Chapter 53
Maximo
My heart pounds a frantic rhythm as Niall guides me through the city. I’m desperate to find them. The need to get to Elena physically aches.
I was so arrogant to assume I could keep her safe from everything, forever. I’ve not only fucked up with Elena’s safety, but also Julianna’s. My father’s going to kill me—which he has every right to do after this disaster I’ve caused by being blind to the immediate threat around us all.
Stupid, stupid, stupid!
“There’s a split coming up in the road. Take the right fork,” Niall’s voice comes through the speakers.
“Got it.” I weave through traffic, honking at all of the assholes in my way, including the pedestrians who think they’re car-proof motherfuckers. Move!
An incoming call rings through my phone system. I glance at the dashboard to see who the caller is—Portia Rizzo. Whatever she has to say can wait.
I let the call go to voicemail. But she’s persistent, calling a second and third time. Each time it goes to voicemail but she doesn't leave a message, which has me guessing this is urgent.
Fuck. “Niall, I have to put you on hold.” I switch over and answer Portia with an annoyed, “What?” This can’t possibly be important enough for my time right now.
She gets right to the point. “Lazaro has Elena. I think she’s in trouble.”
Confusion creases my brow. My stomach drops. That doesn’t make any sense.
“What do you mean? Lazaro’s chained to a chair, waiting for what’s coming to him. His sons took Elena.” Unless he somehow managed to get free.
“All I know is that he just called me. He asked about her working as a spy for me, and I played along, confirming that she’s betrayed you—”
“Do you know where she is?” That’s the only detail I need right now, the rest can wait.
“I don’t. If you’re supposed to have him locked up, and his sons kidnapped Elena, then something serious is going down. Why haven’t you notified my husband and the other dons?”
I grunt. “Because my own underboss stabbed me in the back. I don’t trust anyone right now.”
She tsks. “You know you can trust us. I’ll inform my husband of what’s going on. Don’t you dare let anything happen to that girl. I like her, and so does your mother.”
“I won’t. Just text me any vital information. I have to go.” Ending the call, I put Niall back on.
He immediately jumps in with, “Make a U-turn, then take your second left.”
My tires squeal, the scent of burning rubber in the air as I turn around, heading back the way I came. My thoughts race with the fact that Lazaro not only escaped, but is with Elena right now. How the fuck did he get out of there?
As if summoning the devil, my phone rings, this time Lazaro Achilli flashes on the caller ID.
Immediately, I answer it. “Where is my wife?”
He laughs, cool and casual, back to his usual self. “That’s not the question you should be asking right now. But you can say hello to her.”
“Elena!” I pull over, since there’s no use chasing them without Niall to guide me. Right now, getting answers from Lazaro’s takes priority. I need to hear the sound of my wife’s voice.
“Maximo! I’m here. Don’t—” She screams and my heart cracks open. “It’s a tra—” She doesn’t finish that sentence.
“Elena?” I wish I could reach through the speakers and take her into my arms. “Elena! Lazaro, if you lay one finger on her I’ll—”
Lazaro’s voice comes on the line. “You know she’s alive, that’s all you need to hear. If you want her back, you’ll meet me in one hour. I’ll text you the address. Come alone. Anyone else shows up with you and your wife dies.”
My grip tightens on the steering wheel until my knuckles turn white. “What do you want in exchange for Elena?”
A pregnant pause. “You.”
The call cuts off, bringing Niall back on the line. “Damn it, Pontrelli, I can’t give you directions if you keep putting me on hold.”
Closing my eyes, I lean my head back. Fear and rage like I’ve never experienced before mingle beneath my skin, threatening to explode. But fucking losing it right now won’t solve a damn thing. I punch the wheel. Fuck, fuck, fuck!
Okay, that’s enough.
Inhaling deep, calming breaths, I evaluate the situation.
Lazaro’s bringing Elena with him, but what about my sister?
He has Julianna too. I’m caught in a quandary.
If I insist he brings her too, then he’ll want to know why she’s important to me.
It will be a cold day in hell when I admit to him that he not only has my wife as leverage, but also my sister.
But I can’t just leave her behind. What the fuck am I going to do? How do I save them both?
“Are you there?” Niall’s irritated growl draws me out of my spiraling thoughts.
This is fucked. I sigh. “I’m here. Keep tracking them through the cameras and text me the address once you find it. I just got a call from Lazaro. I’m going to meet him and get Elena back.”
“Will do. Give me fifteen minutes to hack the rest of these camera systems. I’ll find them.”
A text pings. It’s a location pin on my maps app from Lazaro. Pulling into traffic, I head straight to the meeting location with Elena’s warning ringing in my ears.
“It’s a trap.”