Secret Meetings

Chapter 11: Secret Meetings

The city lights flickered outside the window as Isla walked briskly down the narrow alleyway behind Inferno. The night air was cool against her skin, but it didn’t do much to calm the storm brewing inside her. Every step seemed to echo with the weight of her thoughts, the strategy she’d been carefully crafting, and the dangerous web she was tangled in.

She’d been working at Inferno for weeks now, always close to Dante, always playing the part of the devoted employee. But tonight, she needed to speak with Alex. She needed to update him on the progress—and the complications—that were quickly arising from their plan to take down Antonio DeLuca. She couldn’t risk leaving anything to chance.

The back door to the club opened with a soft creak, and she slipped inside, entering the dimly lit staff room. A few of the other workers were still finishing up their shifts, but Isla paid them no attention. She quickly moved past them and into the small office where she’d set up their meeting place. No one ever came here, and the silence was a welcome comfort.

She had always felt a sense of urgency in their mission, but tonight it was worse. The more time she spent with Dante, the more complicated things became. Every smile, every touch, every look made her question if she was doing the right thing. But then she remembered her father. His face, cold and lifeless, flashed in her mind, and the need for revenge surged within her once again.

Taking a deep breath, Isla placed her phone on the desk and dialed her brother’s number. It rang only twice before he picked up, his voice steady and calm, despite the late hour.

“Isla,” Alex greeted her, “Is everything okay?”

“I need to meet,” she said, her voice firm. “Now. It’s urgent.”

There was a pause on the other end of the line before Alex’s response came, low and careful. “Alright. I’ll be there in ten minutes.”

The line went silent, and Isla leaned back in the chair, her fingers tapping anxiously against the desk. She hadn’t seen Alex in person for a few days, though their conversations had been frequent. He’d been keeping an eye on things from the outside while she was embedded within Inferno, but it wasn’t enough. They both knew they needed to move faster. Antonio DeLuca wasn’t going to be an easy target, and they had to be smart—precise.

When the door clicked open, Isla looked up to see Alex stepping inside. He was dressed casually, as always, though the sharpness in his eyes gave away the seriousness of the situation. He closed the door behind him and moved to the chair across from her, his gaze immediately meeting hers.

“What’s going on?” he asked, his voice low, purposeful.

Isla exhaled slowly, her thoughts racing. “I’m starting to get closer to Dante. Too close.”

Alex raised an eyebrow, his expression unreadable. “Closer how?”

Isla shifted uncomfortably in her chair. She had been trained to keep her emotions under control, but her brother knew her better than anyone. He could see right through her, even when she tried to hide it. “It’s not just business anymore,” she confessed. “Every time I see him, I can feel it. That pull. And the worst part is… I don’t know if I’m in control anymore.”

Alex’s gaze softened, though his voice remained steady. “You’re always in control, Isla. That’s why you’re here. To do this for Dad.”

“I know,” she replied quickly, nodding. “But Dante is smart. He’s starting to catch on. He’s asking questions. And I—” She broke off, frustrated with herself. “I can’t let him figure me out. I’m so close to him, and I can’t afford to lose focus.”

Alex leaned back in his chair, his fingers tapping against the table as he thought. “You can’t let him get under your skin. Keep him distracted, keep him guessing. That’s your job now. If you let him get too close, if you let him see what’s really going on, everything will fall apart.”

Isla swallowed hard, nodding. She knew he was right. But there was something about Dante that unsettled her, something magnetic that made it difficult to remain detached. He wasn’t like the other men she’d encountered in the DeLuca circle. He was unpredictable—dangerous. And that made him all the more dangerous for her.

“You’re right,” she said, forcing the unease from her voice. “I can’t let him get too close. But there’s more. I’ve been learning about the DeLuca operations. They’ve been expanding—taking more risks, getting more aggressive in the market. There’s more money at play here than we thought.”

Alex’s brow furrowed. “How do you know this?”

“I’ve been listening,” Isla replied, her tone low. “Dante talks a lot when he’s drunk. And Luca, his right-hand man, has been making some noise about a new shipment coming in. It’s supposed to be huge, more valuable than any of the others. I don’t know exactly what it is, but it’s connected to DeLuca’s biggest deals.”

Alex’s eyes narrowed, his focus sharpening. “This could be what we need. If we can get our hands on that shipment, it’ll give us leverage. We can use it to push Antonio into a corner. It’ll force his hand.”

“I agree,” Isla said, her pulse quickening at the thought. “But I don’t have the full details yet. I’m still working my way in. It’ll take time, but I think it’s worth it.”

“Good,” Alex said, his voice firm. “But listen to me, Isla. You need to stay focused. We’re not here to get close to Dante or play any games with him. You’re not here for the thrill. Remember why you’re doing this. And keep your distance. If you get too tangled up in his world, you’ll never get out.”

Isla nodded, the weight of his words settling into her chest. It was easy to forget why she was here when Dante’s eyes locked with hers, when his touch lingered on her skin. But she couldn’t let herself fall into that trap.

“I haven’t forgotten,” she said, her voice steady. “I’m just getting a clearer picture of what’s happening here. I need to know everything if I’m going to take him down.”

Alex’s eyes softened for a moment, but his next words were resolute. “Then do what you need to do. But always remember this—revenge is a fire that can burn you as much as it burns them. Be careful, Isla.”

She met his gaze, her heart heavy with the weight of their shared mission. “I will. I promise.”

Alex stood, his movements purposeful as he turned toward the door. “I’ll keep an eye on things from here. But you need to stay on top of this, Isla. The closer you get, the more dangerous it becomes.”

“I know,” Isla replied, her voice quiet but unwavering. “I’ll keep my focus.”

Alex nodded, pausing at the door. “Good. Let me know as soon as you have more information on that shipment. We can’t afford to let DeLuca get too comfortable.”

With that, he was gone, leaving Isla alone in the small office. She sat there for a moment, her mind spinning with everything she’d just learned. The shipment. The DeLuca family’s growing influence. And Dante. She had to stay focused. She couldn’t afford to let anything—least of all her growing attraction to him—get in the way.

She had a plan. And she would see it through, no matter what.

---