Chapter Six: Fire and Chains

Isabella couldn't catch breath straight. She couldn’t get news of Sofia’s kidnapping out of her head. She sat on the bed, her legs twitching, fists grasped in front of her. Each second was weighing more.

The door creaked open, and there was Dante striding along as if he had done nothing wrong.

"You knew?" “What calling?” Isabella demanded, immediately issuing her stern voice. You fucking knew that Adrian’s men have my sister?

After Dante walked through, the door shut. He walked slowly. "I heard."

"You heard?" Isabella's tone raised. "That's all you have to say? My sister is missing, my sister is gone and you’re standing here like you don’t care.”

"It's Marco's fault," Dante said. His voice was cold, even a little harsh. "Adrian is the one punishing him, not me. Not you."

Isabella shot up so fast that the chair behind her was dragged across the floor. "She's a kid. She has nothing to do with this. You can't just stand by."

"You don't know what you are asking,"Dante answered. His eyes narrowed. "If I go now, Adrian goes to war. He wants that."

"I don't care!" Her throat was on fire.”Stephanie shouted at Isabella. "You're supposed to be strong. People are afraid of you. But you won't do anything for an innocent girl? What kind of man are you?"

Dante came nearer, his voice low. "Watch what you say."

"No," Isabella exclaimed. Her chest was heaving wildly."

"You don't scare me. You're acting big, but you're fleeing. You're a coward if you let her die."

Dante shot her a look for a moment. His jaw was set and his eyes smoldered. And then he left without another word.

Isabella collapsed back onto the bed, shuddering. Her breathing was ragged and irregular. She covered her face with her hands but the tears flowed freely.

---

Dinner that night was funereal. Bianca and Giulia sat at the long table, plates of food untouched. Isabella already pushed her plate away after having taken only one bite.

Giulia finally broke the silence. “We heard about Sofia. I’m sorry.”

Isabella stared up. "Why won't someone do something?"

"Why, this is dangerous," Bianca said slowly. Her hands lay folded on the table, rings glinting in the light. “All the people are going to die if Dante answers.

“So we abandon her to them?” Isabella hurled at her. “We just all ignore her?

No one told me so," she replied in a low voice. “Dante would never admit it, but he cares. He won’t show it, but he’s scared. He will find ways to go around it.”

Isabella shook her head. "You really believe so? He just told me he ain’t waging the war.”

Bianca stretched across the table. “Child, codes exist in this world. And if we violate them, we pay in blood.”

“Alright, I don’t care about your rules,” Isabella said, pulling away. "I care about my sister. And if he won’t help, I will.”

Giulia's face went white. "Isabella, don't be stupid. Adrian would take advantage of you too."

Isabella said nothing. She rose and departed from the table, her hunger vanished.

In her own room, she paced. She picked up her phone twice, trying to call her dad, but the line was dead. She considered calling Elena, then gave up. What could her friend possibly do? Nothing.

Her stomach hurt from being so tight. She repeated over and over, "She's just a girl. She's scared. She needs me." Over and over.

She went to the window and stared at the dark grounds. The house was quiet, but her chest was loud with panic. She wanted to scream.

The door opened without a knock. She turned quickly.

Dante stood there. His shirt sleeves were rolled, his face unreadable.

“Get dressed,” he said.

Isabella froze. “What?”

“Get dressed,” he repeated. His voice was hard. “We’re leaving.”

Her heart jumped. “You’re going to get her?”

“Yes.”

“Why now?” she asked, confused.

"Because I chose." His eyes were fixed on hers. "And because Adrian thinks he can take what belongs to me."

The words seared, yet Isabella remained silent. She ran to her closet and seized a black coat. Her hands shook as she pulled it on. She knelt to tie her shoes, nearly dropping one.

She felt his eyes on her the whole way.

When she stood up, Dante stepped forward. His hand lifted her chin so she had no choice but to look into his eyes.

"You're going to stay close," he stated. "You're going to be quiet. And if you disobey me once tonight, you'll regret it."

Her mouth was dry. She nodded.

"Good." Dante turned on his heel, already heading for the door. "Let's go."

Isabella followed him, her heart pounding. She knew there was no turning back now.