Chapter 68
Vitale had hunted Yuri before.
But every time his men got to the location, they came up empty-handed. Yuri was like a rabbit that could dig holes, always slipping away fast.
Costa used to be good friends with Yuri at first, but later the two had a falling out.
So Vitale's earlier question was like rubbing salt into Costa's wound.
Costa slowly shook his head, his bony fingers tapping an uneasy rhythm on the table, "Yuri doesn't know, and he never will."
Suddenly, he clenched his fist and slammed it hard on the oak table, making the wine glasses shake, "That sneaky bastard wiped every trace clean!"
Vitale raised an eyebrow, a knowing smirk forming on his lips, "Really? Looks like you two really did split for good. So, your territory was taken by people he sent?"
"Yes," Costa's voice trembled with anger," I confronted him myself, three days after my wife's funeral."
"He denied everything and even sent a fake sympathetic wreath," Costa sneered, "So I went after his family—his wife, two daughters, and a young son studying law in college."
"They're living just fine, completely clueless about what's going on. But Yuri knew I visited them, and he was furious. That made me feel pretty good."
Victor whistled, "Man, you're ruthless, Costa. Going after family like that..."
"I hope you don't go after Isabella," Vitale cut in suddenly, his voice ice-cold, "I want her to live a normal life—go to work, come home, hang out with friends on weekends. She doesn't belong in this world."
Costa raised his hands in a gesture of surrender, "I can't get to her. She's surrounded by your best bodyguard team, led by Henley himself, with eight top-notch guards rotating shifts."
"But I don't know if Yuri will try something. His methods are even dirtier than mine."
Vitale's eyes turned dangerous, brewing with destructive power.
"Damn it," his voice was low, but it made the temperature in the entire restaurant drop, "If Yuri dares to touch a single hair on Isabella's head..."
He leaned forward, hands gripping the edge of the table, each word like a poisoned dagger, "I'll make him watch his own heart get ripped out while he's still alive. I'll make his family die one by one in front of him until he's on his knees begging me to end it."
Vitale straightened up, scanning everyone in the room. His gaze made even the toughest mafia bosses look away.
"Then, I'll track down every single person who's ever thought about harming Isabella, no matter which family they're from or which corner of the world they're hiding in." Vitale's voice was eerily calm. "I'll make them understand that some people are off-limits, even in their thoughts."
"Ever since the news about your weakness got out, every mafia group has been itching to make a move," Costa added, his tone serious, "Vitale, this kind of war isn't something you can fight alone."
"Family is everything. I get it. I loved my wife deeply, just like you love that girl. If you want to protect your bloodline, you have to take out your enemies first."
"Pay me back first," Vitale leaned back in his chair, looking relaxed but still threatening, "Then I'll think about when to make a move."
Victor, shocked, grabbed Vitale's arm and pulled him to a corner of the restaurant.
The crystal chandelier above cast flickering shadows over them.
"Damn it, are you seriously getting involved in this?" Victor whispered urgently in Eldoria's language, "Valeria's crew are lunatics! They've got government connections, international smuggling networks, and even ties to certain intelligence agencies. Sure, our Eldoria and Lumaria families combined are strong, but why let Costa use us?"
"I'm just checking things out," Vitale lit a fresh cigar, "But if it turns out they hired the people who killed my family..."
He blew out a smoke ring, "You know what I'll do."
"I know, God, of course I know," Victor almost growled, "But don't rush in blind. They've already wiped out three mid-sized families. Costa's only coming to you now because he's in deep trouble!"
"If you get dragged into this, everyone's at risk, including your Isabella!"
Vitale smiled, a dangerous yet charming grin, "They wouldn't dare start a war with me, and they definitely won't touch your people in Eldoria."
"By the way," he added with fake surprise, "they probably don't know yet that the Eldoria families are actually under my control, do they?"
Victor stared at him for a long time before muttering a curse under his breath, "Vitale, you're insane. If they knew they were messing with a madman like you, they'd regret ever being born."
When the two returned to the table, Costa was nervously wiping sweat off his forehead.
Vitale sat back down, crossing his legs like a collector appraising the value of a piece of art.
"Costa, what if I said..." he began slowly, "I don't just want the money, I want Simon's life too before I help you. Would you agree?"
Simon looked up sharply, then burst into laughter, "Come on, Vitale, you're so petty. Still holding a grudge over a kiss on the back of my hand? What does a beauty like Isabella even see in a guy like you?"
"Shut up!" Costa snapped at Simon.
He turned to Vitale, his expression more serious than ever, "No, I won't hand over Simon. But if you insist on a life..."
He paused, "You can take mine. Leave Simon out of it."
A long silence fell over the room.
Vitale closed his eyes, his fingers lightly tapping the table as if calculating some complex equation.
Everyone held their breath, waiting for his decision.
After a full three minutes, Vitale opened his eyes, a strange light flickering in his blue gaze—a look Victor had never seen before.
It wasn't anger or scheming, but something almost sacred, like determination.
"How many men do you need?" Vitale asked.
Costa visibly relaxed, "A hundred. But I don't just need gunmen. I need tech experts, hackers, forgery specialists, and intelligence analysts. My people can handle the dirty work, but we lack professional support."
"When can I get what I want?" Vitale countered, "The Reaper's crew, Yuri's full profile, and all of Valeria family's hideouts."
A wicked smile spread across Costa's face, "If you agree to work with me, you'll have info on the Reaper's squad leader within forty-eight hours. As for Yuri, give me a week."
Vitale picked up his cigar again, taking a deep drag, letting the nicotine swirl in his lungs.
As smoke drifted from the corner of his mouth, he said casually, "By the way, I've got a track in Seraphim. Just finalized a deal with a family there."
Costa frowned, confused, "A track? What kind of track?"
"A distribution route," Vitale shrugged, "They want it, and I'm thinking about whether to sell."
Victor whipped his head around, "Wait! Why didn't I know about this?"
"Friend," Vitale smiled, but his eyes were cold, "not everything I do is your business. Even Isabella doesn't know about this track."
That statement changed Costa's expression.
He realized Vitale was sending a message.
The resources and secrets he controlled were far greater and deeper than anyone could imagine.