"Wait, just stop right there...." the twin's father interrupt Anna. "So, let me get this straight. Are you saying that Alfonso Carmelo broke his engagement to Mila and is now trying to kill her? And if that's not enough, she's flying to Singapore next week?"
"Father, I'm right here. You can talk directly to me and ask me," Mila exclaimed with a hint of irritation in her voice, raising her arm for emphasis.
"No... no... I don't want to talk to you right now, Mila," Vincent sighed, giving her a stern glare that pushed her back into her seat. "Anna, please continue," Vincent instructed, turning his attention back to Anna.
"Okay....so we went inside the warehouse and planted the evidence and the bomb in the third room, right-hand side, on the second floor just as you instructed, Daddy. We made sure everything was secure and that we were alone. Then, we quickly ran down the stairs and rushed out of the warehouse," Anna explained eagerly. "Just as we stepped through the doors, our vision was immediately engulfed by blinding headlights. Four cars stood in a row about fifteen meters away, their menacing presence unmistakable. Each vehicle was surrounded by a group of five men ready for action. Before Mila and I could react, four additional figures materialized from the shadows, their guns pressing forcefully against our heads."
"Cowards if you ask me," Mila interjected.
"I said not now!" Vincent snapped at his daughter.
Mila, taken aback by her father's sudden outburst, nodded quietly, realizing that now was not the time for squabbles.
"Anyways," Anna continued, ignoring the interruption, "The doors to one of the black cars swung open, revealing a figure emerging from the darkness. I saw a man known for his ruthlessness and cold-heartedness, and I thought it was the devil, and we were done," Anna said, slightly exaggerating.
"Oh, come on, Anna," Mila interjected again.
"What, Mila?" Anna responded sharply.
"Girls, this is your last warning," Vincent warned them both.
"Sorry, Daddy," Anna said, and continued with her story. "Walking towards us was none other than Alfonso Carmelo himself. He approached Mila and stopped right in front of her. With a calm, composed voice, he said to Mila, 'I love you, babe, but I'm sorry I have to kill you.' My protective instincts flared up, of course, but Mila then locked eyes with me and silently signaled me to stay calm and wait for the right moment to act. We then prepared for whatever came next. It became clear that we were significantly outnumbered and potentially outgunned. We knew we would need a miracle to survive."
"Sharing a knowing look with Mila, she nodded and swiftly pressed the button to detonate the bomb. As the explosive erupted, we watched the men crumble to the ground, their threat neutralized. Without wasting a moment, we sprinted towards our waiting car, Alfonso hot on our heels. Alfonso managed to catch Mila on her arm, they tumbled to the ground, Mila was fighting him fiercely, I reached for my gun and aimed, firing a well-aimed shot that struck Alfonso in his arm. Wounded but not defeated, Mila managed to break free from his grasp and rose to her feet. Without wasting another moment, we sprinted toward our getaway car. Thankfully, we managed to escape in time, sadly and unfortunately Alfonso is not dead."
"Well, thank you, Anna, for that detailed outline, but what in the world is happening here? I handpicked Alfonso myself. I find it hard to believe. I mean, Alfonso is like my own child, growing up in my house alongside Mila. I can't wrap my head around this," Vincent's voice trembled with a hint of emotion as he struggled to comprehend the situation. "I've made up my mind," Vincent declared, "I'm going to dismantle the Carmelo family without resorting to bloodshed. No one, and I mean no one, threatens the safety of my daughters and gets away with it." Vincent's voice resonated as he outlined a meticulous plan to weaken the Carmelo family's grip and retaliate against their aggression. "Your marriage was supposed to bring the two families together and strengthen our business, but now there will never be peace. My decision is final to take action, and they will never be part of our family again. This decision will also have implications on who will succeed as the next Godfather. This changes everything."
Mila and Anna observed the unwavering determination on their father's face. They were fully aware that daring to oppose Vincent Martinelli was something no one dared to do.
Vincent swiftly retrieved his phone from his pocket and dialed the number of his trusted confidant and twin's protector, Alexander Vitale. "Alex, come to my office immediately, it's urgent," was all he said and ended the call. "Anna, please go to your room," Vincent calmly instructed Anna, gesturing towards the door. "As for you, young lady, stay put in that chair," Mila's father added, his eyes meeting hers with a piercing gaze. Rising from his seat behind the desk, he positioned himself on the edge of the desk, arms folded in front. Though his eyes betrayed weariness, his gaze remained fixed on her, cutting like a sharp knife.
"Yes, Father," Mila replied, her gaze lowered in resignation. She knew all too well that her father would never allow her to fly to Singapore next week. She feared he would go to extreme lengths and chain her in her room.
A knock echoed through the door, prompting Vincent to raise his voice, "Enter." The door creaked open, revealing Alex stepping inside. As soon as his eyes landed on Mila, his heart skipped a beat, causing him to take a deep breath in an attempt to calm himself. He quickly made his way over and settled down beside her. There was an unspoken tension in her expression, and he couldn't help but keep his gaze fixed on her.
"Alexander, snap out of it!" Vincent's voice abruptly rang out, breaking the trance-like grip Alex had on Mila.
Alex's body jolted in his chair as he redirected his focus to his boss. Vincent proceeded to explain all the details, causing Alex's face to flush crimson. The more he heard, the tighter he gripped the chair's handles, with excruciating tightness, his knuckles paling to a ghostly white. In a sudden burst of energy, he leaped to his feet and sprinted towards the door.
"Where are you going?" Vincent asked.
Alex bellowed over his shoulder, "I'm going to kill that despicable bastard...."