Pretending to Be an Untouchable Crime Boss-Chapter 81 : The Book.

Her grip tightened around Hector's arm as she stared deep into his eyes.

"I don't like what you just said."

"Bella, this book can cause a catastrophe, especially if James reads or his mother. So please, let me go and burn it as fast as possible."

"We agreed that we would give it to him." She insisted.

"No, we agreed that I would make the decision." Hector corrected her. "And I've decided not to show it to him."

Bella's eyes darkened with frustration, her fingers digging into Hector's arm.

"This isn't just your decision. We both know what's in that book. If you burn it, we're burying the truth forever."

"Some truths shouldn't come to light, Bella. This? This will only bring pain, nothing else. Rafael died and with him this book too."

"And what if he finds out later? What if someone else tells him?"

"Then I'll deal with it when that time comes. But right now, James has enough on his plate. If he sees this, it'll break him, or worse."

Bella hesitated. She knew he had a point, but something in her gut told her this was wrong. "I just…I don't want to be the one lying to him."

She let out of his arm as she stepped back

"One more thing, Bella." Hector said, pausing at the doorway. "Don't let your emotions toward James cloud your judgment. You're his soldier first, then his girlfriend. Your job is to protect him."

"You think I don't know that already?" She snapped. "I've been by his side just as long as you have, Hector. Don't act like I don't understand what my role is."

Hector shook his head as he adjusted his suit. "As long as me? No, no, no, Bella." He stepped closer. "You know nothing about James that saved me. Nothing."

Bella refused to back down. "Don't insult me, Hector. I've been here, fighting alongside him just like you."

"Fighting? Sure. Standing beside him? Maybe. But don't act like you know him the way I do. You don't know what he went through before you showed up."

"And you think I don't see the weight he carries? That I don't feel it every time he looks at me with that same damn exhaustion in his eyes?"

"You see what he lets you see, Bella. You see the man he's become, not the boy who crawled out of hell. Not the one who dragged me out with him."

Bella took a step forward. "And you think that just because you were there first, that makes your judgment the only one that matters?"

"It makes my loyalty the only one that matters." Hector snapped back."This book could ruin him. You think handing it over is the right thing to do, but you're not thinking about what happens after he reads it."

Bella took another step closer. "And you're acting like you're the only one who gets to decide what's best for him."

He stepped forward, closing the space between them. His face turned serious, his usual smirk gone. Slowly, he reached down and unbuttoned his suit, revealing the pistol holstered at his side.

"I am Hector Bellini, the underboss of James Bellini. Please, do not fuck with me, Bella."

Bella's heart pounded, but she didn't look away. "And you would hurt someone he loves?"

Hector smiled. It wasn't warm. It wasn't friendly. It was chilling. "With pleasure, if it's to defend him."

Bella's breath hitched slightly, and for the first time, she truly saw the monster that lurked beneath Hector's charming smirk.

"You really think that's what's best for him?"

Hector nodded. "I know it is." He tucked the book back into his coat. "And if you were thinking clearly, you'd agree with me."

"I don't trust you, Hector."

"Good. You shouldn't. I only need James' trust."

"Why the fuck you two whispering in the doorway like kids?"

A sudden voice interrupted them, and both Hector and Bella immediately turned toward the sound, trying to act like nothing had happened.

But as they looked, they were taken aback.

It was Ferucci.

"What the fuck happened to you…?" Hector asked surprised by Ferucci look.

"What? Do I look bad?" He spun around as if showing off.

"You look like a goddamn playboy, Ferucci… I thought you had descended into madness." Bella said as surprised as Hector.

Ferucci was dressed in a tailored white suit, his favorite color, but that wasn't the shocking part. His hairstyle had changed drastically. His usual rough, exhausted look was completely gone, replaced by smooth skin, as if he had erased every sign of stress. Even his dark eye bags were gone, clearly hidden under a makeup.

Also his eyebrows were cut and shaped, and his teeth…

Hector squinted. "Did you…whiten your teeth?"

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Ferucci grinned, flashing his white teeth. "In the past few weeks, I was very depressed, but I knew James would eventually call me. So, I booked an appointment for my teeth. Also got a nice facial treatment and a full hair makeover." He ran a hand through his freshly styled hair.

Hector stared at him, then glanced at Bella, who looked just as dumbfounded.

"Jesus Christ, Ferucci…"

"What? Do I look good or not?" Ferucci grinned wider, almost blinding them with his unnaturally white teeth.

Bella crossed her arms, still trying to process the sight in front of her. "I mean… you're not my type for several reasons, one being that you're a full blown psychopath…but yeah, I'll give it to you. You do look good."

She was still stunned. The last thing she had heard about Ferucci was that he had spiraled completely, chopping up more and more people and living in a warehouse, not even bothering to shower.

And now, here he was, dressed like a goddamn model, standing there with a fresh haircut, flawless skin.

Hector shook his head.. "Unbelievable…you just pop back up looking like a rich playboy?"

Ferucci smirked, adjusting his sleeve cuffs. "I won't deny that I was… in a dark place. But I couldn't exactly show up looking like some deranged serial killer. So, I booked a few appointments. You know, self-care."

Bella gave him a skeptical look. "Self-care? After butchering people?"

"A man can have layers, Bella." He winked at her.

Hector shook his head in disbelief. "You're a damn lunatic."

"And yet, here I am, still one of James's most trusted men." He glanced between them. "But enough about me. What the hell were you two whispering about ?

Bella and Hector tensed for a brief second, but Bella rolled her eyes. "None of your business."

"Oh, so it was something interesting."

"Just go. James is already waiting for you, maybe he is even angry that you did not show up even once." Bella said.

Ferucci's smirk faded instantly. His whole body tensed, and for the first time in a long time, he looked… unsure.

Bella and Hector watched him, waiting.

Without another word, he turned and walked toward the stairs. His steps were slower than usual, like the weight of guilt was pressing down on him with every step.

Hector and Bella exchanged a look as Ferucci disappeared up the stairs.

"You think James will fuck him up?" Bella asked, her arms still crossed.

"James doesn't yell when he's angry. He gets quiet. That's worse."

Bella nodded. She knew that all too well.

Upstairs, Ferucci reached the office door, but he didn't open it right away. He stood there, staring at the handle, his breathing steady but his mind racing. He had fucked up, badly. He should have been there, at James's side, when everything was happening. Instead, he had drowned himself in his own madness.

He took a deep breath and finally knocked.

"Come in."

James's voice was calm. Too calm.

Ferucci pushed open the door and stepped inside. James was seated at his desk, a folder open in front of him. He didn't even look up right away.

"James…."

He didn't say anything, just stared.

Ferucci had been stabbed before. Shot at. Tortured. But nothing had ever felt as brutal as this silence.

What the actually fuck is this….no way he is the Ferucci I know…