Page 13 of Dark Desires

Steph is unusually silent, her usual go-to support for Dad’s decisions noticeably absent.

I sneak a look at her, trying to read her expression, but she’s got that poker face locked down tight.

"We’re going to have round-the-clock surveillance around here, check-ins via phone every hour, and guards posted at every entrance. No leaving without me knowing—for both of you. And you’re both going to be turning on location-tracking. This is no game.”

I can’t believe what I’m hearing. So much for my social life—what little of it I have, anyway.

“Dad, this is insane. Location tracking? I can't live like?—"

He holds up a big hand, stopping me right in the middle of my sentence. His dark eyes, the same dark eyes I have, stay locked on mine.

"Isabella, listen to me. I'm not doing this to punish you. This isn't about control. This is about protection, pure and simple. De la Rosa is a threat to everything we've built, to our family."

It’s unsettling to see my father like this. He seems genuinely worried. It’s enough to keep my frustration in check.

At the mention of De la Rosa’s name, I’d caught a subtle flinch from Steph. It was quick, but it was there. Fear? Recognition? Something else?

Dad softens a bit, closing the distance between us to place a firm hand on my shoulder. "I need you to understand, Isa. We have to be cautious. He's after us, and I can't—I won't—let anything happen to you or your cousin.

“De la Rosa’s made it clear he’s not stopping until he gets what he wants,” Dad continues. “And what he wants is more than to just disrupt our operations, to take control—he wants to destroy us and anyone else who stands in his way. I won’t let that happen. Not to our family. Remember, this is for your safety.”

“Well, speaking of phones,” I start.

Dad cocks his head to the side. “What is it?”

“I had a little mishap with mine last night. I was out on a walk, and it slipped out of my hand while I was changing songs on Spotify. Of course, I was standing right next to a drain.”

“So, you lost your phone.”

Dad scans me with those dark eyes.

“Yep. And I need a new one. Can’t have location tracking without it, right?”

He narrows his eyes a bit, and I can tell he knows there’s more to my story than I’m letting on.

“I’ll have a new one delivered today, and I want location tracking turned onimmediately.”

He looks at Steph and me one last time, then leaves without another word.

As soon as Dad’s gone, the room feels suddenly larger, emptier.

I turn to Steph, about to explode with questions. “What was that all about? And since when do you just nod along without saying a word?”

She hesitates, glancing away, as if trying to come up with a lie—something very much not like her.

“Isa, it’s complicated. There’s a lot you don’t know—things I can’t…” She sighs. She’s never been a good liar, and even keeping things close to the chest like this is exhausting for her.

“Can’t what? You can tell me anything. You know that.”

She gives a long, weary sigh that makes her seem old.

“I just… I need you to trust your dad on this. De la Rosa… he’s dangerous, Isa. More than you realize.”

Her tone is so serious, grave even. “What aren’t you telling me, Steph? What’s going on?”

She looks around as if to make sure we’re truly alone, then leans closer.

“Just… be careful, okay? This isn’t the time for being rebellious or sneaking out of the house to go clubbing. Not with De la Rosa around.”