y raced with thoughts of Isabella Moretti, his obsession now. He had tried to push her from his thoughts, to focus on the business of

Lining the walls were bookshelves, carrying tomes of strategy, history, and philosophy. It w

from him at that party was like a burning inside of him-a source of his determination. He had to have her, no matter the cost. Still,

at him. There was something in her eyes-something that made him take

d-he couldn't allow his emotions to get in the way. Now he had to think cl

was the only thing to do. He would need to infiltrate the Moretti estate, to get close to Isabella without her f

aled Mateo. After a few rings, Mateo'

impatient. "I need you to round up

all security detai

difficult job his boss wanted done, and Alejandro could almost hear the hesitation

, his tone allowing no further

he said finally. "I'll gather the men. But be careful,

risks, but at the same time, he knew he couldn't just let Isabella slip through his fingers. She

of a plan. He knew he would have to research the estate that was the residence of Moretti and his security. He had to figure out

e but wait. Wait and plan. When th

nner

den table at the center of the room, it was sparsely furnished with maps showing various cartel territories pinned on the walls. A

right sat the ruthless enforcer with a reputation for brutality, Diego. All the oth

spread on his face. "We have a mission," he began, calmly but firmly. "One that will require precision, patience, and absolute discretion." The

irm, issuing the name fl

at back in his chair, arms folding over his chest. "Giovanni Moretti's

g to do with her. It has to do with sending that message to Giovanni. About showing him who's boss." Mateo shook his head, looking

be careful. We'll plan every detail, leave nothing to cha

n heard Alejandro's words. Mateo looked worried yet knew better than to contradict Alejandro, who was in

eated. "We're in. But we have to be clever

ill be smart," he said. "We'll gather intel, study the estate, an

he operations were well catered for. The responsibility of logistics lay on Mateo, who organized the team and saw to the requirements of the group. Diego

s, but then again, he knew he just could not let Isabella slip through his fingers.

matter of an Isabella thing," he started with a voice steady and without even a pinch of hesitation.

w the possible consequences, but they were even ready

gut told him the road going forward would be fraught with more danger, that he couldn't turn back - the p

ring

d concerning the estate belonging to the Morettis: how it was laid out, details in the secur

and. He knew the success of the operation hinged upon their capability of infiltrati

a folder in his hand. "We have something," he said seriously. "An informa

k the folder from Mateo. "What does

ayout of the estate, the security protocols, and Isabella's schedule.

bject," he said. "Get him whatever he wants. But make sure

it," he said. "But Alejandro, this

rm. "We'll be careful. But we need this in

as right. They were going to need every advantage

rmant was a treasure; at the same time, it was a really huge risk just to place the hope of acco

d to. Isabella was far too important, far too val

ecurity: times of guard rotations, placements of cameras, weak points in the perimet

a time when Isabella would be alone and the guards most weak. They

ad would be treacherous, but he also knew he couldn't turn back now. Isabella Mo

tolen

tant at the party when their eyes had met in his head. He had done that over and over again, trying to find some mea

- a beautiful woman but imprisoned in the gilded cage, intelligent and strong, with a streak of i

Isabella's daily routine. She spent most of her time in the estate, rarely venturing

would retreat to her private garden, a secluded area of the estate where she could be alo

moments, and they would be able to cart her out of the estate without her putting up any

he garden," he said, his voice steady. "She'll be alone, and the guards will be at their

he said. "But it might work. We'll have to be carefu

ol. "We'll be careful," he said. "But we nee

be fraught with hazard, but equally he knew it was too late to turn back. Isabella

an in

eady. For weeks they had been preparing, gathering information,

nd diagrams on the table. His men ringed him, their faces somber. They

ey even know what has happened, we'll be gone. But we have to do it correctly. One misstep, and we are dead." The men nodded

themselves with their weapons, reinspected their gear, and once more discussed the pl

knew he could not turn his back on this now. Isabella Moretti was

tood the Moretti estate, high-walled and guard-gated. But Alejandro w

men, Alejandro gave the wo

r Cras

darting consistently to the rearview mirror for any pursuer. The fear, anger, and confusion were reeling inside Isabella's head as she sat quietly in the

wer to get his daughter back, and he needed to cover his tracks so no one could trace their movements. That's

scheme was to mimic the car accident with two incinerated bodies and throw the car into a deep gor

ake place. She turned to Alejandro, her eyes wide with fe

," he said. "This is the only way we can disappear. No

cane. "You're insane," she whispered. "Do you have any idea what you're doing? My

nni Moretti wouldn't stop trying to find her. Yet he knew this would be the only way to get

placed two dummies in the car, placing clothes on them that were exactly identical to Alejandro and Isabella's.

believe her eyes, how far Alejandro was to go in making this ruse believable. A pang of guilt tugged at her stomach as sh

prepared disguises and new identities for them. For a little while, they would

e same time, though, another fire burned within-a flicker of hope. For the very first time in her life, she was finally free from

els was far from over, and she knew right in the crossfire would be her. She would have to be strong, fight

Jet

a jet ready to go, ready to whisk them away to someplace safe, where they could disappear for some time. He knew they couldn't stay in Mex

whisk them away. Small but sumptuous, there were plush seats and a well-stocked b

erent story as it hit home, being the culminatio

er home, her family, her life. But she knew she had litt

r last leap and vanished, then unfolding before her the dark silhouette of the ocean. She felt sad because she knew she was to nev

perilous, that Giovanni Moretti would not let his daughter go easily

d strong. "You're safe now," he told her. "Nobody will find us where we are go

and fear. "You call this freedom? You think kidnapping me

ted him now. Yet in his mind's eye, he saw a silver lining: soon she would know that he did it all out of love,

ized that her life would never again be the same and that it was Alejandro who had set something into motion by which everything

t would be the start of the war between the cartels, something in which she was definitely ge