Too shocked, I fail to react instantly. Gathering my bearings, I nod. My heart drums away in my chest as a tremor runs across my body.

He pulls away, returning to his full height. "The USB?"

With shaky legs, I stand up. Even though I'm nowhere near his height and he easily towers over me, it still feels better to be on my feet.

"If I give you the drive," my voice is rough. I swallow hard, trying to sound more put together. "Will they stop hunting me down?"

He nods, his frustration dissipating as he thrusts his hands into his pockets. "I'll ensure they don't harm you. No prosecutor will be killed because of my men's mistakes."

"E-even if I've seen all the content inside of that drive?"

His eyes widen and his head snaps to me. "What?"

I chew my bottom lip and lift a shoulder.

"How?" he presses, his voice growing more urgent.

"I have my ways and resources." I crane my neck to meet his chestnut eyes.

"I was told the system can't be hacked."

I shrug. A slow smile threatens to curl my lips. Tim truly is one of the best computer programmers I've ever seen.

He opens his mouth but I don't let him talk, and instead explain, "I saw the data, read through it all that night... after I was done, I copied it to... t-two other USBs," I lie and scan his face. He seems invested enough in my explanation, not catching on to my little dishonesty.

"Half on each," I say and lick my bottom lip. I know it can cost me my life, but it's worth the risk. I cannot afford to lose all of it. With this tactic, I'll have two USBs containing the entire data.

I'll figure out a way to put it to use after this storm settles down. "I threw away the original one," I finish.

His mouth hangs open. "Thrrew away?" For the first time since our discussion, the way he rolls the r way harder than needed makes him sound like an actual Italian. I suppose he's truly unhinged.

I nod. "I destroyed it... burnt it and got rid of the evidence."

"And those two?" he raises his eyebrows.

I tell him where I've put them, the one that's inside the book and the other one inside a small figurine in my library.

I stay while he calls his men, repeating everything I told him while I sit on the armchair, patiently waiting. Now that I'm here, might as well use this golden opportunity to learn as much as I can about the Mariano crime family. He seems to believe my word, it's a good start, and should be enough to get some information about the mafia.

When he's done, he throws me a questioning look. I scoot to the edge of my seat, facing him. "Why did Aaron meet me that night?"

He shrugs. "Wanted to know you... get close to you, understand how you work... and then tell us. He wanted to impress us and raise his rank."

"He was your spy?" I gasp, anger ebbing into my mind.

"I never sent him on such a mission... he didn't even bother to consult with any of his seniors."

"So, you killed him," I say with disbelief, shaking my head.

"That's how it works. Mistakes are not forgiven, especially as reckless as his."

Again, the word reckless gives away his accent.

"You're a monster." I look him dead in the eyes. I really think he needs someone to tell him the truth. Maybe this behavior is common or accepted in his line of work, but it doesn't change how horrific it is.

He's past redemption, but maybe he still has a voice of consciousness in him. If he does, I hope it makes it hard as hell for him to take lives.

To my utmost surprise, his features brighten up, and his eyes glint with amusement. "I thought we were already settled on that. I'm far worse than your ordinary monster, Cerise."

I stare at him in disbelief. He can't be serious!

"Killing, taking lives-"

"La Cosa Nostra, our thing, it's what we do. Our rules are different from yours."

I huff, deciding against arguing with him. Is that how he consoles his non-existent soul?

"Let me give you a piece of advice, from a prosecutor to a criminal." I cross my legs as I rest my elbow on the armrest.

"Most cases that I win are all because someone's trusted person betrayed them. That consigliere of yours, the Russian who looks like she's at war with every human being in her hundred-mile radius, looks just like those who will turn on their boss the moment the chance is given. Take my word on it when I tell you, one day she's going to double-cross you and you'll end up in prison. I mean, come on, she has moved here, and yet managed to force you to talk in her language instead of learning Italian, doesn't that say anything about her character to you?"

I lean back into my seat, waving my hand. "There you go, an excellent piece of advice to save your ass from prison. And believe me, her betrayal will be in my best interest, but since you're claiming you're keeping me safe from the other mafias, heed this as your first and last warning."

He moves back into his chair, his mouth slack and eyes wide with amazement. The corners of his lips lift in a ghost of a smile but it vanishes instantly.

Hesitantly, he nods. "I'll keep that in mind." He plants his arms on his desk, studying me with intrigue as he tilts his head to one side. "Tell me, Cerise, have you ever read any of the cases your father has handled? I mean his notes, the information he gathers, and everything like that."

I furrow my brows. "No. Those are confidential."

"And you never thought of reading them, not once? Even after becoming a prosecutor?"

My body goes rigid, I lick my bottom lip and swallow hard. Even though I try to keep my composer and busy my mind with why he's asking this question, my brain reels to the other, forbidden direction.

"His study is locked most of the time and he doesn't like anyone to enter there..." my voice trails down.

The images of his angry face flash before my vision. I quickly blink them away, blocking the memory of the single time I entered his room and instantaneously ended up in the ER.

Thankfully Mariano the monster gangster doesn't seem to notice, lost in his own thoughts. "Do you know what syn means?"

I frown with confusion. Yesterday's event replays in my head. The woman kept calling him that. "No."

A corner of his lips quirks upwards. "It means son."

I scoff. "So? Just because she's older than you and calls you son, it doesn't mean you have to put up with her," fucking resting bitch face, and the attitude of the she-devil. I don't say the last part out loud, even though I very much want to.

So far, we've been getting along the best a prosecutor and a criminal can get along.

"She's my mother," he says, barely holding back his smile.

It takes a moment for me to comprehend his words and a moment more to realize the shit I've said about her. I gawk at him, feebly waving my hand in the door's direction and he nods.

"Biological mom?" I ask, my voice way pitcher than normal.

He clears his throat to drown his laughter. "She was the last time I checked."

As the shock subsides, heat rushes to my cheeks, my entire body grows hot up to the point where I'd much gladly accept to be evaporated. I hide my burning cheeks with my palms. I just talked shit about his mom. Fan-fucking-tastic. Another reason for him to kill me if things go sideways.

Fuck. Why can't I keep my damn mouth shut!

Uncomfortably, I shift in my seat, avoiding looking at him as I rub my forehead. I've never been able to handle embarrassment like a god damned adult either. "She's really pretty." I force a half-ass smile as if saying that will wipe out the nonsense I said. Nevertheless, his lips twitch upwards.

"Okay." I abruptly get to my feet.

His eyes follow my every movement like a hawk watching his prey.

"Good talk." I nod, rubbing my palms on my thighs, over the fabric of my jeans, shuffling my feet. "Productive small talk," I babble, spinning on my heels and almost tripping as I hurry around the chair. "See you around... Mariano Emilian- shit- I mean Emiliano Mariano." My voice sounds ridiculously shrill as I rush to the door.

Stupid Italian mafias with their stupid names.

"It's Elio," his voice colored with amusement comes from behind me, stopping me the second my fingers furl around the doorknob.

"What?" I turn to him, blinking with confusion.

"My name." He smiles, clearly thoroughly enjoying having me out of my game. Bastard. "Everyone calls me Elio," he finishes.

My agape mouth shapes an O as I nod like an idiot. "Right... good to know." And with that, I rush out.

Only when I reach the room they've given me does my brain override the embarrassment and I realize the key information he just handed to me.

Elio and Emiliano, both of who have been signing most of the transactions in the Fenice-related businesses, are the same person.

Now if that's not one of the most useful pieces of information I've unsheathed today, then I don't know what is.

❈ ☯︎ ❈

Hmm... I wonder if anyone saw that coming, lol

Do you guys think Cerise made a mistake by hiding the fact that there 2 more flash drives too? Or was it the right thing to do?

Anyways, I hope you enjoyed this chapter, don't forget to vote if you did and comment your thoughts.

Stay safe, lots of love, happy reading <3