Mafia by Blood (wlw)

25 - The Bargain

"How do you know this?" Paul demanded, veins pulsing in his neck. He stood with Charlie and Roman, who was checking George's vitals. George was unconscious for the moment, but his condition was not good. Charlie had decided to follow Mac's suggestion and inform her capo about the blonde. Paul was furious, and he looked ready to slam her against the wall for withholding information.

"As you know, I saw the man for the first time yesterday, and he looked like my ex's father, Mackenzie Grey, who turns out to also be Michelle's daughter," Charlie began, crafting her lie carefully. "I've already mentioned we dated briefly some time ago. So, when I saw him yesterday, I decided to find her and ask her what her father's name was. She told me it was George, and that's when I connected the pieces. That's why I couldn't have told you sooner—I didn't know," she explained, maintaining eye contact with Paul's piercing blue eyes.

Paul wrinkled his nose, skepticism etched across his face. He wanted to believe her story, and it seemed legit. Mackenzie Grey—or DeCavalcante or Bonnano, whatever her last name was—was heir to both mafia families, making her an enormous threat to his position.

"Michelle is probably planning to make her oldest daughter capo there and Mac capo here. You said you went to see her, so does that mean she trusts you?" Paul asked, arching an eyebrow.

"I don't think she'll ever trust me again. She knows I'm a Bonnano, and I hurt her during our relationship, so no, she doesn't trust me," Charlie admitted, fearing he might try to use her to lure Mac into a trap. Paul clenched his jaw, frustrated that his plan to use Charlie to bait Mac had fallen apart. However, Charlie might still prove useful later.

Charlie exhaled a small breath of relief, which went unnoticed by both Paul and Roman.

*

"I can't believe you agreed to let that snake sell out Mac," Madison stormed into the villa's home gym, where Noelle was working out. Normally, Noelle preferred her usual gym, but she didn't have much time today.

Noelle pulled out her AirPods and set down the dumbbells she had been using for biceps curls. The gym was empty at this hour, which she appreciated.

"It's not like I wanted to," Noelle said with a shrug. "In the end, it was Mac's decision. We're not even together, so who am I to tell her what to do?" She tried to sound indifferent, but deep down, she wished she could change the "not together" part. "At least now we know, so we can protect her 24/7."

"What about her father? Do you think he's still alive?" Madison asked, her worry evident. She hated that Bonnano's capo knew about her sister.

"I don't know," Noelle admitted. "Capo arranged a rescue team for him today, which is why I'm here—just a little warm-up." She hoped Mac's father was alive for Mac's sake, but she wasn't optimistic. Being the capo's daughter had its advantages, otherwise Michelle probably wouldn't arrange a rescue mission.

"Why haven't I heard anything?" Madison asked, furrowing her brows and crossing her arms.

"Because you're not coming," Noelle replied, starting another set of biceps curls.

"And why not? We do everything together," Madison protested, craving some action.

"Capo's orders," Noelle said, moving on to hammer curls for her last set.

*

"Slight change of plans," Michelle announced, gathering the soldiers assigned to rescue George in one of the villa's meeting rooms. She stood at the head of the table, ensuring all ten soldiers were present.

"Paul has agreed to an exchange," Michelle took a deep breath, anticipating their reactions. "He's getting the necklace."

There were many different reactions, glances were exchanged, and eyes were wide.  Michelle understood their shock, given that most of them didn't know that George was her daughter's father.