MY Brother 2

Chapter #2 { The Italy Connection }

Three days.

It had been three days since I showed Gabe that letter, and my life had become a carefully orchestrated prison of protection.

I stared out the window of my morning lecture hall, barely hearing Professor Mitchell drone on about Renaissance art history. Two rows behind me sat Matteo, one of Gabriel's most trusted men.

He was pretending to be a student, complete with a backpack and a notebook he never actually wrote in. His eyes constantly scanned the room, the exits, the windows.

Outside in the parking lot, I knew there were at least two more men watching the building. And waiting at home? Another two stationed around our property, monitoring the security cameras Gabriel had upgraded to military grade surveillance.

I understood why. I really did. But that didn't make it any less suffocating.

My phone buzzed in my lap. I glanced down, keeping it hidden under the desk.

**Gabriel:** How's class, baby girl?

**Me:** Boring. Matteo looks like he's about to fall asleep.

**Gabriel:** He better not be. I'll have his ass.

**Me:** I'm kidding. He's very attentive. Too attentive. I think he scared off a guy who was going to ask me about the homework.

**Gabriel:** Good.

I could practically see the satisfied smirk on his face. Possessive bastard… and I loved it.

**Me:** Any news?

**Gabriel:** Not yet. Marco's following up on some leads. I'll tell you everything when you get home.

**Me:** I have study group after this. Library. 2-4pm.

There was a longer pause this time.

**Gabriel:** Matteo stays with you.

**Me:** I know.

**Gabriel:** Gracie…

**Me:** I know, Gabriel. I'm not fighting you on this. I promise.

**Gabriel:** I love you.

**Me:** I love you too. Be safe.

**Gabriel:** Always, baby girl.

I slipped my phone back into my bag just as Professor Mitchell dismissed class. Students began filing out, chattering about weekend plans and upcoming exams. Normal college stuff. The kind of life I used to pretend I could have.

Matteo fell into step beside me as I headed toward the library, maintaining a casual distance but close enough to intervene if needed. He was good at his job, I had to give him that. Most people probably didn't even notice him.

"You don't have to walk right next to me," I said quietly as we crossed the quad. "I know you're there."

"Boss's orders, Miss Gracie." His voice was respectful but firm. "I stay close."

I sighed. "It's just Gracie and I'm not going to disappear in the thirty feet between here and the library."

"With respect, ma'am, that's exactly when people disappear. When they think they're safe."

The words sent a chill down my spine, but I didn't let it show. Instead, I adjusted my bag on my shoulder and kept walking.

The library was busy for a Thursday afternoon, filled with students cramming for midterms and working on group projects. I found my study group in our usual spot on the third floor, a cluster of tables near the windows with a view of the campus gardens.

"Hey, Gracie!" My friend Melissa waved me over. "We were just about to start without you."

"Sorry, Professor Mitchell went over." I slid into a seat, very aware of Matteo positioning himself at a nearby table with a clear line of sight to me and both exits.

The next two hours passed in a blur of note comparisons and practice questions. I tried to focus, I really did, but my mind kept drifting. Who had sent that letter? What did they want? And more importantly, what would they do when Gabe inevitably refused to step down?

Because he would refuse. I knew him well enough to know that. Gabe didn't back down from threats. He met them head on, usually with overwhelming force.

"Earth to Gracie?" Melissa snapped her fingers in front of my face. "You okay? You've been staring at that same page for like ten minutes."

"Yeah, sorry. Just tired." I forced a smile. "Late night."

She grinned knowingly. "I bet. That boyfriend of yours is seriously hot. If I had someone who looked like that waiting at home, I'd be tired too."

If only she knew the half of it… but I mean, she wasn’t all wrong…

"Something like that," I murmured, turning back to my notes.

By the time four o'clock rolled around, I was more than ready to leave. I said goodbye to my study group and headed for the exit, Matteo shadowing me as always.

The afternoon sun was warm on my face as we walked toward the parking lot where another one of Gabriel's men, Tony, was waiting with the car. It was a different car than usual, Gabe had been rotating vehicles all week, never using the same one twice.

I was halfway across the lot when Matteo's hand suddenly shot out, stopping me in my tracks.

"Wait," he said sharply, his other hand moving to the gun concealed under his jacket.

My heart jumped into my throat. "What? What is it?"

His eyes were locked on our car. More specifically, on the windshield.

Even from here, I could see it. A white envelope tucked under the wiper blade.

"Stay here," Matteo ordered, already moving forward. He pulled out his phone, speaking rapidly into it. "We've got another one. South parking lot, black Escalade. Get the boss on the line now."

Tony had already exited the vehicle, his weapon drawn as he scanned the surrounding area. Students walked past, oblivious to the tension, to the danger that had just materialized in broad daylight.

Matteo approached the car carefully, checking underneath it, around it, before finally reaching for the envelope. He didn't open it. Instead, he pulled out a plastic evidence bag from his jacket, of course he had one, and sealed the letter inside.

"Clear," Tony called out after completing his sweep of the area.

Matteo returned to me, his expression grim. "We need to go. Now."

"Let me see it," I said, reaching for the bag.

"Miss Gracie-"

"Let me see it, Matteo."

He hesitated, then handed it over. Through the plastic, I could see the same blocky handwriting as before. But this message was shorter. More direct.

**"Time's running out. Step down or she pays the price."**

My blood ran cold. They weren't threatening Gabriel anymore.

They were threatening me.

"Get in the car," Matteo said, his hand on my elbow, guiding me firmly toward the vehicle. "We're taking you straight home. Boss is already on his way."

I let him lead me, my mind racing. They'd been here. On campus. They'd gotten close enough to leave this on our car in broad daylight, with Gabriel's men watching.

How?

The drive home was tense and silent. Matteo sat in the back with me while Tony drove, both of them constantly checking mirrors and scanning for tails. I clutched my bag in my lap, the plastic wrapped letter resting on the seat beside me like a coiled snake.

When we pulled up to the house, Gabe's car was already in the driveway. He must have broken every speed limit to get here so fast.

The front door flew open before we even parked, and Gabe came striding out, his face a mask of barely controlled fury. He yanked open my door before Matteo could, pulling me out and into his arms.

"Are you okay?" His hands were everywhere, checking me over, tilting my face up to look at him. "Did anyone approach you? Touch you?"

"I'm fine," I assured him, even though my hands were shaking. "Gabriel, I'm fine. They just left another letter."

"They got onto your campus. Past my men. Close enough to touch our f*****g car." His voice was deadly quiet, which was somehow worse than if he'd been yelling. "That's not fine, Gracie."

Matteo handed him the bagged letter. Gabriel's jaw clenched as he read it, his eyes going dark and dangerous.

"Inside," he ordered. "Everyone. Now."

The house was already full of people when we entered. Marco was there, along with several other men I recognized from the organization. They'd set up what looked like a command center in our dining room- laptops, phones, surveillance equipment spread across the table.

"Talk to me," Gabriel demanded, still keeping me close to his side. "How the f**k did this happen?"

Marco looked grim. "We've been going through the campus security footage. Whoever left that letter knew exactly where the cameras were. They stayed in the blind spots the entire time."

"Professional," one of the other men added. "This isn't some amateur trying to scare us. These people know what they're doing."

"The Italy connection?" Gabe asked.

Marco nodded. "We've confirmed it. Remember the Rossi family? The ones who were trying to expand into California before Mr. Angelini shut them down?"

I felt Gabriel tense beside me. "I thought we had an understanding with them."

"We did. But apparently, the old man died six months ago. His son, Dante Rossi, took over. And he's not interested in maintaining peace." Marco pulled up a photo on one of the laptops. "This is him."

The man in the photo was probably in his early thirties, dark haired and sharp featured, with cold eyes that reminded me uncomfortably of Bryce.

"He was in Italy when we were there," Marco continued. "We've tracked his movements. He flew back to California two days after we did."

"So he's been watching us for months," I said quietly. "Planning this."

"Looks that way." Marco's expression was sympathetic. "He wants what his father couldn't have. Control of the California territory. And he figures the easiest way to get it is to force Gabriel out."

"By threatening me," I finished.

Gabriel's arm tightened around me. "That's not going to happen."

"Boss, we need to consider-" one of the men started.

"I said it's not going to happen." Gabriel's voice cut through the room like a blade. "I don't care what we have to do. Gracie is off limits. That's non negotiable."

"Gabriel." I turned to face him, placing my hands on his chest. "We need to be smart about this. If this Dante guy is as professional as they're saying-"

"Then we'll be more professional." His eyes met mine, fierce and protective. "I've dealt with men like him before, baby girl. He thinks he can scare us into submission by going after you. He's wrong."

"What's the play?" Marco asked.

Gabriel was quiet for a moment, his mind clearly working through scenarios and strategies. When he finally spoke, his voice was calm and controlled, the voice of a leader, not just a man protecting what was his.

"We go on the offensive. I want everything on Dante Rossi, his businesses, his associates, his properties, his weaknesses. Everything. If he wants a war, we'll give him one. But we do it on our terms."

"And Gracie?" Matteo asked.

"Gracie doesn't leave this house without a minimum of three men. I want the security system upgraded again- facial recognition, motion sensors, the works. And I want someone watching the perimeter twenty four seven." He looked down at me. "I know you hate this, baby girl. But until we neutralize this threat-"

"I understand," I interrupted. "I don't like it, but I understand."

He kissed my forehead, some of the tension leaving his shoulders. "Thank you."

The meeting continued for another hour, with Gabe issuing orders and making plans. I sat beside him the entire time, listening as they discussed surveillance and counter surveillance, potential targets and defensive strategies. This was Gabriel's world- the world I'd chosen when I chose him and neither of us realized it.

By the time everyone left, it was nearly eight o'clock. Gabe locked the door behind the last man and turned to me, exhaustion finally showing on his face.

"Come here," he said softly, opening his arms.

I went to him without hesitation, letting him hold me close. We stood there in the entryway for a long moment, just breathing together.

"I'm scared," I admitted quietly. "Not for me. For you. What if this Dante guy-"

"Hey." Gabe pulled back to look at me. "I've been doing this a long time now, Gracie baby. I know how to handle threats."

"But you've never had me to worry about before. Not like this, Bryce palls in comparison...." I touched his face, tracing the line of his jaw. "You're going to take risks to protect me. Dangerous risks."

He didn't deny it. "You're my whole world, baby girl. There's no risk I wouldn't take for you."

"That's what scares me," I whispered.

He kissed me then, slow and deep, pouring everything he couldn't say into it. When we finally broke apart, he rested his forehead against mine.

"We're going to get through this," he promised. "Together. Just like we always do."

I wanted to believe him. I really did.

But as we headed upstairs to bed, I couldn't shake the feeling that this was different. That Dante Rossi wasn't like Bryce or any of the other threats we'd faced… not in the least…

We weren't just fighting for Gabriel's position or for control of the organization.

We were fighting for our lives… again.

And somewhere out there in the darkness, Dante Rossi was watching, waiting for us to make a mistake.

I just hoped we'd see him coming before it was too late.