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Under the star-lit sky, I parked Vlad’s car haphazardly against Christy’s lawn and scampered off to her porch, my heart beating frantically against my ribcage.
“Christy!” I yelled and lifted my fist. “Christy, are you in there?” I banged my fist against the door but it opened with ease, creaking on the hinges as the wood swung backwards. Stunned, I took a step backwards to gather courage. Then, I crossed the threshold.
The house was dark and clouded with smoke coming from the dimly lit kitchen. It smelled a lot like the food got burnt, and my concern grew. I moved forward, staying closer to the walls as I felt for the switch.
“Christy?” I coughed, wheezed, and swished a hand in the air, to wave away the smoke. “Christy, where are you? Please, say something.”
“I’m right here, sweetheart,” came a deep, dark gruff voice that was not Christy’s.
Scared, I felt the switch and flicked it on. I gasped. My eyes fell on the upturned furniture, broken glasses, and worse of all, Christy’s pale, unconscious bloodied body spread out at the foot of my ex-boss. Vincent Russo. I had always known him as a no-nonsense person. He had strong, intimidating features, but looked even more rugged. There was a wicked glimmer in his eyes. He was dressed in black pants, a crisp white long-sleeved shirt, and a tie. His eyes were cold and the depths of it were dark, like a body without a soul.
Behind him stood a group of six tall, muscular men; all dressed like those fromthe great rebellion.In their hands were guns and inhishand was Christy’s cell phone. My heart sunk to the bottom of my stomach as I realized what this was. Afuckingtrap.
“Surprise, surprise, Mariana.” He slid a hand into his pocket and carelessly tossed Christy’s phone to the wall. It clattered and smashed on the floor. As I closely watched the man, another instinct came. To call Vlad. I reached for my phone in my pocket, but I wasn’t quick enough. He glowered.
“I wouldn’t do that,” was all he said, and I knew better than to test him. I dropped my hands, coughing, and quaking.
“What did you do to her?”
He pointed his bony finger at Christy like she was nothing but a spot of dirt on his shoe. “Her?” He quirked a brow, looking disinterested. “No,youdid this to her. Not me. Good news is, she’s not dead. Not yet, anyway.”
He sent a signal to one of his men and the man marched forward and effortlessly hoisted Christy from the floor, flinging her over his shoulder.
“Where... where are you taking her?” The tall man carried Christy out of the house, and all I could do was watch as her head bobbed up and down against his back, her hair covering her face. “No! Leave her!” I screamed. “She has nothing to do with what happened. She doesn’t deserve this. Leave her alone!”
He clamped down hard on his jaw; his gaze growing darker as he signaled another man and nudged his head towards me. “Don’t worry. You’re coming with us.”
“No...” I turned on my heels and made a run for it. But he was swifter. Strong rough hands went around my wrist, hauling me along. Tears streamed down my face as I writhed against his grip. “No... no, no! Let me go. Put me down!!
Vincent scoffed and headed towards the door, his men falling in line behind him. “It’s time to pay for your sins, Mariana.”
Chapter 26 - Vlad
Sergey was going off about something behind me. I didn’t pay full attention but made out words like strategy, weapons, time and a few others. It was about the current status of the Outfit in Chicago. The chances of things going south were higher than success on our part. My brothers and I were pissed. Sergey blamed me. He blamed me a lot and sliced off two of Jose Don Carlos's fingers while at it.
But we were past that now.
We got up the steps leading into the main entrance, the one past the car shed and the flowing water fountain, and Sergey continued with the execution plan. Nikolai hummed and sighed. Then, he cursed.
“And the Camorras?”
“They’re a threat, Nikolai. No one is saying they aren’t. But the Outfit has been on our neck longer than they have been. While everyone is safe and away from Vincent, Chicago is the priority.”
“But I think...”
I twisted my head to the side towards the car shed, pushing my phone into a pocket in my jacket, and Nikolai’s voice faded into the background. Something didn’t sit right. I dropped my hand and narrowed my eyes, scanning over every detail. Then, it sunk.
A car was missing and it was one ofmine.
An unsettling feeling clawed its way up my spine and I marched inside the house, away from my brothers, hastening my steps.
It was quiet inside. Unusually and eerie quiet, even for me.
The smell of food and the faint ticking of a clock were the only sign of life form. My heart thrummed, my nerves ticked, and uncertainty reared its ugly head. I grated my teeth and inhaled slowly. I had to calm down. Ineededto calm down to be sure. I started for the staircase but stopped when I saw Lilianna and Giselle emerging hastily from a door underneath.
At the sight of us, they froze, like a deer caught in headlights. It got Sergey and Nikolai’s attention as well. They’d stopped talking. We all sensed that something was terribly wrong.
“What happened?” Sergey’s tone was firm and demanding.
