The tension between Tsuna and Isabella had shifted after their last conversation. Their relationship, no longer one of mere acquaintances or allies, had become something more complex. Both of them were aware of the personal stakes involved, but they were also bound by the urgency of the situation—the looming threat of a powerful enemy neither of them could face alone.

It was the dead of night when Tsuna's phone buzzed, pulling him from the restless haze of sleep. His eyes flicked to the screen, and he frowned when he saw Gokudera's name flash across it. Something was wrong.

"Boss," Gokudera's voice was tight with urgency on the other end. "We've got a problem."

"What is it?" Tsuna asked, already sitting up, his senses sharpening.

"I've been tracking down leads on that new faction—cross-referencing information we gathered from Isabella's attackers with some old mafia contacts. And... I found something. Something you're not going to like."

Tsuna's heart sank. "What is it?"

"It's Isabella. Her former employer—they aren't who she says they are."

Tsuna's blood ran cold, but he forced himself to stay calm. "Explain."

"There's no record of her ever being employed by the government—not in any capacity," Gokudera continued, his words coming faster. "But I did find a connection between her and someone else. Someone dangerous."

Tsuna gripped the phone tighter. "Who?"

"Her ex-boyfriend," Gokudera said grimly. "The guy she's been keeping quiet about. He's not just some random ex. He's a former mafia boss—one who went underground after his family was wiped out. His name is Dante Marconi, and he was one of the most ruthless leaders in the underworld. He's been missing for years, but rumor has it he's resurfaced recently... and he's gunning for revenge."

Tsuna's heart pounded in his chest as the weight of Gokudera's revelation sank in. Dante Marconi. That name was infamous in mafia circles—a man known for his brutality, ambition, and willingness to do anything to get what he wanted. If he was back, and if Isabella had been involved with him...

"Are you sure about this?" Tsuna asked, his voice low and dangerous.

"Positive. I've cross-checked the intel three times. The connections are there. Isabella used to work for Marconi—right by his side. It wasn't until his family fell apart that she disappeared from the mafia scene and rebranded herself as a government agent."

The pieces began to fall into place in Tsuna's mind, each one more troubling than the last. Isabella hadn't just been a government agent; she had been involved with one of the most dangerous men in the mafia. And now, that man was back.

"I need more information," Tsuna said, his mind racing. "Find out everything you can about Marconi's current whereabouts and what he's planning."

"I'm on it," Gokudera replied. "But Boss... be careful. If Isabella's been lying about this, she could be playing us."

Tsuna hung up without responding, his thoughts swirling in a chaotic storm. Isabella. The woman he had begun to trust, the woman he was starting to care for, had been hiding a much darker past than he'd anticipated. And now, her past was coming back to haunt both of them.

---

The next morning, Tsuna found himself standing outside Isabella's apartment once again. His mind was filled with questions, but more than that, there was a heavy sense of betrayal weighing on him. He needed answers—real answers—and he needed them now.

When Isabella opened the door, her expression softened, though she looked tired, as if the events of the past few days were starting to catch up with her. "Tsuna, I wasn't expecting you."

"We need to talk," Tsuna said, his voice clipped.

She frowned, immediately sensing the shift in his demeanor. "What's wrong?"

Without waiting for an invitation, Tsuna stepped inside, his eyes scanning the room before turning back to her. "Gokudera found something. About your past."

Isabella's face paled slightly, and she closed the door behind him. "I see."

"I want the truth," Tsuna said, his voice low but firm. "No more secrets. No more half-truths. Who is Dante Marconi, and what is your connection to him?"

Isabella froze, her eyes widening in shock. For a moment, it looked like she might deny it, but then she sighed, her shoulders slumping in defeat. She walked over to the window, staring out at the city as if gathering her thoughts.

"Dante Marconi was... is my ex-boyfriend," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "But it's more complicated than that. He was my employer, yes, but we were also... involved. I thought I could change him, that I could convince him to leave the mafia world behind, but I was wrong. He was consumed by power, by the need for control. When his family fell apart, he blamed me for not supporting him."

Tsuna's jaw clenched, but he remained silent, waiting for her to continue.

"I left him," Isabella said, turning to face Tsuna, her expression filled with regret. "I thought I could start over, live a different life. That's when I began working with the government, hoping to use my knowledge of the underworld to help bring down men like Dante. But now... he's back. And he's looking for revenge. Not just on the Vongola, but on me."

Tsuna took a deep breath, processing her words. Her connection to Dante explained so much—the attacks, the secrecy, the danger surrounding her. But it didn't explain why she hadn't told him sooner. "Why didn't you tell me any of this before?"

"I didn't know how," she admitted, her voice trembling slightly. "I didn't want you to see me as the enemy. I didn't want to lose your trust."

Tsuna's heart ached at her confession, but his instincts as the Vongola boss wouldn't let him ignore the danger she posed. "You should have told me. You put all of us at risk by keeping this from me."

"I know," Isabella said, her eyes filling with guilt. "And I'm sorry. But I thought I could handle it. I didn't want Dante to drag me back into that world. I thought... I thought I could protect you."

Tsuna felt a surge of conflicting emotions—anger, frustration, and something deeper, something more personal. He had trusted her, had begun to see her as someone who could stand by his side. And now, he was faced with the realization that she had been hiding something that could destroy them both.

"You can't protect me from this," Tsuna said quietly, stepping closer to her. "Not alone."

Isabella met his gaze, her eyes filled with a mixture of fear and determination. "I know. That's why I'm telling you now. Dante... he's coming after both of us. And he won't stop until he gets what he wants."

"And what does he want?" Tsuna asked, though he already knew the answer.

"Me," Isabella whispered. "He wants me back."

The words hung in the air like a dark cloud, and Tsuna felt a surge of possessiveness, something unfamiliar yet undeniable. He wasn't going to let Dante take her—no matter what it took.

"We'll stop him," Tsuna said firmly. "But you need to trust me. No more secrets. We face this together."

Isabella's eyes softened, and she nodded. "I trust you, Tsuna. I just hope that's enough."

---

Later that night, Tsuna met with his Guardians, briefing them on the new developments. Gokudera, ever the strategist, was already planning ways to locate Dante's hideouts, while Yamamoto and Ryohei offered their support in tracking down leads.

But the mood in the room was tense, especially when it came to Isabella.

"Are you sure we can trust her, Boss?" Gokudera asked, his voice laced with suspicion. "If she's been involved with someone like Marconi, there's a chance she could still be working with him."

"I believe her," Tsuna said firmly, though the doubt lingered in his own mind. "But that doesn't mean we won't be cautious. Keep an eye on her movements, but for now, we work together. If Dante is coming, we need to be ready."

The room fell silent as the gravity of the situation set in. Dante Marconi was a threat unlike any they had faced before—a man driven by personal vendettas and willing to burn everything in his path to get what he wanted. And now, with Isabella caught between her past and her present, the lines of trust were more fragile than ever.

---

That night, as Tsuna lay in bed, unable to sleep, his thoughts drifted back to Isabella. He couldn't deny the feelings he had for her, nor could he ignore the danger she posed to both him and the Vongola. But despite everything, he couldn't bring himself to turn away from her.

In the morning, they would face Dante together. But tonight, all he could think about was how much he stood to lose—and how far he was willing to go to protect her.

Because no matter what, he wasn't going to let her go. Not now. Not ever.