Isabella's POV:

I woke up with a start, memories of what had happened the night before consuming me like a terrible dream. the sounds of gunfire, Edward's frantic shouts, and the attackers in masks all slammed against the walls of my thoughts. The sharp glare of the lingering discomfort was all that the morning sun provided through the window.

With a racing heart, I scrambled out of bed. My hands trembled slightly as I pulled my hair into a hasty ponytail, urgency propelling my every move. I needed answers, reassurance that Edward was safe, that the nightmare was over. This all happened because Ivan wanted to get back at me. my youngest brother was in danger just because of me.

The doorway to the heart of our family's discussions was Victor's office. As I swung it open, the room hit me—quiet and concern etched on my family's faces. Before I could say anything, Victor got up from his chair and gave me a solid hug. He said, "We've been worried sick," in a tone that was both relieved and anxious. The embrace was a silent acknowledgement that we were all terrified of the same thing.

I quickly scanned the room, noting the anxiety on everyone's features. Uncle, Daniel, Grandpa, Leo—all of the family members bore wounds from the night before. Unanswered questions splintered the air.

Salvestro, with a grave expression, entered the room holding a small object – a Pendrive. "We found this outside the house," he explained, his voice edged with a sense of urgency. "It might have something to do with what happened."

As the pendrive exchanged hands, the room fell into a heavy silence, broken only by the hum of technology. The collective gaze of my family shifted to the screen, where the contents of the mysterious drive unfolded, holding the promise of answers and perhaps more questions.

The room darkened as Salvestro clicked play, and the screen flickered to life, revealing the ominous message from Ivan Pavlov. The video was a haunting display of cruelty, a calculated move to instil fear in our hearts.

On the screen, Edward was slumped and asleep in a chair as he sat in a poorly lighted room. Beside him, Ivan Pavlov stood with a pistol to Edward's temple, his expression contorted with hate. Ivan's words oozed a poisonous mix of threat and arrogance, and his menacing smile sent shivers down my spine.

"Isabella," he said, his eyes fixed on the camera, "did you think you could get away with what your family did? If you don't come to my house alone, your younger brother will suffer the consequences.

Ivan laughed, and the room seemed to shut in on me, every dark laugh resonating like a dark symphony. Edward's unconscious figure was shown on screen, serving as a sobering reminder of human frailty.

"If you try anything funny, or if you bring anyone else, well, you won't like the consequences," Ivan said, his voice a deep growl that reverberated with a threat of hideous damage. "You have two hours. Tick-tock, Isabella. The clock is ticking, and your brother's life is in your hands."The video ended abruptly, leaving a chilling silence in its wake.

Victor's jaw clenched, his fists tightened in a silent display of restrained fury. Daniel's face, usually stoic, betrayed a mix of anger and concern.

Victor said, his voice laced with resolve, "We have to go," but the hopelessness in his eyes betrayed the conflict inside.

Daniel murmured, staring at the blank screen, "This is a nightmare. I ought to have anticipated it."

I blurted out, "No, Daniel," my voice shaking from remorse and dread. "I ought to have been more watchful. I'm to blame. I relaxed, and Edward has since caught me."

My emotions were raging, and Victor's reassuring hand on my shoulder gave me a brief sense of stability. "We are all accountable. not you, though. Since you are the youngest, it is our duty rather than yours.

"No, it isn't, my kid. He hates the Italian mafia as a whole and us, which is why he did this. Simply because you were the daughter of the late Don of the Italians—the one who overthrew his mafia—he wrecked your life." Uncle spoke.

Grandpa's booming voice interrupted our self-blame. "Enough of this blame game. We need to act now. Ivan won't wait."

Uncle, his usually stoic expression replaced by fury, added, "We'll tear that man apart for what he's done."

I found myself at the centre of it all, grappling with the suffocating thought that my actions had put Edward in danger. My mind raced with self-reproach, questioning every decision that led to this moment.

"I should've been more vigilant. I should've protected him," I whispered to myself, each word a heavy admission of my perceived failure. Now, I have an opportunity to correct my error, and I intend to approach Ivan on my own alone to meet his requirements."

Victor, his usual calm demeanour shaken, insisted, "Isabella, it's too dangerous. We can't let you face Ivan alone."

Daniel, his frustration palpable, added, "We're a family, Isabella. We face things together."

"But this is my fight," I countered, my voice a mixture of determination and frustration. "I can't risk any of you getting hurt because of me."

Leonardo, usually the voice of reason, spoke up, "Isabella, we understand your need to protect us, but we can't stand by and watch you walk into a lion's den alone. We're in this together."

Maximo, known for his tough exterior, surprisingly softened. "We're not letting you face this alone. We're family, and we protect each other."

"Romeo, always trying to keep the peace, spoke up, " Isabella, we care about you. The idea of losing you is too much."

"We can't walk into this blindly. Ivan is dangerous, and we need to be prepared for anything." I said sadly.

Grandpa glared at me with a mixture of anger and concern. "Isabella, you are not going alone. This is not a choice."

Uncle, added, "We can't risk losing you too. Ivan is cunning, and you going in alone is a death wish."

But my resolve remained unshaken. "I can't risk any of you. I've been living with this nightmare for years, and I won't let it consume our family any further."

Victor helplessly stepped forward. "Isabella, we can't just let you walk into danger. We need a plan, a strategy."

Daniel, suggested, "Let us handle this. We'll bring Edward back safely."

But my mind was set. "I appreciate your concern, but this is something I have to do. I know Ivan better than anyone. I can get Edward back."

Gio, sensing the emotional turmoil, attempted to mediate. "Isabella, we're with you, but let us help you."

Victor, recognizing the futility of persuasion, finally relented. "Fine, Isabella. But we do this together. No solo missions."

"We can't underestimate Ivan. he'll expect us to come in guns blazing. We need an approach he won't see coming," Dante explained, his mind already racing with possibilities.

Grandpa, though still opposed to my solo venture, acknowledged the need for a careful plan. "Fine, but we do it my way. No unnecessary risks."

"Alright, here's how it goes," Grandpa began, his voice low and deliberate. "We know Ivan is expecting a direct assault. We won't give him that satisfaction. Instead, we'll hit him from all sides, exploiting his blind spots."

Dante, his finger tracing lines on the map, began, "Here's the plan. We can't afford a direct assault; Ivan is expecting it. We need to hit him strategically, exploit his vulnerabilities."

Gio interrupted, "I can create a diversion. A few smoke bombs should do the trick"

Leonardo, added, "I'll lead a team for infiltration. We need eyes inside, details on Ivan's defences and Edward's location. We play the gang rivalry card."

Maximo, chimed in, "I can disable his security systems, and create confusion. Hacking into his network won't be a problem."

"We should call the entire family back here. so they can join us" romeo suggested and stepped out to do so.

Antonio, can " lead the assault. Precision and speed. We'll hit him hard, but we need to be smart about it."

I listened intently, absorbing each detail, but a surge of frustration gnawed at me. They were risking their lives, and I felt a responsibility to protect them.

"I don't like this," Grandpa growled, his eyes piercing. "This plan is too risky. We should storm in and take the bastard down."

Victor, interjected, "Grandpa, we can't play into Ivan's hands. Isabella, what do you think?"

"I trust you all," I replied, my gaze meeting each family member's. "But Ivan isn't stupid."

Uncle resumed, "Let's synchronize our movements. Giovanni's diversion first, then Leonardo's infiltration. Maximo, disable security. Antonio, when the chaos ensues, will lead the assault and Niccolo and Lorenzo can deal with the men. Isabella will have to go to meet him."

"This is too risky" Maximo grumbled.

"and we will have snipers as well" Uncle frowned at the interruption.

" very well I should go get ready"I rushed out of Victor's office without waiting for a reply.

As I walked down the dimly lit corridor, my mind raced with conflicting thoughts.

Reaching my room, I closed the door behind me and quickly dialled Sandy's number. The call connected, and her voice filled the room. "Isabella, what's the plan?" I had informed her before going to meet Victor and the others.

Keeping my voice low, I shared the details of the mission, the diversion, the infiltration, the tech disruption, and Antonio's assault. But there was a crucial part I couldn't disclose to my family. "Sandy, I have another plan. I need my people to be there, disguised. When the chaos ensues, they extract my family without Ivan realizing. I'll handle Edward."

Sandy's voice crackled through the phone, "You're playing a dangerous game, Isabella. What if something goes wrong?"

A quiet determination filled my words, "I can't risk my family. Trust me on this, Sandy. We need to ensure their safety without Ivan catching on. It's a gamble, but we have to take it."

After a brief pause, Sandy sighed, "Alright, Isabella. We'll be there, but you better have a damn good plan to get out of this."

Ending the call, I took a moment to gather my thoughts. The responsibility weighed heavy on me, and the secrecy felt like a double-edged sword. Victor would never approve, but protecting my family was crucial.

Exiting my room, I headed to the family meeting room, where Victor and the others were engrossed in finalizing the details. As I stepped in, all eyes turned to me, questioning and expectant.

"I've got some things to take care of," I said vaguely, avoiding Victor's probing gaze. "Trust me, and I'll be back."

Victor's expression tightened, but he nodded reluctantly. I left the room, each step resonating with the gravity of the choices I had made.

Little did I know, that the choice ahead was stark—either I'd be forced to to bleed or to make others bleed. It boiled down to a simple truth: kill or get killed, a sacrifice I hadn't seen coming in our unforgiving world.