38. Enzo
Enzo
38
“Hi, this is Emelia – Christina’s friend from Millerton. She said you guys live together. I was just wondering if you know where she is? She was supposed to meet me here an hour ago and she hasn’t shown up yet. I can’t reach her via text or phone.”
I read the text twice and turn to Nico. “Isn’t Mario supposed to be with Christina today?”
He nods. “Yeah, why?”
I show him the text.
Christina has been adorably excited about her two friend-dates this week. She was practically bouncing off the wall earlier.
“Do you think she just lost track of time with Julia and is running late?” Nico asks, pulling out his phone.
We both open the tracking app at the same time. A sense of dread starts in my stomach when I don’t see the little star icon for Christina show up on the map.
Her phone must be off.
Rule number one of being out and about is and always has been: keep your phone on.
I have a very bad feeling about this.
“Call Mario, get her on the phone,” Nico says.
My fingers are already scrolling for the contact when another call comes in.
“Boss – we’ve got a situation.” Tommy says. “Mario’s been shot. They were ambushed at the diner. I do not have Christina. I repeat. Christina is not here.”
Cold rage and fear settle into my bones, and I stand, moving quickly towards the garage.
Nico stands too, following me.
“Mario was shot. Tommy says Christina is missing.” I whisper.
“What?” He roars.
Albert and Meredith step out of his office and stop us.
“Tommy, call me right back,” I order before hanging up.
I turn to Albert and Meredith.
"Christina's been taken," I inform them, struggling to keep my composure.
Albert pales at the news and Meredith shrieks, leaning against the wall to hold herself up.
“Taken? Taken by who? Why?” She cries out.
My thoughts whirl as I mutter curses under my breath. Cossi.
Albert pulls out his phone, already talking to his capos.
“Cossi is on the move,” he reports to us.
Nico looks murderous. “Will they hurt her?” Meredith asks anxiously.
I shake my head and try to focus my thoughts. “They have already signed their death warrant,” I vow.
“Do you think Cosa’s men and Cossi are still working together?” Nico asks, clenching his fists. “Seeking some form of revenge?”
I nod my head grimly. “That seems most likely, but we won’t know until we get there.”
“You have to save her!” Meredith shrieks, running over to Albert. “You can’t let anything happen to her. You can’t.”
Her shrill voice pierces my ears but I try to reassure her. “We’re getting her back. I promise you that.”
“You don’t understand,” Meredith says, fretting her hands, “It’s… oh god, I’m not supposed to say anything.”
Nico and I exchange a look and I take a deep breath. “Meredith, if you know anything that can help us find her, you have to tell us.”
“It’s… not just Christina, anymore,” she whispers, softly, “It’s her baby, too.”
Time stops and both Nico and I stare at her.
Baby? What baby?!
“What?” Nico shouts, whipping around.
My stomach drops through the floor and my heart feels like it might explode into a billion tiny pieces.
“What did you say?” Nico’s voice shakes, his hands move as if he might grab her, but he hesitates, thinking twice.
Meredith wipes tears from her face.
“She’s pregnant.”
Albert swears under his breath as she collapses against him. His eyes meet mine, communicating everything I need to know.
“Find her,” he mouths, motioning for one of our guards to help him get Meredith to a couch.
Nico’s gaze meets mine.
She’s carrying our child.
I can’t move. I can’t think. I can’t breathe. Not without Christina. Not when she’s in danger.
When our baby is in danger.
“Enzo! Nico! Boss! You’re going to want to hear this!” Alec yells as he bursts into the room. He’s dragging a battered looking Giovanni with him and my hands immediately clench into fists.
If Giovanni is responsible for a single hair on Christina’s head being missing, I’ll kill him with my own bare hands.
“Tell them what you told me, you piece of shit,” Alec growls. “Tell them. Tell them what you were just telling your little buddy Lorenzo.” Alec throws Giovanni on the floor.
I look at Nico and Albert and then back at Gio, and suddenly – the pieces all fall together, and I see red.
“I’m going to fucking kill you,” I roar, taking a step forward.
The missing link to the Cossi-Cosa alliance is Giovanni.
Fuck.
Albert stalks over to him, looking positively murderous.
He grabs Giovanni by the neck, lifting him into the air as he cuts off his circulation.
“What have you done?” He asks, his voice low and dangerous. “Where is she?”
Giovanni’s face is almost purple and whatever he tries to say is impossible to hear.
Albert loosens his hold slightly. Just enough for him to respond.
“Cossi’s. Mansion.”
Albert tightens his grip, letting a bit of the rage back into his hold, like he can’t help himself. “Why?” He asks.
He lets Giovanni fall to the ground to answer. His body a crumbled mess on the floor.
With a swift, forceful kick, Albert's foot connects with the man's side. The impact is bone-crunching and the sound of breaking ribs echoes through the alleyway. Giovanni crumples to the ground in agony, unable to move.
“It wasn’t personal.” He wipes the blood from his cheek. “If she’d married the boy, it would’ve all worked out.”
“Explain it to me, Giovanni. And do it quickly.”
Giovanni’s face draws pinched. “The Cossis desired more power,” he starts slowly. “And Senator Cosa has always been in their pocket. He always had big dreams for Jimmy.”
Albert grunts and Giovanni looks at him nervously.
“When you married Meredith and brought the girl into the mix, it was the perfect opportunity for them to make a move. If the Cossis could destroy our empire, they could take our territory and take out the heirs - leaving Christina alone. Christina would then marry Jimmy, as per the alliance with the senator and Lorenzo. Jimmy would then be taken care of and have power that his family has always craved by ruling part of the Venitti empire alongside the Cossis. This would allow the senator to finally divorce his wife.”
I don’t understand but the way Albert’s eyes gleam, I think I’m missing something.
“Why would he divorce his wife?”
“Love.” Giovanni’s eyes shine. “So, he could be with the person he loves.”
I run a hand through my hair. Fuck.
“Cosa,” Albert says, seeming to understand something that I don’t.
Giovanni nods.
“How long?”
“Years.” He shrugs, straightening himself slightly, so that his back rests against the wall. “Too many years. Sometimes it feels like an eternity.”
Jimmy Senior and Giovanni.
“It wasn’t personal. It was for love,” Albert repeats.
Giovanni nods again. Albert sighs and reaches for his pistol.
“I understand,” he says as he removes the safety.
“That’s all I can ask for,” Giovanni says, already accepting his fate.
Betrayal is betrayal, even if it is for love. The trick is, if you’re going to do it, you have to come out on top.
Albert, to his credit, doesn’t look away when he pulls the trigger.
Betrayal gets no second chances in the Mafia.