Page 63 of Betraying the Mafia Boss

Jane gulps down half a glass of water. “Sounds okay to me. It’s depressing to be indoors all the time.”

“We’ll register for prenatal classes and then we’ll go do some shopping. Sophia needs new clothes too. She grows out of her clothes so quickly.”

Dominic clears his throat and my heart lurches in my chest. “Do whatever you want, but you must have your security with you at all times and call me if anything goes wrong.”

Elena smiles at her husband, her eyes filled with so much love. “Of course.”

I look at Vincent, hoping he’d offer to take me. It’s his child too and I want us to make decisions about the baby together, but he doesn’t.

I nearly jump out of my seat when Marcus calls my name.

“Isabella, do you happen to have any idea of where Elio might be hiding?”

Jane gives him a gentle nudge with her shoulder. “I told you, no discussing mafia business at breakfast.”

“She doesn’t know a thing,” Vincent quickly answers. I can tell he is pissed from the tone of his voice. “Leave her alone.”

Marcus ignores him. “If you know anything then now is the time to tell us. That is the only way we can save your Nana.”

My chest tightens with sadness.

Nana.

I’ve missed her so much. I feel guilty for sitting here, eating while she is with that monster. “He never told me where he stays.”

“You’ve met with him a few times, haven’t you?” Dominic asks.

“I have. The first time was in abandoned warehouse in the middle of nowhere. We mostly spoke through phone calls until he paid me a visit. The last time…” and I want to kick myself when I remember what I wanted to tell these men... “The last time… when he kidnapped me, I think I was taken to a mine.”

Vincent straightens in his seat. “A mine?”

I nod. “Or at least somewhere close to one. I could smell diesel fumes and there was so much noise. Machinery noises, beeping alarms, and rumblings.”

The brothers exchange glances.

“You think that bastard’s hiding in a mine?” Marcus asks, his gaze fixed on Dominic. “It would make sense. That is the last place we’d expect him to be and that’s why it’s been impossible to find him.”

“There’s no way he has been living in a mine for over a year.” Dominic taps his temple as he thinks for a moment. “Unless he’s been moving the more areas we cover.”

“We have to scout any mines nearby. We’ll find something,” Vincent says. His eyes are bloodred with rage.

“We will.” Dominic points at Marcus. “Have Antonio scout the mines, every single one near the city.” He tells Vincent, “You and I will be paying Alexei a visit later this evening.”

Vincent nods. “And Dante?”

“Dante will make sure there’s no way that bastard can leave the city or the country, until we find him.” Dominic adds more food to his plate. “What do you plan to do after all of this is over, Isabella?”

I swallow, and then I swallow again. My hands are shaking. “I’m not sure.” I’m not even certain all of this will ever be over. What if something happens to my Nana? I wouldn’t be able to go on living knowing I couldn’t protect her.

“Do you know what the hardest part is about going through this?” Jane asks. She has the kindest look in her eyes. When I shake my head, she says, “Hope. It’s so hard to have hope the bad times will pass, but you need something to hold onto until all of this is over.”

My curiosity gets the better of me. “What gave you hope after you lost your father?”

“I had my sister to look after, and I needed to find my dad’s killer.” She smiles, her eyes lowering to my stomach. “For you, it could be a dream you want to pursue, or your child.”

Hope?

Dream?

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