Page 56 of Betraying the Mafia Boss

I inhale the aroma of the food and my mouth waters. “Thank you.”

“I’ll get you more juice.”

Chapter Twenty

Vincent

The tension of everything that has happened with Isabella and Elio rests heavy on my shoulders as we gather in Dominic’s study.

Dominic sits behind the desk, his expression stoic and unreadable, while Marcus paces back and forth, a scowl etched on his face. Dante sits on the recliner next to him.

I sit on one of the leather armchairs, my mind racing with thoughts of Isabella and the danger she's facing. But now is not the time to dwell on my personal concerns. We have a common enemy to deal with, one who has dared to challenge the Romano family.

“We still don’t have a clue of where Elio is hiding,” Marcus says, his voice laced with fury. “Elio Valentes has crossed a line, attacking our warehouses and killing our men. If we don’t find him soon, then we may lose more than we already have.”

Dominic nods in agreement, his jaw clenched. “We need to send a clear message that we won't tolerate him attacking us any longer. Has the idiot in the basement woken from his beauty sleep?”

Marcus shakes his head. “He hasn’t.”

I lean forward, my gaze flickering between my brothers. “How do we find him? Elio is cunning, and he's managed to evade us for too long. We need a plan.”

Marcus stops pacing and fixes me with a steely gaze. “We start by tightening our grip on the city. We gather information, leverage our connections, and leave no stone unturned until we track him down.”

Dante chimes in, his voice calm. “We also need to anticipate his next move. Elio is not one to back down easily. He'll strike again, and we need to be prepared.”

I nod my head, my mind already racing with possibilities. “We'll increase security at the warehouses, set up surveillance teams, and keep a close eye on his known associates. We need to be one step ahead of him at all times.”

Dominic leans back in his chair, a thoughtful expression on his face. “And what about Isabella? She's a target as long as she's associated with us. We need to ensure her safety.”

I feel a surge of protectiveness wash over me at the mention of Isabella's name. “I'll take care of her,” I say, my voice firm. “I won't let anything happen to her.”

Dominic nods, a hint of a smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

“Good. But remember, Vincent, we're at war. And in war, there are no guarantees. We need to be prepared for anything and you’re not a made man. You don’t know how the mafia works.”

I meet his gaze, determination burning in my eyes. “I understand, Dominic. But I grew up in the mafia so I know how things work and I won't rest until Elio Valentes pays for what he's done.”

There’s a brief moment of silence.

“You’ll be initiated tomorrow night,” Marcus says, breaking the silence. “It’s the only way the other men will trust you and agree to work with you.”

I think, but thinking is not much help right now. Isabella is carrying my unborn child and I need to protect both of them, I don’t care what it will cost me. Looking at my oldest brother, I agree. “That’s fine.”

Concern squeezes its way into Marcus’s expression. “You know there’s no going back once you become part of the Cosa Nostra, don’t you?”

“I know,” I answer. Even if Isabella’s life wasn’t at risk and she wasn’t pregnant with my child, I would still do this to protect my family. But knowing what I’ll lose if anything goes wrong makes me even more determined to protect what is mine.

“It’s settled then. You’ll become a made man tomorrow night.” Rather than the happy expression I expected on Dominic’s face, his shoulders sag, as if he’s carrying the weight of the world.

To be honest, I think he is. Dominic has always been the one caring, leading, and sacrificing for me and Marcus, it’s high time I did something for him. Something to ease some of the burden weighing him down.

“I set up a meeting with Alexei,” Dante says. He pushes up from his chair and walks to the bar fridge in the corner of Dominic’s study. Grabbing a bottle of vodka and a shot glass, he returns to his seat and pours himself a drink. “That bastard’s still as cocky as he always was.”

“Good. We may need him if things go bad.” Dominic taps his desk with his fingers. He’s lost in thought for a couple of seconds. “I’ll need to speak with Mikhail.”

Mikhail. The name doesn’t ring a bell. “Who is Mikhail?”

“Alexei’s younger half-brother.” Marcus’s jaw clenches. “That little asshole had us running round New York looking for him months ago.”

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