Chapter 5 - The Snake in Silk
By midnight, the storm had passed, leaving behind a cold, wet silence over the Moretti estate.
The main hall was illuminated only by the faint glow of the wall sconces. In Matteo’s private study, the air was thick with smoke and danger. Marco stood before the massive mahogany desk, placing a flash drive onto the blotter.
"We checked the security footage, Boss," Marco said softly. "The feed outside the pantry was wiped for twelve minutes at 7:00 PM. But the backup camera near the laundry room caught someone walking toward the kennels carrying a tray."
Matteo leaned back in his leather chair, swirling two fingers of scotch in a crystal glass. "Show me."
Marco tapped a key on the laptop. A grainy black-and-white video played.
A woman in a silk trench coat stepped into the frame, holding a small paper bag. She paused near the pantry door, poured a liquid into two metal bowls, and then hurried down the hall toward the kennels.
Even in the grainy night-vision footage, the red designer shoes were unmissable.
Isabella.
Matteo didn't move. He didn't shout. He simply took a slow sip of his scotch, his eyes turning to black glass.
"She wanted the dogs dead," Marco whispered. "She knew Titan and Nero were drawing you closer to the girl. She thought if the dogs were gone, Grace would be sent back to the agency, and the alliance between your families would move forward without distraction."
"Bring her here," Matteo said flatly. "And bring her father, Don Carmine."
Thirty minutes later, the double doors of the study flew open.
Isabella walked in, looking glamorous despite the late hour, though her eyes darted nervously around the room. Behind her walked Don Carmine—a heavy-set, gray-haired man in a fine Italian suit, smelling of expensive cigars.
"Matteo, what is the meaning of this late-night summon?" Don Carmine barked, adjusting his cufflinks. "My daughter said your security team practically dragged her out of bed!"
Matteo didn't stand up. He gestured toward the two chairs across from his desk. "Sit."
"I will not sit like a delinquent!" Don Carmine snapped. "We have a merger to sign next week! Treat us with respect!"
Matteo flipped his laptop around and pressed play.
Isabella’s face drained of every drop of color as she watched herself on screen pouring poison into the dog bowls. Her hands began to tremble violently inside her silk sleeves.
"Isabella..." Don Carmine frowned, looking at the video. "What is that?"
"It is a video of your daughter committing felony destruction of property and attempting to poison my security assets on my estate," Matteo said, his voice terrifyingly quiet. "Strychnine, Carmine. If my dogs had died, I would have put a bullet in the head of whoever did it before midnight."
"Matteo! It was just two mutts!" Isabella shrieked, dropping her polished mask. "They are dangerous! They attacked me last month! They almost bit my leg! I was protecting this family!"
"They didn't attack you," a soft voice spoke from the shadows near the bookshelf.
Isabella jumped.
Grace stepped out into the light, dressed in a plain gray sweater and jeans, Titan walking calmly at her right hip, his tail wagging softly.
"They growled at you because dogs smell adrenaline, deceit, and fear," Grace said firmly, looking Isabella straight in the eye. "You tried to kill two innocent animals because you couldn't control them. You are cruel."
"How dare you speak to me, you fat, worthless peasant!" Isabella screamed, pointing a manicured finger at Grace. "Matteo, are you seriously letting a maid talk to my father and me like this?!"
Matteo stood up slowly. All six-foot-three of him towered over the desk. The raw power emanating from him made even Don Carmine step back a pace.
"Grace is not a maid," Matteo said, his voice echoing through the silent room like a death knell. "She is the woman who saved my life's work, my home, and my animals. And as of this exact second, Isabella... our engagement is permanently terminated."
May you like
Don Carmine gasped. "Matteo! You cannot break a syndicate alliance over two dogs and a common cleaning girl! This will mean war between our families!"
"Then let it be war," Matteo said cold as ice. "Marco, escort Don Carmine and his daughter off my property. If either of them sets foot on Moretti land again, shoot them on sight."
