Page 16 of The Mafia's Second Shot

He shrugs, but the motion is stiff, almost reluctant. “I couldn’t bring myself to get rid of it.”

The honesty in his voice surprises me, and for a moment, I don’t know what to say. I cross my arms, leaning against the desk. “Why not? You made it pretty clear back then that I didn’t belong in your life.”

His jaw tightens, and he looks away, his hands flexing at his sides. “It wasn’t about you not belonging,” he says quietly. “It was about keeping you safe.”

“Safe?” I echo, my voice rising. “By shutting me out? By lying to me?”

“I didn’t have a choice,” he says, his tone sharper now. “You think I wanted to push you away? You think it didn’t tear me apart to let you go?”

“Then why did you?” The question slips out before I can stop it, my voice trembling. “Why couldn’t you just let me in, Cooper? Why couldn’t you trust me enough to handle the truth?”

He doesn’t answer right away. He just looks at me, his eyes dark and full of something I can’t quite name. Finally, he exhales, running a hand through his hair.

“I thought I was protecting you,” he says. “But maybe I was just protecting myself. I didn’t want you to see what I’d become.”

His words hit like a punch to the gut, but I force myself to hold his gaze. “You think that was your choice to make? You don’t get to decide what I can and can’t handle, Cooper. That’s not how this works.”

“I know,” he says softly. “And I’m sorry.”

The sincerity in his voice catches me off guard, and for a moment, I don’t know what to say. I want to stay angry, to hold on to the resentment that’s been building inside me for years. But looking at him now, I can see how much he’s carrying—the guilt, the regret, the weight of his choices. It’s written in every line of his face, every word he speaks.

“I’m staying,” I say finally, my voice steady. “But not for you. I’m staying because I need the truth, all of it. If you want me to even consider forgiving you, you owe me that much.”

He nods, his eyes never leaving mine. “You’ll get it,” he says. “I promise.”

12

COOPER

The reports are spread across my desk, their contents blurring together as I scan the words for the hundredth time. Names, dates, locations—it’s all here, every scrap of intel my men have gathered about the attack. But none of it feels like enough. Somewhere in this mess is the name of the traitor who’s been feeding information to Rossi, and if I don’t find it soon, Zoey won’t be safe.

I clench my fists, the edge of the desk biting into my palms. It’s not just about the betrayal—it’s about the fact that I brought this danger into her life. Again. She’s here because of me, under my roof, surrounded by the chaos I swore to protect her from. And the worst part? Even with all the security measures, even with my men guarding every inch of this estate, I can’t shake the fear that it won’t be enough.

The knock at the door comes softly, hesitant. I don’t look up. “What is it?”

“It’s me.” Zoey’s voice cuts through the tension in the room, sharp and clear.

I take a breath before answering. “Come in.”

She steps inside, her arms crossed over her chest, her gaze flicking between me and the mess of papers on my desk. She looks tired, but there’s an edge to her expression—a determination that wasn’t there before.

“You’re working hard,” she says, her tone flat.

“Always,” I reply, leaning back in my chair. “What do you need?”

Her eyes narrow. “Answers.”

I knew this was coming. I set my jaw, steeling myself for the conversation I’ve been dreading since the moment I let her back into my life. “I’ve already told you everything you need to know.”

“That’s not true, and you know it,” she snaps. “You keep saying you sent me away to protect me, but that’s not the whole story, is it?”

I hesitate, the weight of the truth pressing down on me. “Zoey?—”

“Don’t,” she interrupts, her voice trembling with anger. “Don’t lie to me again. I deserve the truth, Cooper. All of it.”

I stand, pacing to the window. The late afternoon sunlight casts long shadows across the room, but the warmth doesn’t reach me. “You want the truth? Fine. Here it is.”

I turn back to her, my voice cold and steady. “When you left, I didn’t stop them from coming after me. I thought if I gave them what they wanted—if I let them take me—it would end there. That they wouldn’t come for you.”

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