Page 21 of The Mafia’s Second Shot (Burning For You Again #3)
COOPER
T he meeting room is tense, the air thick with the weight of what I’m about to propose.
My most trusted men—Marco, Liam, and a few others—sit around the long table, their eyes on me.
They’ve been with me for years, through fights, betrayals, and victories.
They know the stakes, but even they don’t see this coming.
I lean forward, my palms flat on the table, and take a deep breath. “We’re disbanding the organization.”
The room erupts into protests before I can finish the sentence. Marco, as always, is the loudest. “You can’t be serious, Cooper.”
“I’m dead serious,” I say, my voice cutting through the noise. “This isn’t permanent, but it’s necessary. Rossi knows too much about us—our structure, our routines, our alliances. If we scatter, we’ll be harder to track. It’s the only way to keep everyone safe.”
“You’re talking about dismantling everything we’ve built,” Marco argues, his fists clenched on the table. “You think Rossi’s just going to back off because we spread out? He’ll pick us off one by one.”
“That’s why you’ll oversee the factions,” I reply, meeting his glare head-on. “You’ll make sure everyone has what they need to stay under the radar. No unnecessary moves, no flashy activity. Just survival.”
Marco shakes his head, frustration etched into his features. “And what about you? Where will you be?”
“With Zoey,” I say without hesitation. “I’ll take her to a safe house, somewhere Rossi can’t find us. If they’re looking for me, it’ll draw their attention away from the others.”
The room falls silent, the weight of my words sinking in. Liam is the first to speak. “You’re making yourself the bait.”
“I’m the priority target,” I say simply. “If I stay visible, Rossi won’t waste time chasing anyone else.”
“That’s a hell of a gamble,” Marco mutters, his voice low but heavy with disapproval.
“It’s the only move we have,” I reply firmly. “We’ve already lost too much. I’m not losing anyone else.”
After the meeting, I catch Marco in the hallway. He’s still fuming, his jaw set in that stubborn way I’ve come to expect.
“You don’t have to like it,” I say, falling into step beside him. “But you do have to trust me.”
“I trust you,” he says, though his tone is reluctant. “I just don’t trust this plan. You’re putting too much on the line.”
“I’m putting Zoey first,” I correct him. “This isn’t up for debate, Marco. She’s the priority.”
He stops walking, turning to face me. “And what happens if Rossi finds you before you can take him down? What happens to her then?”
I meet his gaze, my voice steady. “That’s why I need you to hold the factions together. If anything happens to me, it’ll be up to you to make sure she’s safe.”
Marco sighs, running a hand through his hair. “You’re asking a lot.”
“I know,” I admit. “But you’re the only one I trust to handle this.”
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.