In His Grasp: A Mafia Romance

Chapter 34: Ambushed

"Isabella, is there anything I can help with?" Evelyn asked. She was deeply concerned about her friend's safety, but she also knew that she was just an ordinary person, and aside from caring, there wasn't much she could do to help.

"Don't tell anyone, and don't get involved with any of them," Isabella said with a bitter smile. "And please take care of yourself. I hope you stay safe."

Isabella didn't know if Evelyn, being her friend, might become a target for the people hunting her down. She hoped not. Despite discussing this with Evelyn, Isabella couldn't shake off her unease. Every thought of Emanuele, his cruelty, violence, and unpredictable nature, filled Isabella with dread. He had brought her close to death on several occasions. This fear was akin to what she had experienced with Chloe.

She had once believed that escaping Chloe's grasp would allow her to live a normal life, but now she realized she had plunged into an even darker abyss.

Thinking about the upcoming month, where she would complete her studies and then marry Clark, made Isabella even more desperate. She knew she had to make one last effort. If that failed, she would have to confide in her mother and hope that she could help her escape the clutches of that demon.

Over the weekend, Grazia made a special visit to Isabella's upscale apartment and invited her to go shopping together. Grazia was her only friend within the mafia, always warm and cheerful, able to alleviate her tension. Unlike Isabella's current predicament, where she felt constantly tormented.

Not to mention Leo, who stared at her with scrutinizing eyes, forcing her into their family without considering her true desires.

"Isabella, we've never gone shopping together, and Emanuele mentioned that you've recently moved here, and he's helped you buy a lot of things. You need to get some clothes that suit you," Grazia said, enthusiastically pulling Isabella out for a shopping spree.

Isabella didn't really want to go, but she felt obliged since Grazia had come all this way to invite her.

Reluctantly, she went along with Grazia, and soon, Isabella was introduced to the shopping prowess of a true mafia princess. Grazia took her to high-end luxury stores she wouldn't have dared enter on her own, and not only did Grazia have her pick out clothes, but she also bought a pile of them, along with a trip to a jewelry store.

"Isabella, you need some jewelry. A necklace, bracelet, or earrings would all look great on you," Grazia said while holding Isabella in front of a diamond necklace.

"I'm a doctor, wearing jewelry isn't practical," Isabella declined, although her main reason for refusing was that these items were far too expensive. She glanced at the price tag and realized that just this one necklace equaled a year's worth of her salary.

The wealth of the Lombardi family was beyond her imagination.

But Grazia insisted and had the sales clerk bring out the necklace, placing it around Isabella's neck. "It's nice. Take this one. If it's not convenient for work, you can wear it when you go out on your days off." Looking at the necklace that Grazia had handed her, Isabella felt it was too precious, almost burning her hand. She knew that this amount of money was insignificant to their mafia family, but for her, it was a year's hard-earned income.

She didn't want to accept this gift and burden herself with owing Grazia a favor, but like Emanuele, Grazia was equally stubborn in her own way. She wouldn't relent until Isabella accepted.

After their shopping spree, Grazia took Isabella to a nearby high-end restaurant.

"I love the salads, seafood, and pasta here. You should try them," Grazia said with a smile.

"I'm looking forward to it," Isabella replied, smiling.

"By the way, Andrew will be joining us," Grazia mentioned.

Andrew was a very witty and humorous person, and Isabella enjoyed their conversations. She felt that they, as outsiders in the mafia world, could relate to each other. She also wanted to learn from him how to navigate her interactions with these mafia guys better. At least, she didn't want things to be as tense as they were now.

Soon, Andrew arrived, and their food was served.

"Isabella, it seems like you have a great relationship with Emanuele," Grazia remarked. "I've never seen him so smitten with any other girl."

Smitten? Isabella found it ironic. He wasn't smitten with her as a person; it was because she was the gift he had to exchange. The better he treated her, the more valuable she became, and the greater his gains when he took her back. But who could she confide in about this?

"My relationship with him isn't as good as it may seem. Honestly, I just want a normal and ordinary life," Isabella said, sighing.

"Oh, Isabella, I understand your feelings," Andrew consoled her immediately. "I had no idea Grazia was the mafia princess when we first started dating. I was just a regular businessman. Getting involved in the mafia world scared me, and I realized that one day I might lose my life. But then, I thought about it. I could lose my life, but I couldn't imagine life without Grazia. So, I decided to be with her. After all these years, I've realized we're not much different from regular people. So, Isabella, relax. You'll be okay."

"Thank you for not giving up on me, dear," Grazia said, leaning over to give Andrew a kiss.

Watching them so sweetly in love, Isabella couldn't help but envy them. They didn't know that she was in an entirely different situation. The Emanuele she had encountered was a devil.

Just then, a gunshot rang in her ears.

"Get down!" Tony rushed over and pushed Isabella to the ground. On the opposite side, Harry did the same to Grazia and Andrew.

Isabella didn't understand what was happening. She heard a series of gunshots, terrified screams, and the sound of tables being knocked over. While Tony and Harry held them down, Grazia's three bodyguards quickly joined the fray.

Isabella witnessed a person who had intended to open fire on them getting a headshot from Tony. The man collapsed right in front of her, blood and brain matter oozing from their forehead, splattering onto her hand, still radiating warmth. They clung to the gun in their hand, their eyes wide and fixed on her as life drained away.

This was the first time Isabella had ever witnessed such a gruesome and terrifying scene. She was terrified and wanted to scream, but she knew that doing so would undoubtedly draw the attention of other assassins. Isabella immediately covered her mouth, took a deep breath, and calmed herself. Then, she cautiously moved over and retrieved the gun from the dying person's hand.

Raising her head, Isabella spotted an assassin preparing to launch a surprise attack on Harry from behind. Without hesitation, Isabella squeezed the trigger, firing a shot that struck the assassin's shoulder. Bang!

The gunshot echoed, and the assassin was hit in the shoulder. Harry swiftly turned around and delivered another shot. He looked at Isabella with eyes that now held a hint of appreciation and approval, unlike his usual coldness.