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)
I check and mutter, “Ten minutes.”
“Carlo,” he calls out.
“Boss?”
“Take men to this location,” he points at the map and photo of Eden, “and search the area around it for that woman.”
“On it, boss.”
I start typing on the keyboard to see if she’s been spotted elsewhere, but when nothing comes up, I grab my phone, shove it in my pocket, and hurry out of the office.
“Let the men look, Dario,” Damiano calls out.
“No. I need to be out there,” I mutter.
“Christ.” I hear him curse.
When I get to the elevator, I slam the button and glance at my friends following after me.
“You can stay. I’ll do this on my own,” I say before I slam the button again.
“We’re coming,” Renzo replies.
The doors finally fucking open, and we pile inside. On the ride down, it’s hard to stand still, and when we reach the basement, I shoot out and jog to my SUV.
“I’ll ride with him,” Renzo calls out.
“Let us know if you get any new information,” Damiano orders.
Renzo climbs into the passenger seat while I slide behind the steering wheel. As I steer the SUV out of the parking area, I already start to feel a bit better, knowing I’m on my way to where Eden was last seen.
There’s a good chance she’s still in the area. She might be at a police station already.
“Call one of your contacts in law enforcement and have them check police stations in Queens,” I tell Renzo.
“Good idea. She’d probably go there for help.”
Checking the rearview mirror, I see the other SUVs behind me.
I’m actually surprised Damiano’s coming along for the ride. Sure, he’s always there to back us in a gunfight, but not when it comes to searching for someone.
When Renzo ends the call he made, I ask, “What do you think is up with Damiano?”
“What do you mean?”
“Usually, he considers things like this a waste of his time,” I explain. “But he’s been with us since Eden was taken.”
Renzo shoots a frown my way. “Because you need him.”
When I give my friend a confused look, he explains, “We’re all here because every single time shit went down in our lives, you were front and center to help us. You’re the fucking heart of the Cosa Nostra, brother.”
Christ.
Feeling overwhelmed by what Renzo just said, I keep my eyes focused on the road.
“You can cry,” he teases me. “I won’t tell anyone.”
“Fuck off,” I mutter, the corner of my mouth lifting slightly.
Renzo’s phone starts ringing, and while he’s on the call, I take a few deep breaths and focus on the mission.
He ends the call, then mutters, “My contact says there was a report of a woman being forcefully shoved into a van. It sounds like it could be Eden. The witness said the van’s brown.”
“Fuck,” I growl, slamming my hand against the steering wheel. “If they got her again…”
“Just drive, Dario. At least we know to be on the check out for a brown van.”
Reaching the neighborhood in Queens where Eden was spotted, we start driving up and down streets.
On every other street, we drive by a vehicle with mafia soldiers. With such an overwhelming presence in the neighborhood, I start to have hope that one of us will spot the brown van.
Just as I turn by a crossing, Renzo’s phone rings.
“It’s Franco,” he says before putting the call on speakerphone.
“What’s up?” Renzo mutters.
“I’ve just driven past a house with a brown van. I’m parked up the street. Want me to wait or go in?”
“Send the address,” I say. “Wait for us to get there.”
“Okay.”
The call ends, and the address comes through a few seconds later. Making a U-turn, I floor the gas.
Please let her be in that house.
I can’t take any more of this and just want Eden back.
Chapter 27
Eden
(After she was captured…again…)
Lying on the floor, I struggle to keep my eyes open.
My head hurts so much.
I’m cold.
Through blurring vision, I see Milania crying. The other’s just stare at random spots, no life on their faces.
I was so close to escaping.
That might’ve been my only chance.
I feel a needle prick my skin, and seconds later, my pain starts to fade.
No. I’d rather take the pain.
I blink and blink as the drugs rush through my system. Time warps, and everything feels upside down. My mind grows fuzzy until it feels like I’m floating.
When it looks like the beds are moving across the floor before jerking back into position, I frown because it’s weird.
Something crawls over me, and I try to rub it off, but moving is difficult as if I’m restrained.
I’m tied up again. No!
I struggle, but I can’t free myself, and more bugs are crawling over me.
I scream and fight the restraints, then suddenly, the restraints are gone, and Mandy’s sitting in front of me, brushing her hand over my hair.
“It’s easier when you just give up,” she says.