The DeLuca Heist

Chapter 18: The DeLuca Heist

The dim glow of the laptop screen illuminated Isla’s face as she sat on the edge of her bed, heart pounding in her chest. The weight of what she was about to do pressed down on her, but there was no turning back.

She pressed the tiny earpiece deeper into her ear. “Alex, can you hear me?”

A slight crackle before his voice came through. “Loud and clear. You sure you’re alone?”

Isla glanced around her bedroom at Dante’s estate. She had locked the door, double-checked for hidden cameras, and even ensured that Sofia was asleep before she dared to contact Alex.

“Yes,” she whispered. “Let’s do this.”

Alex exhaled sharply. “Alright. I’ll guide you. Log into the network and get into their financial database.”

Isla’s fingers moved swiftly over the keyboard, her nerves tingling with adrenaline. She had worked for weeks to gain access to the DeLuca systems, subtly gathering information, memorizing Dante’s security protocols, and learning how his men operated. Now, all of it was about to pay off.

As the screen loaded, a wall of encrypted codes blocked her path.

“I’m in,” she murmured.

Alex chuckled. “Not quite, sorella. That’s a firewall. Give me control—I’ll break through.”

Isla clicked a few keys, allowing Alex remote access to her system. A moment later, codes flashed rapidly across the screen as he worked his magic.

“This is some serious security,” he muttered. “Dante really doesn’t want anyone messing with his money.”

That made Isla pause.

Dante.

He had just started trusting her. He had let her in—physically, emotionally. She had spent the night in his arms, listening to his deepest wounds.

And now, she was betraying him.

She forced herself to push the guilt away. This was never about Dante. This was about her father. About revenge.

“Alex, how much longer?”

“Almost there... and—boom! I’m in,” Alex whispered triumphantly. “I have access to their offshore accounts.”

Isla quickly scanned the numbers flashing on the screen. Millions of dollars. Money that fueled the DeLuca empire, funded illegal operations, and kept their power intact.

“Transfer the data,” she instructed.

“I’m working on it,” Alex said, fingers flying over his keyboard on the other end. “We need dirt on them, not just the money. Something we can use as leverage.”

Isla’s heart pounded. If they could find evidence of fraud, bribery, or illegal trades, they could dismantle the DeLuca empire from within.

A file popped up on the screen, labeled Confidential Transactions.

“I got something,” Alex muttered. “This looks like payment logs—large sums being funneled into private accounts. Some of them under different names. It could be money laundering.”

Isla’s breath caught. This was it. This was the kind of proof that could bring the DeLuca family to its knees.

“Hurry, d******d everything,” she whispered.

The progress bar crawled forward, painfully slow.

“Come on, come on...”

A beep sounded in Isla’s earpiece. Alex cursed.

“What?” she asked sharply.

“I triggered something,” he muttered. “Their security system just detected unauthorized access.”

Isla’s stomach clenched. “Can you cover our tracks?”

“I’m trying,” Alex said. “But you need to be ready to cut the connection. If they trace it back to you—”

A knock at her door.

Isla froze.

Dante.

She knew it was him before he even spoke.

“Bella, open the door.”

Her blood ran cold.

“Shit,” Alex whispered. “You need to get out now.”

The d******d was at 92%. Almost there.

“Just a few more seconds,” she whispered back.

Another knock—harder this time. Bella, are you in there?”

She scrambled to shut the laptop just as the progress bar hit 100%. She disconnected Alex’s access and pulled out the USB drive, shoving it beneath the mattress.

With a deep breath, she walked to the door and unlocked it.

Dante stood there, his expression unreadable. He was dressed in his usual black shirt and slacks, his sleeves rolled up, veins flexing along his forearms.

“What are you doing?” he asked, stepping inside. His sharp gaze swept the room as if he could sense something was off.

“Couldn’t sleep,” she said smoothly, moving toward the bed to sit down. “Just working on some things.”

Dante’s eyes flicked to the laptop. “On what?”

She shrugged, stretching out on the bed, feigning nonchalance. “Personal stuff.”

Dante was quiet for a moment, then he stepped closer.

Isla’s pulse quickened as he leaned over her, his hands braced on the mattress beside her. “You’re lying.”

Her breath hitched. “Excuse me?”

His dark eyes searched hers. “You’re hiding something.”

Isla forced herself to hold his gaze. “What makes you say that?”

Dante smirked, but there was no humor in it. “Because, bella, you have that same look you had the first night I met you. Like you’re playing a dangerous game.”

He wasn’t wrong.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she said softly, reaching up to trace her fingers along his jaw.

Dante caught her wrist, his grip firm but not painful. His thumb brushed against her pulse point, feeling the rapid beat of her heart.

“If I find out you’re betraying me, Bella...” His voice was low, almost a whisper, but laced with warning. “You won’t like what happens next.”

A chill ran down her spine.

For a moment, she thought he might kiss her, but instead, he let go of her wrist and stepped back.

“Get some sleep,” he said. “You’ll need it.”

And just like that, he was gone.

Isla released a shaky breath, pressing a hand to her racing heart.

She had gotten away with it this time.

But for how much longer?