Writer's POV
Isabella took Marco's phone and tossed it out the window of the car. The phone broke into pieces after bouncing off the highway. Marco's mouth hung open as he gazed at her in disbelief. He demanded, "What did you just do?"
Isabella calmly stated, "I destroyed the evidence."
"At this point, you are unable to demonstrate that my father is a spy in your company."
Isabella was quicker than Marco when he lunged forward. She pushed the button that caused the window between them and the driver to roll down.
"Stop the car," she instructed the driver. "Now."
Marco yelled at his man, "Don't you dare," and told him to keep driving. The driver appeared perplexed as he glanced in the rearview mirror between Isabella and Marco.
"What do I do, boss?"
Isabella reiterated, "I said stop the car," in a steely voice. "Or, while we're moving, I'll jump out."
Marco took hold of her wrist. "You're bluffing."
Isabella's smile was the same icy one her father had when he was going to win. "Give me a try."
They looked at one another for a while. Isabella remained unflinching despite Marco's firm hold. Vincent Romano had reared her. She was skilled at risky games. At last, Marco commanded his driver to "stop the car." "Come on over."
The black vehicle slowed and came to a stop beside the road. Automobiles sped by them, occupied by regular people going about their daily lives. They had no idea that a war was being waged inside this vehicle.
Marco said to the driver, "Get out." "Walk away. Come back in ten minutes."
Despite his nervous appearance, the driver exited the vehicle and continued walking down the highway. Marco and Isabella were by themselves.
Marco remarked, "You just made a very big mistake."
"Did I? Or did I just save our lives?"
Marco squinted. "What are you talking about?"
Isabella remarked, "I'm talking about the fact that my father is ten steps ahead of both of us." "And we're both going to die if you don't start thinking instead of just being angry."
Marco released her wrist. "Explain."
Isabella inhaled deeply. Despite her racing heart, she spoke calmly. "My father wanted you to kidnap me, but not for the reason you believe. He didn't just let you do it."
"What reason?"
"He's destroying your family from the inside out by using us."
Marco's laugh wasn't a joyful one. "That's not possible. I'm the one who took you, and I'm the one with the gun."
"Are you? Or are you the one carrying out my father's exact prediction?"
Marco's face turned white. "You're lying."
"Am I? Then tell me why your spy happened to text you at the exact moment you learned of my father's scheme, why my father appeared so pleased when you arrived at the church, and why he essentially gave me to you."
Marco remained silent for a while. Isabella could see that he was pondering whether or not she was telling the truth.
"Even if that's true," he finally stated, "it doesn't matter. Vincent will still do whatever it takes to win you back, and I still have you."
"Will he? Or will he ruin your entire family using the fact that you kidnapped me as justification?"
Marco's mouth clenched. "What do you mean?"
"I mean, as we sit in this car right now, my father is probably calling all the families in New York and telling them that you kidnapped a bride from her own church, that you pointed guns at children and the elderly, and that the Santoros attacked an innocent wedding."
Isabella saw the fear beginning to seep into Marco's eyes.
"Every family in the city will be on my father's side by tomorrow morning," she added. "You won't be fighting the Romanos anymore; you'll be fighting everyone."
"That's not... he wouldn't..."
Isabella remarked, "My father has been preparing this for three years." "He has been waiting for you to make a mistake that would turn the entire city against you ever since Sofia died."
Marco's hands trembled. "No, I was in charge, and this was my plan."
"Danced to my father's music, or were you just a puppet?"
Isabella thought the car window might shatter after Marco struck it so forcefully. "I'm not a puppet for anyone!"
"Then prove it," Isabella said. "Stop behaving like a grumpy kid and start thinking like a leader."
Marco looked over at her. "What did you just say?"
"Stop acting like a kid. Your sister is dead. That's awful, but kidnapping me won't make her return; it will only lead to more deaths."
Anger darkened Marco's face. "Avoid discussing Sofia."
"Why not? She was eight years old, innocent, and fond of dolls and ice cream. She deserved better than to perish in a conflict between foolish men."
"Stop talking."
"But you know what she didn't deserve? Her brother turning into the type of man who kidnaps innocent people, and her death being used as a pretext for more violence."
Isabella hardly noticed Marco moving because he was holding his gun so quickly. "Shut up," I said.
Isabella, however, continued to talk. Her face moved closer to the gun as she leaned forward. "Sofia admired you, thought you were a hero, and loved you."
"Stop."
"If she could see you right now, pointing a gun at a defenseless girl, what do you think she would say?"
The gun faltered because Marco's hand was shaking so much. "You have no knowledge of her."
"I know she was intelligent, I know she was kind, and I know she would detest who you have become."
"Your family is the reason I became this way!"
"No," Isabella muttered. "You can choose to be something else, but you became this because you chose to."
Marco gazed at her, anguish and bewilderment shining in his eyes. "I already started this and I already took you, so it's too late."
"You still have time to turn this around and decide to be the man Sofia believed you were."
Isabella briefly believed she had gotten through to him. She could see the little boy who had loved his sister as Marco's face softened. Then his phone rang.
Marco appeared perplexed. "I believed you had thrown my phone out the window."
Isabella said, "I threw a phone out the window." "But was that your only phone?"
When Marco realized what she had done, his eyes grew wide. "This is my emergency phone; you threw away my regular phone."
Isabella grinned. "The one for which only the people you trust the most have the number."
Marco picked up the phone. "Hello?"
"We have a problem, Marco. It's Rico."
Isabella wasn't the one with the phone, but she could hear the fear in Rico's voice.
Marco inquired, "What kind of problem?"
"All the families were called to a meeting by Vincent Romano, who is requesting permission to declare war on us, claiming that you violated the code by attacking a church wedding."
Marco's face turned pale. "When?"
"Every family in the city will be pursuing us if they vote against us. The meeting is in two hours, boss."
Isabella could see the fear in Marco's eyes. Her predictions were all coming true.
Rico said, "What do you want me to do?"
Marco remained silent for a while. He then turned to face Isabella.
"And Rico?"
"I want you to learn as much as you can about Vincent Romano's plans."
"Yes, boss?"
"I want to know who has been spying on us. For months, someone has been providing the Romanos with information."
"But Marco, there's something else. I'm already working on it, boss."
"What?"
"I believe I know who it is—the spy."
Marco gripped the phone more tightly. "Who?"
"Boss, you're not going to like this, but I can't say that over the phone."
"Just let me know."
"The spy isn't just working for Vincent Romano; they're also working for someone else who wants to destroy both of our families."
Isabella's veins felt cold. "What?"
Marco insisted, "Who?" "For whom else is the spy employed?"
"I don't know yet, but I believe that someone has been playing us all, Marco, and that this whole thing is bigger than we initially thought."
Marco's expression darkened. "Don't trust anyone until I return to the city."
"What about the girl, boss?"
Isabella could see Marco making a choice that would alter everything as he glanced at her.
"The girl comes with me," he declared. "She is the sole individual who could potentially assist us in determining the true nature of the situation."
He looked at Isabella as he hung up the phone. "It appears that we are both pawns in another person's game."
Isabella said, "So what do we do?"
Marco grinned icily and menacingly. "We identify the people who have been defrauding us, and we hold them accountable."
Isabella's spine froze. "And if we can't?"
"Then we're both dead," Marco stated. "Because whoever is responsible for this will not stop until both of our families are destroyed."
Isabella became aware that she had been mistaken about one thing as Marco summoned his driver back to the vehicle. This plan was not the brainchild of her father. It was someone else. Someone who desired the destruction of the Santoros and the Romanos. And they were doing it with Marco and Isabella as weapons.