The Cost of Secrets-Burned by it

Isabella was only seven years old the night her world burned. The screaming came first, her mother's voice echoing through the marble halls of their estate; Isa panicked as her hands clutched her teddy bear; she peeked through the banister, her small hands gripping the wooden railing as she watched the scene unfold.

She couldn't get a better view of the scene, as she walked closer to the door. Her hands held firmly at the door handle while she watched.

Her father, towering and powerful, stood in the Grand foyer, his face blurry as she watched him stare at Merico on the verge of anger. Immediately, her eyes shook as she heard a gunshot in the air. Her hands were across her ears, panicking with her vision being blinded by tears.

She moved backward, her hands shaken as she bounced the glass of wine near the side of the door, the crack sound making Merico stare at the place. Isa covered her hands across her mouth, as she quietly walked out of the scene, straight to her room while banging it behind her.

Isa felt her heart clenched painfully, she put her back at the door with her hands dripping in sweat.

"What's going on". Isa mumbled to herself, her eyes blunt from tears. She couldn't feel her breath, her heart beat faster as she held her chest in pain, her eyes blunt as she fell asleep.

A few minutes later, Isa woke up from her sleep from the banging sound of the door. Her eyes were reddish enough to fall, as she moved closer to the door. Her hands were shaken enough to stumble while she held her legs together as she bent her face down in fear.

"Miss Isa". A lady's voice sparked, making Isa remember the familiar voice. Her favorite maid, Chloe.

"Yes". Her voice shook while she held onto the door as she spied from the little hole in the door.

Please open". Isa couldn't understand what she meant by meeting her; Isa quietly opened the door, her eyes merging with Chloe's own. She could see the fake smile on Chloe's face, she held her hands tightly while she faced Isa.

"Please come with me". Isa couldn't believe her eyes; she stared at Chloe for some minutes before hesitating to move forward with her. She could see Chloe's hands trembling with hers, as she held them together while they walked to her Dad's office.

"Ma, please, that man is there." Isa's voice trembled; she remembered seeing Merico present there. Chloe nodded with a smile as she held Isa's hands together as they entered the office.

Isa roamed her eyes, as she scanned the whole environment. She could see the quiet environment, everyone's eyes were reddish from tears dripping. She couldn't understand what was going on. The pains she saw just now, her dad gone already.

"Mom". Isa called her mom, removed her hands away from Chloe, and rushed toward her mom. While hugging her mom tightly.

Isa held her face closer to her mom's body; her mom's heart beat faster as she hugged Isa.

"What is going on, Mom?". The word slipped from her mouth, as she held her mom tightly.

"Your...your Dad is dead". Isa stared at her mom; the tears dripping from her mom's eyes could tell what was going on.

She couldn't find any more tears to drip, her eyes watered already to tear up, but no tears could find their place.

Fifteen years later.

The sound of shattering glass brought Isa back to the present. She blinked her heart racing, and realized she had clenched her fist so hard that she had knocked over her water glass. The fear of the glasses remind her of the gunshot she had years back in her Dad's office.

"Are you okay?"

She looked up to see Dante, her FBI contact, studying her from across the cafe table. His brown eyes were filled with concern but Isa didn't get a thought of it.

"I'm Alright". She said curtly, dabbing at the skilled water with a napkin.

Her eyes merged with the customers around the Cafe; she could feel the angry eyes fetching inside of her. She stood up as she sat down while her hands fixed together.

"You seem, not alright". Dante said, his eyes still on her. Isa couldn't get his deep concern about her.

All she wanted was to get away with the task and live her life to the fullest.

Isa brought out a fake smile; she brushed a strand of hair covering her eyes while she continued staring at the wiped water on her table.

Dante smirked while he brought out his hands towards her. With his plan sheet on the table. Isa stared at him for the last time before fixing her eyes on the sheet.

"Isa, once we get the Intel, we can take them down for good. You're doing the right thing". Dante spoke, hoping to convince her.

Isa nodded her head as she focused on the plan. If she could be told that she would once come together with her first lover for the same purpose, She wouldn't believe it.

The job offer

The evening had arrived; Isa waited outside the gate of the De Lucas estate, her breath fogging in the chilly night air. She had been summoned for a meeting with Luca De Luca, then the head of the family, and Merico's heir.

Immediately, her hands rested on the big black gate, and the door opened. With shock she lifted her head, seeing the guards letting her in without a word.

Isa walked inside the compound, her elegy legs walking quite fast as she scanned the whole environment. Her eyes merged with the black cave bird, designed for the "Galieto gang". Isa felt a sharp force of pain getting inside of her, as she mumbled to herself.

Luca sat down in his study room; he was seated behind a massive oak desk, his dark suit tailored to perfection, and his sharp features gave nothing away. He looked up as she entered, and for a moment neither said a word.

"Isabella Romano". His sharp voice pieced through the room as he smirked. "I wasn't expecting you to come". He finished his sentence.

For a moment, Isa held her breath, wanting to speak up, but no words could let go. Isa's jaw clenched in anger, as she stared at him with a killer look.

Luca stood up, his hands across his pocket as he stared at her suprisely. All he knew was a stubborn lady beside him, "Isa". He called out her name; her breath seized immediately as she lifted her head.

"I wasn't sure you'd remember me". Isa forced a smile.

His lips twitched, though it wasn't quite a smile. "I remember everything, Miss Romano, Including the fact that your father once ruled this empire."

"I'm here because I can help you". She said ignoring his words. Dante couldn't believe his eyes; A lady wanted to help him.

"You stated here that you would work for me to pay off your Dad's debt, right?". Dante said, strode back to his seat. His face tightened with seriousness, while he awaited her response.

Isa knew that playing with fire was already dangerous. The only way to deal with Dante's family was to be smart enough.

"How can you help me?; you're the one I'm helping". Dante spoke, and Isa sat down. Her legs folded together as she began talking.

"Your operations are bleeding money in areas they shouldn't be. Let me fix it."

"Luca's dark eyes narrowed. "And why would you want to help me? Last I checked, your family wasn't exactly fond of mine."

Isa met his gaze head-on."Because I want a chance to prove

myself, To show that I'm more than my family's mistakes. And this little deed might as a way make me free from my Dad's debts". She finally spoke

"Hmmm". Dante walked closer to Isa. His dead breath fanned against Isa face, Isa felt her hand clenched painfully,as he held it firmly.

"Royalty is what I valued, If you betrayed me You will get the dark side of me". Dante said, Isa yanked her hands away from his grip.

Isa stumbled.

No!!!