30

Vincent

I didn’t want to leave her side, but I had no choice.

To keep up the appearance of a normal life, I had to follow through with my daily responsibilities. There were errands to run, and I hadn’t visited my restaurants in a while.

Even though Anthony was on the property watching over Jennifer , keeping her safe, the idea of being away from her for too long gnawed at me.

Anthony was more than just someone who worked for me—he was my most trusted ally. A former Navy SEAL, his skill set and dedication were unmatched. But it was his loyalty that set him apart. He’d been there for me through thick and thin, and I knew I could trust him with anything, including Jennifer ’s safety.

Thinking back to when I was rebuilding my life after leaving the mafia, Anthony had been one of the few constants. He didn’t just help me with the business; he had proven time and again that I could count on him when it mattered most.

There was a time when Rico had sent a hitman after me, intending to make a statement. I was cornered in a dark alley, gun at my head. I thought that was it, the end. But out of nowhere, Anthony had appeared, disarming the hitman and saving my life. That was a debt I could never repay.

As I drove to the restaurant, I couldn’t help but reflect on those times. Jennifer was in good hands with Anthony , just as I had been.

When I arrived at the restaurant, it was buzzing with the lunchtime crowd. I took a deep breath before stepping inside, greeting the staff, and checking in on the kitchen. Everything was running smoothly. It was important for me to be seen, to remind everyone that despite the chaos in my personal life, I was still involved.

I spent the next couple of hours circulating, chatting with regulars, making sure everything was running like clockwork. Finally, I decided it was time to head back home.

As I pulled into the driveway, I saw Anthony standing near the front door, eyes scanning the area with his usual vigilance. He was tall, muscular, and had the demeanor of someone who had spent years training for situations like this.

“Everything good?” I asked as I approached him.

Anthony gave a slight nod, his expression calm but serious. “All quiet, boss. Jennifer ’s inside, she’s fine.”

“Good,” I said, giving him a firm pat on the shoulder. “Thanks, Anthony .”

“Always got your back,” he replied, his tone steady and sincere.

I couldn’t help but feel a surge of gratitude. “I know. And I appreciate it.”

Just as I was about to step inside, my phone buzzed in my pocket. I glanced at the screen and saw Leonel ’s name. My stomach tightened as I answered immediately.

“Leonel , what’s going on?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.

“You’re not going to believe this,” Leonel replied, his voice urgent. “This is bigger than we thought. It’s way above my pay grade.”

“What’s going on?” I asked, feeling a sense of dread creeping in.

“It turns out Rico had a mole in his organization,” Leonel continued. “And that mole has enough information to bring him down. The hitman you stopped? He wasn’t just coming after you—he was part of a setup to make you take the fall.”

A shiver ran down my spine. “They’re setting me up? How?”

Leonel ’s voice was tight with urgency. “Rico ’s spinning a story, claiming you’re the real boss, not him. He’s telling the authorities you’re involved in major arms trafficking, like smuggling weapons to North Korea or some wild accusation. It’s absurd, but enough to get him off the hook with the FBI. The hitman’s job was to plant false evidence and sabotage security cameras.”

I could hardly wrap my head around it. “So, the hitman wasn’t there to kill me? He was framing me?” I asked, my disbelief evident in my voice.

“Exactly,” Leonel confirmed. “They want to make you the fall guy, paint you as the mastermind behind everything Rico ’s been doing.”

I took a deep breath, struggling to digest the shocking news. “Why not just kill me then?”

“Because a dead Vincent wouldn’t fit into their plan,” Leonel replied. “They need you alive to pin everything on you.”

My hands clenched into fists, the weight of the betrayal hitting me hard. “Rico ’s just trying to save himself, even if it means throwing me under the bus.”

“Seems that way,” Leonel agreed. “I’m digging deeper, but you need to be careful. They’re not stopping until they get what they need, and that’s to have you locked up.”

“Thanks, Leonel ,” I said, my voice edged with frustration. “Keep me posted.”

“I will. Stay safe, Vincent ,” Leonel replied before hanging up. I stood there for a moment, breathing deeply to calm my nerves, before I turned to Anthony .

“Let’s go, Anthony . I’ll introduce you to Jennifer .”

With a single nod, Anthony followed me inside, his ever-loyal presence a small comfort in the midst of this growing storm.