The Return of My First Love novel Chapter 102

Emily

Settling onto the sofa in Jessica's house, I scanned the area with my eyes as she prepared some tea.

The house was big and elegantly decorated. She seEmilyed well-off and well put together. The floor was scattered with children's toys, and when I entered the house, I saw several portraits of the little girl I had recognized from the picture.

The four-year-old daughter of Levi, or Isaac, or whatever the hell his name was.

It struck me as odd and somewhat reckless for someone undercover to share such a big piece of his life. Yet, it made me wonder whether Isaac might've shown me because he believed if the truth would ever come out, I would be by his side. I wasn't sure, but I did know one thing. He played me. All of us.

Jessica came back with a cup in her hands, stepping over the mess. "I'm sorry for all of this, I have a four-year-old," she explained, setting the tea down in front of me.

It was nice of her, but there was no way I would be drinking that. For all I knew, Jessica was just a very good actress and had plans to lock me in some basEmilyent.

"A four-year-old with Le…" I closed my eyes before correcting myself. "Isaac? He mentioned her."

Jessica scoffed, then smirked. "Oh, so he does know we exist?"

"Yes, and he told me that the mother is keeping him away from her," I said, trying to see her reaction. The more heated she would get, the more she would share with me to defend herself. It always worked.

"What the fuck?"

"I know," I gasped. "That's what he told me."

"Did he tell you why?" she asked, bothered but she didn't deny it.

I shook my head, hoping she would tell me instead. Her gaze rEmilyained on me, waiting for an answer.

"What is your name, by the way?" she suddenly asked.

"M-Mandy?" I blurted out, a name far from my own but the first that came to mind. I did not take a sip from that tea, I didn't tell her my real name—so far so good.

Jessica released a breath, "You see, Mandy, I'm not letting him near his daughter because he gets involved with bad people from time to time, and I don't want to be a part of it."

Her explanation was simple, but clear and logical. From one mother to another, I could understand. I felt that way in the beginning. I ended up doing what was best for my daughter—and so was she. I gave her a nod, but my head was at the person who would risk losing his daughter to catch these ‘bad people.'

"Enough about me. How did you get involved with him? You said he goes by Levi?"

"Yes, I met him at the club, fell in love rather quickly but then I found this strange like…document at his home and figured he works for the…" I trailed off, hoping Jessica would fill in the blanks.

"The MISA as an undercover agent," Jessica clicked her tongue, exposing the information a bit too easily, it made me worry her big mouth might hurt her one day. "You can say it."

"Yes, that," A chill went through my spine. "And what does it stand for again?"

I had never heard of thEmily before. "Mafia Intelligence and Security Agency, it's quite the name, isn't it?"

"Yes," I swallowed my throat. The reality of the situation was starting to sink in, and it wasn't looking good. From all the organizations it could've been, it had to be one specifically built to, what I assume, take down the Mafia.

"I came to visit because I want to know what I'm getting into," I lied, giving her the saddest look I possibly could. I could see Jessica's hesitation kicking in.

"I won't tell him I was here, if that's what you're wondering because then he'll know I found out his identity," I reassured her, and that was all Jessica needed to hear before she began her rant again.

"The guy lives multiple lives I'm telling you," she rolled her eyes back. "While we were married and I got pregnant, he was too busy going undercover for this Operation…help me out. It's the thing you probably saw in the documents."

"Right," I pretended to crack my brain, trying to make it seEmily as if I knew exactly what she was talking about. "Shit, what was it again…Operation..."

"Iron Web! Operation Iron Web," she exclaimed, clapping her hands.

"Yes, that one!" I said, relieved she mentioned the name. "I couldn't really understand what it was all about. It was all some complicated."

"I think it has something to do with trapping thEmily so they can gain control over thEmily," Jessica shared. "And if they don't comply, they'll already have gathered enough evidence to lock thEmily all up."

"Really?"I whispered, my mind going to the Fanuccis. There was no way any of thEmily would willingly give away their power.

"Yeah, I don't know exactly, but what I do know is that his boss assigned him to a family you wouldn't want to mess with," she continued. "Isaac has been studying thEmily for years, became obsessed with thEmily, and completely abandoned us."

"He did?"

"He claimed he finally knew how to get close to the boss' son and that he would finally get a way in after years of research—but I wasn't stupid enough to stick around for that," Jessica's nose twitched at the last bit.

As she spoke, I thought of Alessio. I feared for what this meant for us, knowing Alessio wouldn't comply, no matter what.

Isaac had been studying him for years, and now he finally got him where he needed him to be.

As Jessica walked me to the door, I felt guilty for all the lies I had told. They might not have been as severe as Isaac's, but I still felt rEmilyorseful because she had been kind, helpful, and honest. "Good luck, Mandy," she said, deepening my sense of guilt.

"You too."

Making my way back to the car, the folder clutched in my hand, I felt as if my head was about to explode. There were so many things to process, and much more to think about.

That stupid folder hadn't even been opened yet, but I already feared the content of it.

The Levi I came to know and loved as a friend was not real. It was only a character in his own sick play he had been directing all along.

As I slid back into the car, Gian and Pilar immediately turned their full attention to me.

"Well?" Pilar asked, eager.

"What did you get?" Gian asked.

I held up the folder, "He's some kind of undercover agent for some kind of anti-mafia organization. And guess what? His name isn't even Levi, it's fucking Isaac!"

"Really, Emily?" Pilar chuckled. "Would you please enlighten me, why would you think someone undercover would use his birth name?"

She could laugh about it, but Gian couldn't. His face tensed in a way I had never seen before, and this time it wasn't from anger. He appeared to be affected by the news, disappointed and even hurt.

He cleared his throat, "It's getting late," he spoke. "I suggest we stay at a hotel for tonight and read through what you got."

Pilar and I exchanged looks, both checking in with each other. She lifted her shoulders. "I'm not complaining. I'm too tired to drive, and Emily will get us all killed the way she yells at people."

"What?" I knitted my brows. "If people wouldn't drive like a bunch of idiots, I wouldn't have to yell at thEmily."

Pilar curled her lips, "Perhaps."

Gian drew an exhausted breath, "Let's just find a hotel and see if we can find something about…that guy."

Seeing him like this was unsettling. Gian, who always had an opinion and always had a lot to say, had become quiet. Pilar and I shared another look, this time silently acknowledging that even though he wasn't as close to him, he had a hard time taking in the news. After all, he was a Fanucci, and it was his family this organization was after.

I rested my hand on his shoulder, "Sure, let's do that."