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CHAPTER 13
Massimo
Watching Sofia question her father was far more arousing than I thought it would be. I could see the wheels working in her head, could see her trying to piece the puzzle together and I found myself more than a little fascinated by the sight.
She was more capable than I had given her credit for, and it stirred something deep within me. But I couldn’t afford to become attached to her, not right now. This world was too dangerous, too volatile. Sofia was a distraction that I couldn’t afford, yet I couldn’t tear my eyes away from her determined expression and the fire in her eyes.
It was maddening.
She was quickly adapting, showing a strength and resilience that both impressed and concerned me. The more I saw her in action, the more I realized just how much potential she had. She couldthrive in this world, but that also meant she would be in constant danger.
I needed to remind myself why I had brought her into this life: to protect her and keep her safe. Letting my feelings get in the way would only complicate things further. I had to stay focused, to keep my distance emotionally, no matter how drawn I felt to her.
Just as I was lost in thought, my phone rang, pulling me back to the present. I glanced at the screen and saw Enzo’s name. Taking a deep breath, I stepped away from Sofia and her father, answering the call.
“Enzo, what do you have for me?” I asked, keeping my voice steady.
“Boss, we’ve collected some interesting evidence,” Enzo replied. “There are irregularities in the financial records that were used to build the case against Marco. It looks like someone went to great lengths to fabricate these documents.”
“Fabricate? How so?” I asked, intrigued.
“Well, for starters, the dates on some of the transactions don’t match up with the corresponding entries in Marco’s legitimate books,” Enzo explained. “It’s like they were inserted after the fact, and whoever did it wasn’t thorough enough to cover their tracks completely.”
I nodded, processing the information. “So, we’re looking at someone who has access to both Marco’s business records and the resources to manipulate them.”
“Exactly,” Enzo confirmed. “Also, we found traces of communication between someone in Marco’s business and aknown associate of the Russo family. It’s not direct evidence, but it’s enough to raise suspicions.”
The Russo family again. They could be behind this setup, but I would need more evidence to stand against such a powerful family.
“Good work, Enzo. Keep digging. We need to find concrete evidence that ties them to this. I need more.”
“I’m on it, boss,” Enzo replied. “There’s one more thing. There have been increased movements around the Russo estate. It looks like they’re gearing up for something. We need to be careful.”
“I understand. Keep me updated with anything you find,” I said, ending the call and returning to Sofia and Marco. I took the phone from Sofia and Marco looked up, concern etched in his features.
“What do you think our next step should be?” I asked him.
Marco leaned back, his expression thoughtful. “We need to gather more evidence, something more concrete that can expose their involvement. But we also need to be cautious. They’re expecting us to retaliate, so we must be strategic.”
I nodded, appreciating the way his mind worked. “You’re right. We’ll play this smart. We’ll gather the evidence, plan our moves carefully, and when the time is right, we’ll strike.”
Marco’s gaze softened slightly. “Massimo, you need to be careful, too. The Russos are dangerous, and they play dirty. Don’t let your guard down for a second.”
“I won’t,” I assured him. “We’ll get you out of here and take down the Russos. This is far from over. In fact, it’s probably just beginning.”
The guard beckoned toward us. Our time was up.
CHAPTER 14
One week later
Massimo
It was the calm before the storm.
I took a deep breath. Today, I was gearing up to meet with the Russos, a meeting I’d set up a few days ago that would either secure our position or push us further into a war that would decimate our world as we knew it.
I had chosen my attire carefully—a black suit, a crisp white shirt, no tie. I turned away from the window, adjusting the cufflinks on my shirt.