Chapter 4
CHAPTER FOUR
Stifling a groan, he held himself still and listened.
Pain throbbed through Vander’s body, but he locked it down. He took stock. His arms were above his head, and he was hanging, his feet just touching the floor. His shoes, belt, and watch were gone.
He cracked open an eye.
He was in an empty room, with stone walls and a concrete floor, hanging from a set of chains. Rhys hung across from him in the same situation, head drooping to his chest. The door was closed and there was no one else in the room.
“Rhys? Rhys?” Vander kept his voice low.
His brother groaned quietly, and much like Vander, stayed still and silent until he got the lay of the land.
The paint on the walls was faded and the building looked old. The stone floor was stained with old, rusty, red marks.
They weren’t the first people to be hung up in here.
He really didn’t want to stick around and find out what happened next.
“Fuck,” Rhys muttered. “I have a headache from hell.” The chains rattled a little. “Did someone stun us?” His tone was incredulous.
Vander’s jaw tightened. Whoever had done this had made a terrible mistake.
He tested the chains for any give. They were tight and bit into his wrists. “Someone stunned us then abducted us.”
“Who? Maybe this Poletti has friends?”
Vander shook his head. “Friends that could mobilize so fast? No one even knew he was gone.” And as far as Vander knew, he had no enemies on Sicily. That he knew about. Then a thought coalesced in his head. Shit. “We need to get out of here.”
How long had it been since they’d been snatched? He’d been unconscious, so he couldn’t be sure. They’d been moved. Probably a few hours, at least.
Hell.
“What?” Rhys shifted, the chains clanking again. “Do you know who’s behind this?” He flexed and curled his legs up, testing the bindings.
“No. But I do know one thing.” Vander’s heart kicked in his chest. “My wife will come looking for us.” Fear was oily and slick in his throat. “I don’t know where this is, but I don’t want her anywhere near here.”
Rhys made a sound. “Your wife is smart, and an excellent detective, and good with a gun. We could use her help.”
“No.” The sharp word echoed off the bare walls.
Rhys frowned. “Vander, she could—”
“She’s pregnant.”
Silence filled the room.
Rhys blinked. “Okay, shit. Thrilled for you, too, but shit. Your pregnant wife is totally going to come looking for you.”
“She just healed up from the knife attack, she’s pregnant, it’s early but…” Vander blew out a sharp breath. “I’m losing my damn mind worrying about her.”
“Okay, okay. Look, we get out of here, and we teach whoever’s in charge a lesson, then get back to our wives. Easy.”
“Right.” Vander tried the chains again. “Except these chains won’t budge.”
His brother scoffed. “We’ve been in worse positions. Remember that cell in Bahri?”
“I try not to remember that.”
“Right. Those rats were as big as puppies, and the damn chains were so tight they nearly cut my hands off. But we got out.”
Vander started checking for any weakness in the links. With the right leverage, he might be able to break it.
Suddenly, he heard the echo of heavy footsteps and voices outside the room.
Shit. Company.
Rhys sagged and closed his eyes.
Vander relaxed and kept his focus on the door.
It swung open and two thugs in suits entered. One was short but wide, all muscle and no neck, with a bald head. The other had slicked-back, thinning, black hair and was taller.
They look like they ate barbed wire for fun. Another man followed them in. He was older, with silver hair and an impeccably tailored gray suit. Two more guards stood outside, flanking the doorway.
Vander took in the older guy. He was clearly the boss, and clearly mafia. He had to be Luciano Navarro.
The man’s dark gaze swept over Vander and he grunted. “So you’re the one causing my nephew grief.” He spoke in perfect, accented English.
“Sorry, I have no idea who your nephew is.”
The old man was quiet a moment. “My nephew is Tommaso Messina.”
Tommy. That little punk. “Your nephew is a cocky, entitled, lazy shit. I warned him, and he ignored it.”
The shorter thug stepped forward and landed a fist in Vander’s gut. Gritting his teeth, air hissed out of him and his body swung.
“Don’t insult the don’s family,” the man gritted out.
“Tommaso is spoiled,” the older man conceded. “He’s my sister’s son. But he wants to learn the business.” The man’s tone lowered. “I won’t let anyone disrespect my family.”
“Tommy wants money for fancy suits, fast cars, and women.” Vander met the man’s gaze head on. “He sold drugs to kids, using kids. I won’t stand for that.”
The old man’s head cocked.
Ah, Tommy hadn’t shared everything with his uncle back in the old country.
“Respect is earned and Tommy hasn’t earned anything. He expects everything to be given to him, Navarro.”
“You know who I am.”
“I know. I always do my homework.” Vander lowered his voice. “But apparently you don’t know who I am.”
The taller thug stepped forward and landed a punch to Vander’s kidney.
Vander bit back a growl.
“Alfonso, enough.” Navarro eyed Vander some more. “The blood of my enemies has flowed across the floor. Don’t give me a reason for yours to join it.”
“Then let us go.”
“Not yet.”
“Boss, you want us to work them over?” the shorter guard asked.
“Not yet. Let them hang. They aren’t going anywhere.”
The guard’s face twisted with disappointment.
Navarro swiveled and walked out. The thugs reluctantly followed, and the door clanged shut behind them.
“What just happened?” Rhys asked.
“Uncle Luciano just realized his nephew hasn’t told him the entire story. He’s going to gather more facts.”
And the longer Vander stayed here, the more likely his pregnant wife would charge into trouble.
“We need to find a way out of here. Now.”
She parked down the road from the house and peered through the windshield. The house was typical Italian with terracotta tiles on the roof and shutters. There was a small yard with fruit trees and pretty flowers in pots by the front door. It was cute.
Brynn really hoped Justin Clarke was not taking kickbacks from the mafia.
Slipping out of the vehicle, she made sure to stick to the shadows. She entered the yard, and the scent of flowers hit her. Somewhere nearby, a dog barked.
She circled the house. Through a window, she spotted a couple in the kitchen.
The man was sprawled in a chair at the table and looked American and ex-military.
He had the same fit body and alert mannerisms she’d seen in her husband and his men.
A curvy woman bustled around the kitchen in a long, blue maxi dress, with dark hair loose around her shoulders.
She looked like a young Sophia Loren. She smiled at the man, and he slapped her ass playfully.
Brynn pulled out her Glock. She moved up the back steps and pulled in a breath.
Vander always said he’d do anything for her.
The thing was, the same was true for her. Brynn would do anything for the man she loved.
She kicked in the back door and strode inside. She swung her arm up and aimed at Justin Clarke’s chest.
He’d already leaped to his feet. The woman screamed and he yanked her behind him.
“Don’t move,” Brynn warned.
The woman was wide-eyed and terrified. Clarke, meanwhile, was calm and focused.
“Where’s my husband?” Brynn demanded.
Clarke cocked his head, his brow furrowed. “You’re Brynn.”
“Yes.” She took a step forward. “Vander and Rhys didn’t return from meeting you today.”
He cursed and pressed a hand to the back of his neck. “He didn’t text me about lunch, but I figured he was busy.”
“They were stunned by several men and shoved in a car. The men belonged to Luciano Navarro.”
Clarke cursed again.
“Did you sell them out? Did you lure them into town so Navarro could take them?”
“Fuck, no.” The man’s forehead creased. “Hell, Navarro is not to be messed with. I try to have nothing to do with him.”
Brynn stared at him for a long moment, then trusted her gut. She lowered her gun. “I had to be sure.”
Justin nodded. “I get it.” He stepped forward, held out a hand, and grinned. “Vander said you were a badass.” They shook, then Brynn looked at the man’s wife. “I’m really sorry we’re meeting like this.”
The woman smoothed her hair back over her shoulder and pulled in a breath. “If Luciano Navarro had my Justin, I would do the same. I’m Alessandra.”
“You would not do the same, bella,” Justin said, frowning. “You’re not trained. You’re never to put yourself in danger.”
God, these alpha males were all overprotective to the max.
Alessandra rolled her eyes.
“I’m Brynn Norcross.” She shook the woman’s hand, then met Justin’s gaze. “Now, what can you tell me about Navarro? Where would he take Vander and Rhys?”
“You’re going to get them?”
“Of course, I am.”
Justin stroked his bearded jaw. “But you’re a cop.”
She smiled. “Not in Italy, I’m not.”
“What the hell did Vander do to piss off Navarro?”
“No idea. As far as I know, he’s never had any contact with the man. He’s dealt with mafia in San Francisco.” She frowned. “He recently shut down a punk named Tommy Messina.”
Justin cursed yet again. “Navarro’s sister married a Messina and moved to the US.” He pulled out his phone and tapped. “Fuck. Tommy Messina is Navarro’s nephew.”
Brynn crossed her arms. “So, Luciano Navarro doesn’t mind his nephew selling drugs to schoolkids and using them as mules.”
“I’m not sure much fazes Navarro. But as far as I know, he’s old-school, and has his own code. He doesn’t mess with kids.”
“I don’t care why he took Vander and Rhys.” She didn’t need the why in order to get them back. “Where would he be keeping them?”
“At his villa. He has a big villa and grounds south of town. It’s a sprawling place with a vineyard and olive grove.” Justin paused. “The rumor is that he has a dungeon underneath the villa where he keeps his enemies, or anyone else who gets in his way.”
“I need schematics.”
The man’s lips curled. “It just so happens I have schematics. I’ve been saving them for a rainy day.”
“How many men does he have?”
Justin winced. “A small army. I don’t know exactly how many, but expect a lot.”
Dammit. She’d known this wouldn’t be easy. “Thanks.”
“Brynn, you aren’t alone. Vander’s my friend. Rhys is fellow Ghost Ops. We don’t leave any man behind. I’m coming with you.”
“This will be dangerous.”
Justin grinned. “I know. Let me pack my gear.” He turned and swept his wife into his arms for a passionate kiss. “Bella, why don’t you go and stay with your sister?”
Alessandra shook her head. “I’ll be right here, cooking. You come home to me, amore mio.”
He rubbed his nose against hers. “I always do.”
Brynn nodded. “Thank you. I’ll wait outside.”
Stepping out into the night air, she tipped her face up to look at the sky and the stars sprinkled across it.
She was going to sneak into a dangerous mafia boss’ stronghold. She pressed a hand to her stomach. It would be dangerous, but not just for her.
But she couldn’t leave Vander there. Every second that passed increased the chance he’d be hurt or…
She couldn’t finish that thought. She couldn’t contemplate a world without the man she loved.
He’d be mad at her. For risking herself. She knew this had the potential to pour gasoline on Vander’s struggle with her being pregnant and in danger.
She bit her lip. She wasn’t leaving him in the hands of some mafia asshole.
She spread her fingers. “I’m going to rescue your daddy.”
The door opened behind her and Justin, wearing all black clothing and carrying a huge duffel bag on his shoulder, appeared.
“I packed a few essentials.”
“I’m married to a former Ghost Ops commander, so I can guess what’s in there.” No doubt a small arsenal. Enough to attack a small nation. “Vander has a bag in our villa. We’ll go there, look at the schematics, and get prepped.”
Justin nodded. “Yes, ma’am.”