Owned By Massimo

Chapter 16-Traitors

Isabella’s POV

I stood up from the cold balcony floor slowly, my legs still a little shaky from everything that had just happened. My fingers brushed over my swollen lips, and a big smile spread across my face. He kissed me. Don Massimo actually kissed me. That rough, hungry, possessive kiss still burned on my mouth. My heart was racing like crazy, and warmth spread through my whole body just thinking about it…his tongue in my mouth, his hand squeezing my breast, the way he growled against my lips like he wanted to devour me.

His words echoed in my head: “You’ve signed your own death.” They didn’t scare me at all. If anything, they made me even more excited. A thrill ran down my spine. This man was dangerous, powerful, and completely in control…and I wanted every single piece of him.

I did a happy little twirl right there on the balcony, the breeze catching the hem of his shirt and brushing against my bare skin. But then I froze as a new thought hit me hard.

Holy s**t. My father would be going crazy looking for me right now.

I could picture him pacing back and forth, shouting orders, tearing the city apart to find me. Guilt tried to creep in, but I pushed it away. I couldn’t leave yet. Not until I made sure Massimo was completely mine. I couldn’t even imagine being with any other man now. Only him. His cold eyes, his strong hands, the way he made my body burn with just one look.

I had known deep down he would catch me when I jumped. But still…it was crazy. What if he had been a second too late? What if he hadn’t reached out? I shivered at the thought, wrapping my arms around myself. The drop had been real. The fear had been real. But the rush? The way it proved I was all in for him? That felt worth it.

I needed to gain his trust. A man like Massimo didn’t just let people in. He was stubborn, guarded, broken in ways I could only guess at. Good thing I was crazy.

First step: win his trust. Show him I was different. Show him I belong by his side.

I left the balcony and stepped back into his bedroom. My body still tingled from the kiss, from being pressed against him on the floor. I needed real clothes and underwear, but for now I might just keep wearing his shirts. They smelled like him…dark, masculine, addictive. I smiled to myself again as I walked out of the room.

The hallway was quiet. No sign of Massimo. I hadn’t seen my phone since I woke up in this house, so I couldn’t even check messages or try to send a quick note to calm my father. I walked down the grand stairs and stepped outside for a moment, hoping some fresh air would help me think.

One of the guards stood like a statue near the entrance, face completely blank.

“Hey, where’s your boss?” I asked, trying to sound casual.

He didn’t even blink. Just kept staring straight ahead like I wasn’t there. I rolled my eyes and went back inside. These men were loyal to a fault.

I dropped onto one of the big couches in the living area with a huff, pulling my legs up under me. The shirt rode up my thighs, but I didn’t care.

Maybe I should give him a break. I didn’t want to push too hard and piss him off. I was desperate for him, yeah, but I knew where to draw the line. Pushing a mafia Don too far could end badly. I yawned, suddenly feeling tired from all the adrenaline. My eyes started to close as I leaned back on the couch.

Then a sound caught my attention…like someone hitting the wall. I wanted to ignore it. This was the Don’s house. People probably got hurt or worse in the basement all the time. But my instincts kept nagging at me.

I reluctantly stood up and walked barefoot toward the sound, moving quietly. I tiptoed down a side hallway, pressing myself against the wall when I heard whispering. Two men were talking in hushed tones around the corner.

“…fucking sell the information,” one of them said.

The other man sounded nervous. “He’s going to kill us if he finds out. That shipment is worth millions. If the Romanos know when it’s coming, they’ll attack.”

“Don’t be a dumbass. We’ve done it once before. Someone else took the blame. The Don is rich. He’ll recover.”

There was a long silence. My heart started pounding harder. I held my breath, trying to stay completely still.

Finally, the second man sighed. “Fine. Let’s sell it.”

I clapped a hand over my mouth in shock. I didn’t know exactly what shipment they were talking about, but it was clear they were planning to betray Massimo. These were traitors inside his own house. The Romanos were obviously his rivals, and these guys were ready to stab him in the back for money.

My mind raced. I had to tell Massimo. He needed to know there were snakes in his organization. I turned carefully to sneak away, but in my hurry, my hand accidentally brushed against a light switch on the wall. The big chandelier above us, which had been off, suddenly flickered on with a bright glow.

My breath hitched.

“Who’s there?”