“She was last seen at the cafe on Fourth Street. Apparently she was apprehended by men in suits and dragged into an SUV. I feel like the owners of the place are leaving something out. Go there with Enzo, Luca, and the enforcers. Get me some answers. I don’t care if you have to rip the cafe apart. I don’t care who you have to hurt. I need to find my sister.”
“I’m on the way.” Lucia replies. “Did you track her phone?”
“It last pinged a mile down from the cafe then it went dead.”
“Okay. Don’t worry, we’ll find her.”
The line goes dead.
I call Dominic, but it goes straight to voicemail.
Shoving the phone back into my jacket pocket, I walk up the cracked steps to the back door of the old building.
The entrance is already ajar. I push it open with one hand, the hinges shriek like a dying animal.
The temperature drops as soon as I step inside.
Water damage decorates the walls along with graffiti. Floorboards creak beneath my boots. A few of our guards stand against the wall. They nod as I enter.
I’m about to ask them where the prisoner is when I catch sight of Matteo sitting at the bottom of the staircase.
I stop short. I’m shocked to see him here.
He stands up. “Hello, Cipi.” He shoves his hands into his pockets and walks to me.
“Hello, Matteo. What are you doing here?”
“Sal told me about Gigi. I found Elio’s location and went with the guards to bring him here.” Worry lines his face. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I just found out and I don’t have time for you to criticize my role as capo. I’m more worried about my sister.” Shaking my head, I attempt to walk past him, but he blocks my path.
“I’m sorry, Cipi.” He looks down at the floor. “You and Gigi aren’t just my cousins, you’re my siblings. You’re the only family I have. I don’t want to fight with you. I shouldn’t have doubted you, and I shouldn’t have made any decisions without running it by you.”
I stare at him for a moment. He wilts beneath my gaze.
“I just thought things with Dominic were moving too fast. I didn’t want him to hurt you again. But after hearing how he pulled you from the burning car, I know he really cares for you.” He takes a deep breath. “And the truth is I was a little jealous seeing you and Gigi with someone. My luck with women has been complete shit. I wish I could find someone who gives a damn about me.”
My shoulders slump. “I was wrong too. I shouldn’t have gotten so mad at you in the warehouse. That wasn’t the sign of a leader. I should have been more focused on the case instead of reliving past memories.”
“I think Salvatore got in my head too. He kept mentioning that you weren’t yourself after the shooting and maybe I should take on more responsibility to ease the load off of you.”
“Salvatore said that?”
Matteo nods.
“I’ll have to have a talk with him later.” I take his arm and we start walking down the hall. “It’s okay Matteo. I’m not mad at you. You will always be a brother to me.”
He smiles, relief spreading across his face. “I’m glad. I didn’t want to get on your bad side.”
“Now what’s the update with the piece of shit?” I ask.
“The guys and I brought Elio in a little while ago. He’s in the boiler room.” Matteo smirks. “His face might have accidentally ran into the wall while I was bringing him in here.”
We round the corner and I see two more of the guards posted up outside a steel door.
“Boss.” One of the men nods to me. “We have him tied inside. He’s not talking and won’t tell us where Gigi is.”
Matteo turns to me. “We ran his car off the road and he hit a tree. That's how we were able to grab him. Apparently he was trying to flee town. He had two suitcases filled with money.”
