Chapter 7

CARMELA'S REQUEST

Pov: Carmela Carlo

The air in the penthouse was thick with tension, a silence that felt too loud. I sat at the edge of the marble table, my fingers tracing the rim of a glass, feeling the cold surface beneath my fingertips. Xavier stood across from me, his arms crossed, his face set in that hard, unreadable mask he always wore when he was trying to hide his thoughts.

I had watched him long enough to know that he wasn't happy. I could see it in the lines of his jaw, the way his brow furrowed when he thought I wasn't paying attention. Xavier Brooks wasn't one for drama or unnecessary fights, but tonight I knew it was coming.

"You've been avoiding me," I said quietly, leaning back in my chair and locking my eyes on him. "I don't like being ignored, Xavier."

He shifted, his gaze flicking to the floor before meeting mine again. There was that same defiance in his eyes-the same fire that made him stand out from every other man I'd known. It was why I kept him close, even when he made my blood boil.

"I'm not avoiding you," he replied, his voice tight. "I just don't like being treated like a pawn in your game."

I felt my pulse quicken. His words hit too close to home, but I wouldn't back down. I couldn't. He was in my world now, and whether he liked it or not, he had a role to play.

"You're not a pawn, Xavier," I said, leaning forward. "You're something much more important than that."

He raised an eyebrow, his expression skeptical. "Yeah? What's that? A tool? A means to an end?"

I ignored the sarcasm in his tone. "You're a chef. You've got a gift for making people feel something with food-something you can't do with words or gestures. You understand the power of flavors, the subtlety, the way things mix together."

His posture softened just a little, but I knew he wasn't ready to hear what was coming. He didn't want to be a part of the mess I was about to drag him into.

"You want to help your mother," I continued, watching him closely, knowing I had him cornered. "You want that surgery for her, don't you? But it's expensive. And the truth is, you don't have the money to pay for it. Not unless you're willing to do what needs to be done."

I paused, allowing the weight of my words to settle between us. Xavier's jaw clenched, his eyes narrowing. He wasn't stupid-he knew what was coming.

"Whatever it is," he said, his voice low, "I don't want to be part of it.

I stood and took a step toward him. "I didn't ask you to want it. I'm asking you to do it."

His eyes locked onto mine, filled with a mix of anger and confusion. "What do you want me to do, Carmela?"

I reached into my bag and pulled out a folder, sliding it across the table toward him. He hesitated before picking it up, his fingers brushing over the thick stack of papers inside. I could see him scanning the contents, his expression becoming more and more grim with each passing second.

Inside the folder was a list of names, addresses, and detailed instructions. Everything he needed to know.

"I need you to make sure this shipment reaches the warehouse tonight," I said calmly, my voice unwavering. "These goods need to get through customs without a hitch. If they don't, we lose everything."

He looked up at me, his eyes filled with disbelief. "You want me to smuggle drugs?" His voice was barely above a whisper, but the weight of his words felt like a punch to the chest. "This is what you've dragged me into?"

I didn't flinch. I wasn't afraid of his anger, and I wasn't going to back down.

"It's not drugs," I corrected him, my voice sharp. "It's business. I need this to go smoothly, Xavier. And I need you to make sure it does."

He slammed the folder down onto the table, his fists clenched. "This isn't business, Carmela. This is crime. This is the kind of shit I don't want to be involved in."

I could see the conflict in his eyes, the battle between his loyalty to his mother and his desire to keep his hands clean. But the moment I laid this in front of him, I knew there was no going back. He would either do what I asked or walk away from the only opportunity he had to save her.

"You've already crossed a line, Xavier," I said softly, but with authority. "You're working for me. You signed the contract. This is how it works. You help me, and I help you. Your mother gets her surgery, and your life goes back to normal. But if you don't do this, you'll be out of the picture-and so will your mother's chance at survival."

His face was a mask of fury and confusion, but I could see the realization dawning in his eyes. He wasn't as innocent as he'd thought. He'd already stepped into my world, and there was no escaping it now.

He picked up the folder again, holding it between us. "What happens if I don't do it?" His voice was quieter now, filled with tension.

I didn't hesitate. "Then we'll both lose everything."

Xavier's fists unclenched. He stared at the folder, the weight of the decision pressing on him. I knew it wasn't easy for him. But I also knew that once he made this choice, there would be no going back. There was no room for second chances in this world.

He took a deep breath and slammed the folder shut.

"I'll do it," he said, his voice barely above a whisper

It was exactly what I expected but hearing him say it still left a strange feeling in my chest. Relief? Satisfaction? Or something darker?

I didn't know. But as he turned and walked toward the door, his back stiff and shoulders tight, I couldn't shake the feeling that things were about to spiral out of control.

"Thank you," I said, but he didn't look back.

He didn't need to hear it. I didn't need to say it. But as the door clicked shut behind him, I couldn't help but wonder if this was the moment we crossed a line that neither of us would ever be able to uncross.