Bargain Bride: The Billionaire’s Forced Wife

EZIO ARRIVED in the prison after a few minutes. It was not that far from the De Santis Law Firm were he sent his wife off. As expected, Chief Bruno is already waiting for him in the entrance of the prison.

“Signor Ezio, nice to see you again,” Chief Bruno greeted while standing like he wasn’t shot in a vital organ just a few weeks ago. He looked tough in his chief police uniform, as if he was free from any weaknesses.

Ezio nodded and greeted him back. “I see that you’re now in a good shape,” he spoke while examining his body for any pain using his eyes.

“By the way, thank you for protecting my wife. You did a better job than my men,” he added before clicking his tongue, a sign of disappointment for his men.

Those men who failed to protect his wife were sent to guard their companies. He doesn’t want to fire them from their job, so he thought of another position for them.

New and efficient ones became the replacement for their positions, and this time, Ezio reminded them that Chiara’s life is much important than theirs, and they should risk their lives for his wife.

“It’s nothing,” the chief responded while a small bow. “It’s my job to protect the lives of the people and bring justice to them. Catching a bullet is just a small thing.”

Ezio chuckled while they headed inside the prison. Various police officers greeted them on their way in. “I would think it’s a small thing if you saved any other people, but it’s my wife we’re talking about, so it’s a huge thing for me.”

“I owe you one, so feel free to reach me out if you need assistance or something,” he added.

“I appreciate your gratitude, signor, but it’s really my job. However, I would not refuse your assistance,” Chief Bruno answered before talking to one of the officers to fetch Giovanni for a visit.

They waled towards one of the visitation cubicles – the same one that Ezio used before. That area was specifically chosen by Ezio, because the place is far away from the other people in the prison and just near a CCTV camera, just incase Giovanni thought of doing something wicked.

“By the way,” Ezio spoke as they got near the cubicle. “I heard what happened to Chief Pessi. Is he really suspended?” he asked.

Chief Bruno nodded. “Yes, signor. It was the higher ups who initiated the investigation about Pessi. They received an intel that he might be working for the Bonetti Law Firm, and we used that opportunity to add his negligence on the evidences of you case against Giovanni,” he explained before grinning. “He is talented and efficient. Too bad he sided with the bad guys.”

“I see,” Ezio answered while nodding repeatedly. “That will take a huge blow on his reputation that he took care for years. I’m sure he will go down together with Giovanni.”

Chief Bruno agreed to his words before changing the topic. “Attorney Falco told me about Kazimir Colombo’s alleged connection and being the mastermind behind Giovanni’s cases,” he said. “We were trying to get a warrant for him, but we don’t have enough evidences. Please present one as soon as possible so that we can help with the search.”

“Sure. We’re now working on it, but Kazimir is too good at hiding,” Ezio answered as he remembered Dante’s frustration last time he asked him about Kazimir’s whereabouts.

“I have heard about him before,” the chief responded. “He is good at cleaning hisc traces. We had a hard time when we were just dealing with Giovanni. I’m sure it will be more difficult dealing with Kazimir.”

The two men talked for a short moment before they saw Giovanni and two other police officers walking towards them. Chief Pessi excused himself before leaving the two people with rivalries in between alone.

Ezio stared at Giovanni with a blank expression. He observed him as Giovanni was just looking down, obviously he lacked of sleep and nutrients, as he became much thinner than before.

He has a lot of things to say to his rival, but Ezio doesn’t know how to start, of how to approach him in a way that will surely make Giovanni go against Kazimir.

Ezio took a deep breath and stared at the man who had been silent since he arrived. “Isadora’s dead,” he spoke.

Giovanni’s eyes widened and he immediately looked at Ezio with surprise and fear in his face. “What?” he asked, his voice stuttering even though it’s just a single word.

“Isadora is dead,” he repeated. “She was on the way to Morocco when her plane crash. She was stabbed using a plane wing. You could judge if that’s an accident or a murder.”

Giovanni was loss of words while staring at Ezio. He already expected that his and Isadora’s lives were now in death note since he was put in prison and when Isadora revealed Kazimir’s connection to them. However, he didn’t expect that it will be this soon.

“I will be next,” Giovanni muttered under his breath. “He will take me next. I’m sure of that.”

Ezio raised his left eyebrow. “Of course, you’ll be next,” he answered. “It’s only the two of you. One is dead and one is still alive. Just count a few days and you’ll be dead.”

Giovanni chuckled while shaking his head. “Did you visit me here just to say that? Did you really want to see me miserable?”

“Yes, I want to see you miserable. After everything you’ve done, I believe I deserve to see you suffer,” Ezio answered with indifference. “But no, I didn’t visit you just for this.”

Ezio leaned forward and looked at him straight in the eyes. “We’re currently on the hunt for Kazimir, and since you’re the only one with connection to him who is still alive, I need your cooperation.”

“Did you really think I’ll cooperate?” Giovanni asked with a mocking tone. “We’re rivals. What makes you think I’ll help you?”Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

“If you’re still in the right mind, you’ll cooperate with us,” Ezio answered and grinned. “Isn’t it unfair that you’re here, rotting in prison, while that old bastard man is free to do whatever he wants? You’re living in a cramped and smelly place, yet that man who used you is living comfortably in his place. Do you really want to end up as a scapegoat who wasn’t able to do anything? A loser?”

Ezio’s words hit Giovanni’s pride heavily that it threatened to fall. Ezio knew that one of the things that his rival hate is being used, and being a loser. He wanted to boil Giovanni’s blood, make him angry to Kazimir for using him, and make Giovanni turn against him to help Ezio.

Giovanni chuckled. “You really know how to push my buttons,” he answered before leaning on his chair. He sighed heavily before speaking again.

“I’ll be dead soon, and I want to bring that fucker with me,” he spoke. “But if you’re looking for physical evidence, I can’t provide you one. His orders on us were made over a phone call. A statement is the only thing I can offer.”

Ezio smiled inwardly. He didn’t expect that it will be this easy to make his rival work with him. He thought that Giovanni must have a lot of grudges on Kazimir.

“Do you have a pen and paper? Write down his number,” Giovanni told him like a boss.

Ezio pulled his phone and Giovanni looked at him, confused because phones are not allowed inside. But he dismisses it knowing that Ezio hold a lot of power in Rome.

Giovanni recited the number that Kazimir used to contact them. Ezio double-checked it before saving it in his contacts.

“I’m not sure if he is still using that one, but I hope that will help,” the rival added afterwards.

Ezio put his phone back to his pocket. “Now, about your statement. Our lawyer will talk to you, and make sure you will say everything you know, everything that has a connection to Kazimir,” he said. “You know you still can’t get out. Your ex-wife and the Leon Family were after you. The only thing I can provide is security and safety while you’re here.”

Giovanni nodded. “That’s enough for me. But can you send me to another cell? I don’t need a private cell, just decent cellmates who doesn’t make noise at night,” he requested.

“Sure,” he answered nonchalantly. “You have to be alive until we got Kazimir. We will need your statement once we’re on a trial.”

“I hope your security will be enough to make me stay alive until that day,” he chuckled. “But I’ll cooperate. I won’t let that bastard live free while I’m suffering for the crimes he created.”

Ezio nodded and thanked him before leaving. He forwarded Giovanni’s request to Chief Pessi, which the latter arranged immediately.

Just as Ezio stepped on inside the car to fetch his wife from the law firm, he received a text message from Chiara.

From: Cara

Tesoro, someone tried to shot me in the law firm. Don’t worry, I wasn’t hurt. Your men got one of the snipers. I’ll be waiting for you in our house.

Ezio’s heart quickened and he immediately ordered Luigi to go back ti their mansion. Although Chiara already mentioned that she wasn’t hurt, he still need to see her to make sure everything’s alright.

They arrived in the mansion after a few minutes for driving. Ezio was greeted by Chiara who was sitting on their living room comfortably, as if her life wasn’t in the brink of death just a few moments ago.

He hurriedly attacked her with a hug and kissed her forehead. “Are you okay? Are you hurt?” he asked while checking her body.

Chiara shook her head. “I’m fine. I wasn’t hurt. Your men were quick to react, although you have to check the one with tattoo. I think he was grazed by a bullet,” she answered before pointing at the door that leads to their basement. “They captured one of the snipers. I think you should check it. I’ll go to our bedroom. I feel so sleepy.”

She yawned and stretched her back. It was just noon but she wanted to sleep already. Chiara thought of booking a check-up, but she wanted to finish everything especially their hunt on Kazimir before doing it.

Ezio guided his wife towards their bedroom. He tucked her in the bed and adjusted the temperature of their air conditioner. He made sure she was comfortably sleeping before asking Fara to guide his wife.

He went down to the basement where Gabriel and some of his men were waiting. The unfamiliar man – the sniper – is tied up on a wooden chair.

“Signor,” Gabriel greeted and bowed to him. “We were able to capture only one of them. The other sniper jumped from the building, and he’s dead now.”

Ezio nodded before walking towards the unconscious sniper. One of his men gave him a small black bag, and spoke. “This bag was with this man, signor.”

He opened the back and looked for the things inside. There was a caliber-45 gun, some small chips, a camera, and a small binder.

Ezio’s eyes sharpened as he saw the contents of the binder. His jaw tightened and he immediately send some of his men to guard his mother.

Inside the binder were stolen photos of Elisa, usually the recent ones, and it doesn’t take a genius to know that those photos were meant to be given to Kazimir.