Chapter 12 : The Quiet Conspiracy

The following days were filled with a deceptive calm. On the surface, everything seemed normal at the Romano mansion, but beneath the veneer of tranquility, Marcus and Luca were meticulously preparing their plan.

Marcus sat at his desk, his computer screen glowing softly in the dimly lit room. He typed out an anonymous message, carefully choosing his words. The hitman they had decided on was notorious for his discretion and efficiency. There would be no mistakes.

Luca walked in, his expression grave. "Is the message ready?"

Marcus nodded, clicking send. "It's done. He'll receive the details soon."

True to their word, they kept their identities hidden from the hitman. The communication was routed through layers of anonymity, ensuring that no trace would lead back to them. They sent the hitman a dossier with all the necessary details: Isabella's daily routine, her favorite spots, and a series of candid photographs.

Luca looked over the pictures with a cold detachment. "We need to find the perfect time to strike. It has to be when she's most vulnerable, and when suspicion would fall least on us."

Marcus agreed. "We'll monitor her movements closely. We can't rush this."

As the days passed, they continued their normal lives, careful not to arouse any suspicion. To everyone else, they were just the same old Marcus and Luca, seemingly busy with their usual activities. But behind closed doors, their minds were solely focused on the plan.

They spent hours poring over Isabella's schedule, mapping out her comings and goings with a precision that bordered on obsession. They knew they couldn't afford a single mistake. Any slip-up could lead to their downfall.

Finally, after days of careful consideration, they pinpointed a time that seemed ideal. Isabella had recently started spending more time at one of the casinos she managed. Late at night, when the crowd was thinner and security less stringent, she often stayed behind to go over the books.

"That's when we'll do it," Marcus said, a steely resolve in his voice. "We'll tell the hitman to strike when she's alone in the office. It will look like a robbery gone wrong."

Luca nodded. "Agreed. Let's make the arrangements."

They sent the final instructions to the hitman, ensuring every detail was clear. All their activities were shrouded in secrecy, unknown to everyone around them. The hitman, unaware of who his employers were, accepted the job without question, as he had done many times before.

With everything in place, Marcus and Luca could only wait. Their patience was stretched thin, but they knew that the perfect moment was crucial. The weight of their decision hung heavy in the air, but they steeled themselves for what was to come.

As the night of the planned hit approached, the brothers maintained their façade of normalcy, mingling with the family and overseeing their responsibilities. No one suspected the darkness brewing behind their composed exteriors.

And so, the conspiracy continued to unfold, cloaked in the shadows of their ambitions. The storm they had set in motion was nearing its climax, and soon, the true battle for the Romano legacy would begin.