Chapter 127 The Rival’s Daughter

Chapter 127 The Rival’s Daughter
Evelyn's Pov

I was sitting at the café downtown, trying to have a normal afternoon away from all the FBI drama, when a woman walked up to my table. She was beautiful in that way that made other women feel immediately insecure and she wore an expensive coat and had dark hair that fell perfectly over her shoulders.

"Evelyn Carter," she said and it wasn't a question.

"Do I know you?" I asked.

"No but I know you," she said and pulled out the chair across from me without waiting for an invitation. "My name is Isabella Moretti."

The last name hit me immediately because everyone in our world knew the Morettis and they were one of the rival families.

"What do you want?" I asked.

"To talk about Gyran," Isabella said.

My stomach dropped.

"What about him?" I asked.

"We used to be together," Isabella said. "Five years ago when he was working private security in Italy before he joined the Junkies."

I stared at her because Gyran never mentioned anything about Italy.

"I don't believe you," I said.

Isabella pulled out her phone and scrolled through some photos before turning the screen toward me. There was Gyran, younger and smiling, with his arm around Isabella in front of some old European building.

"We were together for almost two years," Isabella said. "It was serious, and then one day he just left with no explanation, and I didn't hear from him again until I saw his name in the FBI reports."

"Why are you telling me this?" I asked.

"Because you deserve to know who you're with," Isabella said. "Gyran has secrets that he's never told you."

"Everyone has a past," I said.

"Not like his," Isabella said. "Do you know what he did in Italy and why he really left?"

"No," I said quietly.

"He was involved in something bad," Isabella said. "Something that got people killed and he ran before anyone could connect it back to him."

I wanted to tell her she was lying but something about the way she said it made me think she believed it.

"Why should I trust you?" I asked.

"I've been given immunity by the FBI in exchange for testimony about organized crime," Isabella said. "Agent Webb approached me three weeks ago and offered me a deal, and I told them everything I know, and I walked away clean."

"You're working with the FBI?" I asked.

"Yes," Isabella said. "And everyone connected to the Junkies is going to burn."

"What do you want from me?" I asked.

"I want you to know the truth," Isabella said. "Ask him about Marco Bellini and ask him what happened in Rome five years ago."

She started to walk away but I grabbed her arm.

"Wait," I said. "Who is Marco Bellini?"

Isabella looked at my hand and then back at my face.

"He was my brother," she said quietly. "And Gyran killed him."

She pulled her arm free and walked out.

I sat there for twenty minutes just staring at nothing because if what Isabella said was true then Gyran had been lying to me about everything.

I pulled out my phone and texted him.

"We need to talk. Now."

He responded five minutes later. "Can't right now. FBI stuff. Tonight?"

I typed back "Fine."

When Gyran finally came over that night, he looked exhausted, and he kissed me before collapsing on the couch.

"Long day," he said.

"Yeah," I said. "I need to ask you something."

"Okay," he said.

"Who is Marco Bellini?" I asked.

Gyran went completely still and all the color drained from his face.

"Where did you hear that name?" he asked.

"Isabella Moretti," I said. "She came to see me today and told me you two used to be together and that you killed her brother in Rome five years ago."

Gyran closed his eyes and rubbed his face.

"Is it true?" I asked.

He was quiet for a long time, and when he opened his eyes, I saw fear.

"It's complicated," he said.

"That's not an answer," I said.

"I know," Gyran said. "But I need you to understand that everything I did back then I did to survive."

"So you did kill him," I said.

"Yes," Gyran said. "I killed Marco Bellini."

The room felt like it was spinning and I stood up.

"Why didn't you tell me?" I asked.

"Because I was afraid," Gyran said. "I was afraid you'd look at me exactly the way you're looking at me right now."

"Tell me what happened," I said.

Gyran walked to the window.

"I was working private security for a businessman in Rome," he said. "Marco worked for a rival company, and we kept running into each other, and at first it was professional, but then it got personal, and he started making threats."

"What kind of threats?" I asked.

"The kind that meant I was either going to kill him or he was going to kill me," Gyran said. "So one night I made sure it was him instead of me."

"And Isabella?" I asked.

"I didn't know she was his sister until after," Gyran said. "We met a few months later, and by the time I found out, I was already in love with her, and when she started asking questions, I knew I had to leave."

"So you ran," I said.

"Yeah," Gyran said. "I ran and ended up here and joined the Junkies and thought I could leave all of that behind."

"But you can't," I said. "Because Isabella is here now and she's working with the FBI."

Gyran turned to look at me.

"I know," he said. "And I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner."

I wanted to forgive him but I couldn't because everything I thought I knew was built on lies.

"I need time," I said.

"Okay," Gyran said and walked to the door.

He left and I sat down and cried because the man I loved wasn't who I thought he was.