Page 53 of Arranged Mafia Marriage

“And then what?” I ask, a knot forming in my stomach as I recall Santino trusts me not to hurt Tony even if I have to use this information to control Damiano.

Kiril’s expression is grim. “We bring them here. Not to harm them, but as leverage.”

I frown. “You want to kidnap a child and his mother?”

“Extract,” he says with a crooked grin that quickly fades. “For their protection as much as ours. If Damiano’s enemies discover them, it would be much worse.”

I understand they’d be in danger if we have to use the information about my brother skimming money. “Okay, but how do we do this without tipping off Damiano?” I ask.

He moves to his desk, pulling out a laptop. “I have contacts in Naples. We’ll start by having them do some reconnaissance. Once we confirm their location and routine, we’ll send in a small team.”

He types rapidly, sending encrypted messages. “Who will you send?”

“Viktor,” says Kiril without hesitation. “He’s the best, and I trust him completely.”

Viktor’s unquestioned loyalty makes him an ideal candidate. “When do we move?”

Kiril looks up from the screen. “As soon as possible. We can’t risk Damiano moving them, or someone else discovering this information before we’re ready to use it.”

“Only if we have to,” I say with a hint of warning.

He frowns but nods. “Of course.”

“What about me?” I ask. “I want to be involved, as usual.”

He studies me for a moment, then nods. “All right. At some point, I might have to go there, or at least leave you to intercept this Isabella. If that happens, you’ll keep me abreast. Monitor communications and coordinate with the team in Naples, but you stay in New York, understood?”

I agree, relieved to be included. “What’s our timeline?”

Kiril turns back to the laptop. “If all goes well, we should have them here within a week.”

My stomach churns with nausea. It could be pregnancy sickness, but it feels more like guilt with a large dose of shame to be resorting to such tactics. Whatever we have to do, I won’t let Tony or his mother be caught in the crossfire of our feud.

The next fewdays are a hurricane of activity. Kiril’s contacts confirm Isabella and Tony’s location in Naples, sending back photos and detailed reports of their routines. I pour over the information, memorizing every detail. Tony looks like a miniature version of my brother, and it’s strange to realize I’m related to both of them, though I’ve never met my nephew, and Damiano wants no part of a familial connection.

Viktor assembles a small team, handpicked for their discretion and skill. I sit in on their briefings, contributing what I can from my analysis of the intel. My role is small, but I hope I’m contributing something. At least I’m learning.

On the night before the extraction, Kiril and I are in his office, going over the final details. The tension in the room is almost physical.

“Are you sure about this?” I ask, looking up from the maps spread across his desk.

Kiril meets my gaze. “It’s the best move we have. With Isabella and Tony here, we control the game.”

I nod, but nagging doubt persists. “And what happens after we have them? What do we do with a five-year-old boy and his mother?”

Kiril’s expression softens slightly. “We keep them safe and comfortable. They’re not prisoners, Felicity. They’re insurance.”

I think about Tony, innocent and unaware of the turmoil surrounding him. “He’s just a child. He doesn’t deserve to be caught up in all this.”

Kiril moves around the desk, placing his hands on my shoulders. “I know, but this is the world we live in. Sometimes we have to make hard choices to keep what’s ours. If someone else uses them against Damiano, they’ll be in a much more precarious situation. We’re the lesser of the evils.”

I look up at him, seeing his resolution. “I’m not sure doing evil is excusable.”

“It is when it’s for our family, our future. Each other.”

His words comfort me, despite my continued doubts. I sway toward him, drawing strength from his presence. I can’t argue with his reasoning. I’d do just about anything to protect him and our baby, though there are still lines I’ll never cross, like harming a child. My role seems clear suddenly. I need to ensure Tony and Isabella emerge from all this safe if not entirely unscathed.

“Okay,” I say. “Let’s do this.”

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