My Childhood Bully is a Mafia Boss-Chapter 81

Aidan

I couldn’t click the green button fast enough when my phone rang and I saw who it was that was calling.

Giovanni Leones.

"Blackwood. Did your little sister like my present?" he drawled.

My grip tightened on the phone. "What the hell was that, Giovanni?" I demanded, unable to hide the mixture of anger and confusion in my voice.

A low chuckle resonated from the other end of the line. "Just a little something to remind you I’m always watching. Did it amuse you?"

"It was bizarre," I retorted. "What’s your game here, Giovanni? What are you trying to prove?"

"Game?" he repeated, feigning innocence. "No game, Blackwood. Just a friendly gesture. Thought you might appreciate a bit of humor amidst all this tension."

I took a deep breath, trying to keep my cool. "Cut the crap. What do you really want?"

Giovanni’s tone shifted, losing its playful edge. "I want you to remember who’s in control. You think you can prepare for your babies, set up your little nurseries, and live a happy life? Think again. This is a reminder that I can reach you anytime, anywhere."

My jaw clenched. "You’re a coward, Giovanni. Hiding behind threats and twisted pranks. If you have something to say, say it."

He laughed again, but this time it was colder. "Careful, Blackwood. I am in a good mood. You don’t want to ruin it yet. Have you decided to let your sister talk to me yet?"

"Stay away from her," I warned, my voice low and dangerous.

Giovanni sighed theatrically. "Such hostility. I’m trying to be civil here. All I want is a conversation with Ellie. Why are you making this so difficult?"

"Because you don’t deserve it," I snapped.

Giovanni’s voice dropped to a whisper, laced with menace. "You have no other choice. You can’t protect her forever."

The line went dead, leaving me with a knot of dread in my stomach. I stood there for a moment, staring at the phone, before slamming it down in frustration.

James walked in, immediately sensing my distress. "What’s going on?"

"Giovanni," I said, my voice shaking with anger. "He’s demanding to talk to Ellie. He won’t leave us alone."

James raised his eyebrows. "Why not let her talk to him?"

My eyes narrowed as I turned to face James. "Are you serious? You know what kind of man Giovanni is. Letting Ellie talk to him is like opening the door to a lion’s den."

James sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I understand your concern, Aidan, but maybe there’s a way to use this to our advantage. Giovanni clearly wants something. If Ellie talks to him, we might be able to find out what it is and use it against him."

I shook my head, the idea churning my stomach. "I can’t risk her safety like that. Giovanni is unpredictable and dangerous. If we give him an inch, he’ll take a mile."

James stepped closer, his expression earnest. "I get it, I really do. But we need to be smart about this. Keeping Ellie completely out of the loop might not be the best strategy. If she’s willing, we can control the situation, make sure she’s protected, and maybe gather some intel in the process."

I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself down. "You are asking me to use my sister as bait, James."

James held up his hands in a placating gesture. "Not bait, Aidan. Just a strategic move. Look, we can’t keep reacting to Giovanni’s threats. We need to take control of the situation, and this might be our best chance."

I clenched my fists, frustration and anger warring within me. "And what if something goes wrong? What if he uses this to get to her, to hurt her?"

James’s gaze was steady. "We’ll take every precaution. We can set up the call in a secure location, monitor it closely, and have our best security team on standby. But Ellie needs to be involved in this decision. It’s her safety at stake."

I exhaled slowly, trying to steady my nerves. "Alright. Let’s talk to Ellie. But we need to be clear about the risks."

James nodded. "Absolutely. She deserves to know everything."

We found Ellie in the living room, sitting on the couch with a book in her hands. Her expression brightened when she saw me, but it quickly turned serious as she sensed the gravity of the situation.

"What’s going on?" she asked, setting the book aside.

I took a seat next to her, taking her hand in mine. "Ellie, I have a suggestion to make."

Her face paled slightly, but she remained composed. "What is it?"

I took a deep breath, knowing this conversation was crucial. "I want you to meet with Giovanni."

Ellie’s eyes widened, but she kept her composure. "Why?"

I glanced at James before answering. "That’s what he demanded. He said he wants to talk to you."

Ellie looked between James and me, her brow furrowing in concern. "And you think I should go along with it?"

I squeezed her hand gently. "James believes it could be an opportunity to find out what Giovanni really wants and maybe use it against him. But I won’t ask you to do anything you’re not comfortable with. Your safety is my top priority."

Ellie nodded slowly, absorbing the information. "I understand the risks. But if it helps us get ahead of Giovanni, I think...I think I will do it."

I nodded and called Giovanni back, and put the phone on speaker so Ellie could hear him.

The phone rang twice before Giovanni answered, his voice dripping with condescension. "Blackwood, missed me already?"

I gritted my teeth. "Fuck off, Giovanni, I’m putting you on speaker. Ellie’s here."

There was a pause on the other end, and then Giovanni’s tone shifted to a sickeningly sweet one. "Ellie, it’s a pleasure to finally speak with you."

Ellie’s voice was steady. "What do you want from me?"

He laughed softly. "Straight to the point. I like that. What I want, Ellie, is simple. I want a conversation."

Ellie glanced at me, her expression firm. "If you have something to say, say it now."

Giovanni sighed dramatically. "This isn’t a discussion over the phone. I need you to meet me in person. Just you, Ellie."

My heart pounded in my chest. "No way, Giovanni. That’s not happening."

Giovanni’s voice hardened. "You don’t get to make that call, Blackwood. Ellie is a big girl. She can make her own decisions."

Ellie squeezed my hand, signaling for me to let her speak. "Alright, Giovanni. I’ll meet with you."

"Alone," Giovanni said. "My car will pick you up."

I felt a surge of panic at Giovanni’s demand. "No, Ellie won’t be going alone, and she certainly won’t be getting into your car."

Giovanni chuckled, a dark sound that made my skin crawl. "Blackwood, you’re being overprotective. Alright, alright, if you wish, you can send one of your men with her. But not you. I don’t want you knowing where I live."

My stomach twisted at the thought of sending Ellie into Giovanni’s den, even with someone else. "That’s not happening either," I said firmly.

Ellie looked at me before speaking up. "It’s okay, Aidan. I will go to his house. It’s going to be fine."

My heart raced, and I felt a surge of protective anger. "Ellie, no. It’s too dangerous."

She squeezed my hand, her gaze steady. "Aidan, trust me. I know what I’m doing. This is not the first time I’ve dealt with men like him, remember?"

Giovanni’s voice cut through the tension. "See? Ellie understands. My car will be there tomorrow at noon. Don’t be late."

He hung up, leaving a heavy silence in the room. I turned to Ellie, my voice low and urgent. "Ellie, I don’t like this. We need to have a plan in place."

Ellie sighed. "I know, but I am tired of waiting and watching from the sideline while you have to deal with all this bullshit. I’ve caused too much trouble for you already."

I shook my head, gripping her hand tighter. "You haven’t caused any trouble, Ellie. This is on Giovanni. You are my family. I don’t want to lose you again."

Ellie smiled. "You won’t. I will be careful."

James, who had been listening silently, stepped forward. "How about this? We will equip Ellie with a hidden GPS tracker so we can track her wherever she goes. And maybe a small weapon."

Ellie nodded, accepting the plan. "Alright. Let’s do this."

As the plan took shape, I couldn’t shake the feeling of unease gnawing at my gut. Equipping Ellie with a hidden GPS tracker and a small weapon felt like the bare minimum to ensure her safety, but it still felt like it needed to be improved in the face of Giovanni’s unpredictable nature.

The following day, the air was thick with tension as we made our final arrangements. Ellie stood firm, her resolve unyielding despite the dangers that loomed. I admired her bravery.

"Don’t worry so much, Aidan. If Giovanni tries anything funny, I will make sure he knows what happens when you piss a pregnant lady off," Ellie joked.

I gave her a half smile and hugged her. "I know I can count on you, Ellie."

As noon approached, Giovanni’s black sedan pulled up outside.

"Are you ready?" I asked Ellie.

She nodded. "Yes."