Page 18 of The Mafia’s Second Shot (Burning For You Again #3)

COOPER

T he dim light of the basement flickers overhead as I lean against the cold concrete wall, watching as my men drag Dante Martinez into the room.

His wrists are bound, his face bloodied from the fight it took to bring him in.

He glares at me with a mix of defiance and fear, his chest heaving as he struggles to stand upright.

“You’ve got a lot of nerve, boss,” Dante spits, blood dripping from the corner of his mouth. “Bringing me in like this. After everything I’ve done for you.”

I step forward, my boots echoing on the floor. “Everything you’ve done for me?” I echo, my voice low and dangerous. “Let’s talk about what you’ve done to me.”

Dante doesn’t flinch, but his jaw tightens. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Rossi,” I say simply, the name slicing through the air like a blade.

His eyes widen slightly, just for a fraction of a second, but it’s enough. I’ve been in this business long enough to recognize the look of a guilty man.

“You’ve been feeding him information,” I continue, my tone cold. “Details about my operations. About Zoey.”

“I didn’t—” he starts, but I cut him off.

“Don’t lie to me,” I growl, grabbing him by the collar and pulling him close. “You gave him her name. You made her a target. And now you’re going to tell me everything you know, or I swear to God, you won’t leave this room alive.”

Dante’s defiance falters, replaced by something closer to desperation. “It wasn’t supposed to go this far,” he says, his voice trembling. “Rossi... he promised it would just be a couple of shipments. A few locations. He said he wouldn’t come after you directly.”

“And you believed him?” I ask, my voice rising. “You believed a man like Rossi wouldn’t take every advantage he could?”

“I didn’t have a choice!” Dante snaps. “He had my family, Cooper. My wife, my kids. He said if I didn’t cooperate, he’d?—”

I shove him back against the wall, disgust churning in my chest. “And what about Zoey?” I demand. “What about the people in this house who trusted you? Did they deserve to be dragged into this?”

“I didn’t know he’d go after her,” Dante says, his voice breaking. “I swear, I didn’t know.”

I take a step back, trying to rein in my fury. Dante’s betrayal is a wound I didn’t see coming, and the more I think about it, the deeper it cuts. He wasn’t just one of my men—he was someone I trusted, someone I relied on. And now, because of him, Zoey’s life is in more danger than ever.

Hours later, I’m in my office, staring at the file Marco handed me. The details Dante gave us are damning—locations of safe houses Rossi has compromised, names of men I thought were loyal but might not be. And worst of all, a clear indication that Rossi’s sights are still set on Zoey.

I hear the door creak open and look up to see Zoey standing in the doorway. Her arms are crossed, her face pale but determined.

“You’re brooding again,” she says, stepping inside.

“I’m thinking,” I correct, though my voice lacks conviction.

She sits across from me, her gaze searching mine. “Did you find out who betrayed you?”

I nod, the weight of the answer pressing down on me. “Dante. One of my lieutenants. He’s been working with Rossi for months.”

Zoey frowns, her hands tightening around the edge of the chair. “Why?”

“He says it was to protect his family,” I explain. “But I don’t know how much of that I believe.”

She leans forward slightly, her expression softening. “What are you going to do?”

“I don’t know,” I admit, the words tasting bitter on my tongue. “Every move I make feels like a risk. I can’t trust my own people, and Rossi’s men are planning something. I can feel it.”

Her eyes widen slightly. “You think there’s going to be another attack?”

“Not just think,” I say, sliding the file across the desk to her. “I know.”

She hesitates before picking up the file, her gaze scanning the pages. When she looks back up at me, there’s a fire in her eyes I wasn’t expecting.

“Let me help,” she says.

The words catch me off guard. “Zoey, this isn’t?—”

“No,” she interrupts. “Don’t tell me it’s not my fight. I’m already in it, whether I like it or not. So let me help.”

I shake my head, running a hand through my hair. “You don’t understand what you’re asking for. This isn’t just about gathering intel or setting traps. This is life and death, Zoey.”

“I know that,” she says, her voice steady. “And I know you can’t do this alone.”

Her determination is unwavering, and for the first time in weeks, I feel a flicker of something I haven’t allowed myself to feel: hope. Maybe she’s right. Maybe having her by my side isn’t a liability—it’s a strength.

“All right,” I say finally. “But if you’re going to help, you follow my lead. No exceptions.”

She nods, her expression serious. “Deal.”

Later that night, Marco storms into my office, his face grim. “We’ve got a problem,” he says, dropping a new file onto my desk.

I open it, my heart sinking as I read the details. Rossi’s men aren’t just planning another attack—they’ve targeted one of my key safe houses, a location I thought was secure. And they’re coming for Zoey, too.

“They’re moving fast,” Marco says. “We don’t have much time.”

I glance at the clock, my mind racing. If Rossi gets his hands on Zoey or the resources at that safe house, it’s over. I can’t let that happen.

“We’ll stop them,” I say, my voice firm. “No matter what it takes.”

But as I stare at the file in front of me, I can’t shake the feeling that this is just the beginning—and that the real fight is still to come.