Chapter Twenty-six
Ciro
I’ m close to losing my mind. I have paced back and forth in my study more times than I would like to admit. I’m not one to lose my shit often, but now, I can’t help it. I need Cito and the men to tell me they’ve located her. I don’t have time to sit and watch them look at maps on the computer. I need blood, and I need to draw the blood of everyone who has dared lay a finger on my wife.
“Fuck!” I curse, hitting my fist against the wall, the bruise it causes is nothing compared to the rage I’m feeling.
I can’t place who I’m mad at. Carmela, for taking her to the club in the first place? Whoever took her, for daring to touch what is mine? Or just maybe, myself, for leaving her there in the cold, alone with no guard.
“Shit,” I sigh, raking my fingers through my hair. I hate feeling like this. The last time I felt this way was when I lied to my grandfather. The fear of what was to come made me lose every thought of reasoning. Just like right now.
“Ciro,” Carmela calls, making me turn instantly to face her with my bloodshot eyes meeting her blues.
“We found her,” she blurts out, her words instantly calming something inside me.
“Where is she?” I ask, opening my desk drawer and pulling out Mother’s gun. It’s a weapon I didn’t think I would ever touch, so why did I pick it up? I have no idea, but this isn’t the time to stop and figure that out.
“We need a plan first, brother,” Carmela says, watching the devil take over me. She’s seen this look on my face before. It’s an expression she fears, but has accepted as a part of me. Our mother always said when I had this look in my eyes that I looked exactly like our grandfather, and that wasn’t a good thing. It was my curse.
“I have one plan, sister,” I say as I walk past her. “To kill them all.”
I walk towards the door with only that plan and Vida on my mind, not paying attention to the people who stand in formation around the house.
“We cannot save her without a plan, Ciro!” Carmela yells as she follows me.
“You make your plan while I go rescue my wife,” I reply, now only a few steps away from the door.
“Are you ready to make another mistake that might, what? Kill her?” Carmela asks, her words striking me like a bullet in the back of my head. The realization that I am letting my emotions cloud my judgment makes my feet freeze instantly.
Vida has successfully made me go against almost everything that has been drilled into me in the most unspeakable of ways, and even while being kidnapped, she still has this effect on me.
I stare at the door for a few seconds, taking in a deep breath and letting out a sigh before turning to face Carmela and my men. I am the don, and I have responsibilities to my men too.
“Midnight. We attack by midnight,” I begin.
“What if they move her? Finding her will take hours again,” Cito adds.
“Why? Did you not get her location already?” I ask, walking towards the crowd of men in the living room.
“We did, boss, but the tech isn’t great. So if she moves from the satellite location we pinned her to, we’ll have to start the search all over again. And that’s . . .”
“Risky,” I finish for him, giving Mario a nod.
“So what do we do?” Carmela asks, walking towards Cito and I.
“I don’t think they’ll be moving tonight. They haven’t called yet and whoever is behind this is a shitty fool,” I begin, sticking my hands in my pockets.
“They’re sloppy and not very calculative,” Franchesco agrees, finally speaking up.
“Agreed,” Cito nods.
“Why? How can you tell?” Carmela asks, trying to put the pieces together.
“The ring,” I reply. “It was so easy to spot. If they knew what they were doing, they wouldn’t have missed something this important.”
“But they . . .”
“The blood on the ring would only mean she put up some sort of fight. The blood looked like a splash, so I’m assuming she broke someone’s nose or teeth.” I smile slightly, finally letting myself be proud of my girl.
“How would you know that?” Carmela asks with an arched brow.
“‘Cause she wore the ring around her neck, if it was her blood, it wouldn’t be splashed on it,” I reply, turning back to Cito. “Someone will go keep watch, in case they move.”
“Alright. I’ll . . .” he starts.
“I’ll go,” Carmela interrupts, stepping between us.
“What? No, you . . .” Cito tries to say, but stops the moment Carmela gives him her signature “you can’t stop me” look.
“Fine. But you will keep us in the loop at all times,” I order.
“I will. I’ll let you know how many fuckheads we’re dealing with, and then wait till you come,” she announces.
“Don’t do anything stupid, Cam,” I tell her.
“I only like it when my sister-in-law calls me that.” She smiles at me before heading towards the door.
“You boys shouldn’t be late to the party! Or I’ll definitely do something stupid,” she yells over her shoulder, leaving everyone in the living room.
“Send her the location and make sure you don’t lose it,” I tell Mario, who quickly begins typing away on his laptop.
“We have a few hours until we leave. Let me know when she gets there and what information she has for us,” I tell Cito, who nods.
“Where are you going?” Franchesco asks as I turn to leave.
“To get my head straight and think of a way to put their lives to an end.” I smirk at my best friend, before heading to the stairs. These idiots won’t know what hit them.
Carmela
I bend down and hide in the b ushes. I keep my breathing steady, doing a perfect job of staying calm. The sun has almost disappeared into the horizon, casting shadows across the isolated house. I adjust my binoculars, scanning the perimeter with sharp precision. The place is run-down, surrounded by tall grass and a few vehicles, but more importantly, it is crawling with men.
Six men is what I’ve been able to make out so far, but I keep watching, trying to be certain there aren’t more lurking around. After a few more seconds of scanning, I find no one else. It’s just the same six men lazily patrolling around the house. Two stand by the main entrance, three spread themselves across the yard, and one sits on the porch, smoking and laughing at something on his phone.
I frown, hoping that Vida is safe inside, before putting down the binoculars for a moment as my fingers move over my phone. The windows are blacked out, and there is no way of telling what is going on inside.
This will have to be enough, I think as I dial Cito’s number.
“Miss me?” I tease as he picks up.
“Are you safe?” he asks, his voice laced with worry.
“I’ll take that as a ‘yes’ then,” I say, letting out a low muffled giggle before continuing. “So, I’ve got eyes on the place. There are six men outside.”
My gaze moves over the guards again, making sure I still count six of them. “But it’s hard to tell what’s going on inside. Still, I’d say no more than ten people, tops.”
I listen as Cito makes some sounds, like he is moving and dishing out some instructions. I can’t help but imagine how hot he looks when he does things like that.
“We’ll be there soon. Stay hidden,” he says, this time talking to me.
I nod and a smile creeps onto my face. “Copy that. Do I get a reward if I do?”
“Yes, you’ll be getting lots. You’ve been a good girl,” he replies before hanging up.
I stay hidden, letting my muscles relax as I wait for the next move.
Ciro
I’m standing by the window when Cito walks in, with my hands in my pockets as I take in the scent of Vida’s room. I don’t turn around as Cito speaks, his voice low and serious. “Carmela has the location. She says there are six men outside, but she can’t see inside. We’re thinking there’s no more than ten in total.”
I stay silent before letting out a sigh, then I turn. My eyes are dark and unreadable. I don’t say anything at first as I walk over to the wardrobe and pull it open.
“Gather the men, I’ll be out in a minute,” I order, listening as Cito’s footsteps disappear.
I look at the clothes in front of me, the same ones I looked at a few minutes ago. Everything screams Vida. Her scent, her style, and everything else, except one thing that seems out of place.
My eyes landed on a familiar sight. It is one of my shirts, folded neatly on the shelf. The same shirt Vida had worn the morning she left my room the day she woke up. I pick it up and run my fingers over the fabric, the ghost of a smirk pulling at my lips. She looked perfect in it and I desperately want to see her in it again.
“Time to come home to me, little chaos,” I murmur, strapping my guns to my body with practiced ease. Every movement is deliberate, my focus turned back to what is coming.
When I turn to face the door, the softness on my face from the moment before is now gone and is replaced with a cold, dark and determined expression.
The night is suffocating and quiet as I move in with Cito and the others. I lead the way with my gun in hand and my silencer ready. Each breath I take is steady and I can feel every muscle in me tighten, ready to unleash everything the moment we step past the perimeter. Carmela was right, there are six men outside, but I have a feeling there are more than ten in total. Still, that doesn’t bother me. All I can think about is her, my wife. Vida.
The moment Carmela gave me the location, something inside me shifted. The cold, calculated part of me took over. There was no room for hesitation, no mercy for anyone who got in my way. I was going to get her, and I was going to kill everyone who stood between us.
I spot the first man by the fence. He doesn’t see or hear me. I steady myself, pointing the gun towards him, and with one shot, his body is down. I step over him without a second thought and we move quickly and silently. Cito and Carmela flank me, covering all angles as we close in on the house. My fingers flex around the gun, anticipation coursing through my veins.
Inside the house it’s dark and damp. The air smells like dust and mold, it only makes me feel more rage, knowing they’ve kept her in a shitty house like this.
I move down the hallway, making sure not to make a sound as my eyes scan every corner. The first guy appears out of the shadows, barely having any time to realize what is happening before I pull the trigger. The bullet enters his forehead in a clean puncture and I watch as his body hits the floor, before continuing. There is no room to stop.
As I move down the hall, I notice another man, this time he sees me, but he’s a little too late. I pounce on him before he can react, quickly sliding out the dagger I had sheathed on my thigh. With a swift motion, I drive it deep into his neck, slicing it in a clean cut. His hot blood splashes against my skin, coating my hand as the man gurgles, his eyes wide in shock before they go blank and he falls limp to the ground. This is a feeling I can never stop enjoying. I bend down and wipe my blade casually on his shirt.
“This should be a great gift for my wife,” I mutter to him, watching the life leave his eyes. She likes gifts, I know that now. So this will be a good one to give.
Standing, I continue to move, each step slow, and each kill necessary. I search room after room and clear body after body, leaving a trail of death behind me, a habit I am known for, as each step pushes me closer to Vida.
“Two more near the stairs,” Cito’s voice crackles in my ear. “We’re clearing the rest.”
I give him a nod and he holds onto his gun, scanning the space next to us. He looks neater than I do, but then again, I’m the one known to bathe in my enemies’ blood.
“Take them out,” I whisper back, already heading for the stairs. My heart is steady and my focus stays sharp. She is here. I know it. I can feel it. And I will find her.
At the base of the stairs, I see them, the last two men who I will be killing today. They watch me with terrified eyes and knives in their hands. They are real amateurs, and though it would delight me to make their deaths long and painful, I don’t have the time. With two clicks of my trigger, they are gone. I don’t even slow down as I take the stairs, moving faster now. I have to find her. She’s here, somewhere. She has to be.
At the top of the stairs, a hallway leads to a single door. I know it is the one. Something inside me snaps, and I don’t wait. I immediately close the distance and try to open it.
It won’t budge.
I growl in frustration, grabbing the knob and twisting it hard, but the damn thing wouldn’t move. Locked. And my gun is out of bullets. Shit.
“Fuck!” I roar, throwing my gun to the ground in frustration.
Then I hear it; her scream. Vida. The sound sends a spike of terror straight through me. She sounded terrified. My heart drops as I press my ear against the door, and then I hear a man’s voice, angry, shouting at her. The sound of a slap, of someone being hit. Not on my fucking watch! No one fucking dares!
I slam my shoulder into the door with all my strength, but it holds firm.
“Vida!” I shout, panic rising in my chest. I slam against the door again and again, but it doesn’t give.
“Fuck!” I yell, moving back again and running at the door with everything I have in me. She is right there, and she needs me. I won’t be too late, fuck, I won’t!
Her scream comes again, sharper this time, more desperate and very much afraid. I can’t stand it. I have to get to her. I look around like a wild animal, until I spot a metal chair in the hallway. Without thinking, I grab it and swing it hard at the door. The wood cracks but doesn’t break. I swing again, harder this time, and the door finally gives way, flying open with a shattering crash.
And there she is. My wife.
She’s sitting on top of him, a man almost twice my size under her. She is holding something sharp that I can’t quite make out, in her hand and I stand here in shock as I watch her stab it into his eyes, over and over. She shows no mercy, her moves relentless, and she screams at no one in particular as she goes at it even harder and faster. Blood covers her hands and arms, the man screaming and thrashing beneath her, but she doesn’t stop. She is lost in a frenzy, enraged by something even I can’t understand.
I stay frozen for a long moment, just watching the sight of her, this wild, terrifying version of her. It sends a jolt of something dark through me, something primal, something I’m certain she felt when she saw me beat that man in the shed. I understand her, I understand this part of her that she’s kept hidden; the part that likes the darkness.
Then I move. I rush forward, grab her shoulders, and try to pull her off him.
“Vida! Stop!” I say, but she doesn’t hear me. She’s lost herself in a place she can’t easily return from. She keeps going, her movements erratic and frantic.
“Little chaos, stop!” I yell, yanking her back, almost throwing her off the man.
It’s then that she finally stops. Her breathing is ragged and her body trembles as she slowly looks up at me, wide-eyed, with blood staining her skin.
“Ciro,” she calls, her voice barely a whisper. I watch as the rage and darkness vanish, replaced by a softer gaze, one I have never seen in her eyes when she’s looked at me.
“I knew you’d come,” she admits, smiling weakly.
I look at her clothes and find them torn and in a mess. I turn to the man who now lies lifeless, unable to fathom what he would have done to her if she didn’t . . . I can’t even think about it, I just can’t. I turn my face back to my little chao’s and the gaze she has on me.
“I did good, didn’t I?” she asks, like she waited and stayed strong just for my approval.
Fuck! She did better than good and I want to do more than just say yes.
“Yes, little chaos, you did good.” I smile, a gesture I haven’t done since I set my eyes on her that first day.
I pull her closer to me, holding her against my chest as we stay on the floor. I’m too afraid to move her right now, so I stay still and let the weight of her in my arms calm the panic inside of me.
“I am so sorry, little chaos,” I say in a low, calm voice.
I shouldn’t have left her. It was all my fault, and this will never happen again.