Owned By Massimo

Chapter 17-Playing Innocent

Isabella’s POV

What do I do? What do I do? The words kept repeating in my head like a broken record. My heart was pounding so fast I could feel it in my throat, in my ears, everywhere.

If I tried to run away now, they would know I heard everything. They would chase me. They might even kill me before I could warn Massimo. I had to think fast.

I quickly put on my most innocent face, widening my eyes and softening my expression. I tugged at the collar of Massimo’s shirt, letting it slip off one shoulder to show more skin. Maybe if I looked harmless and a little clueless, they would buy it. I took a deep breath, forced my shoulders to relax, and turned the corner like I had just been wandering around lost.

“Sorry,” I said, making my voice soft and sweet. “Am I interrupting something?”

Their eyes went round in shock and for a second, they just stared, like they thought I had walked in on them having some secret affair. One of them coughed awkwardly, his mouth opening and closing but no words coming out. The other looked nervous, shifting on his feet.

I looked between them with big, innocent eyes, tilting my head a little like I was confused. Inside, my stomach was twisting into knots. These men were traitors. They were planning to sell out Massimo’s shipment to his rivals, the Romanos. Millions at stake. Lives at stake. And here I was, standing in front of them in nothing but a big shirt, pretending I hadn’t heard a thing.

One of the men finally found his voice. “Uh…no, miss. You’re not interrupting anything.”

I smiled shyly. “I was just looking for Massimo. Do you happen to know where he is?”

“Massimo?” the taller one repeated, like the word tasted strange. “Who are you exactly? Nobody calls the Don by his name. He even hates it when his own fiancée does that.”

“Oh,” I whispered innocently, blinking like I really didn’t know. “I didn’t know. Sorry about that.”

I gave them a small, embarrassed smile and turned to walk away, keeping my steps light and casual even though my legs felt like jelly. Every nerve in my body screamed at me to run.

“Wait,” one of them said suddenly.

I froze, my back going stiff. My heart slammed against my ribs like a war drum. Slowly, I turned back to face them, keeping that same innocent look plastered on my face. “Is there a problem?”

He stared at me for a long second, eyes searching my face. I could see the suspicion there, the way he was trying to figure me out. Then he shook his head. “Never mind.”

I smiled at them again, sweet and harmless, before turning and walking away. The second I was out of their sight, I picked up speed. My bare feet moved fast across the floor as I rushed up the stairs, not daring to look back. By the time I reached the room I had been given, my chest was heaving. I slipped inside, closed the door behind me, and leaned against it hard, trying to catch my breath.

What if those men suspected me? What if they came looking for me later? I needed them dealt with before they decided I was a threat. My hands were shaking as I pressed them against the door. I stayed inside for what felt like forever, waiting for my heart to calm down, listening for any footsteps in the hallway. The silence was almost worse than noise.

After a while, when I felt a little steadier, I rushed out of the room again. I was still shaken, but I had to find Massimo. He needed to know about the traitors right away. Those men were going to sell information that could get people killed. I opened his room door but he wasn’t there. He hadn’t returned yet.

I hurried back downstairs and nearly ran into a maid. “Hi, do you know where the Don is?”

“He went out for work,” she said quickly, not stopping as she rushed away.

“f**k,” I cursed under my breath.

I needed to tell him what I heard before it was too late. At the same time, I had to be careful. What if those two men were watching me now? If they saw me acting anxious or running around looking for the Don, they would definitely suspect something. I forced myself to take slow, deep breaths and walk normally back to my room.

I would wait here until he returned. That was the safest thing.

Night came slowly. The house grew quieter, the lights dimmer. I took a long shower, trying to wash away some of the tension. Afterward, I stole two more of Massimo’s shirts from his room…one to wear and one just because it smelled like him. The fabric felt comforting against my skin. I changed and went down to the sitting room to wait.

Hours passed. The clock on the wall ticked louder and louder in the silence. Still no sign of him. I paced a little, then forced myself to sit down. My mind wouldn’t stop racing. Those traitors could be making their move right now. If something went wrong with the shipment before I could warn Massimo, all fingers might point at me. Especially since he already suspected I was sent by his rivals. I would look guilty as hell.

I curled up on the couch, pulling my knees to my chest. The house felt too big, too empty. Every small sound made me jump. What if the men had already figured out I overheard them? What if they came for me while Massimo was gone? I had no phone, no way to contact anyone. I was completely on my own in this dangerous world.

The longer I waited, the heavier the worry became. I stood up and walked to the window, staring out into the dark grounds. The estate looked peaceful from here, but I knew better. Danger was everywhere. Traitors in the shadows. Rivals waiting to strike. And me, stuck in the middle, trying to prove I was on his side.

Where was he? Why wasn’t he back yet?

I pressed my forehead against the cool glass, my stomach twisting with anxiety.

“Dammit!”

Millions of dollars was at stake. A shipment about to be attacked. Two traitors hiding in plain sight.

And the only man who could stop it was nowhere to be found.

Where the hell was Massimo?