Page 85 of Dark Desires
CHAPTER 28
ISABELLA
The hood comes off, and the first thing I see is extravagance: polished hardwood floors, an oversized mahogany desk, floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook a sprawling garden.
Where the hell am I? I’d gotten so scared on that damn helicopter that I’d passed out. And now, it’s morning or afternoon or something, and I’m definitely not in Chicago.
I’m in what looks like a villa.
The place is intimidating and beautiful.
“Good afternoon,Bonita.”
I’m not alone.
Christian de la Rosa sits behind the desk, a drink in hand, looking every bit the smug villain.
“Where am I?” I ask.
“You’re somewhere nice and private.”
He looks me up and down, a small smile forming on his lips.
“Well,” he says, gesturing to the chair across from him. “You’ve had quite the eventful day, haven’t you? Please sit.”
I glare at him, but sit, anyway. My wrists are sore from the tight zip ties they used to bring me here, and my body aches from the rough handling.
“What do you want, De la Rosa?”
His grin is slow. “Straight to the point. I like that about you, Isabella.”
I roll my eyes. “Don’t flatter me. It’s not going to work.”
He leans back, swirling his drink. “What I want is simple.”
My stomach twists, but I keep my face blank. “You dragged me out here to chat? You couldn’t just send an email?”
Christian chuckles. “Oh, Isabella. You’re more than just leverage, you’re insurance.” He nods toward my stomach. “Your little secret makes you invaluable.”
I stiffen. “How the hell?—”
He cuts me off with a wave of his hand. “Please. The hospital staff? Easily bribed. It took time to get to you with all the extra security, but I’m nothing if not persistent. It didn’t take me long to put two and two together either once my men got eyes on you. Once they watched you sneak off to meet Alexei Plushenko. He’s the baby daddy, isn’t he?”
I want to scream, throw something, wipe that infuriating grin off his face. Instead, I sit frozen, my mind racing. He knows about the baby.
“Here’s how this plays out,” he says. “You stay here, safe and sound, while I send a message to your father and the Bratva. I’mgiven Alexei, Domenico agrees to marry your cousin tomyson, and everyone walks away alive. Well, mostly everyone.”
“GivenAlexei?” I ask. “Who the hell is going togiveyou Alexei?”
“Your father, of course.”
I scoff. “You really think my father will just hand over Alexei? You don’t know him. He’d never betray the Ivanovs.”
Christian’s grin widens. “Oh, I know Domenico Mancini quite well. He’ll do anything to protect you, Isabella. Anything. Even if it means handing your bastard boy toy over to me.”
He’s right. Dad’s an honorable man, but there’s no way he’d choose honor over his daughter.Dad will trade Alexei to save me. If it brings down the entire Ivanov Bratva, he’ll do it. I have no doubt.
Christian sips his drink. “The mission was meant to be a simple one—we kidnap you and kill Alexei. Unfortunately, I recently learned that Alexei survived the attack.”
