Page 105 of Dark Desires
The silence hits me like a wall. It’s overwhelming how quiet and cavernous the house feels without my dad’s larger-than-life presence. I wander to the kitchen, pouring myself a glass of water, staring out at the dark garden.
Then I feel it. A small, fluttering kick in my belly.
My hand flies to my stomach, my eyes widening. Another kick follows.
The baby. My baby.Ourbaby.
Tears prick my eyes as a wave of emotions crashes over me. For the first time in what feels like forever, I smile.
I guess I’m not so alone after all.
A week has passed since my father’s funeral, but the world hasn’t slowed down at all, not even for a second. News of De la Rosa’s downfall is splashed across every major media outlet and dominates social media. It’s all anyone in our world can talk about.
But still, there’s no sign of Steph. My calls and messages go unanswered, and the silence from her end is deafening. It’s like she’s vanished into thin air. I push the thought aside, for now, because I’mhere, settling into the role of head of the Mancini family.
It’s surreal. I always knew I’d end up here one day, but some part of me thought Dad would live forever. The idea of him not being around seemed impossible. But now, here I am.
What’s shocking is how much I’ve come to find comfort in the work. This role, this responsibility—it makes sense in a way mylife hasn’t for a long time. It’s given me order, purpose, and a way to channel my grief toward something productive.
I sit at the head of the long conference table in my father’s—my—study. Mario stands to my right, arms folded, watching every face like a hawk. Around the table are our family’s lieutenants, men who’ve served my father loyally for years.
I clear my throat, the room instantly going silent. It still feels strange, commanding this kind of attention, but I roll with it.
“Gentlemen, thank you for coming.”
One of them, a grizzled veteran named Nico, nods. “We’re here for you, Ms. Mancini. Whatever you need.”
I offer a small smile. “Good. Because there’s a lot to discuss. First, we need to solidify our positions. The Colombians are on the ropes, but that doesn’t mean their allies won’t try to retaliate. I want increased security on all fronts. Mario will handle the details.”
Mario steps forward, giving a curt nod. “I’ll make sure our properties and people are covered. No one gets through without us knowing.”
I glance around the room. “I also want eyes on the Ivanovs. They were loyal to us during this mess, but I want to make sure nothing’s brewing on their end. Trust is earned and maintained.”
Nico raises an eyebrow. “You think they’d turn on us?”
I shrug, keeping my tone measured. “I don’t think anything. I just don’t take chances.”
The room murmurs in agreement. Another lieutenant, a younger guy named Rocco, speaks up. “What about your official ceremony? To take charge of the family?”
Oh, yeah. The ceremony. The traditional gathering where I’ll be formally named the head of the Mancini Family. It’s a show of power, unity, and stability. Exactly what we need right now.
“We’ll schedule it for next week,” I say. “Mario, you’ll oversee the arrangements.”
“Already on it,” he replies.
Nico smirks. “You’re a natural at this, Isabella.”
I lean back, crossing my arms. “Did you expect anything less?”
The room chuckles, and for the first time in days, I feel a genuine sense of control. This is my world now, and I intend to own it.
After the meeting, as the men file out, Mario stays behind.
“You did good.”
I glance at him. “You sound surprised.”
“Not surprised. Just impressed.”
