CHAPTER SEVENTY NINE – TAKING RISKS

Without a word, he pulled out his phone and dialed a number. "Vito," he said sharply when the call connected. "Come to the docks. Now." The wait for Vito's arrival was tense. Alessandro paced the small room, his face a mask of controlled fury. Joan sat silently, her mind racing with what might happen next. When the door finally burst open, Vito stormed in, his face red with anger. The moment he saw Joan, his expression turned to one of betrayal and rage. "You?" he spat. "You brought my brother into this? How dare you, you manipulative bitch!" Before Joan could respond, Alessandro's voice cut through the room like ice. "Enough, Vito." Vito turned to his brother, his anger barely contained. "What is this, Alessandro? Since when do you involve yourself in my personal affairs?" Alessandro's reply was calm, but there was steel beneath his words. "When your 'personal affairs' start to threaten our family's interests, little brother, they become my concern." "Threaten our interests?" V