30

30

Aaron's POV

I spent the day in a controlled one-breath of anticipation, while I went over everything Tyomonov and I had been planning for it would be either Victor’s finest hour or his final hour. They had thought of every little thing, covered all bases. Tonight, my brother would fall into the trap I had been laying for months.

The forgeries Isabella had filched were flawless -- just harmful enough to be plausible, but with microscopic discrepancies ensuring that they would be exposed. If Victor showed them to prove my betrayal, he’d also unwittingly prove his own treachery.

"All set up for tonight, Boss," reported Diablo during our last co-ord-up. “We have our people throughout the perimeter and a confirmation: The laptop was there and we know that the guest list was made public.”

"And Victor's northern syndicate allies?"

"Three representatives confirmed. They're hoping Victor will show up with proof that warrants the termination of you and the promotion of him to Head of Operations.”

"Perfect. They'll witness Victor's humiliation firsthand."

“Boss, you really want Isabella there for this? When Victor everyone sees Victor fall down, she’s going to realize her part in all of it.”

And I’d been wondering the same thing all day. Isabella was about to witness the man she believed herself to love proved a traitor and a fool. She was going to figure out that I had forced her to betray someone who truly did care about her.

“She has to see the truth about Victor,” he said, finally. “She has to figure out who she’s been really helping.”

"Even if it destroys her?"

"I'd rather have an ugly truth than a beautiful lie.”

But as I spoke the words, I wasn’t entirely certain I believed them.

Late that afternoon I received one more piece of definitive information, which had me with my worrying cunt in my mouth. Victor hadn't only brought northerners to the meeting – he'd assured them with every breath that Aaron Romano would die tonight for his betrayal; he wouldn't be overthrown, he’d be killed.

“Hey, boss, up on the north end they’re not only expecting Victor to drop the goods,” Diablo described. “They're expecting him to bring your head on a platter. If Victor here fails tonight, these fuckers are going to take it out on him themselves for having wasted their time.”

So Victor wasn’t just gambling his reputation tonight — he was gambling with his life. He’d have to break promises to dangerous people who would destroy me in return.
Isabella was torn between two men, one of whom was soon to be dead, and she didn’t even know it.

That night when I arrived home, Isabella was sitting, dressed in a black cocktail frock, looking beautiful but sad in the front drawing room. She was staring out of the window with such a mournful look on her face that I nearly ditched all of my plans and started confessing everything to her.

“Beautiful,” I said, taking my place beside her.

"Thank you."

“Isabella, are you okay? You've seemed distressed all day."

"I'm fine. Just nervous about tonight."

“Do not be afraid. It's just a family business."

She turned to face me with those tortured eyes. “What if something happens tonight, Aaron? And what if things don’t turn out the way you hope?”

"What do you mean?"

"I don’t know... What if there are surprises? What if the people you trust ultimately betray you?”

I looked into her face and saw the struggle. She wished she could warn me, confess about the thing she’d done, but some obstacle would block her path.

“Isabella, if there is something that you think I should know about tonight’s meeting..."

"I don't know anything specific. I'm just worried about you."
"You don't need to worry. I can handle whatever comes."

"Can you? What if you are threatened by someone you know? Someone you'd never expect?"

“Are you trying to tell me something?

I almost thought she would break down and tell me everything. I could see her falter, could see the words poised on her lips.
Then she shook her head. "No. I'm just being paranoid."

"Isabella." I held her hands, which were freezing and trembling cold. “No matter what happens tonight, whatever the result, whatever challenge we may face, we will face it together. You know that, right?"

"Do we have to go? Can’t you just send someone else to represent you?”

"I have to be there. But if you'd rather not come..."

“No.” Her answer was strong, but I could see fear in her eyes. "I'll go with you. I should be there."

I heard the resignation in her voice, and it said everything I needed to hear. Isabella had no illusions about what was going to go on for her tonight, and she was doing it because she couldn't give Victor any other answer.

As we were getting ready to depart for the Palazzo Romano, I saw Isabella give herself a final inspection in the foyer mirror. She resembled someone getting ready to go to war, not to have a meeting in the business world.

"Ready?" I asked, offering her my arm.

"Ready."

But we were not ready, neither of us was. Not for what this night was about to cost both of us.

The trip to the palazzo was silent, her staring from the window as I ran my mental checklist over the confrontation. When we stepped out, there was no room in the lot for us and our vehicle had time to bring in quite the crowd for my alleged failure.

“This is more people than I anticipated,” Isabella said, her words strained with her nerves.

"Victor's always been dramatic."

Inside, the main conference room of the palazzo was crowded with family elders, putinari smartly dressed and representatives of the northern syndicate and various Romano associates. Victor was at the head of the table, every inch the monarch, setting the stage for some sort of presentation.

When Victor noticed Isabella and I walking in together, his smile diminished a bit. He’d likely planned to trot Isabella in as the reluctant witness to my crimes, but when we walked in together as a married couple, that plan went to pot.

“Aaron!" Victor shouted too warmly. "So glad you could make it. And you, Isabella, you’re looking pretty as ever.”

Isabella nodded curtly and remained silent. I could sense the tension rolling off her as we sat down at the table.

"All right, then!" Victor declared, now that they were all assembled, "let's get down to the nitty-gritty of what's to be done tonight."

The business meeting opened with regular updates and reports on territories and operations, but to me Victor appeared to be growing more and more impatient. He didn’t even dare look at the northern syndicate reps, at Isabella, desperate to get to his main event.

At long red last, after some half-hour of normal business, Victor rose.

"I have some pressing issues I need to bring to the family's attention, before we close on tonight's meeting," he said loud enough to be heard across the room. Issues that pertain to allegiance and fidelity to our present leadership.

Here it comes, I thought. The moment Victor had been leading up to for months.

I looked at Isabella who was whiter than the dead. She had balled her fists hard enough in her lap for her knuckles to drain of blood.

“Recent intelligence of a disturbing nature has come to my attention,” Victor continued, “Intelligence that indicates there may be grave violations of family trust at our highest levels.”

The room fell completely silent. All eyes were on Victor as he approached a briefcase he had left on a side table.

"Tonight," Victor announced, throwing open the briefcase theatrically, "I have evidence that shows Aaron Romano has been in secret negotiations with American crime families, bartering away Italian interests for personal gain."

Gasps of surprise and indignation spread around the room. The Northern syndicate's representatives leaned forward in interest whilst the family elders appeared shocked.

I remained impassive although inside I was watching my cleverly set trap snap into place to beautiful effect.

Victor handed me copies of the docs Isa had shot in my safe; the phony stuff I'd left there for just such an occasion.

"These here," Victor said, waving the papers, "paint a pattern of betrayal over several months. Aaron Romano has been working with the enemy, selling out our land and our people.”

He started handing out copies of the documents to everyone in the room. Isabella sat motionless next to me, staring at her shame being broadcast for all to see.

This was it. The moment that would decide everything yet to follow.

The person you betray, Victor was about to learn, is the one who has suspected it for days, who has been waiting for it to happen.