BENEATH HER EMPIRE

She had only just closed her eyes, the weight of the previous night's events still pressing heavily on her mind. The confrontation with Gabriel and the Delgados

hone, glancing at the

led through the phone when she

?" she asked, her voice steady desp

ne tight. "We've intercepted communications. He's pulli

en quiet, too quiet, since their last encounter. It seemed that he

d, her mind already running

ed. "His influence is growing. We've seen him in meetings with high-ranking offici

g the game-he was trying to reshape it entirely. And with the right

ake a move?" Isabella

you should prepare yourself. He's playing a long

o longer just about power; they were about taking everything she had worked for. She had a

afford to make a misstep, couldn't afford to underestimate her ene

d, her every move calculated. She couldn't let Alejandro's schemes go unanswered. She had built her empire with

pulled her from he

ources. Alejandro is meeting with several powerful politicians tonight. They're g

could get to Alejandro before he sealed his alliances, she could turn the tables and regain cont

, her voice firm. "Prepare t

e need to be careful. If Alejandro catches wind

ella said, her eyes cold and calculating. She wasn't

uildings in a secluded part of the city. A perfect place for a meeting, she thought. But as they approached, Isabella's insti

in her body screamed at her to be cautious. She had no illusions about what this meet

her fingers brushing the cool surface of the

the shadows dancing across the walls as the team slipped inside, taking positions aro

of the room, a small group of men gathered around him

" he said, his voice laced with mockery.

come for him, and he had set this up perfectly. He had anticipated every move she would

ndro," she said, her voice stead

rs with a predatory gleam. "Oh, Isabella, it

eir weapons. Isabella's team remained calm, poised, ready for the inevitable confrontation. But Isabella kne

had always been his game. But now, it was hers too. She wasn't the same woman who had built

un at her side, but she wasn't going to act recklessly. She needed to play this carefully. She

her voice low and deliberate. "You've played the game wel

or a moment, Alejandro's expression flickered. Bu

ords, the room e