Page 12 of Dark Desires

She doesn’t smile back. “Isa, you know it’s not safe, not now with everything going on.” Her voice is low now, urgent. “You can’t just disappear like that. I can only imagine what would happen if your dad found out.”

I hate when she worries, hate that I’m the cause of that worry, but the night’s freedom—the wild, reckless part of it, the danger—still hums in my veins. Part of me hates how much I loved the danger, the thrill of Alexei rescuing me.

Not to mention what happened after.

“Steph, I was careful. I’m always careful,” I insist.

Stephania shakes her head. I can tell she’s frustrated. “Being careful isn’t enough, Isa. Not anymore. Your dad is going to freak.”

I wince at the mention of Dad. Domenico Mancini isn’t a man you want to disappoint, and certainly not a man to challenge lightly. The consequences of last night could be major.

“Let’s just... not tell him?” I suggest with a shrug.

She looks at me, her expression softening slightly, the tight bond we’ve always shared pulling at her resolve.

“You know we can’t keep doing this, Isa. It’s getting too dangerous. The way you sneak out... it’s not good. One of these days you’re going to get into serious trouble.”

“I know. I’ll be more careful,” I promise. The words taste like ash in my mouth, however.

Careful was never really my style. But for Stephania, for our family, maybe I could try.

Suddenly, the atmosphere in the room shifts dramatically—like someone just cranked up the tension with a big, heavy dial.

I feel him in my spine before I even see him. My father fills the doorway, his presence a force that seems to suck the air out of the room. He's every inch the mafia don, with an intimidating build and sharp, piercing eyes that could make anyone squirm.

Wearing one of his usual impeccably tailored suits, he carries himself with the unshakable confidence of a man who’s both respected and feared.

His dark hair has hints of gray at the temples. He’s got the build of a linebacker, but the mind of a general. Walking into a room, he doesn’t just enter it—he owns it completely.

“Isabella, Stephania. Good, you’re both here.”

There’s an undercurrent of something I don’t like—one part worry, two parts impending doom.

“What is it, Dad?” I ask, adding just a touch of sweetness to my tone.

“There’s been a change. There will be more security, starting now.”

Ugh, not this again.

An immediate response bubbles up.

“Dad, seriously? I don’t need a bodyguard cramping my style.”

“It’s not up for discussion, Isabella.”

His gaze pins me in place, and I’m suddenly very aware of just who I’m dealing with. This is the man who wouldn't hesitate to start a war for his family.

“What’s going on?”

“It’s this De la Rosa guy. He’s trouble and he’s after us. I’m not taking any chances.”

I frown, the name nagging at me. "Who is De la Rosa, exactly? What’s his deal?"

Dad’s eyes narrow slightly, and I can tell he's deciding just how much to tell me. He’s always trying to strike a balance between how much Steph and I can know about the family business.

"Christian de la Rosa. He's a major player coming out of Colombia. This isn’t some small-time crook; he’s got connections, resources, and enough ambition to be a serious threat."

He pauses. "De la Rosa's been expanding his territory aggressively. We've managed to stay off his radar for a while, but that's changing. He’s making moves on us. It’s only a matter of time before he tries something bold."