Chapter 4 - Bianchi’s Last Bargain
Bella finished her shift at midnight.
The employee parking lot was nearly empty.
She heard footsteps behind her.
“Isabella.”
She turned.
Bianchi stood beneath a broken streetlight.
Bella stopped.
“You.”
“I need you to listen.”
“No.”
She reached for her phone.
Bianchi stepped closer.
“Please.”
“Stay there.”
“I’m not going to hurt you.”
“That’s usually something people say immediately before doing the opposite.”
Bianchi raised both hands.
“I need Alessandro to listen.”
“Call him.”
“He’ll kill me.”
Bella stared.
“So you came to me?”
“He listens to you.”
“No, he doesn’t.”
Bianchi laughed bitterly.
“He changed a decision because you touched his wrist.”
“That was different.”
“He spared me because of you.”
“He told you to leave.”
“And I should have.”
Bianchi looked exhausted.
“I made another mistake.”
“What?”
“I went to Romano.”
Bella’s stomach tightened.
“Why?”
“I thought he could protect me.”
“And?”
“He wants Alessandro dead.”
Bella immediately dialed.
Bianchi grabbed her phone.
Bella slapped his hand away.
“Touch me again and you’ll discover why Alessandro listens to me.”
Bianchi backed off.
“He has someone inside Moretti’s organization.”
Bella froze.
“Who?”
“I don’t know.”
“You expect me to believe that?”
“I only know the meeting happens tomorrow night.”
“Where?”
Before Bianchi could answer, headlights flooded the lot.
A black SUV stopped.
Vinnie stepped out.
He saw Bianchi.
His entire posture changed.
“Bella. Move.”
Bianchi went pale.
“Wait.”
Vinnie advanced.
“I said move.”
Bella stepped between them.
Vinnie stopped.
“Seriously?”
“He has information.”
“He has about five seconds to pray.”
“Vinnie.”
“You’re not doing this again.”
“Apparently I am.”
Bianchi blurted, “Romano has a traitor inside your crew.”
Vinnie stopped.
“What?”
“He’s meeting him tomorrow.”
“Where?”
“Old Fulton warehouse.”
Vinnie grabbed Bianchi by his jacket.
“You lying?”
“No.”
“Vinnie,” Bella warned.
He looked at her.
She pointed.
“Restaurant policy.”
“We’re in a parking lot.”
“Still counts.”
Despite himself, Vinnie laughed.
Then another vehicle arrived.
Alessandro stepped out.
His gaze immediately found Bella.
Then Bianchi.
“What happened?”
Bianchi swallowed.
“Alex.”
Alessandro approached.
Bella saw the tattoos across his hands as he removed his gloves.
His expression was frighteningly calm.
“You were given a chance.”
“I know.”
“And you wasted it.”
“I can give you Romano.”
Alessandro stopped.
Bianchi explained everything.
When he finished, Alessandro looked at Bella.
“Go home.”
“No.”
“This isn’t Lucia’s.”
“I noticed.”
“This is dangerous.”
“So was grabbing your wrist.”
“That was different.”
“Everybody keeps saying that.”
Alessandro stepped closer.
“Bella.”
“No.”
He lowered his voice.
“Please.”
That stopped her.
Alessandro Moretti did not say please.
Bella looked at Bianchi.
Then Vinnie.
Finally Alessandro.
“Promise me something.”
“What?”
“No killing.”
Bianchi stared at her like she had asked winter to stop being cold.
Alessandro’s expression revealed nothing.
“I can’t promise that.”
“Then I’m staying.”
“Bella—”
“Promise.”
Their eyes locked.
Finally Alessandro exhaled.
“No killing unless somebody leaves me no choice.”
Bella considered it.
“I hate that answer.”
“It’s the best you’re getting.”
“Fine.”
---
The following night, Alessandro and Vinnie went to Fulton warehouse.
Police arrested three men before midnight.
One of them was Romano’s lieutenant.
The other was Alessandro’s trusted operations manager.
The third was Salvatore Bianchi.
Bella learned about it the next morning.
She found Alessandro waiting outside Lucia’s.
“You arrested Bianchi?”
“He broke several federal laws.”
“So have you.”
Alessandro looked mildly offended.
“Allegedly.”
Bella laughed.
Then she noticed his expression.
“What?”
“Romano escaped.”
Her smile disappeared.
“And?”
“He knows Bianchi talked.”
“And he knows about me.”
Alessandro said nothing.
Bella understood.
“Oh.”
“I’m assigning security to you.”
“No.”
“Not negotiable.”
“I have a job.”
“Keep your job.”
“I’m not having six men following me carrying guns.”
“Two.”
“Zero.”
“Four.”
“That isn’t how negotiation works.”
“It is in my world.”
Bella stepped toward him.
“Then maybe your world needs better rules.”
Alessandro stared down at her.
“You’re impossible.”
“And yet you keep coming back.”
“Yes.”
The word came too quickly.
Bella’s expression softened.
“So why do you?”
For once, Alessandro had no clever answer.
He looked at her.
“Because when you look at me, you don’t see Moretti.”
“What do I see?”
“A man who needs someone to tell him no.”
Bella smiled.
“You desperately need that.”
He touched her cheek.
She didn’t move away.
Then his phone rang.
Vinnie.
Alessandro answered.
His expression changed immediately.
“When?”
He looked at Bella.
“I’m coming.”
He disconnected.
“What happened?”
Alessandro’s face had gone cold.
“Marco’s hospital room.”
Bella’s blood froze.
“What about it?”
May you like
“Someone broke in.”
---
