Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 72973 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 365(@200wpm)___ 292(@250wpm)___ 243(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72973 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 365(@200wpm)___ 292(@250wpm)___ 243(@300wpm)
Walking to my car, I send a text to the group chat.
Dario: Miguel’s men grabbed Eden. I’m going after them.
As I slide behind the steering wheel, one text after another makes my phone vibrate like crazy.
Renzo: On my way.
Franco: Wait for us.
Angelo: I’ll get my men ready.
Damiano: We’ll meet at your place and take things from there.
I ignore the speed limits as I race home and don’t even bother parking the R8 in the designated spot. Darting out of the vehicle, I rush to the elevator and slam the button repeatedly.
My patience wears thinner and thinner as I ride up to my floor, and when the doors open, I run into my apartment.
“What’s wrong?” Esmerelda calls out as I dodge Bella and take the stairs two at a time to get to my office, where my system is set up.
I switch everything on, and while the monitors flicker to life, I shrug off my jacket and drop it on the floor. Taking a seat, my fingers begin to fly over the keyboard, and information starts appearing on the monitors.
I pull up CCTV camera feeds around the ballet company, and scanning a photo of Eden into the system, I’m able to get footage from outside the Starbucks. It’s grainy and dark, but I’m able to make out as men drag Eden out of the building before shoving her into a van.
Knowing they can change the number plate of the van at any given time, I quickly put the numbers into my system and start to track the van from CCTV camera to camera.
Suddenly, Renzo and Franko rush into my office, and Renzo asks, “What do you have?”
“I’m tracking a van that’s heading toward Brooklyn,” I mutter, my fingers not stopping for a second.
“Elio and my men are on their way,” Renzo says.
“Marcello and Milo are also coming with some of mine. I’m leaving a group to watch our women while we deal with this problem,” Franco says.
Connecting the system to my tablet so I can track them while on the go, I get up and rush to the cabinet where I keep my weapons. Unlocking the door, I swing it open and grab two Heckler & Kochs with extra magazines.
“Dario,” Renzo says to get my attention, but I’m too busy grabbing a K-Bar knife and strapping it to my thigh.
“Dario!” Franco snaps while grabbing my shoulder.
Swinging around, I shove him out of my way and race out of the office.
“Christ,” Renzo curses, and I hear them come after me. “Let’s wait until everyone’s here.”
“No,” I mutter, and as I take the stairs down, it’s to see half an army already standing in my living room and foyer.
Ignoring everyone, I head to the elevator, but Damiano steps into my path, and shakes his head, an expression I seldom see on his face darkening his features.
“Stop,” he orders, his tone filled with dominance.
Having the capo dei capi issue an order, years of respect forces me to a halt in front of him.
He places his hand on my shoulder and locks his eyes with mine. “We’re doing this as a family.”
When he squeezes my shoulder before pulling away, I’m actually a little stunned because Damiano doesn’t show kindness easily.
“Franco and Renzo will travel together,” he says. “Dario and Angelo’s with me. When we catch up to Miguel’s men, I only need one alive enough to be questioned, the rest I want dead.”
I check my tablet and say, “It doesn’t look like they’re stopping in Brooklyn.”
Damiano glances at Carlo, who’s his underboss. “Make sure my private jet is fueled and ready to go, in case they try to take a flight out of here. Also, prepare a helicopter and boat. I want all escape routes covered.” He turns around and walks to the elevator while muttering, “We’re taking the war to them. Wherever the fuck they go.”
As I step into the elevator with the other heads and a few of our men, Damiano tells Carlo, “Find out where Miguel’s family is and send men to get them.”
My eyes are glued to the screen of my tablet, and I watch as notification after notification pops up, showing they’re taking Eden farther and farther away from me.
We’re coming, Tesoro.
Chapter 22
Eden
I feel completely disorientated and helpless as I’m lugged over a shoulder and carried somewhere.
Sounds come and go, not really registering.
I lose touch with reality, and when I come to enough to make sense of my surroundings, I hear a motor droning and water splashing.
My body’s shivering uncontrollably from the ice-cold air blowing over me, and I manage to let out a groan.
“How was the high, baby?” A man asks.
High?
Baby?
Where am I?
I have to fight to pry my eyes open, but my vision keeps going in and out of focus.
Someone slaps my cheek lightly, then a man laughs, “She’s still out of it.”