Chapter 64
Vitale answered the phone in Eldorian, speaking so fast that each syllable hit like a bullet.
Isabella stood in a rundown corner of the greenhouse, understanding only a few stray words.
But she could read Vitale's change.
His shoulders tensed, his jawline tightened, and the softness in his blue eyes was replaced by a cold sharpness.
Isabella didn't interrupt him.
She just waited quietly, her fingers absentmindedly rubbing the glass paperweight on the workbench that held a preserved white rose.
Then she looked at Katya's portrait. She was truly a beauty, untouched by the passage of time.
Isabella thought Vitale's features resembled Katya's a bit.
Both were beautiful.
That's why she had fallen for him.
When the call ended, Vitale put down his phone and stayed silent for a full ten seconds.
When he spoke again, his voice was calm once more, "I have to go."
Isabella turned around, a bit confused at first, then nodded, "Okay, let's go."
Vitale looked down, typing quickly on his phone, the screen's light reflecting on his focused face.
Isabella quietly walked to his side, waiting for him to finish his messages.
She was good at reading the room.
They left the greenhouse together. As they locked the door, the brass key glinted faintly in the moonlight.
"I can come help tidy this place up when I have time," Isabella said softly, "it's beautiful, even if it's broken."
Vitale turned to look at her, the coldness in his eyes melting for a moment, "Thanks."
He placed the key in Isabella's hand, "If you see something you like, you can put it in here. My great-grandmother would've liked that. She always wanted this place filled with beautiful things."
Isabella held the warm key, "Really? This is your family's..."
"You're the first woman I've brought here," Vitale interrupted, his fingers gently brushing her cheek, "and the last. Why not?"
Those words made Isabella's heart skip a beat.
She opened her mouth but didn't know what to say.
Vitale didn't wait for her response. He took her hand and led her to the car. They paused at the door, glancing back at the greenhouse before getting in.
On the drive back, both were silent.
Vitale kept handling messages, his phone buzzing nonstop.
Isabella stared out the window at the passing night scenery, clutching the key tightly in her palm. The slight pain of the metal pressing into her skin kept her alert.
When they reached the villa, Vitale didn't get out of the car.
He just leaned over, kissed her forehead, and said with a rare hint of exhaustion, "Goodnight, Isabella."
"Goodnight," Isabella replied softly, watching him press the gas pedal. The black sports car vanished into the night like a panther.
Standing by the window, Isabella opened her hand.
The key glowed with an ancient sheen under the moonlight, as if it were a pass to the deepest part of Vitale's heart.
She remembered the light in his eyes when he spoke of Katya in the greenhouse.
That was the first time Isabella had seen such a vivid, vulnerable Vitale, no mafia boss mask, just a Lumarian man missing his grandmother.
She smiled, pressing the key close to her heart.
At the base of Tyson Group Tower, it was 1 a.m.
Vitale had just parked when he spotted the familiar dark blue Lamborghini.
The numbers on the license plate announced its owner.
Victor, his cousin and ally from Eldoria, and one of the few who dared show up on his turf without a heads-up.
The car door opened, and Victor stepped out.
At forty, authority was etched into his presence, but those blue eyes, so like Vitale's, were still sharp as a hawk's.
He wore a perfectly tailored dark gray suit, looking like he'd just left some fancy event.
They met under the streetlight, their shoulder-bumping hug carrying the raw strength typical of mafia men.
"Vitale," Victor said, his face showing no trace of a smile, "do you know how many days Simon's been in a hospital bed?"
Vitale headed straight for the building entrance, "I don't want to know, and I don't care."
He pressed the elevator button. "Cut to the chase. Why are you here? Was what you said on the phone true? Did Costa really call a meeting in Eldoria?"
Victor followed him in as the elevator doors slowly closed. "Yes, three family heads have agreed to attend. He wants to rebuild the alliance to take you down."
As the elevator climbed, both watched the numbers tick up in silence.
On the 37th floor, the top office was brightly lit. Vitale pushed the door open, revealing a huge floor-to-ceiling window with the city's night view beyond.
Neon lights stretched like veins in the darkness, and traffic flowed like blood through the streets.
Victor walked to the window, his back to Vitale, "Right now, you shouldn't be worried about Costa. You should be worried about that girl, Isabella, and her safety."
Vitale immediately pulled out his phone and typed quickly.
A few seconds later, Henley replied: [I'm outside her villa. Everything's fine. You can talk without worry.]
Seeing the message, Vitale's tense shoulders eased a bit.
He walked to the liquor cabinet, poured two glasses of whiskey, and handed one to Victor, "What's your stance?"
Victor took the glass but didn't drink.
He pulled a cigar from his suit pocket, expertly clipped it, and offered it to Vitale.
As the match flared, the orange glow lit up their faces.
"Of course, I'm on your side," Victor finally took a sip of whiskey, "what else would it be?"
Vitale exhaled a smoke ring, his eyes sharpening through the haze, "Really? So are we pretending you magically showed up in Lumaria right when Costa called his meeting, or do you want to talk about the real reason you're here?"
Victor laughed, but the smile didn't reach his eyes, "God, you're still so sharp."
He set down his glass, hands in his pockets, "I know why you hit Simon. It wasn't just because he kissed Isabella's hand. It's because he nearly betrayed you, right?"
The office fell dead silent.
Vitale slowly set down his cigar, his voice dangerously soft, "So that phone call of yours was a joke. You asked me to let Simon off, which means you already knew what he did?"
He stepped forward, "Victor, what pisses me off is that you sent a mole here and let him mess with my woman."
"I just found out!" Victor suddenly raised his voice, "Damn it, Vitale, you're always losing control. I have to check every possible threat. I can't let the whole family go down because of you!"
"Stay away from her," Vitale snapped, grabbing Victor's collar, his voice grinding through clenched teeth, "damn it, stay away from my woman."
Victor forcefully pried his hand off, smoothing his wrinkled collar, "That's exactly my point, Vitale."
He pointed out the window. "Look out there. This thriving world is built for people like us. Power, money, control, these are the real things."
Victor turned back, staring straight at Vitale, "Love? That's just a weakness. Look at our family's tragic history. Every fatal flaw, every major mistake, comes down to the same reason."
He paused, emphasizing each word, "Because of women. So, Vitale, you can't have a weakness. You can't let a girl become your Achilles' heel."
Vitale picked up his cigar again, taking a deep drag.
The smoke cast shadows on his face, "I'm not in the mood for your life lessons. Just tell me why you're here. Where's Simon now?"