Chapter 67: Jacob's Big Mistake

On the other end of the line, Rebecca's silence hung for seconds that seemed like eternity. Johnny knew that each word needed to be carefully chosen; Rebecca wasn't the type to act without thinking, and he needed her more than ever. Then, her voice finally echoed, full of irony. 

"I thought you'd never say that again." Johnny clenched his fist, but kept his tone firm and direct. 

"Things have changed. You know very well that I wouldn't call you if it wasn't urgent."

"And what's so urgent?" Rebecca asked, already imagining what it was and clearly enjoying the man's discomfort. 

"I need help to finish off my dear wife, Bella Hahn." Rebecca let out a short, dry laugh, as if the proposal had a comical touch. 

"Why do I have the feeling that whenever you feel like shit, you remember me?" Johnny took a deep breath. This wasn't the time to feed provocations.

"It's not about me, Rebecca. It's about something much bigger, and you know it." The mention of something "bigger" made Rebecca hesitate. The line went silent again, but this time the pause was full of thought. When she finally answered, her voice lost its initial harshness, revealing genuine interest. 

"I don't know if I should tell you, Hmm... I will, maybe then you'll stop calling me and bugging me." Johnny didn't answer, but leaned back in his chair, attentive, every muscle in his body tense. 

"I have someone infiltrated in Bella's group," Rebecca said, with frightening calm. 

"An old friend of mine. I saved his life when Dylan almost killed him for betraying him. Now he works for me." Johnny was silent for a moment, absorbing the information.

"So you're saying that Bella Hahn's days are numbered?"

"Exactly," Rebecca replied, her voice full of satisfaction.

Johnny smiled slightly, a smile that mixed relief and anticipation. He knew he had just brought an unexpected piece to the board, a piece that could change the entire course of the dispute. 

“I just wanted to neutralize her,” Johnny admitted. 

“But your plan… is much better.” Rebecca gave a short laugh again, this time almost amused.

“That’s why you came to me. Now listen to me, Johnny. If you want this to work, you need to play my game.”

“I’m listening.” At the other end of the line, Rebecca began to detail her strategy, and Johnny realized that the game against Bella Hahn was about to reach a new level. Before ending the call, Johnny hesitated. Something in his mind was troubling him, and he knew that if he didn’t ask now, he wouldn’t have another chance. 

“You know that if Dylan finds out about your plan to kill the woman he loves, you’ll die too, right?” he ventured.

“Are you really willing to do that?” Rebecca laughed, but this time her laugh sounded bitter. 

“I finally understood that DK never loved me,” she replied, her voice full of resentment. 

“And I decided that if I can’t be with him, Bella won’t be either.” Johnny raised his eyebrows, surprised by her frankness.

“Wow! How spiteful you are. I want to die as your ally.”

Rebecca wasted no time in returning the blow.

“Look who’s talking! The man who planned to assassinate one of the most powerful Mafia leaders, Anthony Hahn, to take his place, using everything and everyone around him. And now he’s looking for me to eliminate the only one who threatens your fragile, shitty leadership?” Johnny let out a frustrated sigh, but recognized the real sting in her provocation. 

“Okay, I get it. You were fired and now you want revenge.”

“A problem with that?” Rebecca countered defiantly. 

“None. So you don’t mind if I go after DK?” Johnny gave a dry laugh. “You can try,” she replied without hesitation. 

“But succeeding… I don’t know. DK is a born Mafioso. And you? A mere apprentice.” Johnny clenched his fists, deciding that the conversation had reached its limit. “I think this call is over.” Rebecca smiled on the other end of the line, a smile that Johnny couldn’t see, but he could certainly feel.

“Keep an eye on the news, Johnny. Maybe we’ll have some good news in the next few days.”

The line went dead. Johnny stood there for a moment, pondering what he had just heard. The game was getting more dangerous, and if Rebecca was willing to burn everything down, he needed to double his vigilance. 

Across town, Rebecca hung up her phone and sighed, thinking about Johnny’s words. But before she could fully process the conversation, a deep, familiar voice echoed behind her, making her turn sharply.

What do you think you’re doing, Rebecca?

Jacob, DK’s closest subordinate, stood in the doorway, his arms crossed and a look that oscillated between disappointment and distrust.

“Jacob…” Rebecca began, her tone cautious.

“Don’t make excuses,” he interrupted, taking a step forward. “You’re dealing with fire. Johnny is unstable, Dylan is dangerous, and Bella… well, you know what she’s capable of. What are you trying to prove?”

Rebecca lifted her chin, crossing her arms as a defensive reflex.

“I’m not proving anything. I’m taking control of my own life...”

“Control? By betraying DK and siding with Johnny?” Jacob laughed incredulously. That sounds more like a suicidal bet.”

She approached him, her eyes sparkling with determination.

“Maybe it is. But, Jacob, if you want to survive this game, you have to take a chance. And I’m not going to wait for Bella, Johnny or Dylan to decide my fate.”

Jacob shook his head, as if he couldn’t believe what he was hearing.

“You’re burying yourself alive, Rebecca. And you’re dragging it out, don’t do it, there’s still time to turn back.”

Rebecca smiled, a cold, calculating smile.

““If not what? Will you hand me over? Stay by my side, Jacob. When this is over, we’ll be on top.”

Jacob didn’t answer right away. He knew Rebecca was brilliant, but was she brilliant enough to survive the game she was creating? That was a risk he wasn’t sure he wanted to take.

“I’m sorry, Rebecca,” he said, shaking his head. “I can’t side with you on this.”

Rebecca remained silent for a moment, analyzing the man in front of her. Jacob had always been loyal to DK, and an unquestionable ally, and she knew she would need more than words to convince him. She thought about killing him, but it would be too obvious and then she had another idea that would probably be more efficient, using her beauty to her advantage. Everyone knew that Jacob was a womanizer and had already gotten into some trouble because of it.

“Jacob...” she began, taking a step towards him, her voice taking on a sweet and persuasive tone. “Think about it. We don’t need to make this an issue. Don’t you understand? I’m not betraying DK. I’m protecting the future... our future. Bella Hahn is a threat and you know it.”

“Rebecca, do you want to destroy the woman he loves? No, I can’t accept that.”

Rebecca sighed deeply, as if she was trying to maintain patience.

“Jacob, please. Think about everything we’ve been through together. We are a team and we help each other, tell me what you need now? I can do whatever you want, however you want.” She whispered in his ear, sliding her hand gently down his arm. He remained still, but her proximity unsettled him. 

“Don’t try to manipulate the situation, Rebecca. I know you.” She smiled, a soft smile, but full of intention. 

“If you really knew me, you would know that I’m easy now.” Rebecca barely stopped talking when Jacob went after her, kissing her neck, holding her firmly by the waist, and then slid his hand down her thigh. Despite feeling repulsed, she smiled because his plan was working. He took her to the sofa that was in the tent in the house’s garden in the outdoor area. 

“Rip my blouse, Jacob.” Rebecca asked and without hesitation or thinking properly, he did everything the blonde asked. He also unzipped the jeans she was wearing and it was then that he said: “Get off me, you crazy person. Help!” she screams in despair and soon Oliver appears, pulling Jacob off top Rebecca

“Rebecca, what’s going on here?”

“Jacob tried to have sex with me without my consent.”

“That’s not true.” Jacob despairs, finally understanding Rebecca’s plan

“You damn!”