Chapter 41 – A Different Night
Night had already taken over the city when Alexander's car finally drove through the iron gates of his mansion. The vehicle glided down the cobblestone road, illuminated by discreet spotlights, until it stopped in front of an imposing building.
The house was enormous, modern, with wide windows and walls that blended concrete and glass. Security was evident in every detail: surveillance cameras at strategic angles, discreet guards patrolling, and the constant feeling that nothing went unnoticed in this place.
"Wow…" Isabella murmured, glancing out the window before leaving. "This looks more like a fortress than a home."
Alexander, already outside, offered his hand to help her out of the car. "That's exactly what I need it to be," he said simply but firmly.
Dante then stepped out, looking around with a wry smile. "Impressive." He whistled softly. "How many cameras do you have here? Ten? Fifteen?"
"Forty-three," Alexander replied without hesitation, walking toward the main entrance.
Isabella followed closely behind him, her eyebrows arching. "Forty-three? That's insane."
Alexander simply opened the bulletproof glass door and stepped inside. "Welcome."
The interior was as impressive as the exterior. A huge hall lit by modern chandeliers opened onto an elegant living room. Gray leather sofas, a blazing electric fireplace, abstract paintings on the walls. Despite the sophistication, the ambiance was welcoming.
"Wow..." Isabella looked around, enchanted. "This doesn't even remotely look like a criminal's haunt."
Alexander gave a slight smile. "Looks can be deceiving, Isabella."
Dante laughed. "He's right."
One of the security guards approached discreetly. "Sir, everything is in order on the property."
Alexander nodded. "Good. Now, leave us to it." Once they were alone, he took off his jacket, tossing it over the back of the sofa, and settled in. "Well, I think we deserve something simpler after all. How about pizza?"
Isabella laughed, surprised by the unexpected suggestion. "You? Eating pizza? I thought I'd live on expensive wine and dishes no one can pronounce."
"I can enjoy both," Alexander replied calmly. "Which flavor do you prefer?"
She thought for a moment. "Pepperoni."
Alexander took out his cell phone, dialed quickly, and placed the order, including a margarita and four cheeses. Dante, who had plopped down on the opposite sofa, commented:
"I can't believe I'm about to eat pizza in the 'Ghost of the Underworld' mansion." He gave a short laugh. "This sounds like a sitcom episode."
Isabella laughed along, but Alexander simply ignored the joke. His eyes roamed the room intently, as if even in this moment of relaxation he couldn't completely let his guard down.
A short time later, the doorbell rang. One of the security guards brought the pizza boxes, placing them on the coffee table. The smell filled the room, further breaking the tension that had previously surrounded them.
"Served," Alexander said, opening one of the boxes.
Isabella took a slice, smiling almost like a teenager. "It's been a while since I've had something so... normal."
"It's funny," Dante commented, chewing his slice. "In the midst of all this, in the midst of so much bloodshed and persecution, we still find space to sit down and eat pizza."
Alexander remained silent for a few seconds before answering. "Maybe that's exactly why we need these moments. To remember that we're still human."
Isabella looked at him, surprised by the honesty in his voice. Beneath all the coldness, there was something else. A tired man, but one who still sought something beyond violence.
"And tomorrow?" she asked, after a few minutes of comfortable silence. "What will happen when you receive that investigation?"
Alexander placed the slice of pizza on his plate, calmly wiping his hands. "Tomorrow, we'll have the first piece of a puzzle I've been putting together for two years. If the information is correct, we'll finally be able to anticipate the stalker's movements."
"Two years…" Isabella repeated, impressed. "You've been planning all this since Helena disappeared, haven't you?"
He nodded. "Nothing else mattered."
Dante crossed his arms, staring at Alexander. "What if this plan fails?"
Alexander held his gaze without hesitation. "It won't fail."
His confidence was almost unsettling. Isabella looked away, trying to understand how someone could be so certain amidst so many variables.
To lighten the mood, Dante took another slice of pizza and joked, "Well, at least if everything goes wrong, we can remember this night as the time we ate pizza in a million-dollar mansion."
Isabella laughed, but Alexander remained serious, simply observing.
After eating, the three of them spread out around the living room. Isabella lay on the sofa, her feet propped up on the armrest, while Dante twirled a glass of whiskey between his fingers. Alexander, meanwhile, leaned against the glass wall overlooking the illuminated garden.
The night seemed peaceful, but there was something in the air. A thick silence that neither of them could ignore.
"You know…" Isabella began, breaking the stillness. "It's strange to be here. Everything seems so calm, so… safe. But at the same time, it's like something's about to happen."
Alexander looked at her, silently nodding. He felt the same way. It was like being in the eye of a hurricane: seemingly quiet, but with the certainty that the storm was still there, waiting for the right moment to engulf everything.
"You're right," he said finally. "This calm is only temporary."
Dante chuckled softly, shaking his head. "We can't even have a quiet night, can we?"
Alexander stared at him. "Not when someone like the stalker is on the loose."
The living room clock was almost midnight when Isabella got up. "I think I need some rest. Tomorrow will be tough."
Alexander nodded. "The guest rooms are ready. One of the security guards will show you the way."
She smiled faintly at him before following. There was something about Alexander that drew her in a way she didn't want to admit. A weight, an intensity, but also a strange sense of security.
As soon as she left, Dante stood up too. "I'm going with this. I don't want to give you the pleasure of thinking we're becoming friends."
Alexander didn't answer, just followed his friend-rival with his gaze until he disappeared down the hallway.
Alone in the living room, Alexander returned to stare at the garden through the glass wall. The moon reflected on the well-kept lawn, but his eyes saw no beauty, only the shadow of what was to come.
Maybe tomorrow will change everything, he thought. Maybe I'll finally discover the truth. Or maybe… everything will fall apart.
Suspense hung over the mansion, silent, almost invisible. But Alexander knew: that calm was only the prelude to a new storm.