THE MORETTI LEGACY

THE NEW CAGE

Morning came into Dante Moretti's place like a golden wrecking ball. Light blasted through huge windows, splashing across the marble floors and showing off how spotless everything was. Isabella sat, hunched on the giant bed, staring at herself in a fancy gold mirror.

She looked chill, almost too chill. But inside? A total mess. She yanked at her hair, hands shaking a bit. She tried telling herself it was just fear. But deep down, she knew it was more – fury, disbelief, and this weird pull toward the guy who now owned her life.

The room smelled like lavender mixed with old leather, which was comfy but strange, considering Dante could have anyone in the house whacked without blinking.

A soft knock broke the silence.

Breakfast, Miss Romano, a deep voice said. Isabella spun around. A real tall dude in a super-sharp suit stood there. His eyes were dark and sizing her up, but he was being polite. It wasn't Dante.

I... I'm not hungry, she whispered.

You need to eat, he said, firm. You need energy. Even guests do.

Guests. The word stung. She balled her hands into fists. She wasn't a guest. She was stuck.

The dude stepped back, telling her to follow. Isabella hesitated, then slowly stood up . Her steps echoed down the big staircase like a heartbeat in her ears. The mansion felt huge, with hallways that went on forever, every corner watched by servants and guards who didn't make a sound.

Dante was in the dining room, already there. He didn't even stand up. His eyes locked with hers across the table, and her stomach dropped. Obedience. Ownership. Desire. Fear. It was all jammed together in one messed-up knot.

Sleep well? His voice was smooth, like he didn't have a care.

I... I don't know, Isabella finally said. I slept in a gold cage. If that counts.

He tilted his head, like he was thinking about what she said. A cage can keep you safe, if you let it.

Her fists tightened in her lap. I don't want safe. I want out.

Dante didn't change his look. But the sides of his mouth twitched, like he found something funny. Out is trouble. You've seen it.

Later, Isabella walked around the mansion, some part of her wanting to cause trouble. Every hall whispered secrets. A balcony showed off the huge yard, hedges cut perfect, fountains shooting water. The place was amazing, but also so lonely.

She ran her fingers across the cold stone railing, staring at the city down below. She imagined just slipping away through the trees, gone into the night. She let herself hope, for just a second, that she could get away.

A voice stopped her.

Checking out the view?

She turned fast. A man leaned against the doorway. Dark hair, sharp eyes, nice suit. He had a way about him that said he was cool with danger and being charming.

Who... who are you? she asked, surprised.

Enzo, he said, smooth. He gave a smile that made her heart skip, even though she didn't want it to. I help... keep the mansion going. I make sure guests don't get into trouble, too.

I don't need someone to watch me, Isabella snapped, stepping back.

He put his hands up, like he gave up. Just watching. But I'd be careful. Not everyone here likes to play nice.

She looked at him. And you?

Someone who gets how things work, he said, leaning closer. Sometimes better than they tell you.

Isabella felt a jolt at how he looked at her. He was trouble, yeah, but his charm made her stomach do flips. She wanted to fight him, but also to listen, to trust him, to see what he might say.

Later that afternoon, Isabella found herself in a dark hall she hadn't seen before. Her heart picked up speed. She smelled something like burning wood coming from somewhere deep in the house, like it was calling her. It was a reminder that she wasn't supposed to be looking around.

But she did it anyway.

She slipped through a door to a private patio. The city lights twinkled far away. For the first time since she'd been taken, she felt like maybe she could do this. Just one more step, and she could be gone. She could ditch Dante.

But she didn't get that far.

A shadow fell across the patio. She turned fast. Dante was there, like he'd been waiting all along. His coat moved in the wind, his gold eyes burning.

You shouldn't be here, he said, soft, but something sharp was hiding beneath it.

I—I just wanted to… see… she stammered.

See what? His voice was low, a scary whisper that made her weak. Your way out? The city you won't see again?

She got angry. You can't keep me locked up!

He stepped closer. She couldn't breathe. She could feel the heat coming off him, the pull that scared her and got her curious all at once.

I don't keep you locked up, he said quietly. I keep you safe. That's it.

You call this safe? she shot back. Threatening my family, telling me what to do?

Keeping people safe can look like different things, he said. Sometimes it feels like chains.

The air between them shook. Isabella's heart pounded, heat in her chest fighting the cold fear. She wanted to push him away, shout, run – but she also wanted to feel that scary safety of him close.

Enzo showed up at the patio door then, right on time.

Miss Romano, maybe this isn't… He sounded light, kind of teasing, and almost dangerous in his own way.

Dante looked at Enzo, sharp and mean. Leave.

Enzo kept his smile, but he backed off. Isabella felt a weird relief, like Enzo being there reminded her she had some choices, at least. But Dante's eyes kept her in place.

You will follow the rules, he said, quiet, but it felt like a threat. Or you'll be sorry. Understand?

Isabella swallowed, nodding, even though she wanted to fight it. I understand.

He looked at her for a long moment, and then, just a little, his face softened. For now, he said, turning toward the shadows of the mansion.

Alone, Isabella put her hand to her chest. Her heart was still going crazy. The mansion was a maze of danger and beauty, a gold cage where every move could be watched.

And she couldn't lie. There was something exciting about the power he had over her. Something scary that she couldn't shake.

The first day in the mansion ended with Isabella back in her room, staring at the walls, thinking about how to get out – and secretly wondering if she wanted to stay.

Getting out was tempting. Doing what she was told was awful. And the guy who now owned her life… was hard to ignore.