Chapter 18
CHAPTER 18
Joseph
The throbbing in his skull was excruciating. Like he’d gone ten rounds with the heavy weight boxing champion of the world and lost.
“How much did you give him?” The unfamiliar, raspy voice asking the question gave Joseph pause.
“Hard to tell. It was in the champagne. We figured he’d drink more than she. It wasn’t enough to kill either of them.”
She? Angelina? Where the hell were they?
“It better not. If either die, you’re next. And it won’t be quick.”
“Whatever. I don’t know why you want them. A Caponelli brat and a nobody.” The voice had a slight Russian accent.
A brat and a nobody? Who were these people?
“I have my reasons.”
“You’re the visionary not me. I just do the dirty work.”
“The girl’s a looker. Maybe I should marry her.”
“No one touches her, including you. Understand?”
“Not my type.”
“Get me the salts.”
Soon, a sharp hit of ammonia pierced his nose. Joseph’s eyes watered.
“What the hell?” No longer able to pretend to be asleep, Joseph sat up. It appeared he was in a library or office. The walls were filled from floor to ceiling with books. “Who the fuck are you two. Where the hell am I?”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Joseph Caponelli.” An older man with salt and pepper hair and beard, sat nearby. His fingertips touched together creating a steeple while his elbows rested on the arms of an antique chair.
“I can’t say the same. I repeat. Who the hell are you and where am I?”
“Sergei, will you excuse us?”
A large, bald-headed man with beefy tattooed arms grumbled as he left the room and slammed the door behind him.
“You’re in northern Italy. I’m your biological grandfather.”
“Excuse me?”
Joseph struggled to his feet but his weak legs wouldn’t hold him upright. His vision blurred as he tried to focus on the man claiming to be family. It was hard to tell through his blurry sight, but there were some similarities. The same dark eyes, full lips, and long, straight nose. A lot of people had the same features. Even seated, he appeared tall and imposing.
“If you are family, why I am only learning about you now?” He’d always assumed his real family was American.
“I’m getting old. I thought it was time we meet.”
Roman had never shared any details of his ‘adoption’ only saying his parents had been killed. He had no clue who the man in front of him was.
“I don’t believe you. Prove it.” He finally managed to get to his feet.
Faster than he thought possible, the older man shoved him back down. Stunned, Joseph swore stars floated before his eyes. He fought back the nausea rising in his throat.
“My name is Christopher. I’m head of the Vittore mafia family. This is our territory. Anthony, my son and your mother were killed in an accident. Your father was strong, powerful, and would have been a great leader with his wife by his side. I got a message from his father-in-law, Sammy, that a threat had been made against them, but he couldn’t reach them. Anthony had taken his family on a surprise holiday that only a few knew about. When I couldn’t reach him by phone, I took off by myself. I alerted Sammy of their location as well. I drove as fast as I could but when I reached the crash site, it was too late. Everyone was dead. Or so I’d thought.”
Joseph flinched thinking of his parents caught in a deadly power struggle.
Christopher handed Joseph a glass of water. “They were killed instantly. Her family arrived just minutes before I did and were removing their bodies from the crash. I was beside myself. My only son was dead. It crushed me to see them bloody and broken. Rage like I’ve never experienced filled my soul.” The man crossed one leg over the other. “On the side of the road next to their bodies was a car seat and an infant. It was a miracle that you’d survived.”
“There was no time to deal with the blinding grief. I needed to keep you safe from whomever had orchestrated this. I had a new heir, my grandchild. Sammy and I had to think fast. We knew it had to be someone in my family who was to blame. It was agreed that we would let everyone believe you had perished as well. Your mother’s family was to find a family to raise you and to never let me know until it was the right time.” He rose, walked to a fireplace, and picked up a picture frame from the mantle.
“I had suspicions you’d been taken to America, but I couldn’t risk reaching out to you until you were a man. Imagine my surprise when I saw you at, of all places, a fashion show. It was like seeing my son, in the flesh.” Christopher returned and dropped the photo into Joseph’s lap.
The face, especially the eyes staring back at him could have been his own.
“It made sense. I knew Roman had taken a baby into his family after his wife miscarried their first child. It was around the same time. How I never put the two together until now, I don’t know. They said your father had been a member of his family killed in battle.”
Joseph narrowed his eyes and handed the photo back. “So, why drug me if you want to have family time and get to know me?”
“Because it’s your time to take over. I also need you to take out the man I suspect is the one who killed your parents.”
This man had to be delusional. “Excuse me?” It was a lot to take in.
“I own a huge empire. It’s all going to be yours.”
“I want nothing to do with your empire. Drugs, human trafficking.”
“I want nothing to do with them, either. It wasn’t until recently that I found out Sergei was involved in those disgusting activities.”
“Then why not stop it?” None if this made sense.
“I don’t have the control I used to. Shortly after my son died so did my wife. I was grief stricken. I lost my way and let Sergei run the show. So much so, now I need help. Your help. He needs to go.”
What did he mean? Even if it were all true, how would he be able to get the job done?
At a knock on the door, they turned. A young woman entered the room, handed Christopher a file, and left. He opened it, paused, then smiled. “I had a blood test done while you were out. You are indeed my grandson.”
“You’re serious?” Was he still drugged and dreaming?
“Yes. You’ve just inherited your own family to rule. One of the largest in the area.”
“You’re simply going to give it to me?”
“Of course not. You have to earn it first. Interested?” His grandfather seemed to hold his breath.
Joseph mulled it over. It was a given his brother was the heir of Roman’s family, so why not take what is offered then later combine forces? It was a shock to learn his mother was Sammy Nicoli’s daughter. Combined with the Caponelli, Nicoli, and Vittore lands, he’d be able to do a lot of good, including eliminating the seedier parts of the business.
“Yes, I am.” Joseph reached out his hand.
“Great.” Christopher shook it and engulfed him in a hug. “Oh, there’s one more thing you have to do first.”
“What’s that?”
“Find who killed your parents.”
Angelina
Moaning, she rolled onto her side and bit back the urge to vomit.
“Here. Drink some water.” A comforting hand pushed back the veil of hair which had fallen over her face.
Her throat felt like sandpaper. Angelina eagerly took the bottle of water and drank it down. “Thank you.” The fluid had definitely helped.
“I brought you some crackers too. It will help with the nausea.”
The hard squares were pressed into her hand. She scarfed them down. “Where am I?” Angelina carefully sat up.
“Northern Italy.”
The mountain view outside her balcony window proved it was true. “Why am I here?” She turned her attention to the young woman in the room with her. She appeared to be around the same age as herself. There was something familiar about her, but she couldn’t place it. The woman’s expression was flat and emotionless.
“I’m not sure but you woke up here instead of in the cribs so that a good sign.”
“Cribs?”
“Where they keep the girls.”
Angelina frowned. “I’m sorry. You’ve lost me. Who are you?”
“Megan.” She took a seat beside her.
“Megan. Where am I? What other girls?” And where was Joseph?
“This is one of the homes of Christopher Vittore.”
“I’m sorry I don’t know who that is.” Angelina tried to recall any rival families in the Alps but no one came to mind.
“I didn’t either until I got here. Now I just want to go home. There are monsters here,” she whispered.
“Now, now. Are you talking about me?” An older man in a suit stood by the door.
Megan jumped to her feet as the older entered the room. “No, sir.”
“Leave us.”
He waved her aside, and she rushed from the room.
Angelina refocused her eyes on the man. “Who are you and why am I here?”
“I’m your future grandfather, but you can call me Christopher for now.”
“What?” Was he senile?
“Don’t worry, you’ll like your new husband. I promise.” Christopher grinned.
“Are you crazy?” She dug her nails into the palm of her hand to see if she were really awake.
“No, but some would beg to differ.” He sat on one of the two matching, high-backed chairs and crossed his legs.
“You kidnapped me.” Not to mention drugged her.
“Yes, sorry about the discomfort. It won’t last long.”
There was something familiar about him, but she couldn’t place it. “Discomfort? When my father finds me, there will be hell to pay.”
“I’ll take my chances. Like I said, you’re here to marry my grandson. I will start training him soon to take over my empire. You, my dear, will bear him some sons.”
“I beg to differ. This is insane. Like out of some crazy movie insane.” She eased up from the couch and paced, the carpet plush against her bare feet.
“Calm yourself. It will all make sense in time.”
His reassurance did nothing to comfort her. Angelina stopped and balled her hands into fists but didn’t attack the man like she wanted.
“You already know your fiancé, so marrying him shouldn’t be any hardship.”
“I can’t imagine knowing anyone associated with you.” Where was Joseph? Was he alive?
Christopher strolled back to the doorway and motioned someone inside. “Let me introduce you to my grandson and your future husband.”
Angelina’s heart flipped when Joseph entered the room. “Joseph. Thank God you’re here.” She rushed over and wrapped her arms around his waist but he remained stiff as a board. His lack of response made her pause and look into his cold eyes. “Joseph? What’s going on.”
Neither man said a word.
“Wait. Grandson? What do you mean?” Angelina stumbled to a nearby chair and held on for support.
“Yes, Angel. We’re going to be one, big, happy family.” Christopher placed a cold hand on her shoulder.
“Joseph. What is going on? I want to go home.”
“This is your home now. Get some rest. We have a wedding to plan.” Joseph’s face was hard to read.
“Wait? What? I don’t care about a wedding. Please tell me what’s going on.” Had everyone gone nuts?
Joseph stopped in front of her and cupped her cheek. His eyes appeared to be sending her a signal she couldn’t read. “I’ll explain later, I have much to discuss with my grandfather.” The men left the room and the sound of a key locking the door soon followed.
This is madness. Was she still asleep and this was a nightmare?
Rushing to the window, she searched the landscape for anything familiar. They were in a remote wooded area surrounded by snow-capped mountains. Northern Italy? Christopher who? Joseph was his grandson? None of it made any sense. He was the son of one of Roman’s soldiers who’d been killed, not someone from a remote area of the Italian Alps.
Falling onto the bed, as she nodded on and off, her mind swirled with more questions. Was the story of Joseph’s parents even true? She finally fell into a fitful sleep. Hours later Megan entered her room.
“Hi.” She set a tray of food on a table near the fireplace. “I’ve brought you some food.”
“I’m not hungry.” Who could eat at a time like this?
“Eat anyway.” She settled into a nearby chair. “You’ll need your strength.”
“I need to get out of here.”
“That won’t happen anytime some, especially if you’re too weak to move. I’ve been wanting to leave since I got here.” Megan rested her chin on her fist. There were deep shadows under her eyes.
“Why are you here then?” Had she been kidnapped, too?
“No one leaves unless it’s in a box or sold.” Megan crossed her legs and pulled the sides of her fluffy cardigan together.
“Sold?” A lump formed in her throat.
“Sergei is one of the worst traffickers around. He sells people, mostly women.”
“Who’s Sergei?”
Megan shivered. “He’s Mr. Vittore’s right-hand man. I’m trying to stay on his good side so that things don’t get any worse for me.”
“I don’t understand any of this.” Christopher, Joseph, Sergei? Angelina just wanted to go home.
“All I know is you are to marry the man who arrived with you. Soon. I have to help you get a dress and whatever you need for the . . . occasion.”
“The man’s name is Joseph. We were taken together right after he proposed. Wedding? Ha. This is insane. All my life I’ve wanted to marry Joseph, but not like this.” The weight of the ring on her finger brought back memories. How many hours had it been?
“You don’t have a choice. Your friend probably doesn’t either,” she whispered.
“He didn’t look like my friend. I didn’t even recognize him. He was so cold to me.” Was Joseph simply going through the motions until help arrived?
“This place changes you. I don’t recognize myself in the mirror, either.” Megan stared off in the distance as if she could see through the high walls keeping them here. “You do what you must to live another day.”
“Well, I’m not getting married. They can kill me first.” Angelina beat her fist against her leg.
“They won’t kill you. They’ll kill me.”