Chapter 22

Isabella didn't know what else could happen to her and her friends. And she wasn't sure if she was willing to find out. The pressure in her head was intense, making it difficult for her to decide whether to leave Alessio's life forever or trust that he would protect her.
Isabella pleaded for her life and for JJ to come back to his senses. "JJ, you don't need this. Drop the knife, please. We're friends, JJ, remember?"
— No... No... No..." The man repeated frantically. — You are mine, and the baby in your belly is mine. — He pointed the knife at Isabella's stomach, and Alessio rushed to help, but his henchmen stopped him.
— What are you waiting for? Shoot this guy and save my wife!" Alessio shouted to his henchmen.
— No need to kill him, Alessio. He's a good guy and will drop the knife. Right, JJ?" Isabella tried to negotiate, but her trembling voice betrayed imminent fear.
JJ grew more nervous and returned the weapon to Isabella's neck. In a moment of confusion, a gunshot echoed, hitting JJ in an instant of impact.
Isabella stood paralyzed, horrified, as JJ fell to the ground, surprise in his eyes. The metallic sound of the knife resonated as it clashed against the pavement.
JJ, now motionless, had lost his life in front of Isabella. The reality of the situation hit her, blending with confusion and fear. JJ's fate had been abruptly sealed, and the once joyful party witnessed the tragic ending of a story that was once marked by friendship but now concluded in a violent and unexpected twist.
— The party's over, folks. Go home, and I don't need to tell you that what happened here stays here, — Alessio commanded with authority and rushed to Isabella's arms. — Are you okay, Bella?
Isabella trembled, unsure of what to say or how to react. Her body remained still, inert amidst the tragic turmoil.
Alessio led her by the arm to the velvet armchair and ordered someone to bring water for her. "What will we do with the body, boss?" one of the henchmen appeared at the door, questioning.
— Is that even a question, Tigre? Look at my wife. Alessio put a strand of Isabella's hair behind her ear.
Isabella lifted her eyes quickly and stared at the henchman in the doorway, then turned her desperate gaze to Alessio.
— What are you going to do with him? We have to report to the family," Isa exclaimed with a choked voice.
— Shhh! Calm down, my love. We'll handle everything, okay? — Alessio reassured her. "Tigre, you know what to do.
The brute, following the boss's orders, disappeared through the door. Isabella wasn't sure about Alessio's orders; after all, she still didn't know his dark and vengeful side.
Unbeknownst to her, Isabella began to draw parallels between the caring man holding her hand so tenderly and the one whose orders now echoed through the corridors. A surprising duality, as if Alessio were immersed in two distinct worlds.
Uncertainty hung over her as expectation and anxiety mixed. Isabella tried to ignore the dark thoughts that attempted to invade her mind, focusing on the trust Alessio had placed in her. However, a lingering fear persisted, wondering if she would ever fully unravel the secrets that her beloved guarded so skillfully. And if Paloma were right, and everyone around her were to be extinguished in a cruel and violent way.
Time seemed to stretch, and each passing second intensified the tension in the air. Isabella hoped that, at the end of this unsettling chapter, she would still find in Alessio the same person who made her feel safe and loved. As the door closed behind the henchman, she took a deep breath, preparing for what was to come. The game of shadows and mysteries had only just begun, and Isabella found herself at the center of an enigma promising unexpected revelations.
The heavy silence hung inside the car as Isabella and Alessio returned home. The tense atmosphere was almost palpable, and the exchanged glances carried an inexplicable discomfort. Alessio, with eyes fixed on the road, maintained a serious expression, while Isabella looked outside, trying to decipher the thoughts swirling in her mind.
Upon reaching home, the building seemed immersed in an unusual quietness. Griselda's black Cadillac was parked at the entrance, adding an extra layer of strangeness to the situation. The sight of the luxurious car with tinted windows sent a shiver down Isabella's spine. She knew Griselda wasn't pleased with Alessio's announcement at the party.
— What could be happening? — Isabella whispered, breaking the tense silence.
— I have no idea. Stay in the car for a moment; I'll check what's going on. — Alessio took a deep breath before responding, his voice revealing a slight trace of apprehension.
Alessio got out of the car and walked toward Griselda's Cadillac, tapping on the tinted back window, which lowered slowly, revealing her expression.
Isabella's heart beat faster, unable to predict what was about to happen. She wanted to hear what they were going to talk about, so she didn't stay inside the car, silently exiting because she knew Alessio would order her to get back in.
Approaching his mother's car, Alessio could see Griselda sitting in the back seat, with a serious expression and a fixed gaze on him.
— What's going on, Mom? — he asked, trying to disguise his unease. — Why are you here?
Griselda remained silent for a moment before finally breaking the stillness with words laden with seriousness.
— We need to talk, Alessio. There are things you need to know.
Alessio's countenance tightened, revealing a mixture of surprise and anxiety. Isabella observed the scene, now on the threshold of a revelation that promised to shake the foundations of the life she knew alongside Alessio.
The mystery unfolded before them, while the Cadillac remained parked at the entrance, a silent witness to secrets that would finally surface.
— Speak up; Isabella is not well. I need to take care of her.
Griselda rolled her eyes, noticing the care Alessio was offering Isabella, something she never received during either of her two pregnancies.
— Did she lose the baby? — she exclaimed, looking away from Alessio.
— No, Mom! Good grief. Why would you ask that? — Alessio snapped.
— Then everything I did today was for nothing, even to make you wake up, my son?
— What are you talking about, Mom? — Alessio questioned, confused.
— Do you know how hard it was to convince that damn junkie to give a scare to Isabella and you?
— What are you saying, Mom? — Alessio pressed his jaws, visibly nervous. — that... what are you saying?
— This woman is a prostitute, my son. She belongs to everyone. This baby might not be yours.
— Mom... Go away from here, now. — Alessio shouted, and when Griselda tried to speak, he interrupted her. — You took the life of an innocent man because of your petty grievances.
Alessio shouted euphorically for his mother to disappear from his life when he heard the car door slam. Upon turning, he saw Isabella running desperately down the street opposite the building.
— Are you happy now? You killed an innocent man and destroyed my happiness, — Alessio exclaimed, filled with hatred.
— No one will miss the junkie, and this woman is from the streets. You'll be better off without her, son, — Griselda retorted.
Before Griselda could continue her speech, Alessio was already chasing after his beloved down the street. The only thing that comforted Isabella was the whisper of the waves of the sea lying in front of the building. She moved to the beach sand and sat disconsolate at the water's edge.
Isabella found herself amid a whirlwind of events, unable to foresee the unfolding destiny for her and her friends. A veil of uncertainty shrouded her future, and restlessness pulsated in her mind.
The pressure in her head was almost palpable, a metaphor for the crucial choices she faced. A crossroads demanded from her the decision to either definitively leave life alongside Alessio or trust in the promise of protection he whispered.
The mystery of life beside Alessio unfolded like the pages of a sinister thriller, full of hidden revelations and intricate plots. Isabella faced a complex puzzle, where each piece hid a secret, and each choice could irreversibly alter the course of her existence.
As the shadows of the unknown closed in around her, Isabella found herself torn between fleeing uncertainty or remaining in a game of intrigues where the still-hidden truth could redefine everything she thought she knew.
To survive alone, she would have to go back to prostitution; it was what she knew how to do. However, with a child, it would be a bit more complicated. Being with Alessio promised a future for her child and a peaceful life, free from predatory men. Yet, there was Paloma, a close friend who could be used by Griselda to harm her, along with her parents and adoptive siblings. Isabella's mind became a whirlwind. She quickly got up and hurriedly walked into the sea.
A scream from deep within her soul escaped Isabella's mouth, competing with the sound of the waves breaking on the shore. Isa covered her ears and screamed as loud as she could.
— Easy, my love, — Isa felt enveloped in strong arms and found comfort. It was as if the sea responded to her distress with a solution. A solution that Isabella was not yet sure was ideal, but for now, she needed that embrace. She turned to Alessio, lay on his chest, and let her tears flow with her pain."