Chapter 18 Elio #2
Second hour: Traffic cameras picked up a similar van heading toward Brooklyn. We sent teams. Found it abandoned in a parking garage. Wiped clean. Another vehicle had been waiting. They'd switched. We lost the trail.
Third hour: An informant reported seeing Dante three days ago meeting with two men matching the description of the kidnappers. We tracked them to a warehouse in Red Hook. Sent a team. Empty. They'd been there but moved.
Fourth hour: Still nothing. No contact. No ransom demand. No communication at all.
The silence was worse than threats would've been. Meant this wasn't about money or leverage. Meant Dante had taken Julian for personal reasons.
Meant Julian was in immediate danger.
My control was cracking. I'd put my fist through a wall during hour three. Matteo had to physically restrain me during hour four when another lead went nowhere.
"You need to breathe," Matteo said. Holding my shoulders. Forcing me to look at him. "You need to stay functional. Julian needs you thinking clearly. Not spiraling."
"I can't—" My voice broke. "Matteo, he's got him. Dante's had him for four hours. Do you understand what that means? What he could be doing to him?"
"I know. But you falling apart doesn't help Julian. What helps Julian is you being the best security expert in this city. You being smart and strategic and ruthless. So breathe. Focus. And find him."
I breathed. Forced myself to calm down. To think.
Dante wouldn't kill Julian. That didn't fit his obsession. He wanted Julian alive. Wanted him under his control. Wanted to break him. Own him. Finish what he'd started at sixteen.
That meant Julian was alive. Probably drugged. Possibly hurt. But alive.
I could work with alive. Could find alive. Could save alive.
"Okay," I said. "I'm okay. I'm focused. Let's keep working."
Fifth hour: Stefan found something.
"Real estate purchases," he said. Pulling up records on the main screen. "Caruso family shell companies have been buying properties in New York over the past six months. Small transactions. Under the radar. But there's a pattern."
"What kind of pattern?" I moved closer.
"All the properties are residential. Isolated.
Either warehouses converted to living space or large houses in quiet neighborhoods.
Not their usual commercial holdings." Stefan highlighted several addresses.
"These three were purchased in the last month.
All under different shell companies but the ownership eventually traces back to Caruso interests. "
"Where are they?"
"One in Staten Island. One in Queens. One in the Bronx. All in areas with low traffic. Few neighbors. Perfect for keeping someone hidden."
Hope surged through me. "Send teams to all three. Now. I want eyes on each location within thirty minutes."
Teams were dispatched. I watched the clock. Counted seconds. Tried not to think about what was happening to Julian.
Sixth hour: The Staten Island property was empty. Recently cleaned but no sign of current occupancy.
The Queens location was occupied by a Caruso family associate but no sign of Julian. The team stayed to surveil in case he was brought there.
The Bronx property—
"Got something," the team leader radioed. "House matches the description. Cars in the driveway. Lights on inside. Seeing movement. At least four people inside that we can confirm. Can't get a visual on who yet."
"Hold position," I ordered. "Do not engage. I'm coming to you. ETA twenty minutes."
I grabbed my gear. Checked my gun. Extra ammunition. Knife. Everything I might need.
Matteo was right behind me. "I'm coming with you."
"So am I," Luca added.
Sandro handed me an earpiece. "I'll coordinate from here. You have full support. Bring him home, Elio."
Seventh hour: We reached the Bronx location. A large house on a quiet street. Isolated. Exactly the kind of place you'd use to hold someone.
I coordinated with the surveillance team. "What do we have?"
"Four confirmed inside. Two on first floor. Two upstairs. Can't get positive IDs through the windows but movement patterns suggest they're guarding something. Or someone."
"Armed?"
"Can't confirm but we have to assume yes."
I studied the house. Two stories. Basement probably. Multiple entry points. Security system visible—cameras at the corners, motion sensors on the doors.
Professional setup. Exactly what I'd expect from someone who'd organized that kidnapping.
"Eighth hour," Luca said quietly. "We've been searching for eight hours. If Julian's in there—"
"He is. I know he is." I could feel it. That certainty in my gut that told me Julian was close. That told me I was about to get him back.
Stefan's voice came through my earpiece. "Elio, I've got confirmation. That property was purchased three weeks ago by a shell company ultimately owned by a Caruso family trust. It's theirs. It's Dante's."
That was all I needed to hear.
"We're going in," I said. "Matteo, take the back entrance. Luca, you're with me on the front. Teams, cover the sides. Nobody gets out. If they run, you stop them. Understood?"
"Understood."
I checked my gun one more time. Made sure the safety was off. Made sure I was ready for what I was about to do.
Because I was going to kill Dante Caruso tonight. Was going to make him pay for every second Julian had been afraid. For every moment of trauma he'd caused. For daring to take the person I loved.
This wasn't hot rage. This was cold certainty. This was love transformed into lethal purpose.
Julian had made me more human. More merciful. More capable of showing compassion when appropriate.
But he'd also made me more dangerous. Because my love for him meant I'd do monstrous things to protect him. Would become anything necessary to keep him safe.
Jake Byrne got mercy because he'd been coerced. Because he'd deserved a second chance.
Dante Caruso would get death because he'd earned it. Because he was a predator. Because he'd tried to take Julian's choice. Because he'd terrorized the person I loved.
I'd shown mercy when appropriate. Now I'd deliver violence when necessary.
That was the balance. That was who I was. Human enough to be merciful. Monster enough to protect what was mine.
"Ready?" Matteo asked.
I looked at the house where Julian was being held. Where Dante thought he was safe. Where he thought he could keep what he'd stolen.
"Ready. Let's get Julian back. And let's make sure Dante Caruso never threatens anyone again."
We moved toward the house. Silent. Professional. Lethal.
I was coming for Julian. And God help anyone who got in my way.