He has to go

Roberto paced the length of his office, his mind a whirlwind of anger and confusion. Bella's words echoed in his head, fueling the doubt that had been creeping in for weeks. He had always been in control, of his empire, his enemies, his marriage. But now, everything seemed to be slipping away from him.

The knock on the door startled him out of his thoughts. Marco entered, his face as unreadable as ever.

"She's gone," Marco said simply, referring to Bella's departure. He shut the door behind him and stood near Roberto's desk, his posture tense.

Roberto stopped pacing, his gaze locking onto Marco. "She thinks she can bring me down. She's turning everyone against me. Vito, her family, the people I trusted. They're all part of this."

Marco was silent for a moment, his eyes betraying the slightest flicker of hesitation. "What are you going to do?"

Roberto clenched his fists, his voice dark with rage. "What I should have done a long time ago. Bella underestimated me, and now she's made a fatal mistake. She doesn't realize how many pieces I still control on this board."

Marco shifted slightly, his gaze steady but guarded. "If she's aligning herself with Vito, it's going to be difficult. You know how loyal her family is to her."

Roberto shook his head. "Vito's not the problem. He's emotional, easy to manipulate when you know how. It's Bella. She's playing a much deeper game, one I didn't expect from her. But she's about to find out just how far I'm willing to go to protect what's mine."

There was a long pause between them before Marco finally spoke. "And what about the others? You know there are people in your organization who are questioning your leadership. Bella's influence runs deep."

Roberto narrowed his eyes, his mind calculating his next moves. "Then it's time to remind them who I am. Loyalty has a price, and anyone who doesn't pay it will suffer the consequences."

Bella sat in the back of a sleek black car, her mind still buzzing from the confrontation with Roberto. She knew the stakes had risen the moment she stepped foot in that penthouse. There was no going back now. She had made her play, and it was up to Roberto to respond. But she didn't have the luxury of waiting for his next move, she had to stay one step ahead.

Vito was waiting for her when she arrived at the safe-house. The dimly lit room was sparse, nothing like the luxury she had become accustomed to in Roberto's world. But she found solace in its simplicity, a stark contrast to the lavish trap she had once called home.

"How did it go?" Vito asked, his voice low but tense. He leaned against the worn wooden table, watching his sister closely.

"It went as expected," Bella replied, her tone steady. "He's rattled, but he won't show it. He's too proud for that."

Vito nodded, his brow furrowing. "He's going to come after you, you know that, right? He won't just let you walk away from this."

Bella sat down, letting out a slow breath. "I know. But I'm ready."

Vito's expression darkened. "You're playing a dangerous game, Bella. I want to make sure you understand what this means. Roberto's not going to back down, and when he comes for you, it's going to be brutal."

Bella looked up at her brother, her eyes filled with determination. "I've been preparing for this for months, Vito. Roberto isn't the man I married anymore. He's become something else, something dangerous. But I know how he thinks. I know his weaknesses. I just need to exploit them before he can turn them on me."

Vito hesitated, his protective instincts warring with his respect for Bella's decision. "I'll back you, Bella. You know that. But just be careful. Roberto's not like the others we've taken down. He's calculated. Cold."

"I know," Bella whispered. "And that's why he has to go."