Chapter 5 - Mind Games
Julian walked around Bella, his fingers lightly brushing her shoulder. She flinched, pulling away with a look of pure disgust.
"You don't look like a mafia queen," Julian mused, picking up her left hand to inspect the vintage ring. "A simple café girl. Leo must be getting soft in his old age. My father used to say that a man who loves is a man who invites his own execution."
"Leo is not soft," Bella spat, staring him down. "He is a man who knows how to love, which is something a parasite like you will never understand. You think you can use me to break him? You don't know him at all. If you touch me, he won't just kill you. He will erase your very existence."
Julian’s face twisted in sudden rage. He struck her across the cheek, the force of the blow spinning her head to the side. Bella tasted copper, but she refused to cry out. She held her breath, staring back at him with defiant, tearless eyes.
"We will see how brave you are when I start sending him pieces of you," Julian hissed, pulling out a sleek silver knife. "Starting with this pretty little finger holding his ring."
Before he could touch her, one of his henchmen rushed into the room, looking panicked. "Sir, we have a problem. The Moretti forces... they aren't just looking for us. They are dismantling our entire supply chain. They’ve taken three of our safehouses in the last hour. Leo Moretti is personally leading the vanguard. He’s... he’s killing everyone."
Julian’s eyes widened slightly. He hadn't expected Leo to move this fast, or this recklessly. "Double the guards outside. Prepare the transport. We move her to the docks."
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He turned back to Bella, grabbing her chin roughly. "Your monster is coming, little girl. But he’s going to be too late."
As they dragged her out of the chair, Bella secretly let her hand drag along the rough metal edge of the table. She felt her ring catch on a sharp bolt. With a firm yank, she managed to snag the delicate pink sapphire halo, leaving a tiny, distinct scratch of platinum residue and a single microscopic drop of her blood on the bolt. It was a gamble, but she knew Leo would look for any sign she left behind.
