Chapter 87: Between Conflicts and Alliances!

In the controlled silence of the Bedroon, Bella didn't respond to Carter's provocation. She just went on her way, trying to ignore the doctor's gaze, which, however, didn't let her go so easily.

"You still love Dylan Kicher, don't you?" he shot back directly.

"I'm not going to answer that question. Please stop." Bella sighed, trying to remain calm.

"It makes sense now. No man has had a chance with you since DK. It's obvious in the way you look at him, it's completely different from the look you gave me when we exchanged those kisses on our dates."

"You know this conversation is getting awkward, right? I don't want to hurt you, Carter." She took a deep breath and tried to be gentle. "I won't use clichés, like 'no one controls the heart', but I'll be honest. You're kind, affectionate, polite... the kind of man many women dream of. But I'm different. I was raised differently. My way of liking is different."

"I can change! For you, I can." Carter seemed genuine, but Bella shook her head.

"You don't understand. Your family is traditional, and I come from a completely opposite family, my father was one of the most powerful leaders of the mafia, and I am the fruit of that legacy, one day this will weigh on both of us, even if on that Sunday almost 11 years ago I hadn't met Dylan Kicher and fallen in love, we still would never be together, do you understand now?"

Carter smiled awkwardly, finally letting Bella Finally her go, and then it was your turn of go , the one who was happy to hear the whole conversation was Théo who harbors the hope of seeing his parents together again, he enters the shower with a wide smile on his face. At lunchtime, almost everyone was gathered, only Susan and Oliver were missing, who soon appeared coming down the stairs, Susan leaning on Oliver because his leg was still stitched up, Bella's counselor sat next to Théo and Oliver next to DK who continued to ignore him, a silence that was at least strange settled over the table and the tall, strong man began to speak:

"When are you two going to stop pretending to be dead? There are people here who want to go back to normal life. I, for example, would like to be free to explore the world."

DK continued to cut his steak calmly. "Are you provoking me, Oliver? You know that, in our environment, you are either good for something, or you are good for nothing and are discarded."

"If years of loyalty have been worthless, then kill me at once!"

DK slammed his cutlery down hard on the plate, startling Théo who looked at his mother at the same time he heard Susan trying to intervene:

"Mr. Kicher, he is not provoking you. He is just nervous."

Bella was still staring at Susan, because she had never defended anyone before except for her uncle Evan Collins, but he was the man who raised her and she was justified, but what about Oliver? Could her female advisor with a reputation for being tough and ruthless be in love? Bella's thoughts flew as the fight between DK and Oliver continued.

"I admitted my mistake, apologized, and humbled myself. I am willing to spend the rest of my life redeeming myself. Please forgive me." Oliver seemed about to kneel, but Bella intervened.

"Don't do that, Oliver. If Dylan doesn't forgive you, you can come work with me."

"I think Susan will love it."

"Shut up, Boy." Susan grumbles directly to Théo who smiles

"I appreciate it, Miss Hanh, but I am loyal to DK and if he doesn't want me as an advisor anymore, I prefer death."

"My beautiful brunette, I love you, but don't interfere in this conversation and that goes for you too, secretary." DK tries to scold her gently, "I'll use your office for a few minutes.

DK sighed deeply, crossing his arms. After a moment of silence, he said:

"I've already scolded you as much as I could. I realized that you understood the gravity of what you did and yes, your loyalty and friendship weighed in on my decision. I'm going to give you one more chance and I know you'll do better than you've done before."

Relieved, Oliver replied: "Thanks, boss!"

"Great. Now let's get to work. Contact Enrico and ask him to put together a team to find Dean. I want that son of a bitch to pay for what he did."

DK left the office, and everyone, who had clearly been listening to the conversation, hid their faces. He looked at Bella with a sarcastic smile.

"Now I know who Theo got his habit of listening behind doors from."

"Hey!" Bella replied with false indignation.

Later that same day, Miller arrived at the apartment with his laptop. After hours of work, he revealed the results of the investigation: Dean Sanders, the alleged co-pilot, was back in Miami.

The mood in the room changed instantly. Bella, DK and the team knew that an inevitable confrontation was approaching.

"It was to be expected that he would return to where he feels comfortable. After all, for all intents and purposes, we are dead," Bella commented, crossing her arms as she analyzed the information.

"I already had that suspicion," DK replied, with a slight confident smile. "That's why I instructed a group of my men to look for him discreetly."

In a strip club in Miami, ignoring all of Rebecca's warnings to be discreet, Dean was drinking and having fun with some women around him, not even noticing that the circle was closing in around him. Enrico paid two of the women to put something in his drink and when he was completely out of it, they would take him to a place where the security cameras wouldn't work, an alternative escape route, and so they did, handing the man over to the men who accompanied Enrico. As they were putting Dean in the back seat, Taylor, who had been given the mission to watch Rebecca's colleague, shouted:

“What are you doing?”

“Putting this drunk man in the car to take him away.”

“You don't work here. Who are you?”

While the conversation was going on, Enrico looked in the side mirror of the car, waiting for his colleague to close the door. What happened next was that the Italian sped off in the car, hearing gunshots and noticing that the two were lying on the ground. But it wasn't time to mourn, but to complete the mission.

“DK, I'm with Dean Sanders. But we've had two casualties. Owen and Paul.

“Who shotin them?”

Enrico gave the description of the man and Bella, who was listening right next to him, said: “Taylor! Johnny's right-hand man.”

“Keep him locked up. Tomorrow I'll get to Miami and I'll make sure to kill this bastard once again. And this time I won't miss.”