re going to deal with the consequences.”

Matteo stepped closer, silent but intimidating. Marco’s eyes darted between us. “Please,” he said, panic creeping into his voice. “I can fix this, I’ll fix it, just give me a chance.”

“You already had one,” I said. “And you wasted it.”

The silence in the room was heavy. Marco’s breathing was loud, desperate. Matteo didn’t say a word.

Finally, I stood. “Get him out of my sight,” I said. “I don’t want to see him here again.”

Matteo nodded and grabbed Marco by the arm. He didn’t fight, he just let himself be led out, muttering apologies under his breath.

When the door closed, I sat back down, letting the weight of it all sink in. Betrayal wasn’t a hypothetical anymore. It had a face, a name.

Matteo returned after a while. “It’s done,” he said simply.

I nodded. “Good.”

“You okay?” he asked.

I stared at the empty chair Marco had been sitting in. “Yeah,” I said quietly. “I am.”

But the truth was, I wasn’t sure. Because now I knew betrayal didn’t come from strangers. It came from the people you let close and once
it happened once, it was impossible not to wonder if it would happen again.

And that was the part that scared me most.