Chapter 6 - The Safehouse in Dublin
By daybreak, the rain had stopped, leaving behind a crisp, cool morning over the emerald hills of eastern Ireland.
A non-descript commercial delivery van, arranged by Marco’s surviving operatives, picked up Antonio and Evelyn from a rural rendezvous point, transporting them safely into the heart of Dublin.
They arrived at a discreet, high-end apartment building overlooking the River Liffey in the Docklands district. The penthouse suite was fully fortified, equipped with secure satellite communications, bulletproof glass, and an independent power grid.
Marco was waiting inside, his left arm wrapped in a tight sling, but otherwise unharmed.
“Boss,” Marco said, bowing his head slightly as they entered. “The Garda and Irish Special Branch have secured the estate at Lough Derg. Six of the attackers were captured alive. They are currently being interrogated by Irish federal police.”
“And their affiliation?” Antonio asked, stepping into the living room and pouring two glasses of water.
“They were mercenaries hired through a shell company in Switzerland,” Marco reported. “But the bank accounts funding the contract trace directly back to Senator Paolo Vitelli in Rome.”
Antonio froze, the water glass hovering inches from his lips.
Evelyn looked at him, her brow furrowing. “Senator Vitelli? Is he... related to you?”
Antonio set the glass down slowly, his face darkening into a mask of cold, agonizing betrayal.
“He is my uncle,” Antonio said softly. “My father’s younger brother.”
Evelyn felt a knot tighten in her stomach. “Your own uncle tried to kill you?”
“Paolo has always believed my father was foolish for diversifying our family’s business into legitimate international trade,” Antonio explained, stepping toward the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the River Liffey. “Paolo wants to return the Vitelli family to the old ways—extortion, smuggling, and violence. He knew that as long as I lived, I would never allow him to control the syndicate.”
“He used your private physician to tamper with your medication,” Marco added, holding up a secure tablet. “We intercepted phone records showing Paolo transferred three million euros to the doctor’s offshore account in the Bahamas two days before your flight left New York.”
Evelyn walked up beside Antonio, standing at the window. “What happens now?”
Antonio looked down at his reflected image in the glass, his jaw setting into hard steel.
“In forty-eight hours, the Vitelli Family High Council meets in Rome to ratify the new corporate charter,” Antonio said quietly. “Paolo believes I am dead or hiding in Ireland, crippled by fear. He intends to claim the chairmanship in my absence.”
He turned to look at Evelyn, his dark eyes burning with fierce determination.
“We are going to Rome,” Antonio declared.
“Antonio, that’s suicide!” Evelyn argued, her voice rising in concern. “Rome is his territory! He has dozens of men waiting for you!”
“Rome is my home, Evelyn,” Antonio corrected softly, reaching out to gently touch her hand. “And with the evidence you preserved—the digitalis case and the forged manifests—we will not just stop him. We will destroy him legally, financially, and permanently.”
May you like
He looked into her eyes with an intensity that made her breath catch.
“I need you with me, Evelyn,” Antonio murmured. “Not as a witness... but as the woman who stands beside me.”
