Chapter Twenty two.

Isabella.

"Woah you're a fast learner Hugo."

I said admist hard breaths, this morning, If asked Enzo is Hugo could join in our training. Hugo looked so excited when I told him about it.

Enzo being the ever sweet guy he is, agreed without any complaint. Unlike some one I know.

"Looks like you got yourself a contender Bella." Enzo said with that signature smirk of his. I must say, I didn't expect Hugo to grasp everything this fast.

"Oh yeah? I'll just have to double the training now wouldn't I." I replied to Enzo's earlier tease.

"Bella I think we should move on to your exercise sessions " Luca said behind me.

Something's not right with Luca, he has been acting strange since my accident, and I can't tell what the problem is.

He won't talk to me about what's bordering him. I am beginning to worry.

" Bella?"

I smiled sheepishly. " Sorry, I am right behind you Luca."

I gave Hugo a pat on the shoulder. "Beat Enzo's ass Hugo." Hugo smiled at me before nodding.

I turned my face to Enzo, giving him the I wish he beats your ass smirk. And the fucker just grinned.

"So what you got boss?" I asked Luca, a playful smile on my face.

He looked at me, his eyes lighting up with mischief. He's going back to being his old self, but something is still off about him.

"We'll do twenty byscicle crunches." He smirked at me.

My eyes Widened in horror. "Twenty?!"

"I am still a beginner, why would you even want me to do twenty?"

"Luca... I thought you were my person." I said that with the best puppy eyes I can muster.

Luca just laughed. He laughed!

"No can't do Bella. I am your person, but you have to do this."

Urgh! Bummer.

" Don't faint on us Isabella." Enzo shouted from where he was. And I am pretty sure that stupid grin is on his face.

" Go fuck yourself Enzo." I shouted back, my voice laced with annoyance.

My mind drifted off to a certain someone.

I haven't seen Matteo since I asked him to let me join his missions.

At first, I thought maybe he was avoiding me. But then I reminded myself that I didn’t see him that often anyway.

He was always coming and going, always busy with plans I couldn't understand.

Still, I couldn’t help but feel a small twist in my chest every time the front doors opened and it wasn’t him.

It was stupid. I told myself to stop caring.

So I focused on other things—like training.

After a long, sweaty session with Luca where he pushed me harder than usual, I went back to my room and collapsed on the bed. But I didn’t stay there long. My muscles ached, but my mind was restless.

I wanted to do something… different.

Something that wasn’t about knives or arguments or revenge.

That’s when the idea hit me. Something small. Something nice.

I went to the kitchen, tied my hair back, and started baking. It's a good thing Matteo had everything I needed in his kitchen, even though he rarely uses it, or does he?

And the fact that Matteo doesn't have any maids? It makes me feel free.

It felt weird at first, mixing flour and sugar while guards passed by, eyeing me like I was doing something suspicious. But I focused. The smell of warm butter and vanilla slowly filled the air, and it calmed me in a way I didn’t expect.

I made two trays of cookies—chocolate chip and oatmeal raisin—and then a batch of muffins, soft and fluffy with bits of apple inside.

By the time I was done, I had flour on my cheek and sugar on my shirt, but I smiled. It felt good.

I placed everything on trays and carried them out to the main room, where some of Matteo’s men were gathered, cleaning their weapons or talking in low voices.

“Hey,” I said, clearing my throat. “I, uh… made something.”

They all looked at me, surprised. Enzo raised an eyebrow, and Alexander blinked like I’d just walked in wearing a crown.

“These are… for you guys,” I added, setting the trays down on the table. “Just a small thank-you.”

Hugo was the first to move. He picked up a cookie, sniffed it, then took a bite. His eyes widened.

“Whoa,” he mumbled through a mouthful. “This is actually good.”

Enzo laughed. “Let me try one.”

Soon, they were all eating—Alexander nodding in approval, Enzo grabbing a second, and Hugo sneaking a muffin when he thought no one was watching.

“You made all this?” Enzo asked.

“Yeah,” I said. “It’s nothing fancy. Just… something I used to do.”

That’s when Luca chimed in, grinning. “You should’ve seen her back then. She used to sneak into the kitchen when her father wasn’t home, just to make cookies for me and Dante.”

“Dante?” Hugo asked.

“My old driver,” I said with a smile. “He used to complain about our cooks food, so I made my own. Sometimes I even brought cookies to Luca during training.”

Everyone laughed. Hugo cracked a smile.

It felt strange, being in that room and hearing laughter instead of orders. Seeing them relaxed instead of tense. For once, I wasn’t just the girl trying to prove something—I was just… Isabella.

I passed out more cookies, talked with the men, and even sat beside Hugo as he told me a silly story about him falling into a pond when he was a kid. We were all laughing when the doors slammed open.

Matteo walked in, his coat still on, his expression sharp.

The room went silent in seconds.

His eyes scanned the group, then landed on me. “Isabella.”

I stood up, heart skipping. “Yeah?”

“Get ready,” he said. “We’re going to your father’s mansion.”

Silence. My breath caught.

“My father’s—what? Why?”

He didn’t answer. His eyes flicked to the empty trays, then back to me. His expression was unreadable.

“Fifteen minutes,” he said. Then he turned and walked out.

The room stayed quiet for a second longer before Alexander let out a low whistle.

“Well,” Luca muttered, “there goes the warm mood.”

I tried to smile, but my blood was already boiling.

My father’s mansion...