Page 30 of The Mafia's Second Shot

After a long pause, he nods. “Fine. But you’d better come back in one piece.”

Later,I find Zoey in the library, curled up on one of the oversized chairs with a book in her lap. She looks up as I enter, her expression wary but calm.

“We need to talk,” I say, sitting across from her.

“That’s never a good start,” she replies, setting the book aside. “What’s going on?”

I take a deep breath, leaning forward with my elbows on my knees. “We’re leaving. The estate, the city—everything. It’s not safe here anymore.”

She blinks, surprise flickering across her face. “Leaving? Where would we go?”

“To a safe house,” I explain. “Somewhere isolated, where Rossi won’t be able to find us.”

Her brows knit together, uncertainty creeping into her voice. “And what about your men? The people who rely on you?”

“I’ve already made arrangements,” I say. “Marco will handle the factions while we’re gone. The organization will scatter temporarily—it’s the best way to keep everyone safe.”

Zoey leans back, her arms crossed. “And you think running away is the answer?”

“This isn’t running,” I say firmly. “It’s strategy. If Rossi can’t find us, he can’t use us against each other. And it gives me time to figure out my next move.”

She looks away, her gaze drifting to the window. “It feels like we’re leaving everything behind.”

“Sometimes that’s the only way to survive,” I say softly. “I can’t protect you here, Zoey. Not with the way things are now.”

The vulnerability in my voice seems to reach her, and she turns back to me, her expression softening. “I don’t want to leave, Cooper. But I trust you.”

Relief floods through me, but I keep my tone steady. “Thank you.”

She stands, her movements slow and deliberate. “When do we leave?”

“Tomorrow morning,” I say. “Pack light. We’ll be traveling under the radar.”

She nods, and for a moment, we stand in silence, the weight of the decision settling over us. Then, without a word, she steps closer and places a hand on my arm.

“Just promise me one thing,” she says, her voice barely above a whisper.

“Anything.”

“Don’t make me regret trusting you again.”

Her words are a knife to the gut, but I nod, meeting her gaze with unwavering determination. “I won’t.”

That night,I sit in my office, going over the final details of the plan. The house is quiet, the calm before the storm, but I know it won’t last. Rossi won’t stop hunting me, but as long as Zoey is by my side, I’ll do whatever it takes to keep her safe.

Even if it means dismantling everything I’ve built.

22

ZOEY

The drive to the safe house feels endless. The mountains stretch out before us, their peaks dusted with snow, and the winding roads are lined with dense forests that seem to close in the farther we go. It’s beautiful in a way that feels surreal, like we’ve left the real world behind and stepped into some isolated dream.

Cooper drives in silence, his hands steady on the wheel. He hasn’t said much since we left the estate, but his presence is a comfort in itself. I glance at him out of the corner of my eye, his profile illuminated by the soft light of the dashboard. He looks calm, but I know better. Beneath that calm is a storm he’s keeping at bay—for me, for us.

“We’re almost there,” he says finally, his voice breaking the silence. “Just a little longer.”

I nod, my fingers tightening around the strap of my bag. “Okay.”

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