25

25

Isabella's POV

The road leading back to the Romano estate felt like a return to prison after a brief breath of freedom. The villa had been a beautiful dream – Aaron and me, without anybody else, and not a single politics, or expectation, or guilt trip between us about covert operations. However, as the mighty gates of the estate hove into the view, I was brought back to earth with a thump.

I had work to do. Work I found so sickening even to contemplate.

"Thank you for the weekend," I told Aaron as we arrived at the front of the building. "It was... special."

That it was," he said with warmth in his eyes as he gazed at me. "We should do it again soon."

"I'd like that."

And I said it, and that’s the difficulty.

Aaron brought our bags in, and I was just about to go upstairs to my room when my phone buzzed with a text from Victor: “We need to talk. Now."

My stomach dropped. I had been dreading this conversation – I knew Victor would be interested in the specifics of my weekend with Aaron - what I had found out, whether I’d managed to get any closer to him.

“An hour,” I replied by text.

"No. Now. Same place as usual."

I let out a sigh and called down to Aaron who was in the hallway chatting with Giuseppe.

“Aaron, I’m just going to go out for a minute. I'll be back for dinner."

“Do you want Daven to take you?”

"No, I can manage. I’m just gonna run down and see Ivy.”

It was an easy lie, but I felt dirty saying it.

And thirty minutes later I was sitting in our regular coffee shop across from Victor, trying not to look at how completely separate he looked from Aaron. Where Aaron was controlled and reflective, Victor had a kind of restless energy that I used to find thrilling and now found raggedly on edge.

“You look different,” Victor said, scrutinizing my features.

"Do I?"

"Relaxed. Happy, even." His tone was accusatory. “So how was your weekend away with my brother then?

"It wasn't romantic. It was strategic."

"Strategic," he repeated. "Tell me exactly what happened."

I relived the weekend, picking out the pieces that would please Victor – that I’d been more affectionate to Aaron, that I’d gotten him to trust me further, that I’d discovered the files inside the safe in his study.

"Does he have a safe in his study?" Victor perked up, eyes shining with curiosity.

"Yes. During a phone call, he brought it up. Said something about the documents being safe there and only he knows the combination.”

"Perfect. This is what we want."

"Victor, I don't know what the Hell I'm supposed to do to get the combination to his safe.”

"You'll figure it out. You’re sharp and he’s evidently buying your shtick.”

"What if it's not an act?" It was out of my mouth before I could choke it back.

Victor's expression darkened. "What did you just say?"

“I mean…what if Aaron gets it in his mind that I’m faking? What if he knows I’m not being real?”

“There must be some way you can make sure he never finds out. Victor lunged across the table and seized me by the wrist. "Isabella, I need you to understand exactly what's happening here. You aren’t actually falling for Aaron Romano are you?”

"No, of course not," I responded rapidly. “I mean, I’m just saying, this is getting messy.”

"It's not complicated. You befriend him, you get the combination to his safe, you get me those papers. That's it."

"What documents exactly? What are we looking for?"

"Business records. Communication logs. Anything that proves his arrangements with rival families or that he…"

“Aaron's more than just a business man, Isabella. He’s engaged in things that would horrify you. The kind of things your father would disown if he ever learned the truth.”

"What kind of things?"

“The kind that ends up getting people killed. The kind that makes it clear that he’s not the decent guy you believe him to be.”

I looked at Victor and tried to read his expression. "How do you know all this?"

"Because I’ve known my brother longer than anyone. And because I have had to watch him for months, compiling evidence.”

"Evidence of what?"

"Betrayal. Aaron’s been working against our family Isabella. Against everything that we’ve been building for generations.”

I thought about the package I had discovered, the words “Immortal Killer” that had echoed in my head for the last couple of days. Was that what Victor meant?

"I need proof," Victor continued. "Proof positive we can show our father and the rest of the family that Aaron can't be trusted. That's where you come in."

"And after you expose him? What happens to Aaron?"

"That's not your concern."

“If I’m married to him, I am.”

Victor squeezed my wrist even harder. “You’re not his wife, Isabella. Not in any way that matters. You're mine. You've always been mine."

There was something about the possessiveness in his voice, the way his fingers were pressing into my skin, that made me uneasy.

“You’re hurting me,” I whispered.

He jerked back at once, his face relaxing. "I'm sorry. I never meant to... It's just that I love you too much.... the thought of you with him even pretending..."

"I know. I understand."

"Do you? Because I need you to realize how significant this is. How important you are to me."

"I do understand, Victor. I'll get you what you need."

"When?"

"Soon. Get close enough to figure out the combination, I suppose; I don’t know, I need a couple of days to work it out.

"You don't have a few days. I'll need those papers by the close of the week."

"That's only three days."

"Then you better work fast."

His tone was urgent and it made me scared. "Why the rush?"

"There are people who are sort of waiting to hear about this, Isabella. The ones relying on me to come through.”

"What people?"

"That's not important. The main thing is that you don’t fail me.”

"I won't."

"Good." He rose and bent down to kiss my forehead. "I love you. Just remember when it's hard.”

"I love you too."

As I watched him walk away, though, I was less sure I believed it.

I had plenty of time to drive back to the mansion and think about all that Victor had told me. He wanted me to throw him completely to the wolves, to steal documents that could ruin him. But Aaron had been nothing but kind to me, patient and gentle and strangely tender.

Maybe Victor is correct about Aaron’s shady business? The Immortal Killer link indicated he was covering up something serious. But even if it were, did that justify Victor asking me to do?

Aaron was waiting for me in the main sitting room when I arrived home, a glass of wine in one hand and a book in the other.

"How's Ivy?" he said, glancing up as I walked in.

"She's fine. I had to get some family stuff off my chest.”

"Everything alright?"

"Yes, just the usual drama."

Aaron studied my face, and I had a moment of terror that he could see my lie.

“You seem tired,” he said softly. "Why don't you go rest? I will make them hold supper till you join us.”

“That’s kind of you, thank you.”

"Isabella?"

"Yes?"

"I meant what I said earlier. This weekend was one of significance for me. I hope it was for you too."

“It was,” I replied, and I had managed to feel that it was, after all.

We ate dinner together that evening in the tiny dining room and Aaron was his same old self, attentive as always – asking me about my day, making sure I was comfortable, telling me stories that made me laugh even while my insides rebelled.

“I have some work to do in my study tonight,” he announced as we concluded our dessert. “But perhaps we can grab a late coffee together after? Say, around ten?"

My heart jumped. This was exactly it — this was what I’d been waiting for.

"That sounds lovely," I said. “I think I will just read in my room until that time.”

"Perfect."

I went to my room after dinner and attempted to brace myself in the mind for the task upon which I was going to enter. For a few hours while Aaron was out working in his study, I’d sneak into their room and try my hand at cracking his safe. I’d rifle through his private stuff and take what Victor could use to nuke him.

I sat on the edge of my bed and looked at my reflection in the mirror hanging on the wall opposite. The woman in the mirror was nearly a stranger - a woman planning to betray a man who had never been anything but kind to her.

A text message flashed up on my phone and I thought it would be Victor; monitoring my progress. It was not a call from my family, but an unknown number with a photo that left my blood running cold.

The picture had been taken at the villa over the weekend – Aaron and I, hand in hand, strolling along the beach and both smiling so that we looked like we were truly a couple in love.

Below the photo was a message that read: "Don't forget who you really belong to. - V"

I sat at the screen, my hands trembling. Victor had been watching us. Somehow, he’d managed to send someone to “follow” us to the villa and take pictures of our very private moments.

Aaron and I’s romantic weekend that I assumed was just between us had been watched the entire time.

A second message appeared: "Get me those papers Isabella. Don’t make me remind you what happens to people who disappoint me.”

The danger was obvious and it scared me more than I cared to admit.

I looked at the clock. It was almost time.