Page 44 of Velvet Chains

I called Pietro over, my voice steady but urgent. "Pietro, look at this," I said, handing over the documents. Pietro scanned the pages quickly, his expression shifting from concentration to a mix of relief and concern.

"This is it," Pietro breathed, looking up at me. "This is what we needed. But how do we use it without causing more chaos?"

We stood in the dimly lit study. We had to tread carefully, but I also knew that we couldn't afford to wait. Don Antonio had to be brought down, and I was the only one who could do it. I looked at Pietro, and we both knew that our next move would change everything.

We discussed potential allies, the best way to present the evidence, and the possible fallout. Every angle was considered, every potential reaction weighed. But my mind kept drifting back to Isabelle. Her safety had become my top priority, a constant thread running through my thoughts.

Any misstep could put her in even greater danger.

"I can't let anything happen to her," I murmured, almost to myself.

Pietro placed a hand on my shoulder. "We'll protect her," he assured me. "But we need to stay focused."

When I allowed myself to think of Isabelle. I envisioned a future where she was safe, free from the shadows of my world. Part of me wanted to see myself in her future too.

It was this vision that drove me, that gave me the strength to push through the exhaustion and fear. I knew that every step I took was one step closer to securing not only my position but also a future where Isabelle could be safe and free.

I couldn't let my emotions cloud my judgment, but I couldn't deny them either. Isabelle had become my reason for fighting, my reason for surviving. And I would do everything in my power to ensure that she had a future worth living.

As dawn broke, casting a pale light through the windows of the study, Pietro and I finalized our strategy.

I was ready. I had never been more focused, more driven. With a deep breath, I turned away from the window, my eyes locking onto Pietro's. We were in this together, and together, we would triumph.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

ISABELLE

In the quiet moments of the morning, I began to notice subtle changes in my body. At first, I dismissed the nausea and fatigue as mere stress, a natural reaction to the danger surrounding us. But as the days passed, the symptoms persisted.

One morning, as Sarah sat with me, providing a comforting presence in the otherwise tense atmosphere of the estate, I looked at her, and she seemed to sense my unease. "Isabelle, what's wrong?" she asked, her voice soft with concern.

"Sarah, I think-" I began, my heart pounding in my chest. I hesitated, searching for the right words. "I think... I might be pregnant." Sarah's eyes widened in surprise, but she quickly masked her shock with a tentative smile.

She took my hand in hers, squeezing it gently. "Are you sure?" she asked me. "Let's go to the clinic and find out for sure. Either way, we'll figure this out together."

“Yes, please,” I nodded.

We told Vincenzo we would go shopping, and lying felt like dying, but I had no choice.

The trip to the local clinic was a blur of nerves and anticipation.

As we walked in, I felt a sense of trepidation. This was it – the moment of truth. Sarah gave my hand a reassuring squeeze, and I took a deep breath, trying to calm my racing thoughts. An hour after they did my blood work, the results came in. I was pregnant with Vincenzo’s baby.

When we returned, Pietro stopped me in the hall and told me that Vincenzo wanted to see me in his study. I nodded and headed there. I knocked on the door and he called me in, so I walked up to him, a smile blooming on my lips just at the sight of him.

Vincenzo motioned for me to sit, but his demeanor and the look in his bloodshot eyes convinced me to remain standing. I stood before him, my heart pounding against my ribs as if trying to escape.

"Isabelle," Vincenzo began, his voice low and strained, as though every word was dragged from the depths of him. "I have to let you go."

His words hit me like a physical blow, and I staggered back, shaking my head. "No, Vincenzo, please," I pleaded, my voice trembling. Desperation clawed at my throat. "We can't give up now. We have to see this through."

His face hardened, the vulnerability I had seen moments before buried beneath a mask of resolve. "It's not safe, Isabelle," he said, his tone like iron. "Don Antonio will stop at nothing to destroy us. I won’t risk losing you."

"But what about the election?" My voice cracked, frustration bubbling up. "We can’t just abandon everything we’ve worked for."

"It doesn’t matter," Vincenzo said, his voice unwavering. The finality in his tone felt like a door slamming shut. "Not if it means keeping you alive."

Anger flared in me, hot and unbidden. "You’re not thinking about me," I snapped, my hands clenching into fists. "You’re thinking about yourself. Don’t you dare say you’re doing this for me. You’re just trying to protect yourself from getting hurt."

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