Hey everyone! I can't believe RB is already at 900+ votes! It's all so surreal but I thank you all so much for your support!

This week's vote goal is the big K! That's right, if we reach 1K votes, I'll even consider updating TWO new chapters, so be sure to vote and comment!

Lots of love<3

Chapter 16

Zeke

"We have a mole in our organization."

A tense silence followed his father's proclamation.

It was a few days after the car explosion. Jared Flynn was alive, although he had to stay at the hospital to recover from surgery since a lot of shrapnel had been embedded in his skin.

They were currently in Pavel's office, Zeke, Francesco, and Charlie—the hacker. His father had called him and Francesco from different places in the house, with Charlie with him. Their advisers were in different parts of the city and Ivanov was at the police station, getting an update on the incident a few days ago which is why only he and Cesco were there. Father had said it was too urgent to wait for the rest.

"This, here, has all the information you need." Charlie said, holding up a small USB. "Someone has been deliberately messing with your system. Luckily, they're not so smart since they left their footprints all over the database."

Francesco raised an eyebrow. "How does that work?" he asked.

"Well, we know for a fact that no one hacked into your cameras from the outside." Charlie began to explain. "So, everything was done on the inside. I found the bread crumbs that your traitor left. Not only did they go through your security feeds, but they went through your personal files, your transactions—which, can I just say, WOW. An eight figure vacation home in Switzerland? Damn," Charlie said, fanning herself.

"Ms. Brooks," his father chided her. "Back to the issue?"

"Right, well your traitor seemed really interested in going through your major benefactors, your supporters and all that. Make of that what you will, I don't know anything else beyond that," Charlie said, raising her hands in the air.

"Do we have any idea on who it could be?" Zeke asked, looking at his father.

"I have a few who come to mind," his father replied.

"Who, batya? Who would dare to betray us?" Francesco asked, outraged.

Father shook his head, waving him off. "It's only speculation. But until I know more, it's best I don't say anything."

"We should be more careful with whom we talk about our business affairs with," Zeke said. "Their aim might be to learn the inner workings of our family in order to oust you and inevitably replace you."

"Agreed," Francesco said. "We should also be more careful with the added security we hire. Vet them more properly."

Their father nodded in agreement before turning back to Charlie. "Ms. Brooks, thank you for all your help thus far."

Charlie only shrugged. "Eh, I was bored anyways... plus, making money is always fun."

"I heartily agree with you, Charlie," father said, approval dancing in his eyes. "And I trust that you will not disclose any of what you've heard under my home to anyone else, yes?"

"You can definitely trust me to keep my mouth shut unless someone starts pulling my fingernails off me," Charlie said, placing a hand on her heart jokingly.

"Fair enough." Father gave a rueful smile while Francesco and Zeke did their best to suppress their laughter. "There is a driver waiting outside to escort you back to the Belluchi estate. Farewell, Ms. Brooks."

"See you guys around," said Charlie, saluting them before turning and leaving the room, shutting the door behind her.

Oddly, the door opened once again and Charlie stuck her head between the crevice. "I'll contact y'all if I find anything else," she added, saluting them once again before closing the door, making them laugh slightly.

"She's a fine woman, that Charlie Brooks," father said in admiration, Franesco and Zeke nodding in agreement before Cesco made a move to leave.

Zeke stood up to go as well before father raised a hand, stopping them. "There are a few more things we need to discuss," Pavel said, gesturing for them to sit back down.

Francesco raised an eyebrow. "What, batya?"

"The other families have agreed to call a truce over the land in California," their father said, referring to the 'war' that may have ensued because the families in America were fighting over land recently made available in Atherton. Acres of good land were going to be fought over. "A lot of the families have taken hits from the recent attacks. No one is ready for a fight."

Francesco and Zeke nodded in acknowledgement.

"Anything else, father?" Zeke asked. Their father obviously had one more thing to discuss but his hesitance was obvious.

"Verratti wants to throw a party, to celebrate your engagement to his daughter," Pavel said slowly, watching him cautiously. "It will be held in a week, the second Friday of March."

Zeke groaned internally. With everything going on, he had totally forgotten about his engagement to Verratti's daughter, Angelica Verratti. The only thing he had thought about the past few days had been tracking down the people who wished to harm Tatiana, and he barely had any leads.

He ran his hand through his hair, ruffling it slightly in frustration. "Where?"

"In his estate. Normal black-tie event. Some other families have been invited as well, including the Belluchi's and I heard that Lorenzo will also be attending." Father said.

"Lorenzo Castellano?" Francesco asked, stunned. "The godfather, Lorenzo Castellano?"

"Yes." Father nodded. "He is a good friend of Verratti's and will be attending to celebrate since he is the late Elena Verratti's older brother."

"Wait, back up," Francesco said. "Verratti's wife who was killed was Elena Castellano?" He asked, awed. Elena was the sweetest lady everyone back in their father's day ever met. No one knew why anyone would wish to harm her, much less kill her, and they never found out.

"Yes," Pavel confirmed. "But don't bring her up during the party, it is a sensitive topic."

"Now, Zeke, I know you have grown rather close to Tatiana Belluchi but the Verratti deal has fallen through. We cannot back out now." Father watched for his reaction.

Francesco glanced at Zeke sharply but he kept a straight face. "It won't be a problem," he said through his face smoothed to impassiveness. He knew that he should stay far away from her but he couldn't, especially when she was hurt and he was constantly worried about her. He couldn't help himself. When he was with her, it was as if nothing else mattered as long as she was there, happy and safe. He couldn't stop thinking about her. Her voice, her smile, her eyes... everything. There was just something about her that drew him to her like a moth to a flame.

"I sincerely hope so," their father said, standing up. "And Francesco?"

Francesco turned his gaze to him. "Yes, batya?"

"If I were you, I'd seal the deal with Ms. Bianca Ferruchi while you still have the chance before some other young man snatches her from you," Pavel said, making Francesco's jaw drop and Zeke's eyes widen. "She's a nice young woman who would be a good match for you."

"You—wait, y-you knew?" Francesco stuttered, taken by surprise.

"Oh please, Cesco, I am Don of this family, and a father." Father even looked a little insulted, buttoning his suit jacket before he started to walk towards the door. "Just because I let you live your lives, does not mean I don't know what's going on in them."

"I—" Francesco started, at a loss for words. "But what about you wanting one of us to marry Tatiana?"

"Oh, that?" Father stopped halfway from opening the door. "It no longer matters, Agnieska expressed that she wouldn't mind a marriage between our families but regardless of one, she has assured me that she will give us her unequivocal support," he said and with that, he left the room and shut the door behind him.

This time, even Zeke was stunned to silence. Next to him, Francesco still sat, jaw dropped and rendered speechless.

"This whole time..." Francesco said in amazement, still stunned.

"He knew this whole time," Zeke said as well, as if confirming it to him. "Congrats, frère." He clapped his hand on his shoulder in congratulations.

"Thanks," Francesco said, leaning back and slapping his face with one hand as if making sure this wasn't a dream. "I just can't believe it."

"Well, believe it brother," Zeke said, leaning back on the couch as well. "Father doesn't approve just anyone for us to marry."

"Yeah..." Francesco trailed off. "Since mama hasn't done anything to Bianca, she must not know about it." Francesco speculated, talking about Gina who has a ruthless streak of paying off Cesco's past girlfriends, saying that they weren't worthy of him.

Before Isla.

Zeke blinked, clearing his thoughts and coming back to earth before looking back at his brother. "I'm sure you'll figure something out," he said to him. "After all, father approves and she can't go against his word."

"Yeah." Francesco nodded but he still didn't look fully convinced. Cesco shook his head slightly, as if ridding himself of bad thoughts before turning to him. "What about you? What are you going to do?"

"About what?" Zeke pretended that he didn't know what he was talking about, prolonging the question that he didn't even know the answer to.

"You know what." His brother rolled his eyes. "What will you do about Tatiana? She's going to be at the party and I can hardly believe she's the type to sit back and watch while a guy she likes has his engagement party right in front of her when she knows it's arranged."

It was Zeke's turn to roll his eyes. "It was one time, Cesco. We were never together to begin with, I doubt she likes me that much to crash an engagement party."

Francesco scoffed. "By the way that you two look at each other, you'd think you've been in love forever," he said under his breath.

"That's ridiculous." Zeke rolled his eyes once again. "We've known each other for like what, two months?" It wasn't possible to love someone in two months, he thought and as he said it to himself, the possibility that he might actually love her boggled his mind.

"Hey, don't look at me, it's not my fault you guys make those little googly eyes at each other," he said, snapping Zeke out of his thoughts while making a face. "Next time, someone should take a picture of you two when you're staring at each other to prove it." He said jokingly.

Zeke chuckled quietly. "Whatever." He rolled his eyes and they both stayed silent, mulling over their own thoughts.

"So what will you do?" Francesco asked a few moments later, all humor gone from his eyes.

He closed his eyes, running both hands through his hair and sighing in frustration.

"I don't know," he said sadly, looking out of the windows to the view outside where the sun was setting as he sat, trying not to think about the angel who he might actually love.

Translations

Batya - father (informal term; Russian)

Frère - brother (French)

Don't forget to vote and comment! I'd really appreciate it <3