Chapter 3 – Ivan #2
He narrowed his eyes and glared at me when he realized I was talking about trading his bride and his sisters. “What do you want in exchange for the women?”
I suppressed a smile. Clever man.
“Your cooperation, and…” I hesitated, an unfamiliar sensation. Normally, I delivered my lines without pause, but something about explicitly demanding Isabella made me falter. Especially since I didn’t know Grey’s angle.
“And?” Vince’s voice was flat, dangerous.
“Isabella,” I said, watching his reaction carefully. The muscle in his jaw ticked—protective instinct warring with tactical necessity. I recognized that internal battle all too well. Hell, if anyone demanded one of my sisters, I would probably go berserk.
“You want Isabella?”
Not me, personally, though that wasn’t something Salvini needed to know. I nodded.
“Are you fucking insane?” Vince said and clenched his fist.
Probably ready to bloody my face for even daring to mention his little sister’s name. I kept my face emotionless. “It’s a simple trade, Salvini. Your cooperation and Isabella for the other women.”
“Absolutely not. Isabella isn’t some bargaining chip, you sick bastard. She’s my sister. Why on earth would you ever think I’d agree to something like this?”
I smirked. It wasn’t what Grey wanted but exactly the answer I expected from him. “And yet, here you are, desperate enough to listen to me and in no real position to put in a counteroffer. I got you by the balls, Salvini. And you fucking know it.”
His whole body tightened. “What exactly do you want with Isabella?”
I shrugged. Not a damn thing. “That’s between me and her. All you need to know is that I’m holding all the cards, and I’m your only option to see your wife again.”
My phone buzzed in my pocket at the same time as Salvini’s rang. I ignored it while Vince pulled his phone from his pocket, answered, and listened while staring back at me.
It was a short call, and his face remained relaxed and calm when he ended it. “Why should I believe you even have the girls? For all I know, you’re bluffing, using the information you gained by eavesdropping on the conversation with my father.”
I smiled. Even though Vince Salvini was a cocky asshole, I’d kind of grown to respect him.
Without breaking eye contact, I reached into my pocket and pulled out the sleek metal phone, thumbed to the live feed, showed it to him, and watched his reaction as he saw his wife pacing in her stark white room. The women weren’t being harmed, just contained.
My phone buzzed again, and I turned it back.
A message from control: “Perimeter breach.”
Fuck. I kept my expression neutral as I tucked the phone back into my pocket as if I wasn’t in a hurry at all, but inside, my mind raced.
This complicated things.
I should’ve known Birdie wouldn’t just run away but instead cause trouble.
“In what way do you want my cooperation?” Vince asked.
I met his eyes. “That depends on how much you value your wife and sisters.”
I pulled out a business card and handed it to Vince.
He stared at the stainless steel card, which only had the symbol and a number engraved.
“You’re too cool to write your name on your card?”
I smirked. Even in a situation like this, Salvini managed to retain his sense of humor. I could appreciate that. “Sadly, I have to go now. But if you come to the conclusion that you want your precious wife back, you know where to call.” I nodded at the card in his hand.
“And what makes you think I’ll just let you walk out of here?”
Was he seriously trying to threaten me? Was he still unaware that he had run out of options? “Because I have your sisters and your girl, Salvini. And I just watched you with your father, ready to sacrifice everything for her.” With that parting blow, I turned around and walked out of there.
I strode through the hallway, my steps measured and unhurried despite the urgency thrumming through my veins. The confrontation had gone exactly as planned, yet the bitter taste of manipulation lingered.
When I reached the roof, my team was already in position. I looked over to Salvini’s helicopter, which was empty and parked on the helipad.
If I had more time, I would have sabotaged his helicopter so it wouldn’t start, but time was of the essence. I ran over to our smaller, more agile helicopter, avoided the whirring blades, and climbed aboard. We took off at breakneck speed. “Status?” I barked into my comm.
“Perimeter breach at the factory,” Martinez reported. “It looks like the one who escaped, the Raptor Security operator, came back.”
I stared outside. We’d already left the city behind. Props to having the fastest helicopter on the market at our disposal.
“We managed to jam the helicopter. But the Salvini family is mobilizing and on their way,” someone said through the comms.
Of course, they were. So the call Salvini got was probably his men informing him about the women’s whereabouts. He sure as shit kept his poker face in place.
I knew this plan was crap.
My stomach hardened. I should’ve anticipated Birdie’s resourcefulness and the possibility of her coming back for the other girls. “Let’s get ready to clear out of there, ASAP,” I barked the order into the comm. “Any movement from our other guests?”
“Salvini’s wife is still pacing. The others are quiet. But sir…there’s something about one of the twins.”
I tensed. “Explain.”
“She’s been probing a lot, trying all kinds of shit to get out of the pod.”
Of course, those girls couldn’t just sit tight and wait.
The rest of the flight was quiet while I stared at the landscape flying by.
We wouldn’t have much time for evacuation, but at least they couldn’t use the helicopter at La Dimora, so Raptor Security and Salvini’s men would have to approach via land, which would slow them down.
As for Salvini himself, he would probably be the first to arrive.
The helicopter banked sharply, giving me a clear view of the abandoned factory below.
Movement caught my eye—a flash of dark clothing against the dull greenery as someone—a single person—darted across the perimeter, then hid under a tree.
Was that Birdie making her way back in? I thought she would be farther along by now.
“Where’s Birdie now?” I barked into the comms.
“Inside the building, freeing the captives.”
So the one hiding out here was one of the other girls? How incompetent were these operatives Grey chose for this mission? Well, at least she was still inside the fence.
“Contact at two o’clock,” I reported. “Get me down there…fast.”
The pilot adjusted our approach while I focused on the single tree and any movement in that part of the area. “How many are still locked inside?”
There was no movement. They probably were on their way out when the helicopter approached. Now they were watching. Hiding. Waiting.
Smart.
But it wouldn’t be enough to escape.
“Salvini’s wife is out, and one of the twins.”
I clenched my jaw. Great. We needed Jemma Donnelly to keep the pressure on Salvini. And Grey wanted Isabella Salvini.
Was it she or the other sister who escaped?
The helicopter touched down on the landing pad, and I forced my focus back to the immediate situation and sprang into action.
Deal with the lurker first. End this shitty operation unbloody. Get Salvini’s cooperation for the syndicate, then unravel the mystery of Mr. Grey’s obsession with Isabella Salvini.
And then request an amicable exit from working for the Paraskia Syndicate. Easy.