Chapter 153
"Isabella must be the most important person in your heart," Victor comforted Vitale, "So what if you feel like you've let her down? Are you going to stop looking for clues that could save her just because you're afraid of letting her down? Are you going to watch her suffer even one more second in the hands of those bastards just to protect her friend's perfect life? Vitale, this isn't like you. First, save her. We can deal with everything else later."
Yeah.
Save Isabella first.
Everything else can wait until she's safe in his arms again. Only then will he face it, bear it.
Vitale let out a deep sigh. The confusion and pain in his eyes quickly faded, replaced by a cold determination.
"Yes."
"Right now, the only thing—the main thing—I need to do is find my Isabella."
"Bring her back, no matter the cost."
"Now, split up and move. Victor, take the team to Seagull Wharf as planned to gather intel. Bring the best gear. Remember, I want information, not trouble. Don't tip them off."
"Amboni, keep tracking the package source and the voice reconstruction. Also, keep an eye on Henley. Don't let him mess things up. And take care of Aria—she might be able to help."
"Yes, sir," the two replied in unison.
Vitale didn't say more. He walked to the table, picked up the half-empty bottle of whiskey, and drank the last of the amber liquid straight from the bottle.
The sharp, burning liquid seared its way to his stomach, bringing a near-masochistic clarity and courage.
Elliot's residence was in a quiet, heavily secured traditional wealthy neighborhood in Thalassia. Unlike Vitale's ancient castle with its heavy historical weight and hidden menace, this place leaned toward understated luxury and a polite social distance.
Clearly, Elliot was wary and uneasy about Vitale's sudden visit.
He had initially refused the meeting outright.
A notorious mafia boss paying a private visit to a politician running for city council?
That was practically handing his opponents the perfect ammunition to attack him.
But in the end, it was his wife Doria's plea that convinced him.
"Please," Doria said, her voice carrying a rare mix of anxiety and determination, "Isabella is one of my best friends. Vitale says she's been kidnapped, and this might even be tied to your name. Even if it's just to clear any suspicion or to help me confirm Isabella's safety, you should meet him. Listen to what he has to say. At home, privately, no one else will know. Please!"
Elliot knew Doria well. She rarely insisted like this.
Besides, in political battles, even the smallest stain could be blown out of proportion.
Maybe meeting privately, understanding the situation, and even having a chance to clear things up or handle it quietly was smarter than avoiding it altogether.
So, the meeting was arranged in the spacious but unassuming study of Elliot's home.
The thick curtains were drawn, blocking out any prying eyes.
When Vitale was ushered into the study by the butler, Elliot was already waiting.
He was dressed in well-tailored loungewear, in good shape, with a composed face. He didn't stand up, just gave a slight nod.
"Mr. Luca," Elliot began, his voice steady, "quite an unexpected visitor. Honestly, I'm curious. What brings you to me in private?"
He took the initiative, trying to draw a line, "Let me be clear. The recent rumors about you in Eldoria, and the gossip in certain Thalassia circles linking me to those negative stories about you, have nothing to do with me or my campaign team."
"Those are slanders spread by my political opponents or people with hidden agendas using my name. I hope you understand that."
Vitale stood in the center of the study, not sitting down right away.
He still carried the scent of whiskey and a faint trace of blood, clashing with the refined atmosphere of the room.
He nodded, his face showing no emotion.
"I know. I'm not blaming you, Mr. Martinez."
"I can tell those little games apart. I'm not here about Eldoria either."
"I think you know, or at least you'd know if you paid a little attention, that my main identity now is the head of Tyson Group, a businessman trying to run a legitimate operation."
"The fighting and killing stuff? That's behind me. At least, within the scope of legal business, it is."
Vitale's words were half-true, half-false, but he made his stance clear.
"I'm here today to ask you about something."
"It's about the woman I love, Isabella."
Just then, the study door was gently pushed open a crack.
Doria came in with a tray, holding a coffee pot and cups, clearly using the excuse of bringing coffee to enter.
Her body visibly stiffened, and the cups on the tray clinked softly, making a crisp sound.
"Oh my God!" Doria exclaimed, forgetting etiquette. She quickly stepped into the study, hurriedly placing the tray on a side table, her face full of anxiety and concern, "Mr. Luca, is my dear friend Isabella okay?"
She turned to Vitale, her eyes filled with genuine worry, completely different from Elliot's cautious scrutiny.
Vitale nodded to Doria, his tone slightly softer than it had been with Elliot, "Hello, Mrs. Martinez. I've heard Isabella mention you many times. She said you're a rare true friend here in Thalassia, and she really values your friendship."
"Isabella isn't doing well. Someone has kidnapped her and is threatening her."
Doria gasped, covering her mouth with her hand, her eyes instantly filling with tears.
Vitale continued, his gaze shifting back to Elliot, whose brows were tightly furrowed, "The kidnappers made demands. They want money, and they want me to release some of their people I've caught before. They gave me an anonymous overseas account to transfer a hundred million dollars to."
He stared directly into Elliot's eyes, speaking slowly and deliberately, "My tech team, while cracking the encryption linked to that anonymous account, found a vague but recurring code pointer. It leads to a variant of the name 'Elliot' in some encrypted form."
The study fell into complete silence.
Doria's eyes widened in disbelief. She turned sharply to Elliot, her voice trembling, "Honey, tell me you're not involved in this. You couldn't possibly have kidnapped Isabella. That's impossible!"
Elliot's face turned extremely grim the moment Vitale mentioned the account connection.
He immediately stood up, walked quickly to Doria's side, gently put his arm around her waist, guiding her to sit on a nearby loveseat.
"Sweetheart, calm down. Look at me," Elliot said softly, though his eyes were serious as he looked at Doria, "You know what kind of person I am. I'm a candidate who wants to do real good for this city."
"Kidnapping? Extortion? Risking my political career and my entire life for something like this? Do you think that's possible?"
Elliot gently patted Doria's hand, then looked up to meet Vitale's scrutinizing gaze, "Mr. Luca, my friend—if I may call you that for now—I swear on my honor, my family, and my future political career that this matter has absolutely nothing to do with me."
He spread his hands, showing a mix of helplessness and indignation, "You said it yourself, it's an anti-mafia organization. One of my campaign promises is to crack down hard on organized crime. You can't imagine how many enemies I have, how many people are dying to see me humiliated or taken down."
"They could easily use this kidnapping against you to deliberately plant traces pointing to me on a technical level. Their goal is to frame me, ruin my reputation, and even spark conflict between us so they can benefit from the chaos. It's a dirty trick, but in the swamp of politics, it's not uncommon."
Vitale listened quietly, his face showing no emotion.
Elliot's gaze was open and honest. As an ambitious and promising political rising star, he truly had no reason to provoke trouble with someone like Vitale, let alone get involved in kidnapping the woman he loved. That would be like shooting himself in the foot.
"Alright," Vitale said slowly, leaning back into the sofa, seeming to accept the explanation for now, "I'll believe you for the moment, Mr. Martinez. Your reasoning sounds plausible."
His tone then shifted, carrying an undeniable firmness, "However, since this matter—whether by coincidence or someone's deliberate design—has somehow been linked to you, and I must use every possible means to find Isabella and ensure her safety as soon as possible... I hope that, if the opportunity arises, and without compromising your own safety or larger interests, you can help me keep an eye out for anything unusual. Use your connections in politics or law to see if there's any information about an organization called Thorn of Justice, or any recent unusual money movements or gatherings of people. Any bit of info could be critical to me."
Doria nodded immediately, without hesitation, "Of course, Mr. Luca. If it helps Isabella, I'll do my best. I'll ask around with people I know, and I'll make sure Elliot keeps an eye out too."
However, Elliot's reaction was completely different.
His brows knitted tightly, and his face showed clear reluctance and discomfort.
He opened his mouth, seemingly ready to refuse outright.
But Doria gripped his hand tightly, her eyes full of pleading, "Isabella is my best friend. Her life is in danger right now. We can't just stand by and do nothing. Please, if we can help, even just a little."
Elliot looked at the desperate tears and genuine friendship in Doria's eyes, cursing inwardly.
He knew that if he flat-out refused now, it wouldn't just hurt Doria—it might also completely offend the dangerous Vitale sitting across from him.
Though Vitale said he believed him, who knew if he really did?
If he showed no willingness to cooperate, wouldn't that just deepen his suspicion?
He was caught in a tough spot.
Helping carried huge risks.
Not helping might lead to even worse consequences.
Finally, under Vitale's calm but intensely pressuring stare and Doria's pleading gaze, Elliot, with great difficulty, almost forcing the words through gritted teeth, said, "Fine. I'll keep an eye out. If there's a chance, within my ability, and ensuring it absolutely doesn't drag me or my campaign into this, I'll try. Is that okay?"