Chapter 1 The Devil's Signature

BELLA'S POV

"Sign the fucking papers," I cocked the gun swiftly, pointing directly at Dante's skull, "or I paint this office with your brains."

Dante sat perfectly still in his leather chair, eyes locked on mine. That same predatory calm gaze that made me fall in love with him six years ago, the same gaze that haunted me throughout the six years of marriage.

Six years of looking into those eyes and seeing everything except the truth.

"Tesoro," he said, in a low and rough voice, "Put down the gun, or you will hurt yourself."

He still thinks I'm fragile, still thinks I'm his delicate little flower.

My mouth twitched slightly. I slammed the divorce papers onto his desk with my free hand.

"Sign them!"

He laughed, loud enough to irritate me.

"You think you're brave now, huh? Because you learned to hold a gun?" His hand shot out, gripping my wrist.

"I could break your arm before you pulled that trigger." He said, snickering.

I pressed the barrel harder against his skull.

"Try it. See which happens first." I spat, my voice ice cold.

Something flickered in his eyes. Surprise, maybe. The great Dante Caruso, caught off guard by his docile little wife. The thought was ironic. I know.

"What happened to you?" he asked quietly.

You happened to me, Dante. You and your lies.

I stared at him with a bored expression, irritation stirring in my chest. I wish I could hit his jaw with the barrel.

We stayed frozen for a while. His fingers wrapped around my wrist, my gun against his head, both of us daring the other to move first.

He really thought I couldn't do anything.

He's still underestimating me. Good. Let him.

Suddenly, I pulled back with a swift movement and fired.

The bullet slammed into the wall six inches from his face. The crack echoed through the office like thunder. My ears ringing slightly.

Dante's jaw clenched. I could see it in his eyes, controlled rage simmering beneath his perfect handsome mask.

"Does that answer your question?" I kept the gun trained on him.

"Sign the papers, Dante. I won't ask again." My voice was low.

"You won't survive a week without me."

I scoffed, rolling my eyes.

He reached for his pen.

"You have no money. No protection. No family." He continued.

I swallowed uncomfortably at the mention of family.

Don't react, I said to myself silently.

"That's none of your business now."

"They'll rip you apart." He signed the first page, aggressively.

"Every enemy I've made will come for you. And I have a lot of enemies, Bella."

"Good. Let them come." My voice deliberately dismissive.

Let them all come. I'll be ready.

He looked up, studying my face like he'd never seen me before, like the person standing before him was a complete stranger.

"You've changed."

"You taught me well." I smiled sweetly, too sweet that it looks creepy the longer you stare.

Everything I am now, you created. Remember that.

He kept on signing. His knuckles went white around the pen.

"Is this about the business meeting I attended last week? I told you already what happened."

Liar. I knew nothing. He made sure of that.

"At least leaving you will guarantee my survival from your enemies," I replied.

"Survival?" Dante's laugh was bitter.

"You think leaving me is survival? You're signing your own death warrant." He held eye contact for a while before looking away.

"Better dead than yours." I replied as the irritation rode up my throat. I'm certain his fragile ego would suffer a bit.

Something cracked in his expression. Pain, maybe. Or fury. With Dante, they looked the same.

He signed all remaining pages, then dropped the pen.

"You'll be back," he said.

"Two weeks. Maybe less. You'll realize how good you had it here. Safe. Protected. And most importantly, mine."

That word. Mine. Like I was property. A possession to lock away in his glass tower for a long time.

Maybe I was. For six years, I played the role perfectly. The sweet and obedient wife.

Never again.

"Page six, Dante." I urged impatiently.

He glared at me, picking up the pen again.

He signed it. Then seven.

When he finished, he set the pen down with eerie calmness. Dante was never calm unless he was about to do something violent, but I know he couldn't hurt me.

Wouldn't.

Or could he? Do I really know this man at all?

"You really want this?" His voice dropped to that dangerous whisper he used when daring people.

"You want to walk away from everything we built?"

"We didn't build anything. You built a cage and called it love."

"I gave you everything." He said almost helplessly, but I have been with him long enough to know that he was mocking me.

"You gave me nothing but lies."

I reached for the papers, keeping the gun steady. Our fingers brushed, and electricity shot through my skin.

Even now. Even hating him with every cell in my body, my traitorous body still responded to his touch.

Damn him. Damn this body for remembering.

I jerked the papers away.

"Goodbye, Dante."

I made it three steps before he spoke.

"Veleno."

I stopped, waiting calmly.

That nickname. The one he gave me after I accidentally put too much chili in his pasta. When we were still happy. When I still believed his lies.

"You think you know what I am," he spoke, barely a whisper.

"You have no idea what I'm capable of when someone takes what's mine."

Oh, that's what he thinks. He believes I'm having an affair. The irony of it is so funny that I want to laugh out loud. From now on, I decide who I'm with.

I looked back at him. He hadn't moved, but something had shifted in his expression. The mask was gone. What stared back at me was pure predator. I felt a shiver run down my spine.

This is the real Dante. The one he kept hidden from me for so long.

"Come find me then," I said.

"If you can." I added, daring.

His smile was slow and deadly.

"I always find what belongs to me. And when I do..." He stood, buttoning his suit jacket casually.

"You'll remember exactly why you fell in love with the devil." He said as the smirk appeared on his devilish beautiful face.

His confidence annoys me. I feel like wiping that smirk off his face.

"I stopped loving you the day I learned the truth." I managed to speak after minutes of silence.

"What truth?"

I met his eyes.

"That you murdered my family."

There. Let him choke on that.

Does that ring a bell, Dante?

The words hung in the air like poison.

Dante went completely still for a while.

"What did you say?"

"You heard me." I turned toward the door. "Goodbye, Dante."

I walked out before he could respond, genuinely happy after years of pressure. Every turn seems to hold memories, both sweet and sour. Standing in front of the elevator, I looked around once more, saying goodbye.

The elevator couldn't come fast enough. It felt like it was taking its time so I could properly say my final goodbyes. My eyes started stinging.

Don't cry. Don't you dare cry. Not here. Not in front of his cameras.

When the doors finally closed, my hand started shaking. I was finally free. I dropped the gun in my bag and pressed my palm against the wall, fighting the sudden surge of mixed emotions.

Freedom is cool, but not this kind.

This isn't freedom. Not yet. This is just the first step.

I will be back for revenge, certainly. I promise.

The parking garage was empty. I climbed into the car I'd prepared months ago. It was loaded with everything I needed.

As I drove away, I looked back, looking at the place that I lived for six years. At least I'm free from the bondage now. It's a new beginning.

Goodbye, Bella Russo. Hello, Isabella Sovereign.

Don't worry, Dante. You will get exactly what you deserve.

That's a promise to you!

I hit the gas pedal and sped off.