3 YEARS LATER

MANUEL'S POV

"Really? Can you not handle anything properly?" I yelled in annoyance. It was becoming so annoying.

"My apologies boss. W.. we..we... we didn't know her father was in the same building a..as well." Miliano stuttered, further pissing me off.

"Bastardo!" I kicked the foot of my desk angrily. "Vaffanculo." I muttered. "Was any member of the Ferrari family hurt?"

"None, Don." Massimo replied, and it made me wonder for a moment how the operation could have gone wrong with him present. I looked at the rest of my men and made a hand gesture for them to leave.

"Massimo, you stay back." I ordered, making him halt his steps. After the other 8 of them had completely walked out, I focused on him. "Massimooo.." I drawled as I walked back to my seat. "You were present in this mission, so how exactly did it go wrong? Do you care to explain?"

"Apologies Don. I think I have an idea as to what occured."

"Have a seat." I waved over the seats opposite me, and he sat on one of them. "Shoot."

"This is a handwork of Jacobo. He knew you were going to order an attack against him and his men, so he did what he knows how to do best."

"And that is?"

"Sabotage. He sabotaged your efforts." He replied immediately. "It has definitely become news in the society that ever since Alexander stepped down and you took his place as Don, you've tried to make peace with the Ferraris. He calculated our moves and he knew when we were going to strike. He practically lured us into his trap. We hurt him, we hurt the Ferraris. If we hurt the Ferraris, a hope for a truce with them is gone. Things are already bad as it is. Most members of the Ferrari family do not want a merger or even a truce. This failed mission is simply a slap to their faces. Francisco isn't going to take it, he would strike back. Hard."

"Jacobooo..." I loved the way his name rolled off my tongue. I was gonna love it better when mine would roll down his, as he cried to me for mercy. I'd give it to him, he played a smart one. Not only did he put me in the compromising spot, he basically destroyed the chances of a potential truce with the Ferraris. He was definitely gonna pay for it, but someone else would definitely pay first. "I understand your message Massimo. Thanks for putting eyes all over. Do we have a name yet? Who the fuck is the traitor in my zone?!"

"I haven't found out about that yet, but give me before the end of the day to do that."

"I trust you to deliver." I muttered dryly. "Whomever it is, would so much regret selling out our plans to Jacobo for such a silly sabotage."

Immediately I heard the slightest noise come from my door, I looked and waited for the person who was behind to walk in. Don't blame me. I knew I wasn't in any form of danger, but that was my reflex reaction. I was trained to be always alert at all times. The door eventually opened and it was Alex who entered.

"I heard." He said as he walked towards me. Immediately Alex walked in, Massimo stood up from his seat as a sign of respect. "Please sit, Massimo." Alexander muttered after making himself comfortable on the seat next to Massimo. "Personally, I think Jacobo tried to save his ass by putting himself in the same space as the Ferraris." He said without thinking or mincing words. This was the reason why this particular cousin of mine was my best friend. He was extremely smart. "Also, Jacobo wouldn't have just known our men were coming for them at that point in time, so there seems to be a mole amongst us. That's unusual." He said, stroking his beards as he though to himself. "Weird." He added. "In over 4 years, we haven't had that sort of a problem. In the society, we are the family that pays our men best. There's definitely a bigger picture here. Whoever ratted us out must have done that for something more than money."

"Yes." I nodded. "Massimo has promised to look into it and give me the traitor before the day is over."

"Great." Alex nodded, looking satisfied. "Excuse us." He muttered, but Massimo definitely got the message and walked out of my office. The moment Massimo was gone, the cold stare we both had in our eyes also disappeared. "I'm sorry brother. It seems to be that every effort you make concerning this peace treaty you wish for with the Ferraris is really never going to work."

"I'm doing all of these for the sake of Francesca. We should be married, if not for this feud both our families have had for the longest time. I'm trying to fix things here!" I yelled in great annoyance at the situation of things.

"Oh, be calm." Alex muttered. "When you say 'family', you make it sound so simple. Bro, we're mafians and that is how we keep shit real. You can't sleep with the enemy."

"But she isn't our enemy." I countered.

"Okay fine. Maybe she isn't the enemy like you say, but what about the other members of the Ferrari family? None of them are our allies. Why else has calling a truce been so difficult? If indeed they were cool with making peace, they would have welcomed your truce plans long ago."

"Don't pin all these on them. I'm sure you also know that some of the Russos haven't made it easy for me either."

"Exactly my point!" He said. "An enemy is an enemy. An enemy could also be an ally at anytime. But in a situation where a call for peace isn't being considered or welcomed, then you should know being allies had never been an option."

"So what are you implying?" I asked, slightly irritated.

"That it's just not working!" He shrugged, looking like he had something more to say.

"Oh, Alex just say it. I'm all ears."

"Actually, I have only but one question for you. Do you really love the girl?"

"What are you even saying?" I shot back, very much perplexed at his question. "I have been with her for a couple of years now. I know I like her that much. Don't you see what you have with Belle, between she and myself?"