CHAPTER 8 - RED
CHAPTER
Red
COVERED IN SWEAT, I feel like I’ve run a thousand miles, when in reality I’ve done little but brief the second tier on further places to scout while keeping their ears open.
No open questions. No threats. Just listen.
Making it public that I can’t locate Matteo Galvatore is suicide. I will do fuck all to allow London to believe that bastard has the upper hand, even if at this precise moment he has.
All my men need to do is listen because someone has the information I desperately need.
My excess perspiration has less to do with exertion than with the cold, crawling dread I am too late to stop anything from happening to the woman I vowed to protect. It’s been days since Arianna got snatched. Four days, in fact.
My fist tightens around my crystal whiskey tumbler. The urge to pour myself yet another is all-encompassing, but I have to remain alert and fire on all cylinders.
Something in my blood tells me things are about to change. But if they don’t, I’m not sure which road to take next, short of ignoring the dent to my reputation and instead, settle with publicly calling the fucker out, allowing the city to learn of my failure.
Scowling at the clock on my office wall, I watch the second hand make a further circuit, moving the hour hand to seven.
Tick tock...
I’ve been sitting here half the day; time is running through my fingers like sand, and I cannot slow down what that will cause.
I grit my teeth at the familiar rumble of roulette wheels from the gaming rooms. Normally, it’s a background sound that brings pleasure. Customers equal money, but I just want to be left alone.
“For fuck’s sake,” I mutter, snatching up my ringing desk phone. “Yes? What...? Who is it? I’m busy and...”
Frowning, I listen to Viv from reception down the line. “Put him through...”
My senses on full alert, I clear my throat and wait for the line to connect and the click showing reception has disconnected.
“Mr Galvatore?” My voice has confidence I don’t feel. “I take it you’ve considered my advice...? Yes, I appreciate that, but... Ah! I’m glad you’ve found it in yourself to be honest ab...”
My heavy brows knit together at his words. “Right... When?”
I didn’t expect this. Galvatore is asking a lot, but what he’s offering in exchange is more than I had two minutes ago, therefore there is little choice in what I must do.
I let my extended pause play itself out before responding. “Yes, I’m still here... Okay, Mr Galvatore, I will accept what you ask. Yes, you do... Okay.”
Replacing the receiver, I stare at it in its cradle before picking it back up. “Get to my office now. I have news.”
This time, I do refill my glass with whiskey. There’s nothing else I can do tonight but wait. How I’ll stick to what I’ve promised I have no idea but stick to it I must.
“You’ve found her?” Oscar moves into my office, closely followed by Liam.
“Not yet, but I think I’m about to.” I motion for my brothers to sit but they remain standing, chomping at the bit to lay into Matteo Galvatore and Luca Bristoni.
I know how they feel, so this will be difficult. I take a long drink of whiskey before speaking. “Galvatore has called.”
Liam is already moving to the cabinet at the back of the room where the guns are stored. “Right, so where is his greasy fucking son?”
“He’s admitted he doesn’t know. Matteo won’t answer any calls.”
Liam stops in his tracks, his hand hovering on the cabinet door. “Then what the fuck is...”
“Much to his embarrassment, Galvatore also admitted Maria heard most of yesterday’s conversation. She’s offered to call her brother to find out his location. Apparently, the cunt has a soft spot for her. Galvatore is allowing her to make the call.”
“Isn’t that the girl set to marry Luca Bristoni?” Oscar frowns. “Why would she want anything to do with this?”
“Also, why would Matteo tell this Maria chick anything?”
I look between my brothers. Both their questions are relevant.
I’ve thought the same myself. “If he’s got a soft spot for his youngest sister, he’s more likely to want to put her mind at rest.” Shame the prick doesn’t have the same respect for his other sister.
.. “Maria will attempt to make contact tonight and Galvatore has promised to call with Matteo’s location as soon as he has it. ”
Liam arches an eyebrow. “You believe him?”
“As a matter of fact, I do.” It’s something I myself find surprising. Or maybe it’s just because I have no other options?
“Then what the hell are we waiting for? Let’s get our shit ready for the off!” Finally opening the gun cabinet, Liam pulls out semi-automatics. “I’m amazed the old bastard changed his mind and decided to work with you.”
“So, he does give a fuck somewhere inside his slimy head about his daughters’ welfare!” Oscar frowns. “I’m not sure he’s kosher, though. It could be a setup.”
“Yes, it could.” I nod. “But I don’t think so.
Galvatore’s words were, ‘I do not agree with broodmare systems, not that I believe what you’re saying is true, but I will find the truth myself’.
It isn’t about him giving a fuck about his daughters or pureblood systems at all.
This is purely down to whether Matteo killed his wanker business ally or not. That’s what is bothering Galvatore.”
I shake my head with cold mirth. “I’d laugh at the irony if it wasn’t so galling!
What I said needled the old bastard, and he needs to see if his son requires a slapped arse or not, so we wait for him to call back with the location.
What he does after that to get the truth from his Golden Boy is up to him.
” My voice remains low and guarded. This is the bit my brothers will find as difficult to swallow as I do.
“Who gives a fuck what he’s doing it for? If we wait a while for the inbound location and...” Liam then abruptly stops. “Hang on! What do you mean, what he does after that is up to him? How’s Galvatore going to get the alleged truth from a fucking corpse?”
Oscar laughs at Liam’s succinct argument, but it tails off at my expression. “Wait! You’re not saying what I think you’re saying...?”
I shrug. “Galvatore put a condition on relaying Matteo’s location to me.”
“If he gets it, you mean?”
I scowl but continue. “The condition is that Matteo remains unharmed.”
“What?” Liam’s eyes bulge. “You can’t be serious? You haven’t agreed to that bullshit, surely? We’re killing Matteo and Luca Bristoni as soon as we get the gen, right?”
I shake my head. “I need Arianna back first. Only then will we strike.”
“What difference does it make when we strike? We kill them and get her back. Job done!” Oscar barks.
My jaw sets in a hard line. “Galvatore wants the truth from his son. I appreciate that. I gave him my word that Matteo would not be harmed. Not yet anyway, and my word is sacrosanct.”
Liam and Oscar stare at me incredulously. If they loved a woman like I love Arianna, they would realize I’d do anything to ensure her safety. Even swallow my own cock.
However, I’m also true to my word and always have been, so whether it’s given to an enemy or not is irrelevant. If I give my word, then I honor it.
Besides, I have a plan which should work, so killing Matteo and the Bristoni bastard can wait.