The Enemy's Daughter

Chapter Five

Isabella



The rain had eased into a light drizzle by the time Isabella reached the subway entrance.

She should have been thinking about her lesson plans.

Or the exciting news from Professor Mercer.

Instead, she kept thinking about the stranger from the café.

Adrian.

There had been something different about him.

He wasn't overly charming.

He hadn't flirted.

He hadn't tried to impress her.

If anything, he'd seemed... guarded.

Like a man carrying a weight no one else could see.

She smiled to herself.

"You've known him for all of ten minutes," she muttered.

"And you're already psychoanalyzing him."

Her phone buzzed.

Sophie

Where are you??

Still alive. Coffee disaster. Long story.

A reply came almost instantly.

You? Clumsy? I refuse to believe it. Lunch tomorrow. Spill everything.

Isabella laughed as she slipped her phone back into her bag.

She never noticed the black SUV slowly pulling away from the curb behind her.

Across the street, Marco lowered his camera.

"They're still talking."

Luca's voice came through the earpiece.

"How long?"

"Almost six minutes."

A pause.

"That's five minutes longer than expected."

Marco zoomed in again.

"They're laughing."

Silence.

"Luca?"

"I'm here."

"I've worked for Mr. Moretti for eight years."

"I know."

"I've never seen him smile."

Neither had Luca.

Cassian couldn't remember the last time a conversation had felt...normal.

There were no negotiations.

No threats.

No hidden agendas.

Just a young woman talking about children who insisted crayons were a food group and professors who assigned impossible amounts of reading.

She spoke with her hands.

She laughed easily.

She apologized too much.

She was nothing like the daughter of Vincent Romano should have been.

Or perhaps...

She was exactly what Vincent had wanted the world to believe.

"You seem distracted," Isabella said.

Cassian realized she'd asked him something.

"My apologies."

"I asked if you have family."

The question hit harder than he expected.

"I did."

Her expression softened immediately.

"I'm sorry."

He gave a slight nod.

"It was a long time ago."

She didn't ask for details.

Instead, she simply said,

"Sometimes those are the hardest losses."

For just a moment...

He forgot why he was there.

"Miss Romano?"

A familiar voice interrupted them.

Professor Elaine Mercer approached the table with a stack of folders tucked beneath her arm.

"There you are."

Isabella stood.

"Professor Mercer."

"I've been trying to reach you."

"My phone was on silent."

The professor smiled apologetically.

"I hate to interrupt, but the principal from St. Michael's called."

A knot formed in Isabella's stomach.

"Is everything okay?"

"They'd like you to begin your student teaching early."

Her eyes widened.

"Really?"

"They were very impressed with your evaluations."

"Oh my gosh..."

She laughed, covering her mouth.

"I wasn't expecting that."

"You deserve it."

Professor Mercer handed her a folder.

"You start Monday."

As the professor walked away, Isabella turned back toward Adrian.

"I've wanted this for years."

"I can tell."

She smiled.

"You really can."

Cassian watched her excitement with an unfamiliar feeling settling in his chest.

She wasn't pretending.

Her happiness was genuine.

Every report had been accurate.

Every surveillance photo had told the truth.

She volunteered because she cared.

She wanted to teach because she loved children.

She wasn't hiding anything.

That should have made his job easier.

Instead...

It complicated everything.

His phone vibrated inside his jacket.

Luca

He ignored it.

It buzzed again.

And again.

Finally, he answered.

"What?"

"Where are you?"

"Busy."

"You've been with her for almost thirty minutes."

Cassian looked toward Isabella, who was carefully placing her folders into her backpack.

"I know."

"Boss..."

Luca lowered his voice.

"...this wasn't supposed to happen."

Cassian ended the call without answering.

Outside the café, Isabella opened her umbrella.

The rain had started again.

"So," she said, smiling. "Maybe I'll see you around?"

Cassian hesitated.

He should say no.

He should walk away.

He should remember who she was.

Instead...

"I hope so."

She smiled one last time before disappearing into the crowd.

Cassian remained where he stood, watching until she vanished from sight.

Only then did Marco pull the SUV alongside the curb.

Cassian climbed into the back seat.

Neither man spoke as the city rolled past the rain-streaked windows.

Finally, Marco broke the silence.

"She doesn't know who you are."

"No."

"And if she finds out?"

Cassian stared out at the skyline.

"She can't."

Marco nodded.

But neither of them noticed the black sedan that quietly fell in behind the SUV.

Someone else was following them now.

And unlike Cassian...

They already knew exactly who Isabella Romano was.