Chapter 9
CHAPTER NINE
Levi
After what feels like hours, Enea Mancini walks into my room. He’s not only Giovanna’s dad, he’s the head of the Chicago Mafia. He hugs everyone in the room, including me and Tristan.
“So I got a call from Elio Salvadori. He said he got a message from Armando. They’ve been taken hostage by the pilot and the attendant on the flight.
We don’t know who they are or why they’ve taken them.
Armando said he and Felicity are both okay, but they’re threatening to shoot him if he doesn’t do what they say.
We’re working on figuring out who they work for.
This pilot was a last minute substitute because our regular one couldn’t make it.
The company we use vets their pilots and staff.
I don’t even know how they’d know who was on the flight. ”
Enea’s phone rings and he steps outside to answer it.
“Holy shit, that man is scary.” Tristan laughs. “I feel sorry for your husband.”
“Declan said that when he first met my papà.” Giovanna laughs. “Wait till you see all the other men in our family.”
“I thought I was a big guy…sadly, now I know I’m not.” Tristan pretends to cry just as Ares Athanasiou walks in. “Holy fuck.”
We all laugh.
“I was told to come down and keep watch,” Ares says.
“Who’s with Raven?” Giovanna asks him.
In the family, all the women have bodyguards. And Ares is one of them. He’s also a polar bear shifter, it’s the coolest thing I’ve ever seen.
“She’s with Salvatore today, helping him figure out what's going on.”
“I wish we knew more. This is frustrating,” I say to Ares.
“When I was leaving, they were talking to the Minneapolis airport police. Hopefully they can locate them.”
Enea walks back in. “I’m getting a few more guys to come down here. And I’m sending some to Wintervale. I don’t want anyone alone anymore. I already talked to Lukas and he knows what’s going on.”
“Did you hear anything else about my Felicity? And Armando?” I ask.
“No. We’re waiting to hear back from the airport police. I know it’s hard to wait, this is the part that sucks.”
I nod, because I know better than to make any faces at Enea. Tristan was right when he said he’s scary. But I’ve seen him with his wife—that’s a whole different side to him.
Felicity
The longer we sit in this room, the more worried I get.
Why aren’t they coming back? Armando tried the door, but it’s locked and he said it’s a steel door.
So he can’t break it down. We’ve agreed that when the door opens, we’re going to make a run for it.
He said my only job is to make sure I’m following him.
No matter what. But if he goes down? I’m supposed to leave him and run.
I don’t know if I can do that. Levi’s always saying a Marine never leaves anyone behind.
Even if I’m not a Marine, I’m in love with one. So I can’t leave Armando behind.
We hear some noise outside the door, we stand up and stand behind the door. When it opens, we see a gun before anything else. Armando grabs it and turns it on whoever’s there.
“Whoa. We’re the police, are you Armando Marini and Felicity Vandenberg?”
Armando backs up, but doesn’t drop the gun.
“Show me your ID.”
The officer pulls out his ID and shows it to him. He nods and hands him back his gun. Then he puts his hand out for me to take.
“Where are the guys that took us?” Armando asks.
“We’re looking at the security system. But in this area, there’s no cameras. We were wondering if you wouldn’t mind looking at the footage we have.”
“Sure. But I need to make some calls first.”
“We’ll take Felicity with us and you can meet us in the security room.”
“No. She stays with me,” Armando says as he pulls me to him.
The officers nod and lead us to the security room. Armando makes the phone calls as we walk. He’s calling Enea and then he hands me his phone.
“Hello?” I say.
“Baby.”
“Oh god, Levi. Are you okay?”
Levi laughs. “I should be asking you that. Did they hurt you?”
“No, I’m okay. Armando made sure I knew what to do. I just need to be back with you.”
“You’ll be back with me soon. I’ll be waiting for you. Also don’t let Giovanna hear me say this. But she was right about the airlift flight. It sucked.”
“I HEARD THAT!” I hear Giovanna shout.
“Shit. Now she’s gonna hold that over me.” Levi laughs.
I laugh. “Well, she is super smart.”
“Shush. She’ll hear you.”
“Armando said after we look at the security footage, we’re going to rent a car. Then we’ll drive to Wintervale. I’ll text you when we’re in the car. I love you.”
“I love you too. Please be safe. I need you here with me.”
“I will. I promise. And you listen to Gia, I need you too.”
“Ugh. Fine. See you soon, baby.”
After we hang up, Armando and I watch the security footage.
We finally see where they brought us in from the tarmac.
And where they walked out from. They were able to grab a clear picture of both of them.
And we found out that neither of them were employees of the company that the family uses.
They sent the pictures to Salvatore, he’s the sheriff of Lake Renegade.
Sebastiano and Francesco are with him at the Sheriff’s station, they’re going to be working on finding out who they are.
Hopefully that will lead us to who they’re working for.