Page 2 of Conquer or Die

"Hey buddy" I whispered as I kissed him on the cheek, "my small little dragon" I laughed knowing that's what my imaginary friend would call him, I mean that was his nickname for me. I held him in my arms as I walked out to the living room seeing Alex anxiously sitting in front of a man "Alex?" I questioned him, getting nervous all heads turned to me "Isabella" Garcia greeted me.

I giggled "Hey old man" I laughed out.

Garcia let out a small laugh standing up to embrace me. I walked towards him and let myself be embraced in a tight hug I guess I never noticed just how much I missed his hugs.

Letting go he looks down at Dante in my arms, he looks at him mesmerised. "Is that him?" he asked in a soft whisper scared he might frighten him. I watched him with admiration as he looked down at Dante with pride and so much love just like a grandpa.

I nodded my head observing him he looked so excited not being able to relax his face, his strong facial expressions softening becoming like a little baby the longer he stared at Dante.

"My cheeks hurt from smiling so much but I can't stop" he softly cried as he looked up and then back down at Dante not wanting to take his eyes off him.

"Garcia, are you tearing up?" I whisper laughed feeling my eyes tear up looking at how emotional Garcia was getting, he nodded his head not even trying to deny it.

"He looks exactly like Vincenzo when he was younger, but he has a hint of mischievous in his eyes" he looks up at me "and that's all you" he laughed as I rolled my eyes smiling feeling a little proud. "You want to hold him?" I asked he looked at me and backed away hesitantly "I don't want to hurt him" he admitted I giggled softly and shook my head "You won't come on" I carefully handed Dante over who was now in Garcia's arms looking up at him with his big grey doe eyes and those thick black lashes that I'm extremely envious of.

Garcia laughed not being able to take his eyes off him "Oh you're such a handsome boy ... I promise I'll always protect you." He looked up at me and smiled "God help anyone who tries touching him" I nodded my head laughing.

"Oh, don't worry, I'm his mum they're not even allowed to look at him the wrong way" I winked and sat down next to them as Alex watched the two of us. He nodded his head for his men to wait outside they obliged and quickly hurried off turning his attention back to me and Dante.

"What did you name him?" He asked in a baby voice.

I raised an eyebrow and laughed "now I know why you told your men to go outside" I smirked trying not to laugh at his sudden change in personality.

He ignored me and simply continued talking to Dante "your mum is annoying isn't she" he cooed, Dante gave him a smile and Garcia smile widened "I made him smile! Isabella look at him his smiling! And he agrees with me ... oh you are just the most precious and smartest baby to ever exist" I watched him shocked never in a million years would I ever think to see a well-respected Mafia don act like this with a baby.

After a minute I finally answered his question "I named him Dante" he looked up at me slowly a sad smile took over his lips as he looked back down "Dante King. Oh, you are named after one of the most amazing souls to walk this earth" he whispered to Dante making me smile. "I just knew in my heart that was his name" he nodded his head staring at Dante who had now fallen back asleep in his arms holding onto his finger for dear life.

Garcia pulled Dante closer to his chest protectively, "I watched Vincenzo grow up ..." he suddenly spoke up getting my full attention at the mere mention of his name, "my wife and his mother were very close, his dad and I never got along but dealt with one another for work" I nodded my head seeing how that would play out. Vincenzo's parents are very hard to get along with especially his dad, "I didn't get along with him for obvious reasons and frankly I wasn't fond over my wife being so close to Anna but I can't tell her who and what to do but besides them, I enjoyed going for the boys" He smiled at me as he reminisced "I was there when they brought Vincenzo and Dante home from the hospital, they were so little so innocent" He emphasised how little they were with his hands before he wrapped them back around Dante hugging him close.

"Then me and their dad had a falling out and I never saw them again not until they were in their early teens, when my wife forced me to go see them, I much rather do anything than look at Giovanni’s face, so I went outside and hung out with them. It broke my heart watching those two boys being turned into weapons by their power-hungry father. The first couple of times I didn't approach them just watched from afar ... I promise it's not as creepy as it sounds, a part of me loved them like my own and you could say I was just making sure they were okay. Then finally I got enough courage to approach them, I heard Dante and Vincenzo talking about never wanting to become like their father and how sad they were they didn't have any sort of relationship with neither their dad nor mum. So, I decided to step up" he explained in a calm tone as he looked at me with soft eyes.

"Anyone can be a biological father, but it takes a real man to be a dad ... to fix a heart he didn't break and raise children he didn't make" I whispered admiring his love for them, he would have made such an amazing dad.

"I loved those boys, and I made sure I was there whenever they needed me, I never had kids, but my wife and I always thought of them as our own."

"Vincenzo can be a handful and a pain in the ass" he laughed shaking his head smiling making me laugh a little, "but he has a good heart, sometimes I think it's too big for his body. I feel like I was privileged to witness that side of him, he hides it from the world because that's what he was taught to do, that heart of his was abused into hiding, but it's there I know it is ..." he drifts off looking back down at Dante.

"Just give him a chance ... a reason to use it" he whispers. I bit my lower lip feeling anxious, "how-" he shook his head "I know you haven't told him; I know I have no right to tell you what to do, but Vincenzo is like a ... is my son. He has a right and hey he might surprise you Bella”.

"I know he would make such an amazing dad but, with his memories of me gone and everything that's happened in the last year ... my feelings have been so all over the place I don't know what to do" I admitted feeling comfortable enough to talk to Garcia about it. I looked up at Alex and nudged my head to the door hinting for him to give us a minute. He happily obliged and left us alone, Garcia stood up and put Dante down in his rocker. Giving me his full attention, he sat next to me and grabbed my hands smiling "Isabella, I say this because I love you. Don't let your feelings corrupt your son's relationship with his father."

"Give Dante a chance at having a dad... I know Vincenzo won't let you or his son down if you did" I slowly closed my eyes knowing he was right, I was being selfish and I knew it. I nodded my head "I'll let him now soon" opening my eyes again. He smiled and gently placed a soft kiss on my forehead "that's my girl" I smiled leaning in for a hug, his hugs always made me feel comfortable and safe.

"Know for the real reason I came here" he pulled back with an innocent smile plastered on his face "What?" I asked confused and curious looking at him with a raised eyebrow "what do you mean real reason?" I questioned.

"I need a favour" I decided to stay quiet letting him finish what he needed to say before I gave him my answer. "I promise it's nothing too dangerous, I know you have Dante, and I would never want to put you in a position where he could lose a mother and I would never put you in a position where you could lose your son" I nodded my head slowly taking in everything.

"I need you to accompany Anthony to a wedding tonight I need someone who will blend in with the rest of the guests and once he and my men capture the intended man, I’ll need to interrogate him. He has information on a very important mole in my circle that I need intel on. No one has ever managed to get anything out of him, and I know for a fact that the only person intimidating enough to get him to talk would be you." I sat there looking at him with a poker expression taking in everything he said.

I didn't know if I should be flattered or taken back by his 'small' favour. Apart of me did miss the adrenaline of my past life and I so desperately wanted to get back into it, to both not forget who I am and to give me the confidence that If I go back and I'm still as ruthless as ever when it counted, that the side of me that made me who I am isn’t completely dead.

Although a bigger part of me kept screaming Dante, I couldn't leave him without a mother. I cannot deliberately put myself in danger just to get a familiar high. I had someone other than just myself to worry about I had the cutest, innocent baby boy who is completely dependent on me.

Taking in a deep breath I finally speak up "Garcia, I don't think I can do it." He sighed nodding his head "Isabella, I wouldn't ask you unless I was desperate. The man I'm asking you to interrogate raped and killed little girls and boys all under the age of six and is keeping the man in my circle who does the same a secret. He also has knowledge of some very big human trafficking schemes and groups. I'll admit we are not saints, but I will not tolerate harm on innocent children especially babies. You know we mainly go after predators like them, which is why the feds are not completely focused on my Mafia or Vincenzo’s”.

My blood suddenly boiled imaging anyone attempting to touch a child like that, then my body lit a flame putting myself in the position of those victims’ parents. "I'm in" I spoke up without thinking twice. "I have conditions" I pointed at him he nodded his head smiling waiting for me to continue "I want security around this house at all times but make it discreet, so it doesn't draw too much attention. I want Lorenzo, Sebastián and Alex inside this house with Dante while I'm gone. I need you to promise me that Dante will be safe and protected for as long as I'm not here."

"Isabella, I will have my best men around and in all the streets connecting to your house until and even a day or two after your arrival. I in fact will also stay the night to make you less hesitant." He calmly assured me; I smiled nodding my head. Knowing Lorenzo and Garcia were both going to be here with Dante gave me the reassurance I needed, I knew no one would be able to lay a finger on my son with them here. As powerful as the two individuals are together, I knew in the pit of my stomach that Vincenzo alone is more capable of protecting Dante but given the circumstances I knew that was just a dream at least for now.

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