Chapter 6 - The Trap Inside The Family
The plan was simple in theory.
Messy in reality.
Ronaldo would publicly announce his return to the old Falcone structure.
He would claim that his family was rebuilding.
He would invite every major player to a private meeting.
Isabella would appear.
She did.
At midnight.
She entered the hotel ballroom dressed in black.
Seventy years old.
Perfect posture.
Silver hair.
A face without a single visible emotion.
Ronaldo stood waiting.
"My son."
He looked at her.
"Mother."
She smiled.
"You came to your senses."
"No."
He took a drink.
"I became tired of pretending."
She looked around.
"Where is Elsa?"
"Safe."
"Is she?"
He didn't answer.
Isabella laughed.
"You always did have terrible instincts about women."
Ronaldo's eyes hardened.
"That's funny."
"What?"
"Coming from you."
She walked toward him.
"I built this family."
"You poisoned it."
"I protected it."
"You murdered my father."
Her expression didn't change.
"Your father was weak."
"You killed my wife."
"No."
"You ordered it."
"I ordered her disappearance."
"Same thing."
"No."
Isabella leaned closer.
"I saved her life."
Ronaldo froze.
"Why?"
"Because I thought your brother would kill her."
Matteo stepped from the shadows.
"She didn't."
Isabella looked at him.
"You betrayed me."
"I learned from the best."
Her eyes narrowed.
"Where have you been?"
"Living."
"Running."
"Surviving."
She laughed.
"You think this ends well?"
Elsa entered.
Isabella's expression changed.
For the first time, fear appeared.
"You."
Elsa stood beside Ronaldo.
"Me."
"You should have stayed gone."
"I tried."
Isabella looked at Ronaldo.
"You let her find you."
"No."
Ronaldo took Elsa's hand.
"She found me."
The room became silent.
Isabella looked at their joined hands.
"You have no idea what you've done."
Elsa answered:
"We know exactly what we've done."
She placed a flash drive on the table.
"Every account."
"Every payment."
"Every name."
Isabella stared.
"You think evidence matters?"
"Yes."
"People like us don't go to prison."
Elsa smiled faintly.
"People like you do."
The doors opened.
Federal agents entered.
Isabella's face hardened.
Ronaldo looked at Elsa.
She had arranged it.
Not him.
Her.
Every piece of evidence had been delivered anonymously.
Every transaction had been verified.
Every witness protected.
Isabella stared at her.
"How?"
Elsa answered.
"Your son taught me how."
Isabella looked at Ronaldo.
"You would destroy your family."
"I am ending what you called family."
She stared at him.
Then smiled.
"There's still one thing you haven't considered."
"What?"
She pressed a button.
Every screen in the room lit up.
Images of Nora, Elsa's sister.
Bound.
Alive.
A voice came through the speakers.
"You surrender?"
Elsa went pale.
Isabella smiled.
"The game isn't over."
The lights went out.
Gunfire erupted.
Chaos.
Ronaldo grabbed Elsa.
"Down!"
Glass shattered.
People screamed.
Sal fired toward the balcony.
Matteo dragged Lena behind cover.
The room became smoke.
Then Elsa disappeared.
Ronaldo spun.
"Elsa!"
Nothing.
"ELSA!"
He ran toward the back doors.
A man tackled him.
Ronaldo fought free.
Sal shouted.
"Sir!"
Ronaldo heard tires outside.
He rushed through the exit.
A black SUV disappeared into traffic.
Elsa was inside.
His face changed.
"Find her."
Sal shook his head.
"Sir, we lost the vehicle."
Ronaldo stood in the street.
He had never felt helpless before.
Not like this.
Because he finally understood.
The people who wanted him dead had never really been targeting him.
They had been targeting the woman who could destroy them.
Thirty minutes later, his phone rang.
Unknown number.
He answered.
Isabella's voice.
"You have twelve hours."
"Where is she?"
"Somewhere you won't find."
"If you touch her—"
"You've already said that."
Ronaldo closed his eyes.
"What do you want?"
"Your company."
"Fine."
"Your accounts."
"Fine."
"Your freedom."
"Fine."
"Your loyalty."
Ronaldo said nothing.
Isabella laughed.
"You finally understand."
"Do I?"
"You can have Elsa back."
Ronaldo looked at the city.
"What do I have to do?"
"Kill your brother."
The line went dead.
Ronaldo turned toward Matteo.
His brother was standing across the street.
"Don't."
Matteo's voice was calm.
"You aren't killing me."
Ronaldo stared.
"Then what?"
"We find her."
May you like
Matteo stepped closer.
"Together."
