Chapter 3: The Price of Curiosity

To Alec, the mansion—a fortress of wealth and power—was merely a gilded cage, and even he sparred with calculated precision in the grand hall, his mind was lost in unshakable thoughts.

Isa.

Her name was a whisper in his mind, a distraction that gnawed at him like a relentless itch. Alec cursed under his breath as he parried a blow, his grip tightening around the hilt of his sword. He should not be thinking of her. She was a Bellini, an enemy—a weakness that could get him killed. But no matter how hard he tried to push her from his thoughts, she lingered, haunting him like a ghost.

His opponent lunged, but Alec was quicker. He sidestepped the attack, his sword flashing in the dim light as he disarmed his adversary with a swift, brutal strike. The man stumbled back, defeated, but Alec barely noticed. His victory felt hollow, empty. What was the point of winning a fight when he was losing a battle within himself?

He growled in frustration, tossing his sword aside as he turned away from the defeated man. His breath came in ragged gasps, his heart pounding not from exertion, but from the war raging inside him. Isa was a danger he couldn’t afford to entertain, yet she was all he could think about. Her fearlessness, her determination—they called to him, drawing him in like a moth to a flame.

Alec clenched his fists, willing himself to regain control. He was Deluca, heir to a dynasty built on blood and ruthlessness. He had no time for foolish infatuations, no time for the kind of emotions that made men weak. But Isa... she was unlike any woman he had ever met. She was fire and ice, a storm that threatened to consume him, and he was powerless to resist.

He knew he was playing a dangerous game. Isa’s curiosity would be her undoing, and if he wasn’t careful, it would be his as well. His fascination with her was a liability, a crack in the armor he had spent years perfecting. He couldn’t allow it to continue, couldn’t let himself be distracted by her any longer.

But then, why did he keep thinking about her? Why did the thought of her being in danger make his blood run cold?

He shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts. He needed to focus, to remind himself of who he was and what was at stake. Isa was nothing more than a pawn in a game of power and survival, a game that he intended to win at any cost.

Just as he was about to leave the training hall, a man appeared at the entrance, his face pale and anxious. “Boss,” he said, his voice trembling slightly, “we’ve received intel. The Russo syndicate is making moves against both the Bellini and Deluca families.”

Alec’s eyes narrowed, his attention snapping back to the present. The Russos were a constant thorn in their side, always looking for an opportunity to strike. But this... this was different. If they were targeting both families, it meant they were planning something big, something that could tip the balance of power.

His mind raced as he considered the implications. The Bellinis were strong, but if the Russos managed to catch them off guard, it could be catastrophic. And if Isa was caught in the crossfire...

Alec’s jaw tightened. He had no love for the Bellinis, but the thought of Isa being hurt, of her life being in danger, was enough to set his blood boiling. He had to do something, had to find a way to protect her without compromising his position.

But how? How could he protect her without revealing his hand?

The answer came to him in a flash, a dangerous idea that made his heart race with anticipation. He would follow her, keep an eye on her movements. If the Russos made a move, he would be there, ready to strike. He could rationalize it as keeping tabs on the enemy, but deep down, he knew it was more than that. He was doing it for her, for Isa, even if he couldn’t admit it to himself.

Alec turned to the man who had brought the news. “Get the car ready,” he ordered, his voice cold and commanding. “We’re going out.”

The man nodded and hurried off, leaving Alec alone with his thoughts once more. He took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. This was dangerous territory he was treading, but he couldn’t stop now. He was already too far in, too drawn to Isa to turn back.

He stepped outside, the cool night air hit him like a slap in the face, but it did little to calm the storm brewing inside him. The city stretched out before him, a labyrinth of shadows and secrets, and somewhere out there, Isa was moving through it, unaware of the danger she was in.

He would find her. He would protect her. And in doing so, he would protect himself—from the madness that threatened to consume him every time he thought of her.

***

The streets were a tangle of darkness and deceit, each corner hiding a new threat, each shadow whispering of danger. Isa moved through them with a determination that bordered on recklessness, her heart pounding in her chest as she made her way toward the center of the city. She knew she was being followed, could feel the eyes on her, but she didn’t care. Let them watch. She had a mission to complete.

But she neared the alley where she had overheard Alec’s men talking, a shiver of unease crept up her spine. Something wasn’t right. The air was too still, too quiet, as if the city itself was holding its breath. Her instincts screamed at her to turn back, to flee, but she forced herself to press on. She had come this far. She couldn’t turn back now.

She slipped into the alley, her footsteps silent on the cobblestones. The shadows closed in around her, and for a moment, she felt a pang of fear. But then she saw him—a figure standing in the darkness, waiting for her.

“Alec,” she breathed, her voice barely a whisper.

He stepped forward, his face emerging from the shadows, and her heart skipped a beat. His eyes were as cold and calculating as ever, but there was something else in them too—something that made her breath catch in her throat.

“You shouldn’t be here, Isa,” he said, his voice low and dangerous.

She crossed her arms over her chest, trying to hide the tremor in her hands. “I could say the same to you.”

Alec’s lips twisted into a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “You’re playing a dangerous game.”

“I can handle myself,” she shot back, her voice trembling despite her best efforts.

“Can you?” Alec took a step closer, his presence overwhelming. “Because this isn’t a game, Isa. One wrong move, and you could get yourself killed.”

“I’m not afraid of you,” she whispered, but the words rang hollow even to her own ears.

Alec’s eyes bore into hers, and for a moment, she thought he might reach out, might touch her. But then he turned away, his expression hardening once more.

“Go home, Isa,” he said, his voice clipped. “Before you get hurt.”

She opened her mouth to argue, but before she could say anything, a group of men appeared at the end of the alley, their faces twisted with malice. Russo’s men. Isa’s heart pounded in her chest as they advanced, their intentions clear in the predatory glint of their eyes.

Alec moved faster than she could react, drawing a gun from his coat and stepping in front of her, shielding her with his body. His voice was cold, deadly, as he addressed the men. “If you want her, you’ll have to go through me.”

The leader of the group sneered. “Deluca, always the hero. But this time, you’re outnumbered.”

Alec’s grip tightened on the gun, his eyes narrowing. “Try me.”

The tension in the alley was thick, suffocating. Isa could barely breathe, her heart racing as she watched the standoff unfold. Alec was outnumbered, but he didn’t seem afraid. If anything, he seemed... determined. As if he had already made up his mind about what he was going to do.

She wanted to run, wanted to scream for help, but she couldn’t move, couldn’t tear her eyes away from Alec. He was doing this for her, risking his life to protect her, and she didn’t understand why.

But before she could say anything, before she could even process what was happening, the men attacked. Alec moved like a blur, firing his gun with deadly precision, taking down one man after another. But there were too many of them, and they were closing in fast.

Isa’s breath hitched as she watched, frozen in place. She wanted to help, to do something, but she was powerless, a spectator in a deadly game that she didn’t understand.

And then, one of the men lunged at Alec from behind, she screamed, her voice breaking through the chaos. Alec spun around, his gun firing a split second too late. The man’s knife plunged into Alec’s side, and Isa’s heart stopped.

“Alec!” she cried, rushing forward.

He staggered, his hand clutching the wound as blood seeped through his fingers. But even then, he didn’t falter. With a snarl of rage, he shot the man point-blank, his eyes blazing with fury.

The last of the men fled, leaving Alec and Isa alone in the alley. She reached him just as he collapsed against the wall, his face pale and strained with pain.

“You... you’re hurt,” she stammered, her voice thick with fear.

He looked at her, his expression softening for just a moment. “I told you... to go home,” he rasped, his breath labored.

Tears welled in her eyes as she pressed her hands to his wound, trying to stop the bleeding. “I’m not leaving you.”

Alec’s lips twitched into a faint smile, but it was quickly replaced by a grimace of pain. “Stubborn... as always.”

She could barely see through her tears, her hands trembling as she tried to help him. “Why did you do that? Why did you protect me?”

He didn’t answer, just reached out and touched her cheek, his fingers warm despite the cold. “Because... I couldn’t let you get hurt.”

Her heart ached at his words, and she leaned into his touch, her tears falling freely now. “You’re a fool, Alec Deluca,” she whispered.

He chuckled softly, but the sound was tinged with pain. “I know.” His hand dropped to his side, and his eyes fluttered closed.

Panic surged through Isa as she shook him gently. “Alec, stay with me! Don’t you dare die on me!”

But he was already slipping away, his breathing shallow and ragged. Desperate, Isa pulled out her phone, her fingers shaking as she dialed a number.

“Please, help us,” she begged, her voice breaking. “It’s Alec. He’s hurt.”

The world around her blurred as she waited, her heart pounding in her chest. All she could think about was Alec, lying there, bleeding out because he had tried to save her. The realization hit her like a ton of bricks—she cared about him, more than she had ever let herself admit.

And now, she might lose him.

The seconds dragged on like hours, the silence in the alley suffocating. Isa held Alec’s hand tightly, willing him to stay with her, to keep fighting. She couldn’t lose him, not like this.

Finally, she heard the sound of footsteps approaching, and she looked up to see a group of men rushing toward them. Alec’s men. Relief flooded through her as they reached her, their faces grim as they took in the scene.

“Get him to a doctor,” Isa ordered, her voice shaking. “Now!”

The men moved quickly, lifting Alec’s limp form with care as they carried him out of the alley. Isa followed close behind, her heart in her throat. She didn’t know what was going to happen, didn’t know if Alec would survive. But she knew one thing for certain—she would do whatever it took to keep him safe.

Even if it meant going to war.