Six Months Contract With The Mafia God

”I can implement the security changes,” Marco said. ”But boss, you need to talk to Mike about this. If Dante’s got Isabella, Mike needs to know. And if there’s even a possibility that they’re coming for Eve, Mike won’t sit around waiting for it to happen. He’ll want to be part of the defensive strategy.”

Marco was right.

Mike was Eve’s brother. And Mike was someone Dimitri trusted implicitly.

”I’ll call him,” Dimitri said. ”Get those security upgrades implemented immediately. I want the penthouse locked down tighter than it’s ever been. No unauthorized access. No vulnerabilities. I want guards positioned at every entrance and exit.”

”Already on it,” Marco said. ”I’m upgrading the surveillance system as we speak. Full coverage, redundant feeds, continuous monitoring. If anyone even attempts to breach the penthouse, we’ll know about it.”

”Good,” Dimitri said. ”Keep me updated on any new intelligence. Any communications, any movements, any indication that Dante is moving forward with extraction plans.”

”Understood, boss.”

Dimitri ended the call and immediately dialed Mike.

It rang twice before Mike answered.

”Yeah?”

”It’s me,” Dimitri said. ”I need you at the penthouse. Now. We need to talk.”

”What happened?” Mike’s voice shifted immediately from casual to alert.

”Just come,” Dimitri said.

”On my way,” Mike said, and the line went dead.

Dimitri hung up and immediately pulled up the penthouse security feeds on his personal monitor.

Eve was in the living room, reading.

He watched her for a moment, took in the peaceful expression on her face, the way she was completely absorbed in her book.

To think that this peace is about to be shattered again.

Because Dante was coming.

And Dimitri needed to make sure that when Dante made his move, he walked into a trap of his making making.

***

TWENTY MINUTES LATER

Mike arrived at the penthouse looking grim.

He went straight to Dimitri’s study without stopping, his expression suggesting he already understood something was seriously wrong.

”What’s going on?” Mike asked, closing the door behind him.

”Dante brought Isabella out of Rome,” Dimitri said without preamble. ”She arrived in New Jersey approximately 36 hours ago. We’ve lost her trail after that, but all intelligence suggests she’s with Dante.”

Mike’s jaw clenched.

”Isabella’s in New York? With Dante?”

”That’s what we’re working with,” Dimitri confirmed. ”And I think we both know what it means.”

”He’s planning something,” Mike said, understanding the implication immediately. ”He wouldn’t risk bringing Isabella out here unless he was planning something major.”

”Exactly,” Dimitri said. ”And given the pattern of his attacks, given what we know about his obsession with Eve, I think he’s planning to take her.”

Mike stood abruptly, started pacing.

”Son of a bitch,” he said quietly. ”He’s really going to try this.”

”I think so,” Dimitri said. ”Which is why I need you here. I need you to know what’s happening. And I need your help preparing in case he actually makes a move.”

”Eve doesn’t know about any of this,” Mike said, and it wasn’t a question.

”No,” Dimitri confirmed. ”I didn’t want to scare her without concrete information. But Marco and I are working on defensive measures. We’re upgrading security. Changing protocols. Positioning additional assets. If Dante tries to take her, he’s going to walk into a situation he doesn’t expect.”

”What about Isabella?” Mike asked quietly. ”Does she know what Dante’s planning?”

Dimitri considered that question carefully.

”Most likely,” he said finally. ”She’s with him. She’s his leverage. She knows.”

”So Lorenzo doesn’t know his daughter is here with Dante,” Mike said, understanding the broader implications.

”Not if Dante’s secured her properly,” Dimitri agreed. ”Which means Lorenzo’s going to be looking for her soon. Which means the Russo family is going to discover that Dante’s holding his daughter. Which means we’re about to have even more complications.”

Mike stopped pacing and looked at Dimitri directly.

”We need to tell Eve,” Mike said flatly. ”If there’s even a chance that Dante’s coming for her, she needs to know. She needs to understand the threat.”

”I know,” Dimitri said. ”I’m going to tell her. Tonight. But I wanted to make sure the security upgrades were in place first. I wanted to make sure we had a plan before I scared her unnecessarily.”

”Is it unnecessary?” Mike asked sharply. ”Or is this exactly the kind of threat she needs to be prepared for?”

”Both,” Dimitri said. ”But we tell her in the right way. We tell her with a plan. We tell her knowing that we’re prepared for whatever Dante tries to do.”

Mike nodded slowly, accepting the logic.

”What do you need from me?” Mike asked.

”Stay close,” Dimitri said. ”Be visible. Make sure Eve knows that you’re here, that we’re taking this seriously, that we’re going to protect her. And if Dante actually makes a move, I need you ready to respond.”

”I’m ready,” Mike said. ”I’ve been ready since the day this started.”

Dimitri appreciated the simplicity of that statement. The unwavering loyalty of it.

”Thank you,” Dimitri said.

”Don’t thank me,” Mike replied. ”Just make sure you kill him if he tries to take her.”

”I will,” Dimitri said with absolute certainty.

They stood in silence for a moment, both understanding the weight of what was coming.

Then Mike said, ”I’m going to get some coffee. You want anything?”

”No,” Dimitri said. ”But stay in the penthouse. I want to know you’re here when I tell her.”

Mike nodded and left.

Dimitri waited a few minutes, giving Mike time to settle in, then he stood and walked toward the master bedroom.

***

Dimitri found Eve in the bathroom, running a bath.

She looked up when he entered, and her expression shifted from contentment to something more cautious.

”Hi,” she said, watching his face carefully. ”What’s wrong? You look like something happened.”

Dimitri closed the bathroom door behind him.

”Nothing’s happened,” he said, moving closer. ”But something might happen. And I need to tell you about it.”

Eve turned off the water and stepped away from the tub.

”Tell me,” she said simply.

”Dante brought Isabella out of Rome,” Dimitri said, watching her face. ”She’s in New York. With him. And based on the intelligence we’ve gathered, I think he’s planning to take you.”