Page 58 of Prince of Vice

His gaze softens and then his fingers slide behind my neck and he’s kissing me deeply again.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Primo

I recline in my leather chair, the dimly lit room casting shadows on my brooding face. My thoughts presses down on me as I recall Isabella's request to work from her apartment for a few days. She needed time alone to prepare for the trial, to practice and rehearse. I reluctantly agreed, respecting her wishes but disliking the fact that she's not here with me. The memory of placing a delicate necklace around her neck before she left lingers in my mind. I had instructed her not to take it off; it symbolized a sense of safety for both of us.

The shrill ring of my phone yanks me out of my reverie. With a sigh, I answer, receiving updates from the person I'd tasked with looking into our current situation. My heart sinks as I hang up the call. Things are not going well in the business – relationships with the Irish have not improved. I know that my brother could fix this issue if he would just comply, but the information I've just learned tells me that's not going to happen.

"Primo," Charlie greets as he walks into my office, his brow furrowed. "You look worried."

"Charlie," I respond, rubbing my temples. "I'm struggling with thoughts of the upcoming trial and what to do about my brother."

"Ah," he says, nodding solemnly. He takes a seat across from me, concern etched on his face. "It's never easy dealing with family matters, especially when they're mixed with the business."

"True," I concede, leaning back in my chair. "But it's more than that. I find myself constantly thinking of Isabella and the trial. It's been a while since I felt this way about anyone."

"Love is a strange beast, Primo," Charlie muses, his eyes glinting with wisdom. "But in our world, it can be both a strength and a weakness."

"Perhaps," I reply, my gaze fixed on the dancing shadows in the room. "But for now, I must focus on keeping this family together and finding a way to run things."

The dim light of my office casts flickering shadows on the walls, a somber reflection of the turmoil within my heart.

"Charlie," I begin hesitantly, "Isabella has found... troubling evidence." My voice cracks as I struggle to find the right words. "It appears that Constantino was the one who set me up to take the fall for the murder at the safehouse."

The room seems to grow colder as Charlie absorbs the information. "You're sure about this?" he asks, his voice betraying a hint of disbelief.

"Isabella has been relentless in her trial preparations," I explain, running a hand through my hair in frustration. "She's certain of it. And what's worse, it may even be that Constantino was working with my father to orchestrate my arrest."

"Your father?" Charlie's face pales, and I can see the hurt etched in the lines around his mouth.

"Yes," I admit, my confession settling heavily on my shoulders. "I haven’t visited him much in prison, but I never thought our relationship had deteriorated to such an extent that he would conspire against me like this."

"Primo, I'm so sorry," Charlie murmurs, genuine sympathy in his eyes. "What do you plan to do?"

"I don't know," I concede, the words heavy with uncertainty. "I don't want to take the fall for a crime I didn't commit. But implicating my brother... What kind of future will I have if I destroy my own family?"

As the silence settles between us, Charlie furrows his brow, deep in thought. "Tell me more about this rogue agent, the one working with the feds," he says after a moment.

"His name is Axe," I reply, the bitter taste of betrayal still fresh on my tongue. "He was close to my father growing up, saved him from the streets in New York."

"Ah, I remember him now," Charlie nods slowly. "It's a shame he turned against us. But Primo, have you considered that perhaps it's not your father and Constantino conspiring together, but rather Axe manipulating the situation?"

"Isabella's evidence is convincing," I say, my heart torn between loyalty and self-preservation. "But it's possible that Axe played a larger role in this than we initially thought."

I rub my temples, my family's betrayal pressing down upon me. I can't deny the evidence Isabella has shown me; it's as if Constantino and our father had tied the noose themselves.

Charlie's eyes reflect the same sadness that clouds my heart. "It's never easy to accept such things, Primo," he says gently. "But we cannot allow sentimentality to cloud our judgment. As much as it pains me to say it, you must do what is best for yourself."

"Even if it means turning against my own family?" I ask, the question heavy with the gravity of what it entails.

"Especially then," Charlie replies, his voice firm but compassionate. "I have a saying: 'Prima per me.' Loosely translated, it means 'First for me.' This seems quite fitting, given your name."

"Prima per me," I repeat, the words settling into the depths of my soul. My father knows he will die behind bars, and perhaps that knowledge has driven him to betray me, his firstborn son. If I don't act now, I risk losing everything – including Isabella, who has become more than just a trusted confidante, but a woman who has awakened desires within me I never thought I'd get the chance to explore.

"Prima per me," I say once more, steeling myself for the path ahead. I know I must make difficult choices, but survival demands nothing less. With a deep breath, I look Charlie square in the eye. "Thank you, Charlie. Your wisdom and loyalty mean more to me than you can ever know."

"Sempre al tuo fianco, Primo," Charlie answers with a nod. Always at your side. The fierce loyalty in his eyes enough to steady me for the storm to come.

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