Page 12 of Prince of Vice

"Fine," I huff, irritated by his evasiveness. "Can we please get back to work now?"

"Of course," he replies smoothly, gesturing to the papers strewn across the desk. As I sit down and begin to sift through the evidence, I can feel his gaze upon me, watching my every move like a hawk stalking its prey. Tension coils around us like a snake, and I struggle to keep my focus as we delve deeper into the dark underbelly of the Maldonado family.

Chapter Six

Isabella

The door to my small Boston apartment clicks shut behind me, and I immediately feel the exhaustion of the last week weighing heavily on my shoulders. Kicking off my heels, I pad into the kitchen and pour myself a generous glass of red wine. The velvety liquid swirls in the glass, casting a dark crimson shadow upon the countertop as I take a deep breath—a momentary reprieve before I face the reality of my situation.

My phone buzzes on the table, startling me from my thoughts. There’s a flash of anxiety that moves through me before I look at the name. I hold my breath, hoping I’m not receiving another “anonymous” text message.

Evelina's name flashes across the screen, and I breathe a sigh of relief. My sister and I haven't always been close; our childhood rivalry inevitably led to a strained relationship. But as we pursued our respective careers—myself as a lawyer and her as a doctor—we found common ground and reconnected. Now, she's more than my sister—she's one of my best friends.

"Hey, sis," I answer, my voice weary but imbued with warmth.

"Bella! How are you?" Her voice is chipper, despite the fact that she's likely just finished another grueling shift at the local hospital.

"Exhausted, honestly. It's been a crazy day." I collapse onto my sofa, sinking into the plush cushions.

My small living room is sparsely decorated with only a few pieces of furniture. A small sofa sits in the center, flanked by a couple of armchairs. The walls are painted a muted beige that matches the pastel rug beneath. There's a window that looks out onto the city and a bookshelf containing my favorite reads and a few family photos. The room has a cozy, inviting feel despite its minimalistic features, in stark contrast to the fancy mansion I know Primo is currently sitting in.

"Tell me about it," she says, her tone inviting and open.

"Okay, so you remember how I told you about Primo Maldonado? My new client?"

"Of course. He's the mob boss's son, right?"

"Exactly. Well, I’ve had my first real meetings with him this week, and let me tell you...he is something else." I take a sip of wine, gathering my thoughts. "He's this incredibly attractive man, but he's also an arrogant, controlling asshole."

"Sounds like your kind of guy." Eve teases, and I can practically hear the smirk in her voice. "Why not just use him for good sex and then move on?"

"Eve!" I exclaim, feigning shock. "There's a rule against sleeping with clients...at least, I'm pretty sure there is."

"Rules are made to be broken," she says with a laugh.

"Maybe for you, but I've got enough on my plate trying to defend him." I sigh, taking another gulp of wine. "Besides, I doubt he'd be interested in anything beyond a professional relationship."

"Are you sure about that?" Eve challenges.

"He doesn't seem like the kind of man who would let his desires get in the way of business. He's too calculating for that."

"Ah, well. You never know." She takes a pause before continuing. "Just remember, Bella, life is too short to waste time on people who don't make you happy. And even shorter when your job is defending mobsters."

"Thanks for the reminder, sis." I roll my eyes but appreciate her concern. "I'll keep that in mind. I just want this case to be over so I can finally move things in the right direction, you know? To finally distance ourselves from the crime world and focus on more legitimate cases. I honestly wouldn't have taken this case at all if it weren't for the fact that we really do need the money." I get up and start pacing around the small footprint of my living room.

"I get it," Eve replies gently, her voice softening. "Growing up, it was hard for both of us knowing that Dad always represented mobsters, even if it paid well."

"Exactly." I stop pacing, staring out of the window at the twinkling Boston skyline. "Our father's choices cast a shadow over our lives, and I just want to break free from it. I want our name to stand for justice, not crime. And, I’m tired of always looking over my shoulder, wondering if some loan shark is going to shank me.”

“I’m so sorry, Bella,” Eve says with a sigh. “I hate that you’re dealing with the brunt of this. I wish I could help somehow.”

“No!” I respond immediately. “I’m glad that they’re only coming after me. I don’t want you getting mixed up in any of this. It’s honestly a miracle that they haven’t come after you, too. Besides, you’ve got student loans to pay off.”

“So do you,” Eve points out.

“Yeah,” I sigh. “But, not as many. I’ll be okay.”

“Dad's work made growing up so difficult for us. People at school stayed away from us because of his connections. And now it’s followed us into his death.”

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