Dangerous Secrets: My Mafia Stepbrother

Emanuele had a satisfying rest, had breakfast, and was getting ready to go to work. Isabella couldn’t bear to see him go, worried about potential dangers he might face. If she had her way, she would keep Emanuele in the apartment with her, but she knew he had important matters to attend to.

Emanuele noticed Isabella’s reluctant gaze. He couldn’t help but smile, reaching out to caress her cheek and planting a kiss on her lips.

“How about I bring Elisa over to keep you company?”

Previously, he could have asked Grazia to accompany Isabella, but Grazia had already left for Italy. Now, Evelyn was an option, but being a civilian with health issues, Emanuele didn’t want to involve her in the underworld affairs of the Mafia. That left Elisa as the suitable choice.

Isabella’s eyes lit up instantly upon hearing the suggestion, showing genuine happiness.

“Really? You’ll bring Elisa here to be with me?”

She was thrilled. Doing the same repetitive tasks every day in the apartment became monotonous, and having a friend her age sounded like a great idea. However, Isabella hesitated.

“Isn’t Elisa supposed to be on standby at the base all the time? If you bring her here to accompany me, won’t you be short-handed?”

“No, Elisa’s top priority now is to be with you, ensuring your safety.”

Emanuele thought it would be more convenient for Isabella to have a female guard alongside her. He wanted her to feel more at ease, especially after realizing her anxiety even in her sleep.

Feeling guilty for not protecting her well enough, Emanuele proposed bringing Elisa over to be with Isabella. It would also allow Elisa to enter the room and protect Isabella when he wasn’t around.

Moreover, since they got along so well, Emanuele believed Elisa could alleviate Isabella’s current anxieties.

Isabella embraced the idea and instructed Lilly to prepare some treats to welcome her good friend.

Elisa arrived around noon, and upon entering, she immediately hugged Isabella.

“Oh, my God, Isabella! It’s been so long; I’ve missed you so much!”

Isabella was equally delighted, sharing a tight hug with Elisa. Soon, they were seated on the couch, and Lilly had prepared tea and snacks for them to enjoy while chatting.

“So, you’ve been staying in this apartment all this time, not going anywhere?” Elisa inquired.

Isabella nodded.

“Isn’t that boring? Just watching TV and playing around in the apartment?” Elisa frowned and shook her head. She loved traveling, exploring nature, climbing mountains, and visiting the seaside whenever she had free time.

She also enjoyed going on missions, traveling to different places, and eliminating various targets. It was a thrilling experience for her.

Therefore, Elisa couldn’t imagine being stuck in an apartment, living a life without any excitement or joy. For her, such a lifestyle would be utterly dreadful.

Looking at Isabella, Elisa’s eyes were filled with sympathy.

“It’s a bit boring. So, Elisa, are you sure you want to stay with me? That means you can’t go anywhere.”

“Isabella, it’s okay. My current mission is to protect you, and I will fulfill my duty. Besides, I believe with me in your apartment, you won’t be bored,” Elisa said, standing up. “Come on, Isabella, let’s go to the gym. Let me see the results of your recent training. Even if it’s inside the apartment, you’ve been training, right?”

Upon hearing Elisa’s words, Isabella felt nervous. She hadn’t been training at all during this time. Due to her pregnancy, she had become lazy and avoided intense exercises. Doing yoga was already pushing it; forget about rigorous combat training.

Elisa’s inquiry made Isabella feel like she got caught slacking off by her boss. She immediately shook her head, “Elisa, I’m not training right now.”

“Not training? Isabella, that won’t do,” Elisa frowned, looking serious. “Then you’ll train with me right now.”

“I can’t. I feel a bit unwell, not suitable for training.”

“What’s wrong?”

“I just feel a bit tired. My body is not in good condition for intense exercises.”

“Isabella, it’s precisely because you lack exercise that you’re feeling like this. I think now is the perfect time for you.” Elisa held Isabella’s hand. “Look, during this time, you’ve gained weight. It’s probably because you haven’t been training. Given the current situation, Emanuele is dealing with formidable enemies. Isabella, even though Emanuele has assigned enough guards to ensure your safety, if the enemy is cunning enough, all these guards won’t matter. If they want to capture you, they will find loopholes.”Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g

Isabella started to feel anxious at Elisa’s words. She had always thought that staying in the apartment without going anywhere would be safe. She was only anxious because of her child. However, now Elisa made her feel unsafe even here.

“See, although all these large windows are bulletproof, a house needs ventilation. Enemies might still find a way through those small openings,” Elisa continued. “Moreover, this apartment is too big, and there are plenty of hiding spots. Isabella, you must learn some self-defense techniques. In case you encounter enemies, at least you’ll have a chance to fight back.”

Isabella found Elisa’s reasoning convincing, but she also knew that she couldn’t engage in strenuous exercise at the moment. Her child had just started developing, and it wouldn’t be right to engage in intense physical activity.

Thinking of this, Isabella said, “Although that’s true, the techniques you taught me before should be sufficient.”

“How did you become like this, Isabella? You used to be so humble and eager to learn. But now, you seem unwilling to learn anything,” Elisa said, shocked and puzzled by Isabella’s resistance. She remembered how Isabella used to seek her guidance for learning, but now, it seemed like she had changed completely.

She had invited her to train together multiple times, and each time Isabella declined.

“Isabella, what’s going on with you? Unwell? Shouldn’t you see a doctor?”

“No, no need,” Isabella hastily waved her hand, indicating that she didn’t need to see a doctor.

Elisa scrutinized Isabella and noticed the weight gain and the overall lack of vitality compared to before.