The restaurant was nearly empty.
It was the same small place Diego and Bruce had been coming to for years. Cheap and tasty food, scratched wooden tables, for the average Mexicans.
Something Diego desperately needed.
Bruce sat across from him, leaning forward with his elbows on the table, watching him carefully.
"You look like hell," Bruce said.
Diego gave a tired laugh. "I feel worse."
A waitress placed two beers on the table and walked away.
For a moment neither of them spoke.
Then Bruce said quietly, "Start talking."
Diego rubbed his face slowly.
"You wouldn't believe me if I told you everything."
Bruce snorted.
"After the week we've had, try me."
Diego shook his head.
"There are parts I can't tell you."
Bruce frowned.
"Why?"
"Because knowing them could get you killed."
That shut Bruce up immediately.
The seriousness in Diego's voice left no room for jokes.
Bruce leaned back in his chair.
"Okay," he said slowly. "Then tell me what you can tell me."
Diego stared at his beer bottle for a long time.
Finally he spoke.
"I met someone." Bruce blinked.
"That's the big secret?"
Diego shook his head slowly. "No."
His voice softened.
"I fell in love with someone."
Bruce studied him carefully, "I hope is not who I am thinking of?" He muttered.
"Alright," he said. "That explains the tragic face."
Diego laughed quietly. "You don't understand."
"Then explain it."
Diego sighed.
"She's… not someone I should even be near."
Bruce raised an eyebrow.
"Like… married?"
"Worse." Diego looked up.
"She belongs to a world that destroys people like me."
Bruce leaned forward again.
"But you love her."
"Yes."
"And she loves you?"
Diego hesitated.
"I think so."
Bruce nodded slowly, for he already knew who it was.
"Then what's the problem?"
Diego laughed bitterly.
"She's getting engaged today."
Bruce froze.
"Oh."
The word carried more sympathy than anything else he could say.
Diego stared down at the table.
"She deserves someone powerful, someone who can protect her."
"And you think that's not you?"
"It isn't."
Bruce shook his head. "You're being dramatic."
Diego's voice hardened slightly. "My mom is still in the hospital."
Bruce fell silent again.
Diego continued quietly.
"I can't even afford her treatment without help. Fighting for someone like Isabella would be suicide."
Bruce blinked. "Isabella?"
Diego froze.
He hadn't meant to say her name.
Bruce leaned closer.
"Wait… that Isabella? I knew it."
Diego didn't answer.
Bruce's eyes widened slowly. "You're kidding me."
Before Diego could respond—the restaurant door opened.
Both men turned and froze.
Isabella De La Cruz stepped inside.
The entire room seemed to shift around her.
She was still wearing the gold engagement gown.
The silk fabric shimmered under the restaurant lights, hugging her figure like sunlight.
Diamonds glittered at her neck, but her face…
Her face looked exhausted, sad and drained.
Her eyes found Diego instantly.
Bruce looked back and forth between them like someone watching a bomb tick down.
"Oh my God," Bruce whispered.
Diego stood slowly. "Isabella?"
She walked toward them.
Every eye in the restaurant turned towards her.
When she reached the table, she spoke softly.
"I walked out."
Diego frowned.
"What?"
"The engagement."
Bruce nearly dropped his beer.
"I told him no, I won't marry him."
Silence fell between them.
Diego stared at her. "You… what?"
"There's not going to be a wedding."
Bruce looked between them again.
"Okay," he muttered. "This is insane."
Isabella gave a tired smile. "I thought you should know."
Diego opened his mouth to respond—they will hunt me down for this.
Outside the restaurant.
Angel stood near the black SUV, arms folded, scanning the street.
He had been Isabella's shadow all afternoon. His boys were scattered around discreetly, should in case…
Angel was stationed there watching, listening and waiting.
Then he noticed something, a man across the street.
Standing beside a parked car. He has been there for a while, agitating throughout.
Angel's eyes narrowed.
The man adjusted his jacket slightly.
Just enough for Angel to glimpse the grip of a pistol.
Angel moved instantly.
He stepped inside the restaurant quickly.
"Isabella."
Her head turned immediately.
"What?"
Angel leaned close.
"Someone outside is watching the building."
Her expression sharpened instantly.
"How many?"
"Just one."
Her eyes darkened.
Then she understood, it was Andrew.
Of course, Andrew Demelo didn't handle rejection well.
Isabella stood slowly.
Diego frowned. "What's going on?"
She didn't answer him. Instead she turned to Angel.
"Get hold of him and bring him here."
Angel nodded once and disappeared outside.
Bruce looked completely lost. "What is happening right now?"
Diego's stomach tightened.
He had a terrible feeling.
Moments later—The restaurant door burst open.
Angel shoved a man inside.
The man stumbled forward, a gun falling from his hand.
Gasps erupted from the few customers inside.
As Isabella was trying to find out the truth from him, the assassin reached for the weapon. But Isabella was faster. She grabbed the gun.
She raised it, he attempted to struggle with her, then the gun fired,
BANG.
The sound shattered the room.
The man collapsed instantly. His body lifeless in the ground.
The smell of gunpowder filled the air.
Bruce stared in horror.
"Oh my God."
Diego's heart pounded wildly.
Isabella stood there breathing hard, with the gun still in her hand.
Bruce backed away slowly.
"You just killed someone!"
Her voice was steady. "He came to kill Diego."
Bruce looked like he might faint but Diego stepped forward.
"It's okay."
Bruce turned toward him like he was insane.
"OKAY?!"
Diego grabbed his shoulder. "Bruce, calm down." Bruce shook his head wildly.
"She just shot a man in the middle of a restaurant!"
Diego's voice stayed firm.
"He was going to kill me. By the way it was self defense."
Bruce opened his mouth—Because deep down…
He knew Diego was telling the truth.
Isabella lowered the gun slowly. "Take care of this mess." Isabella told Angel.
Her eyes met Diego's.
"I'm sorry you had to see that."
Diego swallowed. He was frightened but somehow—He still stepped closer to her.
"I'm still here." Something softened in her eyes.
Angel spoke quickly.
"Boss, you need to move." Isabella nodded.
"Yes."
Diego frowned. "Move to where?"
"To somewhere safe."
Bruce raised both hands. "Nope, I'm not part of this."
Diego squeezed his shoulder.
"Just go home."
Bruce stared at him like he had lost his mind.
"You better not die tonight."
Diego smiled faintly. "I'll try."
Minutes later—They were in Isabella's convoy speeding through the city.
Two black SUVs cutting through traffic.
Inside at the back seat, Diego sat beside Isabella.
Neither of them spoke.
Finally he said quietly, "What will happen to my mother?"
"I sent some men there to protect her already."
"Thanks. So you walked away from everything."
She stared out the window. "It wasn't everything."
Her eyes flicked toward him briefly.
Then suddenly, the road ahead exploded.
A truck screeched sideways across the street.
Blocking their path. Angel slammed the brakes.
"AMBUSH!"
Gunfire erupted instantly. Bullets shattered windows, and men jumped from the truck, armed and masked.
Andrew's men.
Angel fired through the windshield.
"MOVE!"
The second SUV reversed violently.
But more vehicles appeared behind them.
They were surrounded.
Isabella grabbed a pistol from the seat.
"Stay behind me," she told Diego.
Diego's heart pounded.
Men stormed toward the car.
Angel opened the door and started firing.
Chaos exploded across the street and bullets were ripping through metal.
Glass shattered everywhere.
Isabella stepped out beside Angel, shooting with terrifying precision.
Two attackers dropped instantly.
But more kept coming.
Then—A figure stepped forward from the shadows.
Andrew Demelo came out from the car, calm and smiling.
"Hello Isabella."
Her gun lifted toward him.
"You sent an assassin." He shrugged lightly.
"I sent a message."
Diego stepped out behind her.
Andrew's eyes locked onto him.
"So this is the man." His smile widened.
"Pathetic."
Isabella fired.
Andrew ducked and the bullet put down one of his men.
His men surged forward.
Angel shouted,
"ISABELLA—!" Angel pulled her towards a path that led into a yard, filled with trees.
By the time they tried looking back to make sure Diego was following them, it was too late.
Two men grabbed Diego from behind.
He struggled violently. "Let me go!"
A gun slammed into his ribs.
Pain exploded in him.
Isabella turned and saw them dragging him toward the truck.
"DIEGO!"
She fired again.
But Andrew's men formed a wall of guns.
"Boys let her go, she has gone too far, we can't get her now. I know what to do." Andrew commanded.
Angel pulled Isabella back.
"Stop!"
The truck doors slammed shut.
Andrew stepped backward calmly.
His smile never fading.
"You should have married me."
Then the truck roared away into the night.
Taking Diego with it.
Isabella stood frozen in the yard.
Her chest rising and falling rapidly.
The convoy lights reflected in her eyes.
Angel spoke quietly beside her.
"Do you want the truth?"
She didn't move. "This just started a war."
Isabella's voice was ice.
"No."
Her hand tightened around the gun.
"This…"
Her eyes burned with fury.
"…just became personal."