10 Chapters of | Shadows and Reflections

With a roll of my eyes, I put my hands behind me, waiting for the men to bind my wrists and blindfold me as they've always done.

"This doesn’t count as kidnapping if I’m willingly going with you," I snort a laugh as they lead me into the black SUV.

Having a father like mine can be very detrimental to your mental health.

A father whose only interests are money, power, fame, and more money.

He never once has shown any interest in putting his family first but plays himself out to be a responsible man in the eyes of the public.

My father is an extremely calm man on the outside, but I do not and will never feign ignorance to what he truly is on the inside—a catastrophic, greedy bastard.

He always has the perfect excuse for being so withdrawn. Being the consigliere of the mafia seems to be no joke, and my father, being my father, takes his job a little too seriously.

Chapter 1: The Summons

"This has become quite predictable, Father. Don't you think you should just call and invite me over if you wanted to summon me? I am your daughter after all." I blow the strands of hair out of my face.

After hours of waiting in the basement, still bound to a chair, my father finally arrives, and I’m in shock as to why I’m still tied up.

Something’s definitely up.

"Sister," my twin sister Natalia peeks her head from behind my father’s huge frame, and I chuckle.

Like father, like daughter.

My twin sister Natalia has always taken after my father, and I, on the other hand, take after my mother in more ways than one.

This explains why my father cannot stand me but showers Natalia with so much love and affection.

Natalia and I are identical in many ways except our eyes. Her eyes are emerald green just like my father’s.

But mine, I took one from my father and one from my mother.

I have two different irises—one appears as blue as the ocean and dead as ice and the other, emerald green.

Unique, don’t you think?

It is something that has and will always gain me attention in public, except, I do not like being out in public.

Twenty-six years of my life have been utterly boring. Just the same routine every freaking day. Although I have no complaints.

I spent the first ten years of my life being homeschooled before my mother passed. Father was quick to ship me off to some boarding school.

I cannot begin getting into details of what happened in that messed-up school, but I got an opportunity and made my escape.

From there, I became a lab scientist and have since been confined within the four walls of my research lab.

Except for when my father decides to kidnap and bring me home whenever he needs something.

And he doesn’t need something very often.

But he, of course, funds me pretty well—I’d give him credit for that.

While every effort was made to hide me away from the outside world, my sister Natalia was being trained in the best schools, introduced to the Italian mafia and their workings until she finally became an assassin and my father’s puppet.

So, we might be twins, but we share very different views and opinions, and we have quite the opposite personalities.

No one could have imagined what happens next.

Chapter 2: A Dangerous Request

"Isabella," my father begins, his voice cold and measured. "I require your expertise."

I raise an eyebrow. "And tying me up was necessary for this request?"

He ignores my sarcasm. "There's a new biochemical compound we've acquired. We need you to analyze it."

I sigh. "I'm not your personal scientist. Find someone else."

His eyes harden. "This isn't a request."

Natalia steps forward, her emerald eyes piercing into mine. "It's important, sister. For the family."

I scoff. "Family? You mean your criminal enterprise."

Father leans in closer. "You will do this, or there will be consequences."

I meet his gaze unflinchingly. "You can't threaten me."

A sinister smile spreads across his face. "Oh, but I can. Remember your friend, Dr. Marco Rossi?"

My heart skips a beat. "What about him?"

"It would be a shame if something happened to him," he says casually.

I clench my fists. "Leave him out of this."

"Then do as you're told," Natalia interjects, her tone void of emotion.

I take a deep breath. "Fine. Release me, and I'll look at your compound."

Chapter 3: The Compound

In a lavish but dimly lit laboratory within my father's estate, I examine the vial they've given me. The liquid inside shimmers with an unnatural glow.

"What is this?" I mutter.

"A synthetic drug," Natalia says from behind me. "Our competitors are developing it. We need to understand its composition and replicate it."

I glare at her. "So you can flood the streets with it? Destroy more lives?"

She shrugs. "Business is business."

I turn back to the microscope, my mind racing. If I can alter the compound, make it inert...

"Don't even think about sabotaging it," Natalia warns, as if reading my thoughts. "We'll be watching."

I force a tight smile. "Wouldn't dream of it."

Chapter 4: An Unexpected Ally

Late that night, I sneak into the adjacent study to make a phone call.

"Marco, it's Isabella. I need your help."

"Isabella? What's going on?" His voice is laced with concern.

"I don't have much time. My father has me working on a dangerous compound. I need to find a way to neutralize it."

He pauses. "That's risky. If they catch you..."

"I know," I whisper. "But I can't let this happen."

"Alright," he agrees. "I'll do some research on my end. Be careful."

As I hang up, I feel a presence behind me.

"You shouldn't be making calls unsupervised," Natalia says coolly.

I spin around, hiding my fear. "Paranoid, aren't we?"

She steps closer. "Who did you call?"

"No one important," I reply nonchalantly.

She narrows her eyes. "Don't play games with me."

Before I can respond, Father's voice echoes from the hallway. "Is everything alright?"

"Fine," I call back. Natalia gives me a final warning look before leaving the room.

Chapter 5: The Discovery

Back in the lab, I analyze the compound's molecular structure. It's more than just a drug—it's a weapon, capable of causing neurological damage on a massive scale.

"This is worse than I thought," I murmur.

My phone vibrates with a text from Marco: Found something. Compound is linked to Project Nightfall—a bioweapon initiative. We need to destroy it.

I text back: Agreed. Working on a counter-agent.

"Working hard, I see," Natalia's voice startles me.

I quickly pocket the phone. "Science waits for no one."

She eyes me suspiciously. "Father wants an update."

"Tell him I'm making progress," I say, forcing a smile.

As she leaves, I feel the walls closing in. Time is running out.

Chapter 6: The Escape Plan

That night, I finalize the formula for the counter-agent. If I can replace the original compound with this, their plans will be thwarted.

I contact Marco again. "I have the counter-agent. I need to get out of here."

"Meet me at the old harbor warehouse," he instructs. "I'll have a boat ready."

I take a deep breath. "I'll be there."

Gathering my belongings, I prepare to leave when the lab door locks with a loud click.

"Going somewhere?" Father's voice comes through the intercom.

Panic grips me. "The lab door seems to be stuck."

"Don't lie to me, Isabella," he growls. "We know about the counter-agent."

My heart pounds. "You don't understand—"

"Oh, I understand perfectly," he interrupts. "You've betrayed your family."

The lights flicker off, and gas begins to hiss into the room.

Chapter 7: Trapped

I cover my mouth, searching for an exit. The windows are sealed, and the door won't budge.

Think, Isabella, think!

In the corner, an air vent offers a slim chance. I drag a chair beneath it, prying the grate open.

Climbing into the duct, I crawl desperately as voices echo behind me.

"Find her!" Natalia commands.

Navigating the maze of vents, I finally reach an opening that leads outside.

I drop down into the courtyard, adrenaline fueling my sprint toward the estate's perimeter.

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