The Mafia's Pet: Pawn Of The Ruthless ( A Dark Romance)

Chapter 63: The Headline

I was sitting in the middle of a meeting, my focus drifting even though people around me droned on about logistics and numbers. My mind kept pulling me back to Evangelina.

There was something about the way she looked at me this morning, her eyes full of questions and doubt, but also something else, something softer. I hadn't let anyone this close in a long time, and it scared me. But with her, it felt different, like she was slipping under my skin without me noticing.

That's when Bruno walked in, his face serious, more than usual. He never interrupted unless it was something critical. He leaned in closer, his voice low but urgent. "Boss, you need to see this."

I excused myself from the meeting, sensing that whatever it was, it wasn't good. Bruno handed me his phone without a word, and as soon as I saw the headline, the knot in my stomach tightened: Aemilio Russo's Ex Exposed in Scandalous Affair with Her Stepbrother.

The air around me stilled as I scrolled through the article, feeling the burn of every word as they spilled across the screen. Photos. Detailed accusations. They weren't just talking about her—they were dragging me into this, pulling Evangelina into the mess as collateral. It wasn't Evangelina directly in the spotlight, but by linking her to me, they'd cast her into the fire anyway.

I clenched my jaw and immediately grabbed my own phone to check, hoping against hope it wasn't spreading like wildfire. But there it was, plastered across every news outlet. The vultures were already swarming.

I knew exactly who was behind this. Raimundo. **I could smell his involvement a mile away.** He had a habit of using people's weaknesses against them, and this was no different. The timing was too perfect, the method too clean. I didn't need evidence to know—this had his signature all over it.

The ex they were dragging through the mud wasn't just anyone. It was Isabel, the same woman who'd warned Evangelina to stay away from me. She had her own demons, and we had a complicated past, but I had never expected something like this to be weaponized against her—and now against Evangelina by proxy.

I could feel the tension rising inside me, my chest tight. Isabel didn't deserve this, and neither did Evangelina. The article painted Isabel as a woman who had betrayed her family, a salacious affair that had been hidden for years. It was cruel, unnecessary, and it was designed to hurt.

I dialed Evangelina's number, praying she hadn't seen the article yet, but knowing it was probably already too late.

"Aemilio," she answered, her voice shaky. "What is this? Why are they writing about you and that woman?"

"Evangelina," I said, trying to keep my voice steady, calm, even though the rage was simmering just beneath the surface. "You need to know that I had nothing to do with this. This is someone trying to get at me, and they're using Isabel to do it."

There was a silence on the other end. I could hear the uncertainty in her breath, the weight of confusion settling over her like a dark cloud.

"But why?" she finally asked, her voice softer. "Why bring all this up now? Why drag her and... and me into this?"

I ran a hand through my hair, trying to find the right words. "Because someone knows that you're important to me. And they think they can hurt me by hurting you."

She let out a slow breath, and I could feel the fear in the silence. "It's Raimundo, isn't it?"

"Yes," I said, my voice hardening. "He's using Isabel's past to stir up trouble, but make no mistake—this is about me. He's trying to get to me, and he's willing to hurt anyone in the process."

She was quiet for a long moment, and I hated that she was being dragged into this mess. Evangelina didn't deserve to be a pawn in this twisted game.

"I don't know what to do, Aemilio. I feel like I'm being pulled into something I don't understand."

"You don't have to do anything," I said, my voice firm. "I'll handle this. I promise you, I won't let him get away with it."

After a brief silence, she whispered, "Be careful."

"I will," I reassured her, but as I hung up, the weight of the situation pressed down on me. This wasn't just about me anymore. Raimundo had crossed a line, and now, it was personal.

I needed to confront him. I needed to make him understand that this wasn't a game anymore. He was playing with people's lives, and I wasn't going to stand by and watch.

When I arrived at his office, he was sitting at his desk, a self-satisfied smirk already pulling at the corner of his mouth. He knew why I was here. I didn't bother with pleasantries, slamming the door behind me.

"You've gone too far, Raimundo," I said, my voice low but thick with anger.

He raised an eyebrow, leaning back in his chair with an air of calm that only stoked the fire in my chest. "Too far? I warned you, Aemilio. You should've walked away when I told you to."

"You used Isabel's past to get to me," I growled, taking a step closer to his desk. "She didn't deserve that. And neither does Evangelina."

Raimundo shrugged, his smirk widening. "Isabel knew what she was doing. She knew this would come back to haunt her one day. And Evangelina? She's just collateral damage. Walk away from her, Aemilio, and this all goes away. Spare her the humiliation."

I clenched my fists, every muscle in my body screaming for me to hit him, to wipe that smug look off his face. But I knew that was what he wanted—he wanted me to lose control.

"You're not going to get what you want," I said, my voice low and controlled, though my blood boiled beneath the surface.

"Is that so?" Raimundo said, leaning forward, his voice dripping with menace. "I won't stop, Aemilio. Not until you're on your knees. And if Evangelina gets caught in the crossfire, that's on you."

I stared at him for a long moment, weighing my options. I could play this game with him, or I could take control of the narrative. I wasn't going to let him manipulate me, and I sure as hell wasn't going to let him destroy the people I cared about.

Without another word, I turned and left his office. I wasn't going to fight this battle on his terms.

I picked up my phone and called my PR team. "We're holding a press conference. Tonight."

"A press conference?" they echoed, a bit of surprise in their voices.

"Yes," I said, the decision already made. "We're not hiding from this. We need to get ahead of the story before it spreads any further."

This was no longer just about business or reputation. It was about protecting Evangelina from the storm that was coming. And I wouldn't let her face it alone.