Exposed to the CEO Behind the Mafia Mask (by Silver Spoon) novel Chapter 145

Chapter 145: Chapter 145 Deception Unveiled

Caleb’s POV

I arranged to meet the informant at a small Italian restaurant in neutral territory, just blocks from the underground clinic that served our family’s medical needs. When Xavier and I walked through the heavy wooden doors, she had already secured a corner booth in the shadows.

"Good afternoon, Don Thorne. Mr. Black. How are both of you managing?" Her greeting carried the careful deference expected when addressing a mafia boss.

"Wait, you actually know who I am?" Xavier’s eyebrows shot up with genuine surprise.

"I work the high-stakes tables at the Darkstone on weekends." Her cheeks flushed slightly under our scrutiny. "You gentlemen are among our most generous players. I’m Mabel."

"Holy shit, that’s right! I definitely tried to get your number that one night..." Xavier’s recognition dawned with his trademark laugh. "But damn, without all that casino makeup and with your hair pulled back professional like that, plus those glasses, you look like a completely different person."

"Yes, I’m aware." Mabel shifted uncomfortably under our intense stares. "Thank you for agreeing to meet with me, Don Thorne."

"Listen, Mabel, I’ll be straight with you. When you slipped me that note, I figured you were looking for protection or a job. But now you’ve got my full attention." I leaned back in the leather booth, my hands folded on the table.

"Don Thorne, I only work at that clinic because I desperately need the money to support my sick mother, but I have to tell you, Dr. Edward is a man completely without honor, and what they’re orchestrating against you is absolutely disgraceful. Plus, everyone at the Darkstone has seen how much you despise that Rossi woman. Nobody in our circles can stand her, if we’re being honest." Mabel’s words sent Xavier into a fit of dark laughter.

"What exactly are they orchestrating, Mabel?" I leaned forward, my voice dropping to the dangerous tone that made grown men confess their sins.

"Your so-called fiancée isn’t carrying your child. That entire clinic appointment was nothing but theater. The doctor played you a recording from a completely different woman’s ultrasound. His plan was to maintain this charade through every appointment until after your forced wedding, then Yara would stage a convenient miscarriage." Mabel laid out the entire deception with the precision of someone who had memorized every detail.

"Cristo santo, Caleb, this nightmare just keeps getting deeper." I pressed my palms against my closed eyes, feeling the familiar rage building in my chest.

"There’s more you need to know. Your lieutenant Monica was the one who arranged the connection between Yara and this corrupt doctor." Mabel clearly had access to information that could destroy lives. "I was working the night shift before your appointment and overheard all of them planning every detail. That man is a complete disgrace to his profession, and I have no idea how the medical board hasn’t stripped his license."

"He won’t have one much longer, I can guarantee you that, Mabel." My voice carried the steel of a death sentence.

"Don Thorne, there’s another piece. You know Rita, the one who manages the VIP sections at the Darkstone?" Mabel continued, her voice dropping lower.

"Yeah, what about Rita?"

"She mentioned that the Rita who works in your organization’s personnel department is close with Monica and feeds her intelligence constantly. The moment you step foot in that casino, she’s on her secure phone alerting Monica to your whereabouts."

"So that’s how they always know my movements..." Xavier muttered, his hand instinctively moving toward the gun concealed beneath his jacket.

"Rita also overheard part of a conversation where Monica was boasting about having eyes and ears planted throughout your entire network, every business front your family controls. She claims to have detailed knowledge about your most private family matters."

"How could I have been so blind to the snakes in my own house!" The leather booth creaked as my hands clenched into fists.

We continued gathering intelligence for a while longer, and before departing, I handed Mabel one of my personal cards with an offer to discuss legitimate employment within our organization. She had refused any monetary payment for the information, so providing her with family protection seemed like the minimum gesture of respect. Having people I could actually trust working within my inner circle had become a matter of life and death.

Stepping out of that restaurant, my hands were practically shaking with the need to wrap them around Yara and Monica’s throats. That’s when Jude’s call came through, informing me he had located the casino server and developed a strategy to interrogate him. We raced back to the family compound immediately.

"What was her response?" I demanded, my voice carrying the promise of retribution.

"She threatened to have me blacklisted from every legitimate job in the city if I wanted to keep working." Curtis revealed he had been under constant intimidation.

"How incredibly low can a person sink!" I dragged my hands down my face in disgust at the depths of this betrayal.

"Who was this woman, son?" Jude asked with growing impatience and the barely controlled violence that preceded family justice.

"Monica," Curtis answered, sealing her death warrant with that single word.

"Perfetto! She’s a poisonous serpent who’s been feeding information to our enemies." My anger was building toward the explosion point that usually ended in blood on the walls.

"Alright, Curtis. We appreciate your cooperation with this family matter. We’ll ensure the catering company understands that you acted under duress and had no knowledge of the conspiracy, and we’ll make it clear that Monica no longer breathes the same air as decent people," Jude offered the kind of reassurance that came with family protection. "Take my card and contact me if you or your daughter need any assistance with medical expenses."

"That’s all? You won’t be... disposing of me?" Curtis looked stunned by the unexpected mercy.

"No violence necessary. You were manipulated by a traitor. You can complete your shift today without any concerns. This matter is settled," Xavier confirmed, though his tone suggested Monica wouldn’t be receiving the same consideration.

"Grazie, Don Thorne. Thank you for your mercy," Curtis expressed his gratitude as we exited the conference room, leaving him to contemplate how close he had come to becoming fish food in the harbor.