Dangerous Secrets: My Mafia Stepbrother

“Isabella, come over here! We have a patient!” Pippo’s voice interrupted Isabella’s thoughts.

Pippo and two nurses were pushing a gurney, carrying a man who appeared to be severely injured. Blood had stained his clothes, and the scent of blood filled the hospital corridor.

Isabella rushed over, asking, “How was he injured?”

“It’s a car accident, just around the corner. He got hit by a car,” Pippo explained, motioning for Isabella to come over and help them transport the injured man into the operating room.

Isabella intended to inspect the man’s condition and started to lift his clothes.

Suddenly, the man on the gurney opened his eyes. He had a gun in his hand and began shooting at Isabella.

Frozen in place, Isabella stared at the dark muzzle pointed at her. Luckily, Tony and Harry were quick to react, and they pulled Isabella away.

Bang!

The man’s shots hit the spot where Isabella had been standing a moment ago, but thanks to being pushed aside, she was unharmed.

At the same time, Tony drew his own weapon and fired at the man’s forehead. The man lay still, motionless, his life extinguished.

Screams echoed through the hospital, and staff and patients fled in terror. They had never encountered such a situation and ran as if they’d gone mad.

Isabella remained on the floor, overwhelmed by the ordeal. She had just experienced the closest brush with death in her life, even more terrifying than the previous assassination attempt.

“Miss Gould, we need to leave now!” Harry grabbed Isabella’s arm and, together with Tony, escorted her out.

Isabella spotted Evelyn, who was crying, and she wanted to call out to her, but Tony stopped her.

“They came for you, Miss Gould. As long as you leave this place, they won’t pose a danger. If you go to her, you’ll bring danger to her.”

Isabella reluctantly agreed with Tony. This killer had been after her, and her presence had made the situation dangerous for everyone around her.

Throughout the harrowing journey, Isabella managed to return to her car, and Tony reported the situation to Emanuele, who arranged for additional security to protect her. They returned to the top-tier apartment.

The journey was uneventful, and when they arrived at the apartment, Isabella finally breathed a sigh of relief.

This place was the safest. Isabella had never imagined that just living in peace would be considered a luxury.

Once Isabella had calmed down a bit, she called Evelyn. “Evelyn, are you okay?”

“I’m fine. The police arrived and secured the scene. The hospital is safe now, but Isabella, I’m very worried about you. Your situation was incredibly dangerous.”

“Yeah, I never thought that just wanting to live a normal life would become a luxury,” Isabella said, her voice filled with distress. She realized that every day from now on would be filled with anxiety and fear. The luxurious apartment, despite its opulence, felt like a prison for her. Going outside meant risking death, and staying inside was like being suffocated.

The Isabella from the past had only wanted to avoid getting involved with the mafia, thinking that, as a doctor, she was in a completely different world. But now, she couldn’t even ensure her own safety. How had things come to this?

“Regardless, Isabella, take good care of yourself. I don’t know what kind of enemies you’ve encountered, but it seems quite dangerous. I can help you get a leave of absence, and for now, just rest at home,” Evelyn urged Isabella.

“I understand,” Isabella replied. She was about to graduate and become a permanent staff member at the hospital, but with the current situation, she knew her dream of working there was unlikely to become a reality.

“Miss Gould, stay in the apartment for the time being. Don’t go anywhere,” Harry advised Isabella after ending the call. “You know, it’s very chaotic out there.”

Isabella agreed with his advice. She was worried about her mother’s safety.

“What about my mother? Is she safe?”

“Don’t worry, they are all at the mansion, hundreds of times safer than here,” Harry reassured her.

Isabella finally felt a sense of relief. But the recent memory of the bloodied man who had nearly shot her haunted her. The vivid image of a gun aimed at her was suffocating, and she felt as though her blood had stopped flowing.

At such a close range, if Tony or Harry had reacted just a bit slower, she would have been a lifeless body by now.

Isabella had heard of the fearsome reputation of the Mafia, but she never realized just how terrifying they could be. These well-trained assassins had no fear of death; their sole mission was to accomplish their tasks.

She couldn’t fathom their mindset. To her, an individual’s life was the most precious thing. Losing one’s life meant losing everything.

Thinking about it left Isabella feeling mentally drained, exhausted, and unable to muster interest in anything.

Tony watched Isabella, slouched on the couch, unresponsive to her phone, not even looking at the television. She resembled a stray cat abandoned by the world, utterly pitiable.

“Miss Gould, perhaps you’d like to watch your favorite reality show?” Tony suggested, turning on the television and selecting the program Isabella had enjoyed in the past.

As she watched the lively interactions between male and female contestants, Isabella, however, remained disinterested.

She turned to Tony and Harry. “What would you do if you were in a life-threatening situation?”

“Since the day we joined the Mafia, we’ve learned not to fear death. We consider it an honor to sacrifice ourselves for the boss,” Tony answered.

Harry agreed, saying, “I share Tony’s view.”Nôvel(D)rama.Org's content.

“Why? Why aren’t you afraid of death?” Isabella was still puzzled.

“I had to make money. My parents passed away when I was very young, and my grandmother raised me. She’s very sick now and requires expensive hospital care. Joining the Mafia is the fastest way to make money, and I’m grateful that Mr. Lombardi appreciated my work. Without his help, my grandmother would have died a long time ago. So, if needed, I’d give everything, even my life, for Mr. Lombardi,” Tony explained.

“I was an orphan, close to starving, before joining the Mafia. After coming here, I’ve earned a lot of money and even bought an apartment. Finally, I have a place to call home. So I’ve pledged my lifelong loyalty to Mr. Lombardi,” Harry said with a smile.

Isabella had an epiphany. While she viewed the Mafia as despicable, engaging in murder and arson, from the perspective of the Mafia members, their boss was the guiding light in their lives. He kept them away from all kinds of hardships, and that’s why they were willing to give their lives for him.

For the first time, Isabella began to see them without a judgmental lens, understanding the circumstances that led them here.

At that moment, Isabella’s phone rang. She looked at the message, and it read: “You whore, you’re Emanuele’s stepsister, so be prepared to be caught by us and tortured to death!”

Isabella’s heart raced as she read the chilling message.