CHAPTER 52: Decision.

CHAPTER 52: Decision.
A few days later…
Isabella was in front of the mirror, delicately adjusting her bracelet and admiring her maternity gown. She rubbed her now very visible baby bump more often than necessary, making sure that Luca who was standing behind her got a good glimpse.
He was dressing up also, just finishing rolling up his sleeves and making sure his watch was well placed. He had not bothered to ask any questions since the incident, and she was thankful for the doctor's advice to bring her in today for further checkup which was probably all he had been thinking about ever since.
“Are you done?” he asked, acting as if he hadn't been sneaking looks at her the whole time.
Isabella took her time before replying. “Isn't that obvious, mister?”
He chuckled and moved closer to her. “I don't understand why you're so tense about going for this checkup. The doctor already said you were fine, but that some tests were necessary.”
“I’m not tense,” she mumbled.
“You are,” he said with an amused smile tugging at his lips. “And you’re overreacting.”
She folded her arms and took a stubborn posture. “The doctor already came after your little panic episode and told you everything was fine. I was just tired, and the baby moved. End of story.”
“He also said we shouldn’t ignore anything unusual.”
“I don't see anything unusual,” she argued, enjoying the back and forth even if she would never admit it.
“Well I see plenty,” Luca replied quietly.
That made her pause for a moment. Then she looked away.
“Well, you’ve had your reassurance from the doctor already, can you just relax?”
“I’ll relax after the checkup,” he said.
“Fine…suit yourself,” she murmured before following him downstairs.
…
They met Riccardo downstairs. He was leaning casually against the wall near the staircase, arms folded, watching them with a weird expression on his face. His eyes roamed over them, taking in the intimate aura that followed their movement…his irritation increased even more.
“We’re heading out,” Luca announced absently, not even offering any form of greeting as he would have usually done.
Riccardo pushed himself off the wall.
“For the checkup?”
“Yes.”
Riccardo nodded in acknowledgement.
There was a brief pause. Then he added casually, “I’ve got something I need to handle in town.”
“Then handle it,” Luca said without even glancing at him.
Just like that…No questions or interest at all. 
Riccardo’s anger rose in his chest, burning even hotter as Isabella flashed him a cold, challenging stare.
“Come on,” Luca called to Isabella as he headed for the door, waiting for her to catch up so he could close the door behind her.
Riccardo watched them with disdain, then shook his head in disappointment as he went back to his room to prepare for his own appointment.
…
An hour later, Riccardo was driving towards the eastern part of the city, deep into Vazquez territory where he had no business being.
“Fuck you!” He yelled at a driver that had overtaken him roughly, then sighed in frustration as he realized that he hadn't actually been paying enough attention to the road.
“That fucking bitch,” he muttered bitterly. “Using that poor fool's head and he can't even see it. If only his father was here to see how foolish and weak his heir had become…a slave to a woman who is clearly up to something fishy.”
He kept on grumbling as he drove, ignoring the suspicious stares from the various Vazquez cartel thugs stationed all over the streets. He wasn't here for them, and he didn't care if they recognized him or not…as long as they didn't interrupt him before he got to his destination.  He had important business to discuss, because if Luca was willing to let all their years of hard work waste away, it was up to him to do what had to be done to restore order and sanity in the Moretti family.
A few minutes later, he pulled up to the front gate of Vazquez's mansion, where a group of armed guards quickly flagged him down.
“Step out of the car and state your business, Amigo!” A burly guard yelled from the gate.
Riccardo took his time, coming out slowly with his arms raised in the air.
“I don't want any trouble. I just want an audience with your boss.”
“You've got some nerve, gringo,” the guard replied angrily. “Turn around and walk away before I put a bullet in your fucking skull.”
Riccardo frowned, but he didn't move. He cursed Luca silently in his mind, knowing that his foolishness was the only reason why he was even here in the first place. On a normal day, he knew he would be the one in the threatening position.
“I just want a word,” he said calmly. “Trust me, your boss would want to hear what I have to say to him.”
The guard exchanged a confused glance with some of his comrades, then pulled out a walkie talkie from his pocket. He spoke into it for a while, his face frowning deeper and deeper as he listened to instructions from the other end.
Riccardo couldn't hear what was being said, but from the look on the guard's face, he knew he was going to get his audience.
“Search him,” the guard ordered one of his men. “Make sure he is clean before he comes in.”
Riccardo was pushed roughly against the car and patted down thoroughly. When they were satisfied that he posed no threat, he was escorted into the compound by two armed guards.
As they approached the main building, a small armed group began to approach from the side of the house, led by a woman he didn't recognize from all the top Vazquez lieutenants he knew. He hadn't expected Vazquez to be with them, but he couldn't help wishing he was actually.
As the group reached them, the guards ordered him to halt, while the lady scanned him from head to toe with icy eyes. 
After her assessment, she slowly lifted a pistol to his head and turned to one of the guards that had escorted him there.
“You fools can't even recognize Luca Moretti’s right hand man.”