CHAPTER 90 - RED
CHAPTER
Red
S TORMING INTO THE Scorpio Lounge, my head is not where I want it to be. I’m lurching from one thing to another, my thoughts spiraling, and I’m no further forward with what to do.
I swipe a shelf full of spirits from behind one of my bars to the floor; the satisfaction of the bottles exploding and showering me with shards of broken glass, short-lived.
It doesn’t help dampen my rage, fear or hatred.
“Stop!” Del grabs my arms and pulls me away. My strength is usually that of an ox, and I’d normally resist attempts to restrain me, but right now it seeps from me like I’ve sprung a leak.
“I need to find her.” My voice sounds robotic. It’s all I’ve said the whole journey back here.
My brothers are at a loss about what to do with me.
Everyone’s at a loss what to do with me.
No one’s seen me like this before. I haven’t seen myself like this before.
But then I’ve never felt like this before.
Never have I needed someone in order to breathe; to function; to exist , like I need Arianna.
And I need her for all of those things.
“Just calm it down, mate,” Del repeats, his hand on my shoulder. “Steaming in on anyone and everyone will do more harm than good. Trust that we’ll do everything we can to get her back, but we must tread carefully.”
“Do you think I don’t know that?” Burning with pent-up rage, I suspect no one here is that bothered that Arianna’s not here.
Whoever has her - whether it be Bristoni men, Galvatore himself or a fucking random who I haven’t factored into considering, could already have hurt her, touched her, killed her. ..
And all to get at me...
Bile rising up my throat, I stumble forwards and grab one of the few remaining bottles of spirits that I haven’t smashed. I clumsily unscrew the top and take a long gulp, needing the burn of the fiery liquid to remind me that I’m still alive.
“Bruv!” Liam wades through broken glass, his feet slipping in the wet mess. Righting himself, he stumbles over to where I stand. “I’ve just found this. It was shoved under the back door.”
Snatching the crumpled-up note out of Liam’s hand, I hold it between my shaking fingers.
The words swim as things slide into place.
“It’s Galvatore who has her,” I growl, my teeth clenched.
“He’s taken his daughter.” Just when I thought Emiliano Galvatore couldn’t fall lower in my estimation, I’m wrong.
“He warned me Arianna would be given to another man if I didn’t comply with demands. ”
“What?” Liam gasps. “You didn’t mention that!”
“Like it matters to you!” I throw the note on the floor in disgust. “Everyone in this room, apart from me, wants Arianna gone. Now you’ve all got your wish!”
Slamming my bottle down, I tug out my mobile. Ignoring everyone, hearing only the loud roar in my ears, I dial Galvatore’s number.
Not wanting to maintain physical contact with anything that acts as a conduit for this bastard’s voice, I flip the setting to loudspeaker just as the call is answered.
“Ah, Mr Bateman! Good of you to call! You’ve finally deemed me worthy of closing our deal?” Galvatore’s voice echoes around the expanse of my empty casino.
“Where is she, you cunt?” I snarl. “You’ve got five seconds to tell me where you’ve taken your daughter, or I’ll kill everyone single one of you.” There’s a moment silence down the line. It’s one moment too long. “Did you not hear me, Galvatore? I said, tell m...”
“I heard what you said, Mr Bateman,” the voice continues. “I dislike threats, but I’m also a little confused. I have not seen Arianna since I came to your office. I’ve been patiently waiting for you to agree to terms as disc...”
“Don’t bullshit!” I scream, the veins in my temples pounding. My brothers and men tense around me. They too know that this wanker is lying - it’s fucking obvious. “The note you had delivered was clear enough! Who have you sold her to, you bastard? Arianna belongs to me . She’s my wife!”
“I do not appreciate your tone, Mr Bateman. I have sent no note.”
“Oh, really? Then why is it here in front of me?” I glare at the note on the floor next to my foot. “It says that my wife and territories will go to other parties. Your exact words when we met, are they not?”
Galvatore chuckles - actually chuckles .
The cunt will die.
Snatching up my gun and the phone, I head towards the door. I’ll torture the fucker until he tells me where Arianna is. And then I’ll kill him.
His voice drones through the speaker as my men scramble to follow me, but I’m not listening. Galvatore can say what he likes, but it’s too late.
Just as I’m about to cut the call off, something he says does seep into my brain. “What did you say? Just then? What did you say?”
“I said, Mr Bateman, that I haven’t had chance to send any note considering I’ve been dealing with the repercussions Bristoni’s suicide landed me with.
I’m just glad my son has returned to help shoulder the strain.
That’s when he’s not on the phone to his ‘Del Boy’ associate.
Stupid name, like that ridiculous program you English insist on watching. ”
I’d probably put Galvatore’s comment down to moronic ramblings of an over-egotistical madman, had I not glimpsed an expression fleet across my best friend’s face.
It was only there for a minuscule amount of time, but long enough to tell me that everything I believe sacred has combusted in on itself.