Chapter 29 #3
Collectively, we march toward the house, shrouded in darkness, sitting on probably two acres of property. There is not a home in sight within a two-mile radius. We have that to our advantage.
I have some of my men positioned in the front while the rest are following me to the back.
Once we’re there, I peer through the window, not seeing a thing. The inside is pitch black. Roger scans the first floor of the two-story colonial home with the motion detection radar.
He shakes his head, indicated no movement on the first floor. But they may be upstairs.
I gesture with a hand, indicating that we’re moving in.
Roger pulls out a small, thin screwdriver and begins to pick the lock. Five seconds later, I’m opening the door, gun in hand, walking inside with the rest of the team behind me.
They all take their positions, two at the front, my brothers and Roger going up the stairs with me.
Our boots thud against the wooden steps, and once we reach the hallway, we find it quiet.
Too quiet.
They aren’t here, Dante mouths behind me.
And I have an eerie suspicion that he’s right. How is that possible if they were here only thirty minutes ago? How did they know we’d be here? Someone had to have tipped them off.
“Check in every room,” I demand.
They do as they’re told, running into every room in the house.
“Not a damn person here, Dom,” Enzo shouts from across the hall. “They fucking knew. Who the hell told them?”
I push open the door to another room, finding it empty too. As I rush inside, I notice a note on the bed, written in red. Lifting it up, I read it.
I know she told you I’d be here, but it was a test my darling daughter failed. You’ll always be a step behind, Cavaleri. Tell Chiara she’s as good as dead. I have no use for her now.
I ball the paper in my hand, clutching it as I growl, tossing it against the wall. Getting out my cell, I call Miles.
We have a mole. One of my men is compromised, that’s how Faro knew we’d be here. Miles is going to help me find out who the hell it is, and when I find do, I’ll string him up by his balls.
I dial Miles, but all it does is ring. I call again. No answer.
What the hell is going on?
Then it hits me.
Faro could be at the house right now.
I run out of the room, my heart pounding. He won’t take her from me. I can’t let that happen.
“We’ve gotta go!” I yell. “Now! They’re probably at the house.”
“Shit,” Enzo mutters as he and Dante take two steps down at a time, urging the men below to return to the van.
Once we’re all inside, Roger guns the engine, taking us on the road. It’s only a twenty-minute drive for normal people but I have no time to worry about cops. I make Roger drive as fast as he can.
I take out my cell and dial Leo’s number, who’s also stationed at the house. If he doesn’t pick up either, I know we’re in trouble.
“Boss.” His voice is calm, not like that of a man who’s busy battling.
“Is everything okay there? Did Faro or his men show up?”
“No, but we have a serious issue, and you don’t sound like you’re aware.”
My pulse slows to almost nothing.
“Aware of what?” I hiss.
“Chiara left, sir.” I instantly grow cold. “Miles said he called you.”
An invisible fist slams into my chest, my breaths stilling in my lungs.
It can’t be.
“Who let her out?” I ask, my voice a calm before the storm.
“She found a gun in your office, sir, and threatened Miles with it. She told him something about knowing everything and took off. Miles said you wouldn’t want us putting our hands on her and told us to let her go.”
“Fuck!” I scream as all eyes turn to me. “Where is Miles now?”
“He went after her a few minutes after she left.”
“If he calls you, tell him to call me. You got it?”
“What’s going on?”
I can’t tell him I suspect a mole, or that I think the mole is the man I trusted most.
“Keep your eyes open. And call me if you hear anything about Chiara or Miles.”
“Of co—”
I kill the line before he finishes.
Miles was right. I probably would’ve told them to let her go so there was no risk to her well-being from an accidental bullet.
But now that I know her father means to kill her for snitching, I would’ve told them to fucking pepper-spray her if that was what I needed to do to keep her alive.
But if Miles is the mole, if he went after her, what the hell does that mean?
Dread poisons my thoughts. Maybe he couldn’t reach me. Maybe he wanted to get her back. I can’t assume the worst. He’s never done shit to lose my trust until now.
Then another realization hits.
She knows who I am now. That has to be what she meant. If she was in my office, she must’ve found the tape I kept hidden.
I never wanted her to find out who I am this way. Does she realize that the only reason I took her was to protect her from her father? I had to take her so he couldn’t kill her, and I know he would’ve.
I was going to set her free once they were all dead, but all that went to shit the moment we spoke at the club. I know that now. The attraction, the pull…it was all there taunting me, and I took the bait.
Now, I might lose her for good before I can tell her how much she means to me. How much I love her. How much I never stopped.