Page 47 of Perfect Chaos

My body goes completely rigid. Maizyn scrapes her nails against the nape of my neck, grounding me enough for me to have this conversation. “What about Gavin? We just found his car. What the hell do you know, Ramos?” I don’t intentionally take my frustration out on him; it just comes out.

He doesn’t react to my outburst, instead pushing forward with the conversation. “He was helping me with a job. I don't know what he told you, but he told me not to tell you. He was hacking into accounts. That belonged to Vincenzo Zanelli.”

“The Vincenzo Zanelli?” There is only one man I know of by that name. If it’s him, then we may actually be fucked.

“The one and only.”

“Who is that? Why do you say his name like it’s a bad thing?”

“Because it is. He is a very dangerous mafia boss.”

“What does this have to do with him leaving?” She directs the question at Ramos but her eyes are locked on me as we both brace for his answer.

“Vin found out it was him. The strange man Maizyn mentioned stopped her on the sidewalk fit the description for him perfectly. Gavin was trying to protect you both by leaving.”

“He wasn’t the easiest on the eyes, but I guess if he is a mafia boss, he doesn’t need to be good-looking to get his way. Shit, you mean to tell me I threatened to stab a mafia boss with a fork?”

“That’s what you're focused on right now?”

“If I focus on the fact that a dangerous man took Gavin, I will lose my shit, so pick your battles.” Her bratty attitude is coming out in full effect.

“Wait, you did what?” He sounds completely dumbfounded.

“It’s not important right now, Ramos. Both of you focus. Why was he hacking Vin's accounts to begin with?” I can’t help asking the question. Gavin had no business getting involved in mafia business. Whatever the reason, it had better be a good one.

Ramos sighs before continuing. “We were tracking down proof that Vin rented his men out to another mafia boss to kidnap and kill his wife. The wife ended up surviving, and her people are looking to serve justice to anyone involved. When Gavin told me Vin was onto him, I told him he could back out, but he refused.”

“You don't think it was because of what happened to me, do you?” Maizyn's melancholy voice asks what I was already thinking.

“It's possible, but I don’t know for sure.” She nods her head and I direct my questions back to Ramos. “Where is he now? Gavin? Why the hell am I staring at his wrecked car?” My calm facade cracking at the seams.

“He was on the phone with me when it happened.”

“When what happened?”

“His car was rear-ended, and he was pushed into the railing. From what I heard, two men cornered him and pulled him from the car. I was able to pull the CCTV cameras from the bank across the street. They were known goons for Vin, but we have reason to believe we know where they took him.”

“So what's the plan? I know you wouldn’t call unless you also had a solution.”

“You would be right. You know my background, Atlas.”

“I do. What about it?” My annoyance continues to build as the conversation turns. This would be a lot easier if he would just say whatever he was going to say without leading me in circles.

“He was doing a job for the family. We are going to get him back.”

“How?”

“I don't want to say too much over the phone. Can you meet me somewhere?”

“Yeah, that works. Where?”

“Do you still have that encrypted texting app I asked you to download a while back?”

“Yeah?”

“I’ll send you an address through the app from now on; all communications go through there, understood?” His tone leaves no room for argument.

“Understood.” Maiyn and I answer in unison.