Chapter 9 The Web of Lies

BELLA'S POV

I couldn't stop thinking of the possibilities of Dante not being involved in this attack, I really wanted to believe he wasn't involved, but it's not possible for anyone to carry out orders outside Dante's knowledge.

I can remember clearly the day Lilo authorized the payment of jewelry I found while shopping. Lilo was supposed to be with me for the day. I saw a pretty Vancleef bracelet, and I decided to get it. The price of the bracelet was a thousand pounds more than the initial amount in the card. I convinced Lilo to allow me use the company credit card, which he accepted. That was the biggest mistake of his life.

Dante never starved me of money, gifts, or presents, I thought that extends to the company's card too.

Lilo was sacked because of that. Not since the event happened without clarifying from Dante first. This led to the dismissal and probably death of Lilo. The appearance of one of Caruso men only means one thing. It was authorized by Dante.

I kept on staring at the picture, the dead man's face, frozen in death. Eyes open. Blood pooled beneath him. I couldn't stop staring at him.

And the Caruso family crest tattooed on his inner wrist.

Dante's men all had that tattoo. Loyalty branded into flesh.

Why the fuck was he attacking me with Vitale soldiers?

Coward!

It just doesn't make sense, does he know my whereabouts?

That's not possible, my mind is spiraling.

"Principessa?" Lucia's voice broke through my thoughts, she entered the room clutching her injured arm. "You should rest. It's been a long night."

"I can't." I zoomed in on the tattoo again.

I turned to look at Lucia, "I know this man", I recounted how I met him doing one of Dante's suspicious meetings.

"This man works for Caruso. He was one of Marco's personal guards."

Lucia leaned over my shoulder, studying the screen. Her face paled. "Are you certain?"

"Positive." I pulled up another photo from my phone. One I'd taken months ago at a family dinner. Marco in the background, flanked by two guards.

The dead man was on his left.

"Merda," Lucia whispered.

"Exactly." I set down the phone, mind racing. "Why would Marco's man be with Lorenzo's soldiers? Attacking me?"

"Perhaps he defected. Switched sides."

I almost laughed, they aren't that generous.

"Marco doesn't let people defect. He kills them." I stood, pacing, recounting Lilo's incident . "No. This is something else."

Something worse. It's either they are hunting Bella Russo or hunting the last Sovereign.

"I need to talk to Tommaso." I scurried towards the door. My mind raises at the thought of what could possibly go wrong.

I found him in the armory, cleaning weapons used earlier.

"We need to talk." I hurried towards him, pointing the phone towards him.

He looked up, saw my face, and set down the gun. "What's wrong?"

I showed him the photo. "This man. He works for Marco Salvatore. Dante's right hand." The name irks me.

Tommaso took the phone, studied it. His jaw clenched. "You're sure?"

"I've seen him at the penthouse. Multiple times. He's one of Marco's personal guards." I leaned against the table, my fingers pressed against my temple. "The question is why was he attacking us with Vitale soldiers?"

Tommaso was quiet for a long moment.

"You're thinking what I'm thinking?," I asked, studying his face

"That Dante is using Lorenzo as cover for his own attacks?" Tommaso's voice was grim. "Sì. It's possible."

"It's more than possible. It's the only explanation that makes sense." I pulled up the Lilo story, explaining how Dante controlled everything. "Nothing happens in his organization without his knowledge. Nothing. He micro-manages every detail."

"Then this was deliberate." Tommaso rested on the wall, crossing his arm across his chest.

"This was calculated." I felt the familiar lump rising again, I need to stop letting him determine my emotions, but I can't help it.

"He killed my family, and now he's trying to finish the job by making it look like Lorenzo did it." What is going through his mind.

Tommaso studied me carefully. "What do you want to do?"

"I want proof." I straightened. "Real, undeniable proof that Dante ordered this. That he's been playing both sides."

"And when you have it?"

I thought of the gun in my hand tonight. The two men I'd killed without hesitation. The blood on my hands that didn't bother me anymore.

"Then I stop playing defense." I met Tommaso's eyes. "And I make him pay for every lie he's ever told."

Tommaso nodded slowly. "I'll put people on it. See if we can trace the connection between Dante and Lorenzo's attack."

"Do it quietly. If Dante has men in Lorenzo's organization, he might have men in ours too."

I shivered at the thought, my men?

How deep did his reach go? How many people around me were reporting back to him?

"Trust no one," I said. "Not until we know for certain."

After Tommaso left, I sat alone with the photo.

Dante's man. Dead on the ground. Wearing Vitale colors but bearing Caruso marks.

The evidence was damning.

My husband-ex-husband-was trying to kill me while pretending to search for me.

The man I'd loved. The man I'd given six years to. The man who'd promised to protect me with his life.

He'd been my enemy all along.

And I'd been too blind to see it.

I walked weakly back to my room. I'd always said I was free from him, but his betrayal hurts Everytime.

What can I possibly do?