Isla's Pov
The tension in the room that followed Dante's statement was palpable. Isla almost felt like she was drowning in the sensation; she had forgotten just how it felt to be in his presence and be the center of attention.
"Are you planning to stare at me all night? Or will you tell me the real reason you're here? I know it is not to help me alone," Isla said, as she tried to busy herself, anything to not have to pay attention to him, it seemed.
"Let's not do this, Mia Cara. When have I ever lied to you?" He asked, the mischievous amusement clear in his voice.
"I think the real question is, when have you not lied to me?" Isla said, before she turned to face him, she could handle this; she could handle him. She had spent all these years building herself up; she'd be damned if she let rich, powerful men make her feel helpless again.
"I want to help you this time, though, you won't be able to handle this all by yourself, I'm not here to haunt you like you think I am," He explained gently. Isla knew better than to be fooled by the softness, though.
"You claim you're not here to haunt me and only want to help, yet you have a big condition before you help," Isla said, staring at him to refute, and when he said nothing but stared at her, she sighed.
"I might need help, but I won't trade one prison for another, I just won't, so you might as well leave right now," Isla said, pointing towards the door, and before either of them could take a step, the rain started unexpectedly.
"I understand why you are skeptical, but think about it properly, Tesoro, okay?" He said, completely unfazed by all the other things she said, which frustrated Isla further.
"There is nothing to think about, I won't be thinking about this conversation for a second once it's over." She said with a scoff, she knew she most likely needed Dante's help, the people she was dealing were not harmless, the moment Adrian got a whif of what she was doing, she had no doubt the consequences would be severe, she needed the protection of someone powerful, and Dante basically owned New York, he was more powerful and rich than Adrian could ever be, he was the perfect person to help her, but she knew what it would to take help from someone like him and she wasnt sure she'd ever be ready for it.
"I came to offer you something you've been chasing all alone. I came to offer you freedom."
"Freedom?" Isla asked bitterly.
"No, not freedom, Power. The kind of power that makes men like Adrian Wolfe crawl, the type that would keep him up all night." He said with a smirk that sent shivers up her spine, not out of fear, but at the desire to bring Adrian to his knees.
"You think I'll sell my soul to bring him pain? As good as that sounds, Adrian and Celeste are not worth that much; they never will."
"You sold your soul already, you sold it when you married someone like him. Do you think he will let you work away from him just like that? You're a huge asset to his company; he would never let you go. I can make this go away; I can make it better." He assured, trying his best to convince her.
Silence stretched, the sound of rain still as loud and prominent as ever, and the thunder rolled somewhere far above them. Isla was scared of the sound of thunder, and if she was even remotely herself, she'd be freaked out by now, but she wasn't. Her pulse tripped against her throat as she thought over what Dante had said. She hated herself for how appealing it sounded and the fact that she was even willing to think it over.
Taking advantage of the fact that he had managed to get through to her, Dante took the opportunity to continue the promises. He moved closer, slow, deliberate steps that smelled of smoke and rain. "You have all the evidence and documents, the proof of your inheritance, and all Adrain has done these past few years. I have the reach to make sure the world believes you. Together? We can burn the Wolfes to the ground, and no one can stop us."
"And in exchange?" She asked because no matter the number of promises Dante made, there was always an exchange with him.
He reached out and brushed some hair behind her ear gently, and against her own wishes, her body relaxed into him almost immediately.
"All I want is that when all is said and done, you stop running from me, Amore Mio," He said, his eyes boring into hers, the intensity he sent her way made her pause and lose her voice temporarily before nodding and clearing her throat, Damn, it felt like forever since she last saw him and he still managed to make her speechless with just his stare.
Finding her voice, she said, "And if I refuse? Is the offer done then if I don't want to?" She challenged, her eyes flaring, and his darkened even more, this time in rage.
"I'll still help you no matter what, but know this Cara, I always get what I want, you of all people should know this, it is endearing you wish to continue to argue about it though, it really is, but I am a busy man and I need you to answer me quick and seriously so I may be on my way," He said, even with the playfulness of his tone and the words he is saying, he still glares at Isla, the look in his eyes contradicting all he says.
"Fine, but you of all people should also know Dante. No one tells me what to do; I am very different from the girl I was all those years back." She said, and he stared at her, his lips curved into a smirk, amusement dancing in his eyes.
"We shall see, Mia Regina," He said with a smile, half promise, half threat.
"Now, if that is all, I shall take my leave, as much as I would love to stay and catch up after all these years, business calls, you understand that right?" He said with a smile as he sidestepped and walked to the door, turning around once more to offer her a break smile, before he walked out the door.
Outside, the storm broke open. Inside, the real one just began.