Dangerous Secrets: My Mafia Stepbrother

However, Clark’s advances were in vain because Isabella pushed him away. It was only then that Isabella realized she couldn’t accept intimate contact with other men. Clark’s kisses, even just a peck on the cheek, made her stomach twist, her body grow stiff, and she had to control her breathing to calm herself.

“Are you okay, Isabella?” Clark noticed her paling complexion and couldn’t help but worry.

“I’m fine, maybe just not feeling well,” Isabella replied.

“Well, let’s head back early. You need proper rest,” Clark suggested, guiding Isabella outside. “We’ll have plenty of time for shopping, and once we’re in Canada, there won’t be any danger, and you can go out anytime.”

Listening to Clark describing their future together made Isabella’s stomach churn even more. The food she had forced down earlier now seemed to battle in her stomach, making her want to throw up. She didn’t understand her resistance to Clark. Was it because someone else was on her mind?

As she walked, she felt weak and had to rely on Clark’s support. It was a far cry from being in Emanuele’s arms, a sensation she longed for. She resisted the intimacy with Clark.

…

“We’ve lost some of our best brothers!” Emanuele roared, his tone filled with grief and anger. If he saw their enemies right now, he’d tear them apart.

Several sleepless nights had left Emanuele with bloodshot, reddened eyes, and he seemed as aggressive as a wild beast.

“We’re all grieving,” James replied, clenching his jaw to control his emotions.

“What should we do next?” he asked Emanuele.

“We must find Frederick’s hideout as soon as possible,” Emanuele said through gritted teeth. Only then could he rip Frederick apart, tear out his guts, and shatter his spine, making him crawl like a dog on the ground.

“Those Sicilian guys are keeping their mouths shut, but that’s fine. Our target area has narrowed down,” Phillip said, focusing on the red dots they’d marked on the map.

Emanuele stared at that red dot. Frederick wasn’t in Chicago anymore; he was in New York. It was ridiculous that he’d invaded Emanuele’s territory and now turned into a cowardly turtle, hiding from him.

But they only had a handful of people in New York, and finding Frederick’s whereabouts in the entire city wouldn’t be a simple task.

Nonetheless, he’d find him as soon as possible. After the wedding, he’d go to Frederick’s doorstep and deliver a bullet engraved with his name.

“Get the investigation going. I hope to find him within two weeks.”

“Boss, you could still put an end to all of this,” Phillip suddenly spoke.

“The war can’t stop,” Emanuele said coldly.

“I meant the wedding.”

Wedding? Emanuele suddenly realized that Isabella’s wedding was just three days away. Time had passed quickly, and in the blink of an eye, a week had gone by.

And now, Clark had already arrived at the upscale apartment. He should be busy building a relationship with Isabella, right? Just the thought of it sent Emanuele into a frenzied panic. It felt like the blood in his veins was boiling, making him want to kill someone.

At this moment, Emanuele’s face turned as dark as it could get. “She’s getting married, what’s it to me?”

“I know it’s hard to change your decision,” Phillip sighed. “But… damn it, Boss, I really don’t want you to regret this.”

While Phillip and Emanuele had a superior-subordinate relationship in the office, they were close friends beyond that, often drinking and going to nightclubs together. But Phillip’s words now only fueled the fiery rage within Emanuele.

“Shut your damn mouth! I don’t have time for this now!” Emanuele shouted.

“If you don’t have time to care about Isabella now, then fine. But when she’s really married, you’ll live a lifetime of regret,” Phillip said, growing desperate. He had taken the liberty to speak up because he genuinely didn’t want to see Emanuele regret this decision.

“Get out, I’ll figure this out on my own!” Emanuele told Phillip, who immediately turned and closed the door behind him.

In the office, Emanuele was left alone, and his anger had dissipated. A profound sadness had spread through his heart. He tried to shift his focus back to finding Frederick, staring intensely at the address on the map. However, his thoughts kept drifting back to Phillip’s words.

Despite his reluctance to admit it, Isabella held a significant place in his heart. He was willing to risk everything, even his life, for her. The busy schedule of recent times was partly his way of avoiding thoughts about Isabella.

The idea of Isabella marrying Clark and lying in another man’s arms tore at his heart like ants gnawing at it. But for the sake of his sanity and Isabella’s safety, this wedding had to proceed. It was essential.

Still, Emanuele didn’t understand why he had driven to Isabella’s upscale apartment while on his way home. He remembered the last time he’d come here when Lilly had informed him of Isabella’s illness. At that time, he had put down his work and sped to her side. Her pale and fragile appearance had tormented him.

After waiting a long time for her to wake up, seeing her sad and broken, he had felt his own heart clenched in someone’s grip. He had to make an effort to maintain his cold, unfeeling exterior.Property belongs to Nôvel(D)r/ama.Org.

Right now, he couldn’t even guarantee his safety, so how could he protect Isabella? Marrying Clark was the best choice for her. So, he tried to put aside his emotions and continued arranging Isabella’s wedding with Clark. He didn’t want to let a woman distract him. He had to focus on solving the current problems.

But he didn’t know why, today, due to Phillip’s words, he found himself near Isabella’s upscale apartment. He resisted the urge to go up and instead sat in his car, lighting a cigarette. Just a quick look, he told himself.

At that moment, Emanuele saw several cars approaching from a distance, and he recognized them. It was Clark’s security detail. The cars parked in front of the apartment building, and the door opened. Clark was helping Isabella out, and she leaned into his embrace completely.