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As if on cue, my phone buzzes on the bedside table. The call I've been dreading. The Capo. I sigh and reluctantly pull away from Isabella, reaching for the device.
"Stefano," the Capo's voice booms on the other end. "I need you to take care of business in Chicago. Felix Carlisi has gotten away long enough for the murder of our underboss and the recent war he brought to our door. It is time to settle the score. You know what I expect."
I clench my jaw, sensing Isabella's worried gaze on me. Of course, the moment of peace couldn't last. It never does.
"Understood, Capo," I say, trying to keep my voice steady. "I'll leave immediately."
"Good," he replies, hanging up without another word.
With a heavy heart, I turn to Isabella, her eyes wide with concern. "I have to go to Chicago," I tell her. "Take care of Felix Carlisi."
"What?" she asks. "Why can't someone else do it?"
"Because, Isa. I'm the underboss. The Capo has entrusted the important tasks to me."
She looks away from me, into the distance. "What about me?" she asks. "What will I do here without you?"
"You'll come with me," I declare, without second thought. The Capo hasn't clarified what I am to do with her, so I can bend the rules a little.
Her eyes widen, and she hesitates for just a moment before responding. "Are you sure? I don't want to be a burden or get you in trouble."
"Never," I assure her. "I can't trust anyone here to keep you safe, not in the way you deserve. I refuse to let you be locked up in a room again. And I... I want you with me."
"Alright," she agrees quietly, and quickly gets up to pack her things as I do mine.
We make our way to the private airstrip, where a sleek jet awaits us. Once we're settled in the plush leather seats, Isabella leans over and places her hand on my thigh. "You've been quiet since we left the compound," she says softly.
"Sorry, just thinking," I admit.
"About what?"
"Everything," I confess with a sigh. "This mission, the Capo, you..."
"Talk to me, Stefano," she urges, her voice gentle yet insistent.
"Okay," I start, taking a deep breath. "The Capo wants Felix Carlisi dead for the murder of our underboss and for the war he brought down on us. But I can't help but wonder if there's more to it than that."
"Like what?" Isabella asks, her curiosity piqued.
"I don't know," I admit. "It just feels... off. There's something else at play here, I'm sure of it."
"Maybe we'll find out once we're in Chicago," she suggests, trying to reassure me. Her fingers trace light circles on my thigh, sending shivers down my spine.
"Maybe," I agree, though my gut tells me that whatever we find in Chicago might only complicate things further.
"Stefano," she says, her voice sultry as she leans in closer. "No matter what happens, we'll face it together, okay?"
"Okay," I nod. I want to lean over and kiss her, but I can't with the crew watching over us. I gently remove her hand and gesture at the airhostess. Isabella nods, steps away from me, and goes and lies down in the cozy chair at the back of the plane.
As our private jet descends, I gaze out the window at the Chicago skyline, my heart heavy with the weight of the task ahead. Isabella's soft voice breaks through my thoughts as she walks over to where I am and takes the seat next to me.
"Stefano," she says, turning to face me in her seat. "I couldn't sleep. I was thinking about what you said and before we do anything, I think we should hear Felix's side of the story."
Her suggestion makes sense, but going against the Capo's orders is inviting the devil to dine with you. Still, I can't ignore the nagging feeling that something isn't right about this hit.
"During the war," she continues, "Felix sent a message to Capo Conti. He said he was here only to declare his innocence and asked the Capo to stop attacking his people in Chicago. The war was in retaliation to what the Capo started, Carlisi claimed."
"I remember," I admit, recalling the meeting afterward, once the attack was over, where the Capo had dismissed Felix's plea as a desperate lie. "But the Capo didn't believe him."
