289 Hunter and the Russo family 10

Fabricio was not sure what Hunter is up to, but Hunter's confident expression told Fabricio that Hunter has a plan and that he should play along.

"As you know, my background is not shabby, and retrieving information is not a difficult task for me." Hunter said smugly. "I've got my people to investigate the internal network and traffic in this place with a focus on the last few days. We picked up an interesting chat between two people related to rats being used inside this mansion." Hunter said and put the tablet in front of Fabricio. "What you are looking at is clear evidence of how the incident from last night was not an accident. I'm sure that you can recognize these aliases in the chat from yesterday…"

"Stop it!" Keith screamed and he bolted out of his chair and looked at Fabricio. "He made it up!"

"Oh, what did I make up?" Hunter asked before Fabricio could say anything.

"You are setting me up!" Keith hissed.

Hunter chuckled. "Why would I do that? Mia is already mine and so is this playground you have here. I already proved that I'm better than you as a marksman, as a man, and here..." Hunter pointed at his temple. "I only don't understand one thing, how can you be so stupid? If you need Mia to climb to the top, why would you hurt her?"

Keith's anger swelled to the point of boiling. Did Hunter call him stupid? How many more insults is this outsider (aka Hunter) going to throw at him? "My goal was not to hurt Mia, it was you! You were lucky that she stayed in your room last night."

Fabricio's eyes widened in disbelief. He knew that Keith does not approve, but Keith just admitted to disobeying Fabricio's orders!

Hunter took the tablet out of Fabricio's hands and spoke to Keith coolly: "Luck is part of my charm as well. And yours just ran out…"

Keith's eyes darted from Hunter to Fabricio. "What?"

Hunter turned the tablet toward Keith. "You see… the tablet was never on. The only thing I found was that you deleted messages from last night between you and someone in the lab, but I was unable to retrieve the content. The rest were my guesses, and you just admitted that you were the one behind the attack on me last night. And probably behind the sabotage on the escape room as well…"

Keith saw red. "I failed yesterday, but I will kill you today!" 

'BAM!'

Fabricio's fist hit the table heavily, making the dishes clink as they bounced.

"Take him to the dungeon!" Fabricio hollered and two maids swiftly approached Keith, injected him with something, and holding him down while he struggled on the floor as the medicine took effect.

Keith stopped struggling and Fabricio waved to the maids. The maids lifted Keith with ease and dragged him out.

"I… I will make sure he suffers for what he did to you." Fabricio said after some time, unable to look at Hunter and Mia in the eyes.

"Don't worry about us." Hunter responded because Mia was silent. "Punish him for turning his back on you and make sure you identify and remove people who would rather obey him than you."

Fabricio looked at Mia and his heart cracked when Mia ignored him.

Penelope put her hand over Fabricio's and gave it a gentle squeeze in an attempt to comfort him. But it didn't work because the only thing that would make him feel better is to hear Mia say that she forgives him. 

Fabricio cursed himself internally. If he was more resolute as soon as Keith showed signs of rebellion, they would not be in this situation. But Fabricio hoped that Keith will change, that Keith will see that only Mia is qualified to be the next boss and that Mia's affection is not for sale.

Fabricio made a silent vow that he will discipline Roberto and that if Roberto is unable to support his sister as the next boss, he will remove Roberto from the organization. Fabricio regretted that he always wished to have everyone together, watching each other's back. Now he knows how that was an unrealistic idea. As a boss, he is the one who was always on his own, and due to his loneliness, he wished to make changes for the next generation. Of course, it all turned out to be a huge failure because Keith and Roberto are not characters who are happy to be the second in command.

"Let's finish food and pack up. I wish to be home in time for lunch…" Mia told Hunter while ignoring Fabricio's pleading look.

How Mia sees this, Keith showed signs of rebellion a long time ago, when he stubbornly declared that he will marry her in order to be the next boss. If he wants to be a boss worth following, he should get that with his capability, and not because of the marriage. But Fabricio didn't do anything, he chose to stay on the side and observe. And it ended up with Hunter getting hurt.

Fabricio exhaled sadly. He knows that Mia is back in her stubborn-mode and it will take some time for her to speak to him again. The first time, he disappointed her as a father, and now as a boss. What is the purpose of reputation and all the subordinates and riches if he can't protect his own daughter? He feels like a failure.

Fabricio told himself that it's not all bad. He was impressed by Hunter who is an excellent marksman, and he showed great agility in the escape room, and he saved Mia from the rats with his quick thinking, and tricked Keith into admitting his crime by hitting Keith's weak spot (his ego). Hunter is brains and muscle and reflexes combined with amazing skills of a man who cherishes Mia. Fabricio wished to have a son like Hunter because then he would not have concerns about his successor. Well, when Mia and Hunter marry, Hunter will be his son. Technically.

"Take care of her." Fabricio told Hunter when they were at the door, about to leave.

Fabricio extended his arms toward Mia, hoping for a hug or at least a handshake, but Mia nimbly avoided him and exited like he was not there at all. She walked to the butler Leo and helped him keep the bags in the trunk.

"I will take care of her." Hunter confirmed. "I know that you feel bad about all this, Mr. Russo, but clean up your house and show Mia that you will do what it takes to make her happy and I'm sure things will fall into place. We came here because she cares. She is angry now, but her love for you is not something that can fade easily."

Fabricio was grateful to Hunter.

"I hope we meet again." Fabricio said while shaking hands with Hunter.

"We will." Hunter responded confidently.

Penelope put her hands on Fabricio's shoulders and the two of them watched the car drive away and disappear among the thick forest.

"You like the boy." Penelope voiced her thoughts.

Fabricio didn't deny it. "I do. I like how he would do anything to support Mia. If I was like that, things would turn out differently."

Penelope's brows furrowed. "Don't talk like it's too late. Hunter told you, clean up your house in order to redeem yourself…"

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