THE DISGUISE

Leo's fingers clenched around the pistol's icy grip. He thought his ribs might crack from the force of his heartbeat. The gun weighed more than he had anticipated, both in terms of mass and significance.

The bloodied man strapped to the chair, Gabriel, looked up at Leo and whimpered. His enlarged eyes begged for forgiveness.

Leo took a deep breath. This wasn't a video game or a film. This actually happened. Isabella had just given a man his life, which was on the line.

Seeking something—clarity, mercy, a way out—he turned to her. Isabella, however, stood with her arms folded and her face unreadable.

Leo's voice was raspy as he said, "I—I'm not a killer."

She studied him, tilting her head. Didn't you want to be a part of this world? To comprehend it?

Leo's jaw tightened. He didn't mean this when he said that.

With a voice like silk over steel, she said, "Pull the trigger."

Leo's hands shook. "What if I don't?"

She moved forward slowly, reducing the distance between them. "Then you'll demonstrate to me your true nature as a man." She lowered her voice to a whisper. "And if I can rely on you."

Leo took a deep breath. He wasn't merely brandishing a gun in a warehouse. He found himself at a fork in the road.

He would cross a line he would never be able to uncross if he pulled the trigger.

Isabella might think he was weak if he didn't. Weakness was dangerous in her world.

Gabriel spat blood as he coughed. He rasped, "Please." "I have a daughter and a wife."

Leo's hold became more firm. His mind whirled. What had this man done? Isabella, were you betrayed? Taken from her? Tell a lie?

Was execution warranted by that?

He faced Isabella once more. "Why me? For this, you have people. Why force me to do it?

She raised an eyebrow, seemingly impressed that he dared to ask her a question. "Because, Leo, I need to verify that you belong here."

A test. This is exactly what it was.

Gabriel cried. "I promise, I—"

Leo kept his finger over the trigger. Isabella's eyes were staring at him, waiting, evaluating.

His thoughts cried out to him.

You aren't a killer.

His breath was sharp and quick.

But it could cost you everything if you don't.

There was a long pause between them. Leo lowered the gun slowly after that.

He declared, "I won't do it."

Isabella's expression remained unchanged, but her eyes briefly flashed—curiosity? A nuisance? It was impossible to tell.

The man at her side, Marco, stiffened. "Master—"

Silencing him, she held up a hand. After that, she moved closer to Leo until they were only a few inches apart.

You're fortunate. "Husband," she whispered, "I think you're interesting.

Then she took the gun from his grasp, turned, and fired with a smooth elegance.

The warehouse reverberated with the sound of the gunshot.

Leo winced.

Lifeless, Gabriel sagged forward.

Leo felt his stomach turn.

He had anticipated what would occur. He was aware that Isabella wasn't the type of woman who would tolerate treachery. However, there was a difference between seeing it and knowing it.

As Isabella returned the gun to Marco, his heart thumped in his ears. Calm as if she had just signed a business contract, she turned back to Leo.

With a smooth voice, she declared, "I don't need a killer." "I need a husband who will always be by my side."

Leo took a deep breath. "What if I had fired the shot?"

Her mouth twisted a little. "Then I would have known you were prepared to go to any lengths."

He breathed out slowly. He had decided on something. Perhaps the correct one. The incorrect one, perhaps. However, he made the decision.

Isabella nodded slightly to Marco, who motioned for the other men to tidy up. Then she pivoted on her heel and headed for the door.

After a moment of standing motionless, Leo compelled his feet to move. Upon venturing outdoors into the chilly night air, the burden of what had just happened perched on his shoulders.

The drive back to the Monteverdi Hotel was quiet after they got into the black SUV.

Leo's thoughts were a haze as he gazed out the window. This was a cruel world, her world. unforgiving. brutal.

He wasn't running, though.

More than anything, that realization made him uneasy.

---

Returning to the Penthouse

There was a lot of tension during the elevator ride to Isabella's private penthouse. Leo stood next to her, his thoughts jumbled and his jaw clenched.

They entered an opulent suite with floor-to-ceiling windows that looked out over the city, sleek, contemporary furnishings, and a marble fireplace that flickered softly in the soft light.

Leo hardly noticed the extravagance. He was still thinking about that warehouse.

Isabella poured herself a glass of whiskey and walked over to the bar. She didn't give it to him.

She swirled the amber liquid in her glass and finally said, "You disobeyed me tonight."

Leo let out a sharp sigh. "You failed to warn me of what I was getting into."

Her expression was unreadable as she turned. "Would it have made a difference?"

He paused. "Perhaps."

She looked at him for a while. Then she grinned. "I was surprised by you."

Leo scowled. "Is that advantageous?"

It depends. Before continuing, she took a sip of her whiskey. "You had an option. You didn't run, but you also didn't kill. That indicates to me that you're either really brave or Her eyes grew gloomy. "Or extremely stupid."

Leo combed his hair with his hand. Isabella, what do you want from me?

The heat of her presence pressed against him as she took a step closer. "Husband, I want to know who you really are."

Leo stared at her. "What if I'm not even aware of that?"

Her lips pressed into a ghost of a smile. "I suppose we'll have to find out together then."

Her voice had something other than command in it for the first time. It's almost... interesting.

It was unclear to Leo whether that was a good thing or a or a caution.

---

The Following Morning

That night, Leo didn't get much sleep. His thoughts kept returning to the gunshot and Gabriel's final moments.

At last, he fell asleep to whispered threats and blood-filled dreams.

Sunlight was pouring in through the enormous windows when he woke up. Isabella was already up, so there was nobody in the bed next to him.

He pushed himself to his feet and inhaled deeply.

Now this was his life.

A marriage based on secrets and power.

A wife in charge of a shadow empire.

as well as a future full of decisions that might cost him everything.

One thought kept coming to him as he stood there getting dressed in the clothes that had been left for him.

I'm not a coward, but I'm also not a killer.

Isabella Romano was going to discover how mistaken she was if she believed she could manipulate him.

Leo gazed out at the city skyline while perched on the edge of the king-sized bed. Outside, he saw people, cars, and life moving, but inside this penthouse, he felt imprisoned in a cage of secrets and gold.

He was still troubled by what had happened the night before. The pistol's cold grip. Gabriel's eyes were filled with desperation. The gunshot crackled sharply.

He combed his hair with his hand. How on earth did I get myself into this situation?

He was startled out of his reverie by a knock on the door. The door opened and Isabella entered before he could respond. She was already dressed for the day, with her long dark hair falling over her shoulders and a black silk blouse tucked into high-waisted tailored pants.

She exuded power with ease. Risky. Untouchable.

Without making an effort to be polite, she said, "You should get dressed."

Leo looked at his rumpled shirt from the previous evening. "Why? Are we heading somewhere?

She adjusted one of her earrings and walked over to the mirrored dresser. "Leo, you're my husband. And the world must witness that.

He scowled. "What is meant by that?"

She looked over at him. It indicates that you will accompany me today. You were interested in my world. Think of this as your first lesson.

Leo let out a sharp sigh. He couldn't tell if that was a reward or a penalty.

Nevertheless, he forced himself to get out of bed. "All right. However, rather than directing me, perhaps try asking the next time.

Isabella felt a smirk tug at her lips. "We'll see."

---

A Show of Power in Public

Leo was sitting in the back of a sleek black Rolls-Royce an hour later as they sped through the city.

Unspoken tension permeated the air inside the car. Isabella browsed through her phone as Marco sat in the front seat, alert and silent.

Leo began to shift uneasily. "Will you tell me where we're heading?"

She didn't raise her head. "A gathering."

With whom?

"Matter people."

Leo's jaw tightened. "You don't really care about details, do you?"

She did give him a quick look this time, with a gleam of laughter in her eyes. "In the wrong hands, details can be dangerous."

Leo ignored it, not sure if she was calling him "the wrong hands."

They pulled up to a large, upscale Italian restaurant in the center of the city, and the car slowed. Isabella left with a queenly air after a valet first opened her door.

Leo trailed behind, sensing the pressure of onlookers. Isabella was greeted with great respect by the restaurant staff, some of whom appeared anxious.

Three men were seated at the table already, and they were led to a private area in the rear.

As soon as Isabella walked in, Leo saw how they all tensed up.

The oldest of the three, standing as she came closer, said, "Signora Romano." His voice was smooth but cautiously edged, and he had a thick accent.

Isabella settled into her chair with ease. "Gentlemen."

Leo sat next to her, sensing the acerbic looks directed at him. He wasn't naive; he was aware that these men were evaluating him to determine whether he was merely a handsome husband or something more.

Lean and dark-haired, one of the younger men leaned forward. "So, the new marito is this."

Without flinching, Leo looked him in the eye. "Leo DeLuca."

The man grinned. "You don't seem like the right kind of person for this world."

Leo's eyebrow went up. "What kind is that?"

Isabella's voice sliced through the conversation like a blade before the man could respond. "Enough."

The room stiffened.

She picked up her glass of wine and sipped it slowly. "We need to talk about business. Furthermore, I have no time for pettiness.

The elderly man gave a nod. "Signora, of course."

Leo listened as they discussed alliances, security, and shipments. Every move was meticulously planned, much like in a chess game. Isabella's presence was commanding as she spoke precisely.

Leo had been surrounded by rich people all his life, but this was different. This was control, not just power.

Isabella handled it with ease.

The younger man leaned in again at one point, his smirk reappearing. "Signora, tell me, is your husband aware of the dangers of your marriage?"

Isabella's hand brushed against Leo's beneath the table. The message was silent: Keep quiet. Let me take care of this.

Her lips curled as she cocked her head slightly. "He is gaining knowledge."

Leo could see Isabella's fingers tense around her glass as the younger man laughed.

With agreements reached and covert threats exchanged, the meeting came to an end.

Leo finally said something as they were leaving the restaurant. "What was the purpose of that?"

Isabella sighed and climbed into the vehicle. "Testing me." putting us to the test.

Leo scowled. "Did we pass?"

Her expression was unreadable as she turned to face him. "We'll see."

---

The Caution

Upon returning to the penthouse, Leo poured a drink for himself. Something to calm him down was what he needed.

Isabella watched him while leaning against the counter. "You did a good job of managing yourself today."

His laughter was dry. "Oh, I see. Because I didn't say anything?

She grinned. "It's a solid beginning."

Leo put the glass down after gulping down the whiskey. "So what? While you take care of the actual business, I simply continue to act like the submissive husband.

She took a step forward. "Leo, you have two options. You have two options: you can grow up, adjust to this life, and gain respect, or you can just observe from my shadow.

He tightened his jaw. He disliked being helpless. He wasn't sure, though, if he wanted to enter her world completely.

He acknowledged, "I need time."

Isabella surprised him by nodding. Then accept it. But keep in mind—" she said, leaning closer and lowering her voice to a whisper. "There is no waiting for anyone in this world."

She turned and headed for the bedroom. However, before she vanished, she looked over her shoulder.

"Leo, too?"

He looked her in the eye.

"If you ever t

urn on me... She had a deadly smirk. "You will not be given another chance."

Then she was gone, and Leo was left to think alone.

He wiped his face and let out a breath.

He wasn't certain whether he was becoming more and more enmeshed in her world.

Or if his drowning was already complete.