Page 29 of Betraying the Mafia Boss

“Let me get this straight.” He leans forward. “You don’t care about your family, but you’re ready to protect a woman you know nothing about?”

“You don’t know that I don’t care about my family,” I retort. He’s partly right I’m doing this for Isabella, but she’s not the only reason. My pride doesn’t let me be completely honest with him though.

“It’s as clear as day, Vincent,” he drawls. “That woman is not the helpless little lady you think she is.”

“I know about her connection to Elio.”

“And you think she’ll lead you to him?” Dominic’s tone is sardonic as he asks. It reminds me of when I was a teenager, making stupid choices. “A word of advice, little brother, you can’t trust that woman. You shouldn’t even try.”

Anger burns in the pit of my stomach. “Whether I trust her or not is not for you to decide, brother.”

“Whether she’s to be trusted or not can hurt our family, Vincent.” I can tell from the harshness of his tone he’s barely holding himself back from yelling. “I will not risk this family over your fleeting infatuation for a woman you know nothing about.”

Dominic's words linger in the air, a heavy silence settling in the room. My gaze remains steady, locked with my brother's. The tension is palpable, thick enough to cut with a knife.

“I don't need your approval, Dominic,” I finally break the silence, my voice firm. “But I need your help.”

He leans back in his chair, crossing his arms. “Help with what? Protecting a woman who might lead you straight into Elio Valentes' hands?”

I nod, determined. “Yes. And I need information. Anything you have on Elio, his movements, his hideouts. Whatever it takes.”

Dante scoffs, chiming in for the first time since I entered. I almost forgot he was sitting right next to me, my brother’s loyal dog. “You're playing with fire, Vincent. You know what Elio is capable of, and he could be using her to get to you.”

“I'm well aware of what Elio is capable of,” I reply, shifting my attention to Dante. “But I know Isabella well enough and she’s not someone who will betray me that easily.” The sincerity in her eyes the last time we were together can’t be faked.

Dominic studies me for a moment, his eyes calculating. “Fine. I'll give you what you need. But if you get yourself killed over some woman, don't expect me to mourn.”

I smirk. “I wouldn't expect anything less.”

Dominic reaches into a drawer and pulls out a folder, tossing it across the desk. I catch it mid-slide and open it to find maps, surveillance photos, and documents detailing Elio's known locations. It's a good start.

“Use this wisely, Vincent. And remember, family comes first,” Dominic warns, his tone stern. “I don’t care if you’re my brother, I won’t forgive you if you endanger this family.

Ignoring Dante's disapproving gaze, I stand up. “You’re not the only one who cares about this family, brother. I’d lay down my life for this family, too.”

With that, I exit Dominic's office, leaving behind the subtle tension that always hangs in the air whenever I'm around my older brother. Dante follows me into the hallway.

“You're making a mistake, Vincent,” he says, trailing behind me.

I glance back at him, my jaw set. “Maybe. But it's my mistake to make.”

He stops walking. “There’s only one way you can truly protect her. You have to become a made man.” I open my mouth to speak but he cuts me off before I can complete my sentence. “Don’t be in a hurry to turn it down this time, think about it.”

Leaving the skyscraper, I head back to my apartment and rummage through the pictures and documents in the folder. From the look of it, Dominic has been onto Elio since the last fight, but Elio disappeared, leaving no trail behind.

I need to speak to Isabella. If I’m going to help her, I deserve to know the truth about her family and the danger she's entangled in. If this is just about money, then I can help her pay off the debt and save her grandma. I grab my phone and send her a message, asking her to meet me at a bar later.

As the sun sets and darkness cloaks the city, I find myself at the rendezvous point in a bar I rented out for the night, waiting for Isabella.

The door opens and she walks in. I’d expected her to wear her usual scrubs and a tired expression, but she’s wearing a casual tee and a pair of denim shorts. Her hair is slicked back neatly and she’s wearing light makeup.

I wave to her, catching her attention and she makes her way to the table. “What's going on, Vincent?” she asks, her eyes searching mine as she sits in front of me.

“Would you like a drink, or should I go get you something to eat perhaps?” I ask. It’s only a few minutes past her shift and I’m guessing she hasn’t had anything to eat yet.

“A negroni will do. I’ll just hit up dinner when I get home.”

I hail the waiter and order two negronis. The waiter passes our drinks to us then he disappears from the front bar, giving us some privacy like I’d requested when I rented the place.

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