Page 48 of The Mafia's Second Shot

Cooper’s jaw tightens as he flips through the photos, his eyes narrowing. “Are you sure?”

“I found these in his bag,” I say. “He’s been watching us. Reporting on our movements.”

Cooper exhales sharply, running a hand through his hair. “Where is he now?”

“With Angelo,” I reply. “He doesn’t know I found anything.”

Cooper motions to Marco, who returns immediately. “Get Carl. Quietly,” Cooper says, his voice cold. Marco nods, disappearing into the crowd.

The confrontation is quick.Carl denies everything at first, his protests loud and desperate, but the evidence is undeniable. When Marco pins him against the wall, Carl finally cracks, admitting he’s been working for Rossi in exchange for money and protection.

The tension in the room is palpable as the other men watch. Some are angry, others shaken. If Rossi has an informant here, who’s to say there aren’t more?

“You’re done,” Cooper says, his tone flat. “Take him out back.”

Marco drags Carl away, and the room falls into a heavy silence. I can feel the weight of the men’s stares, their trust in each other shaken. But when Cooper turns to me, there’s something else in his eyes—pride.

“You did good,” he says softly, placing a hand on my shoulder.

I nod, though the adrenaline coursing through me makes it hard to process his words. “I just... I couldn’t ignore it.”

“And you didn’t,” he replies. “That’s what matters.”

Later that evening,the warehouse is quieter, the earlier tension lingering like a shadow. I find Cooper in a small office, sitting at the desk with his head in his hands. He looks up when I enter, exhaustion etched into his features.

“You okay?” I ask, closing the door behind me.

“Shouldn’t I be asking you that?” he counters, his lips twitching in a faint smile.

I sit across from him, my hands folded in my lap. “I’m terrified,” I admit, my voice barely above a whisper. “Not just of Rossi or his men, but of losing you.”

Cooper leans back, his gaze softening. “You’re not going to lose me.”

“You don’t know that,” I say, my throat tightening. “Every time you leave, I wonder if it’s the last time I’ll see you.”

He reaches across the desk, taking my hand in his. “Zoey, I’ve made a lot of mistakes, but I’m not going to make the mistake of leaving you again. Not if I can help it.”

I search his eyes, looking for the certainty I desperately want to believe in. But there’s a flicker of doubt there, one he can’t hide.

“Just promise me you’ll try,” I say, my voice trembling.

“I promise,” he says, his grip on my hand tightening.

Our moment is interruptedby a sharp knock on the door. Angelo steps inside, his face pale.

“Cooper,” he says, his voice tight. “We’ve got a problem.”

“What is it?” Cooper asks, already on his feet.

“Rossi’s moving,” Angelo replies. “We’ve confirmed he’s leading the assault himself. They’ll be on us by morning.”

The room feels colder suddenly, the weight of Angelo’s words sinking in. Cooper’s expression hardens, his resolve clear.

“This is it,” he says, his voice steady. “Get everyone ready. We end this.”

Angelo nods, disappearing down the hall. Cooper turns back to me, his hand lingering on my shoulder.

“Stay close,” he says. “No matter what.”

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