Aiden was reviewing contracts in his office when Maya, his new head of security, entered without knocking. Her scarred face was uncharacteristically tense.
"We have a situation."
"What kind?"
"Three Italian nationals just landed at the airport. Expensive suits, diplomatic passports, and they've been asking questions about you." She pulled up photos on her tablet. "The one in the middle is Dante Romano."
Aiden's stomach dropped. Isabella's brother.
He found Isabella in the penthouse medical library she'd been setting up, her sanctuary among textbooks and journals. She looked up as he entered, smiling until she saw his expression.
"What's wrong?"
"Your brother is here. In the city."
The color drained from her face. Her hand went to her throat. "No. No, they can't have found me already."
Aiden sat beside her, taking her trembling hands. "Tell me everything."
The story poured out. Isabella came from one of Italy's oldest medical families—wealthy, traditional, and powerful. Her father had arranged her marriage to a pharmaceutical heir before she was twenty. When she'd fled to America for her residency, it was supposed to be temporary.
"I never went back," she whispered. "I couldn't marry Carlo. He's cruel, controlling. My father sees it as a business merger, but I'd be property, not a wife."
"They can't force you."
"You don't know my family. Dante won't leave without me. He's... persuasive." Her eyes met his, terrified. "Aiden, I can't go back. I won't."
His phone rang. Unknown number.
"Mr. Schols?" The voice was smooth, accented. "I am Dante Romano. I believe you've been spending time with my sister."
"Isabella is an adult. She makes her own choices."
"In your culture, perhaps. In ours, family comes first." A pause. "I'm at the Meridian Hotel, penthouse suite. I think we should meet. Tomorrow, noon. Come alone, or I'll assume your intentions are... dishonorable."
The line went dead.
Isabella was shaking now. "He'll try to intimidate you. Make threats. Dante is—"
"Aiden?" Maya's voice came through the intercom. "The Italians just pulled up downstairs. They're demanding to see Dr. Romano."
Isabella gasped. "They know I'm here."
Aiden's mind raced, enhanced by the system's analytical abilities. He needed to protect Isabella while not escalating into violence. But he also couldn't show weakness.
"Maya, keep them in the lobby. Polite but firm." He turned to Isabella. "You don't have to see them if you don't want to."
"He won't leave until I do."
"Then we go down together."
The lobby was tense. Dante Romano stood flanked by two large men in dark suits, radiating Old World authority. He was handsome in a severe way, with Isabella's dark eyes but none of her warmth.
"Isabella," he said in Italian. "Enough of this foolishness. Father is waiting."
"I'm not going back, Dante."
His gaze shifted to Aiden, assessing and finding him wanting. "And this is the American boy keeping you here? He looks like a child playing businessman."
"Aiden Schols," Aiden said, extending his hand. Dante ignored it.
"My sister is promised to another man. A man of standing, wealth, family. What can you offer her?"
"Freedom," Aiden said simply. "The chance to live her own life."
Dante laughed coldly. "Freedom? She's a Romano. We don't need your American philosophies." He grabbed Isabella's arm. "We're leaving."
"Don't touch her." Aiden's voice was steel. Maya moved forward slightly, ready.
The two bodyguards tensed. The lobby seemed to hold its breath.
Dante released Isabella but stepped closer to Aiden, voice low and menacing. "You have no idea what you're interfering with, boy. Our family has connections you cannot imagine. I could destroy your little company with a phone call."
"Try it," Aiden said calmly, though his heart pounded. "I'm not intimidated by threats."
"Then perhaps you're simply stupid." Dante turned to Isabella. "You have until tomorrow to come to your senses. Otherwise, I'll ensure your new friend regrets this interference."
They left, the glass doors swinging shut behind them.
Isabella collapsed against Aiden, sobbing. "I'm so sorry. I never wanted to bring this to you."
"Hey," he lifted her chin. "I'm not letting them take you. I promise."
But as Maya's worried expression suggested, promises might not be enough against a family that played by different rules.