The game had changed.Now we’d see how everyone else responded.
Chapter Fourteen
Marco
The warehouse on Via Dante had been empty for three years, ever since the shipping company that owned it went bankrupt under circumstances I’d carefully orchestrated.I’d purchased it through a shell corporation specifically for situations that required privacy and plausible deniability.The space was perfect -- concrete floors that could be hosed clean, metal support beams that could restrain someone indefinitely, and most importantly, industrial soundproofing that meant screaming was pointless.
My footsteps echoed as I crossed from the entrance to where Ricci’s team had set up in the center of the vast space.A single LED work light hung from a beam, creating a circle of harsh illumination that made the surrounding shadows feel heavier.Cold air bit through my clothes despite it being summer outside.The warehouse’s industrial ventilation system had been left running -- both to prevent the space from becoming unbearable and to provide white noise that would mask any sounds from outside.
Luca had regained consciousness about ten minutes ago according to Ricci.Now that he knew we could overpower him, I hadn’t seen the need to tie him up.His head hung forward, dark curls falling across his face, but I could see the tension in his shoulders.Awake and aware, probably fighting the lingering effects of the chloroform and trying to assess his situation.
“Leave us,” I told the three men standing guard.“Wait outside the main doors.I’ll call if I need you.”
They filed out without question, their footsteps fading into the warehouse’s ambient sounds.The door clanged shut, leaving me alone with Giuseppe’s son in thousands of square feet of industrial space.
I pulled up a second folding chair and sat down facing Luca, close enough to be intimidating but not so close as to be within reach if he decided to fight back.I let him hear me settling in, let the anticipation build.
“You can lift your head, Luca.I know you’re awake.”
He raised his head slowly, and the look he gave me should have set me on fire.Pure Lombardi rage, the kind Giuseppe was famous for.But underneath I saw the fear he was trying to hide -- the slightly too-rapid breathing, the way his hands were trembling.
“You fucking bastard.”His voice came out hoarse, probably from the chloroform.“My father is going to kill you for this.”
“Perhaps.”I crossed one leg over the other, perfectly at ease.“Though I suspect Giuseppe will be too busy managing the fallout from his son’s kidnapping to take immediate action.And by the time he’s ready to respond, the situation will have already resolved itself one way or another.”
“Caterina never sent that man.You did.”He was putting the pieces together, his jaw clenched with fury.“That was all bullshit to get me away from campus.”
“Obviously.”I gestured at our surroundings.“Though I must say, you made it rather easy.So eager to help your sister.So ready to believe she needed you.That kind of loyalty is admirable, really.Exploitable, but admirable nonetheless.”
“Let me go.Whatever you think this accomplishes --”
“It accomplishes exactly what I need it to.”I leaned forward slightly, letting him see the calculation in my eyes.“See, Luca, your sister made a choice.She chose Dante De Luca over an alliance with me.Chose his brutality over my civility.Chose to believe his protection meant something when really it just means she’s traded one cage for a different one.”
“You’re insane.”
“No.I’m methodical.”I stood and began pacing around his chair in a slow circle, letting him track my movement.“Your sister humiliated me.Giuseppe humiliated me by choosing the De Luca alliance over our families’ long-standing relationship.And Dante…” I paused behind Luca, let my hand rest on his shoulder, felt him flinch.“Dante thinks he’s won.Thinks he’s secured everything by marrying into your family.But he’s forgotten something important.”
I completed the circle and stopped in front of Luca again.“Alliances are only as strong as their weakest point.And you, my boy, are that weak point.”
“My father won’t negotiate with you.”But Luca’s voice had lost some of its certainty.“He doesn’t respond to extortion.”
“I’m not negotiating with Giuseppe.”I pulled out my phone, swiped to the camera function.“I’m negotiating with Caterina.And I think we both know she’ll do anything to keep you safe.”
Understanding dawned in his eyes, followed by horror.“You’re going to use me against her.”
“Very astute.”I activated the video recording, checked the framing.Luca’s face was centered, bloodless but defiant, the concrete and shadows visible behind him.It looked exactly as threatening as I’d intended.“Now here’s what’s going to happen.You’re going to speak when I tell you to.Say exactly what I tell you to say.If you deviate from the script or try to send coded messages, I’ll break one of your fingers.Are we clear?”
His jaw worked like he was grinding his teeth.“Go to hell.”
I moved faster than he expected, my hand closing around his left pinky finger.Applied pressure -- not enough to break, just enough to send pain shooting up his arm.He gasped but didn’t scream.Stubborn.Like his sister.
“Are we clear?”I repeated.
“Yes.”The word came out through gritted teeth.
“Excellent.”I released his finger and returned to my position in front of him, phone raised.“Just say this: ‘Caterina, I’m okay.Please do what he asks.’”
I hit record.Luca stared into the camera lens with hatred that probably came through even on video.But he spoke the words I’d demanded, his voice steady despite the circumstances.“Caterina, I’m okay.Please do what he asks.”
