Page 81 of Ruined By Capture

Melania's head snaps back slightly, disbelief crossing her features. "That's ridiculous. The Lombardis have more money than?—"

"Having money doesn't mean having the self-respect to honor debts," Damiano interrupts her, his voice hardening. "Antonio has been avoiding his obligations for months now."

I watch her process this, the daughter in her wanting to defend her family name battling the woman who stole Raymond's crypto wallet and knows exactly what her father is capable of.

"But that wasn't the primary concern," Damiano continues, setting his glass down with precision. "Your marriage to Raymond Stone would have consolidated too much power. Between your father's territory and Raymond's political connections, they would have controlled everything from street corners to federal judges."

Enzo leans forward, his massive frame making the chair creak. "We couldn't let that happen."

"It seems we needn't have worried about the wedding securing their alliance. They were already working together on ventures far more lucrative than territory disputes." Damiano says.

"And far more monstrous," Melania adds quietly.

"Yes." Damiano's face darkens. "Had we known about the trafficking operation sooner..." He doesn't finish the thought but the deadly threat in his voice is clear.

I watch Melania's face as she absorbs Damiano's words. She's thinking, computing the implications of what our operation means for her father and Raymond. I've seen this expression before—her mind working through angles and calculations.

"Your father and Raymond have been trafficking people for their organs," Damiano states, his voice hardening to steel. "That crosses every line, even in our world."

Melania nods, her face going pale. "I never imagined... even knowing what my father was capable of..." She trails off, swallowing hard.

"Your evidence could help us bring them down," Damiano continues. "But from what Alessio tells me, we need more. Your brother might be key."

Melania's shoulders tense under my hand. Leonardo has always been a sensitive subject. I've seen how her face changes when she speaks of him—hope and doubt warring in her eyes.

"You mentioned Antonio's safe," I remind her gently. "The one Leonardo might have access to."

"Yes," she says, more steadily now. "If there are records of the operation, they'd be there."

Damiano leans further forward, resting his elbows on the table. His eyes never leave Melania's face as he asks the question that will determine our next move.

"Why do you think your brother would help us?"

CHAPTER 28

Ican’t stop my fingers from reaching to twist my mother's ring, feeling the smooth metal slide against my skin as I consider Damiano's question. The weight of it hangs in the air between us.

"Leonardo is..." I pause, searching for words that could possibly explain the complexity of my brother. "He's not what you think."

Alessio's thumb traces circles on my palm, grounding me. The sensation helps clear my thoughts.

"My brother has spent his entire life trying to become what our father wanted," I say carefully. "After our mother died it got worse. He threw himself into the family business, desperate for approval."

Damiano watches me with those calculating eyes, assessing every word.

"But Leonardo has lines he wouldn't cross," I continue, conviction growing in my voice. "He believes in family honor, in protection. If he knew what our father and Raymond were doing he wouldn't just walk away. He'd put a bullet in my father's head himself."

Enzo raises an eyebrow, clearly skeptical. "He's Antonio's right hand."

"He's Antonio's son," I counter. "There's a difference. My father grooms him but doesn't trust him with everything. That's why there's a particular safe Leonardo's never seen opened. Me neither."

I lean forward, meeting Damiano's gaze directly. "My brother protected me my entire life. He stood between me and our father's anger more times than I can count."

The memory of Leonardo's face—younger, softer—flashes in my mind. Before mother's death hardened him.

"When I left for London he made sure I had access to money our father couldn't track," I continue. "He wanted me to have the freedom he never had."

Alessio's hand tightens around mine. "But you didn't tell him about the trafficking."

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