Chapter 128

Mena

I glanced over at Alessio, and then my eyes traveled to the folder and the taser. Isaac asked him what he wanted to know, but since I was already at this point-I had no problem taking the lead.

"Can I?" I gathered the courage to ask.

Alessio's brows shot up. "Why not?" he responded, to my surprise. I hadn't expected him to agree that easily.

I grabbed the folder and taser, then sat down on the chair, scooting myself closer to Isaac. I wasn't even sure about what I was going to do, but I knew that I had to do this.

It wasn't just about protecting Isaac from torture or about getting answers. It was about proving to myself and to everyone else that I could handle this.

If I could handle this, I could take on anything.

"Either do it yourself or just kill him already!" Gian yelled from the back, losing his patience.

I turned just in time to see Alessio raise his hand to silence his brother, then his gaze shifted back to me, giving a slight nod toward Isaac, signaling me to proceed.

I leaned in closer to Isaac. "Just answer the questions. It'll make things easier for both of us," I whispered, getting a small nod in response.

"Are you really an undercover agent with the MISA?" I asked, raising my volume this time. As long as he understood my words, he did not have to suffer.

"Yes," Isaac replied.

"How long have you been an agent?"

"Five years."

I thought about how young he must have been when he started, only around twenty-two. Jessica said he had been preparing for an operation like this for years-he had wasted years of his life only to end up in this chair, and it was all because of me.

"What is Operation Iron Web?" I continued, flipping through the folder on my lap.

I had to keep it together. If I continued blaming myself, I would go crazy.

Isaac chuckled lightly. "It says so in that thing on your lap," he said. "How did you get it anyway?" he somehow turned the investigation around even after I begged him with my eyes not to. I really didn't want to use the taser in my hand or that scissor on the ground for that matter.

"Gift from your ex-wife," I grew a smile.

"Just answer the question," Alessio snarled, equally as irritated as Gian had sounded before.

"Iron Web…it's about gathering intel, putting you in an iron-strong web you can't get out of, and gaining enough control to either lock you behind bars or make you the government's puppet," Isaac explained as if he were reading from a textbook.

I felt a chill as he described the operation. It was like something out of a spy novel, only it was real life.

"What information have you 'passed on' about us?" Alessio continued.

"Nothing," Isaac responded, his face firm.

"Bullshit!" Alessio growled.

"It isn't," Isaac spoke back, a remorseful smile tugging at his lips. "When I found my way in, I was ready to take you down-but then I began spending time with you, and I couldn't."

I peeked at Alessio, trying to see some reaction, but his face was unreadable.

"I couldn't give them anything because everything became too real," Isaac said. "The bond I built with you and Donni? Not even MISA could make it worth losing that, so I didn't give them anything."

Donni scoffed from the back, the sound expressing more hurt than amusement.

It was clear Isaac was telling the truth, or at least part of it. However, it seemed unlikely that the MISA would let him operate for so long without extracting some useful information.

I watched the tense eye contact between Alessio and Isaac.

Isaac tried to make him believe, while Alessio tried to expose his lies.

"Do you know what I think happened?" Alessio squinted. "I think your lack of information made them doubt your position within the organization, and you had to give them something."

Isaac swallowed hard, his Adam's apple bobbing as I wondered where this conversation was headed.

"What did you give them?" Alessio pressed.

Isaac insisted, "I didn't give them anything."

My eyes followed Isaac's as he glanced toward Gian. It looked an awful lot like Alessio was trying to make him confess that he had something to do with his uncle's death-and just as I knew, Isaac also knew that if he were to find out, Gian would lose his cool.

"So your daughter's name is Sam?" Alessio shifted tactics, bringing up his daughter.

The color drained from Isaac's face as his eyes widened in fear. "I-I swear, I didn't tell them anything," he stammered. "I swear."

"But you texted Anson to tell him to run…because we were coming?" Alessio accused him further.

"I did it to protect you!" Isaac claimed. "That day you were going to kill Anson, it was me who removed those bullets from your gun. When I told him to run, I did it because I was trying to protect you-and even when you executed him, I managed to get MISA off your back!"

For a moment, I felt dizzy in my head because I was unsure whether Isaac, who went so far to protect Alessio, truly belonged in that chair.

He didn't have to protect him, he wasn't supposed to do that-yet he did.

"I also know you texted Anson to tell him where Stefano and Gian would be that day…was that also to protect me?" Alessio spat, looking disgusted.

Okay, on second thought, maybe he did deserve to sit in that chair.

I felt my heart sink, knowing that small detail had yet to reach Gian's ear. At the speed of light, I spun my head to look at him.

"W-What…" he opened his mouth, looking from Isaac to Alessio as his confusion turned into anger. "Wait, wait, what are you saying?" his voice rose in anger. "Did he…"

Then he glared at me. "We came here to torture him, and now we're having tea time," Gian snarled, probably one second away from calling me a 'brainless dumb bitch,' because somehow all of this was on me.

"I'm sorry, Mena-but this is not your family's campsite anymore. This is real business. Step aside."

Gian's hand moved swiftly to his side, pulling out his gun. He aimed it at Isaac as he stepped forward, and I didn't hesitate to stand in front of him, my body shielding Isaac.

I had done it with Anson before, and I would do it again.

If he would kill him now, we would have nothing. The interrogation was far from over. Before Alessio could interfere, I shook my head at him, wanting him to stay put.

"Mena," Gian spoke my name in a daring tone. "I always feel sorry for you, I like you, let's not ruin it-step aside."

"No," I said, standing my ground. "You need to step aside. This isn't about you right now."