Chapter 45
The plane landed smoothly in the darkness, its tires screeching against the runway.
As soon as Vitale turned on his phone, an incoming call flashed on the screen.
Victor Malone, his chatty cousin.
Vitale pressed accept and wedged the phone between his shoulder and neck while unbuckling his seatbelt.
"Are you there yet?" Victor's voice came through the receiver, with Eldorian shouting in the background.
"Just landed," Vitale gestured for Amboni to get the luggage while he headed for the cabin door, "Any progress on Costa?"
"That guy's too slippery!" Victor cursed, "We chased him to the docks, but he still got away. But we did get something unexpected."
Vitale settled into the waiting black sedan, elegantly crossing his legs and opening his briefcase, "Go on."
"We've got a lead on whoever hurt Valina Walsh and Damon Ward. It's Jackson Reed," Victor's voice suddenly turned serious, "This lunatic not only has connections with Costa, but worse, he's had his eye on your position for a long time."
Vitale's eyes sharpened as he signaled Amboni to investigate this person immediately.
Amboni understood and opened his laptop, fingers flying across the keyboard.
"God, you have no idea how difficult this maniac is," Victor continued, "He's openly saying he wants to replace you. Know what he said? He said the Luca family needs a new head."
Vitale let out a cold laugh, pulling out a document from his briefcase and quickly scanning it, "He's got quite the imagination."
He turned to the next page, his voice icy, "I've known about his ambitions for a while. I just didn't expect him to be so brazen about it."
"We did a preliminary investigation, but couldn't dig up much on his background," Victor said, "This Jackson appeared out of nowhere."
Vitale was about to respond when he suddenly spotted a familiar name in the document, his movements pausing slightly.
"But there's an interesting discovery," Victor continued, oblivious, "He's from some small family in Eldoria. He once harassed a girl named Isabella and was taken to court."
The pen scratched an abrupt mark across the document.
Vitale slowly set down the pen, his gaze deepening.
He hadn't expected this matter to involve Isabella.
Vitale's knuckles suddenly tightened, the phone case emitting a faint groan.
"Explain," his voice was cold enough to freeze someone to death, "How did Jackson harass Isabella?"
Victor paused on the other end, clearly taken aback by the sudden pressure, "According to police records, three years ago in Silverlight City. Jackson followed her home and staked out her apartment building for a whole week. Then it escalated to sending threatening letters every day, with disgusting content. The worst incident was when he tried to force her into his car after work."
Vitale closed his eyes, the image of their first meeting on the cruise ship surfacing in his mind.
Isabella's guarded blue eyes, her nervous expression as she searched for an exit in the crowd, and her stubbornness in making a deal with him, a stranger, rather than submit to Colt.
So it wasn't natural wariness, but a mark left by past trauma.
"The police didn't file charges?"
"Insufficient evidence," Victor's voice carried sarcasm, "Jackson's family had some influence locally. It was settled as an emotional dispute."
Vitale opened his eyes, violent undercurrents churning in them.
He finally understood why Isabella was always like a startled deer, why she preferred to disguise herself with coldness.
That night in the luxury suite on the cruise ship, her trembling yet forced composure, it all stemmed from a painful past.
"Are you listening?" Victor raised his voice.
"Sorry, I got distracted."
"Come on, you never get distracted during business," Victor keenly sensed something, "Tell me, what were you thinking about? By the way, didn't you say you were coming to Eldoria to see us? Eleanor Vaughn thinks about you every day."
Vitale signed the last document and closed his briefcase, "I can't get away right now. Give Eleanor my regards."
"The Lancaster family was raided by police the day before yesterday. I hope they don't rat you out."
"They wouldn't dare," Vitale's tone was certain, but his eyes glanced at his phone.
Isabella still hadn't replied to his messages.
"Can't you come see Eleanor in person?" Victor persisted, "You know how she feels about you."
"I've always seen her as a sister," Vitale rubbed his temples, "Victor, if you're only calling to talk about this..."
"Wait! I heard you're pursuing a woman?" Victor suddenly changed topics, his voice filled with disbelief, "Tell me it's not true! The red-haired devil of the Luca family is actually pursuing a woman? Aren't they usually the ones throwing themselves at you?"
Vitale chuckled softly and sent Isabella another message.
"You're talking too much today, Victor."
"So it's true? You're chasing a woman who doesn't love you?" Victor laughed, "What does this have to do with our current problems? And you actually warned me not to investigate her? Since when are you so careful?"
"Just remember what I said," Vitale looked at the still unresponsive chat interface, his frown deepening.
"Fine, I won't touch your forbidden zone," Victor finally got serious, "But what about Jackson? If he really teams up with Costa, things will get messy. You know I can't handle attacks from two directions."
Vitale pondered for a moment, his gaze sweeping over the night scenery flying past the car window, "Focus on dealing with Costa for now. Put Jackson on hold."
"What about Chris?" Victor asked, "I don't get it. The money he took is nothing to you. Why keep pressuring him?"
Vitale's eyes suddenly turned cold, his voice carrying bone chilling coldness, "Because he touched my woman."
"Victor, one more thing," Vitale's voice was eerily calm, "Send me all of Jackson's information, including places he frequents and people close to him."
"What are you going to do?"
"What I should have done long ago."
The other end fell silent for a long while before Victor said quietly, "I understand. Contact me if you need backup."
The call ended. Vitale leaned back in the leather seat, his fingertips unconsciously tapping the phone screen.
Amboni reported at the right moment, "Mr. Luca, we've confirmed it. Jackson does have connections with Costa. They met in Silverlight City last week."
"Notify all family members," Vitale's voice was cold as ice, "Full alert. If anyone dares to touch a hair on Isabella's head..."
He didn't finish, but Amboni already understood the unspoken threat.
Vitale stared at the rapidly receding street scene outside the window.
Neon lights cast shifting shadows on his stern profile.
Vitale finally understood why Isabella was always hot and cold, why she didn't dare easily give her heart.
Some people leave scars deeper than knife wounds.
But this time, he would never let anyone hurt her again.
Jackson must pay for what he'd done.
In the way he feared most.