Chapter 31
My hands were clenched around the wheel, my pulse pounding like a war drum in my ears.
Nico fucking Romano.
I knew him. Not well enough to call him a friend or an enemy.
But we had crossed paths more times than I could count.
We worked in the same circles, ran in the same business.
Our families were both deeply rooted in this world but as far as I knew, we never had any real problems between us. No feuds. No debts. No bad blood.
So why the fuck would he take my wife?
The thought hit like a bullet to the skull.
Why Alessa?
What the fuck did he want with her?
I tightened my grip on the wheel, my knuckles going white.
My mind raced through every interaction I had ever had with him, every deal, every meeting.
He was always in the background, never the one making the big moves, never the kind of guy to start shit with someone unless he had something to gain.
So what was the angle?
I clenched my jaw, my foot pressing harder on the gas. If he had put his hands on her or if he had even touched her.
I exhaled slowly through my nose, trying to smother the fury clawing up my throat. Not yet. I needed to think.
The Romano estate loomed ahead, a sprawling, gated property just outside the city. The guards at the entrance barely had time to react before I slammed the car to a stop and got out. I stormed past the guards before they could even open their mouths, my focus locked on the house.
"Sir" One of them stepped forward, hand hovering near his gun.
I didn't give him the chance to finish. My fist connected with his jaw, sending him sprawling before I shoved past, ignoring the other guard barking protests. Gavino was at my side in an instant, his own gun drawn.
I pushed through the doors, my boots echoing against the polished floors. Nico's father, Piero Romano, stood in the center, flanked by his men.
"Luca Moretti" his voice was sharp. "What the hell is the meaning of this?"
I stalked forward, rage coiled tight in my chest. "Where the fuck is your son?"
Piero's expression flickered, irritation settling in. "You barge into my home, demanding my son? What the fuck are you accusing him of?"
"He took my wife." I barely heard my own voice, raw with fury. "Where is he?"
Piero's expression twisted into anger. Then, scoffing disbelief. "Nico? Took your wife?" A pause. "Are you out of your fucking mind?"
I didn't answer. I was already moving forward.
Then-
A woman's voice. "Papà?"
I turned just as a young women came running down.
Dark hair, deep brown eyes, delicate features that were a stark contrast to the hard lines of her father. She moved fast, her expression a mix of panic and confusion.
Piero's head snapped toward her. "Valentina. Go back to your room."
Before she could reach her father, Gavino caught her wrist in an iron grip, stopping her in her tracks. She gasped, twisting and glaring up at him.
"Let me go" she hissed, sharp brown eyes narrowed at Gavino like she wanted to set him on fire.
His hand stayed locked around her wrist, his body still but there was a shift in the air. A quiet, heavy thing that settled between them. His head tilted slightly, watching her with that expression of his. Almost like he was curious.
I almost would have let it play out, just to see where it went.
But I didn't have time for this shit.
"Search the house." My voice cut through the moment like a blade, yanking Gavino out of it. He let go instantly, his expression shuttering as he turned away.
Valentina stumbled back, her lips pressing into a thin, furious line.
I turned to Piero. "If he is here, I'll find him."
He didn't move, but his jaw twitched. "You won't."
I ignored him, pushing past. His men didn't stop me, not with Gavino and the others already fanning out. We tore through the place, room by room. Closets, offices, the backyard but found nothing.
I exhaled slowly, shoving a hand through my hair. My pulse still pounded like a war drum but I forced myself to think. He wasn't here. That didn't mean he wasn't guilty.
Piero watched me from the entryway, his arms crossed, his expression hard.
"You are wasting your time, Moretti" he said.
I met his eyes and took a step closer. "Call me if you hear anything from him," My voice dropped, low and sharp. "If you want to stay alive."
???????
We were back at the warehouse. But Nico was still out there and he still had Alessa.
Gavino exhaled telling Cancio about everything. The picture, the tattoo, Nico.
Something flickered in my brother's eyes. A knowing look. "Nico" he asked, "Nico Romano"
The weight in his tone made something cold crawl up my spine. I glanced at Gavino but he was watching me.
Cancio's gaze settled on me. "Alessa was supposed to marry Nico before Father stepped in and made the deal with the Rossi's."
"What?" The question came out sharp, almost accusing.
Cancio nodded. "A year ago. The Romano's and the Rossi's were negotiating. Nico wanted her and pushed for the marriage. But the deal changed after Father intervened. He made a counteroffer, a stronger alliance. In the end, our family won."
I took a slow step forward, my blood turning to ice. "And no one thought to tell me this?"
Cancio didn't flinch. "There was no reason to."
"No reason?" I asked "You didn't think knowing that he wanted her before you made her marry me. That he is the one who took her would have been relevant?"
Cancio exhaled. "We didn't think he had try something like this."
I let out a bitter laugh, shoving a hand through my hair. "Well, congratulations. You fucking thought wrong."
Gavino leaned against the table, arms crossed, his sharp gaze cutting through the tension in the room.
"Standing here and getting pissed won't bring Alessa back," he said flatly. "We need to find out where Nico is hiding."
I exhaled harshly, still gripping the edge of the desk like it was the only thing keeping me from putting my fist through a wall. "And how the fuck do you suggest we do that?"
Gavino ran a hand through his hair. "We know his family doesn't have a fucking clue about what he is doing. That means he is not in any of their properties. He is hiding somewhere else. And there is only so many places a guy like Nico would go."
Cancio nodded slowly. "He has to have help. A safe house, someone covering for him."
I exhaled slowly, rolling my shoulders. "Start with his contacts, his men. Anyone who has gone off the radar. Someone has to know something." My voice was cold, laced with violence. "And if they don't..." I met Gavino's gaze, "make them."
A smirk ghosted across his lips. He lived for this shit.
???????
It was past midnight when I pulled up to the penthouse. Gavino was with me, he didn't want to leave me alone like this.
I exhaled, exhaustion hanging heavy in my bones. But the moment I stepped out of the car, that feeling vanished.
Two men stood across the street, near the alley. Lurking. Watching. They weren't subtle about it either. Wrong fucking move.
Gavino, who had just exited the car behind me, stilled. "You see them?"
I didn't answer. I was already moving.
The moment they noticed, they turned. Too slow. I was on the first one before he could even react, slamming him against the brick wall of the alley. He grunted, hands scrambling for his gun. I grabbed his wrist, twisting hard until the weapon clattered to the ground.
The second one tried to run but Gavino was faster. A single warning shot rang out before Gavino caught him, dragging him back by the collar.
I pressed my forearm against the first guy's throat. "Who the fuck sent you?"
He struggled, teeth gritted. "Fuck you."
Wrong answer.
I pulled my knife from my jacket and pressed the tip just below his eye. "Try again."
He stiffened, breathing hard but he stayed silent. His buddy, though, the one Gavino had wasn't as brave.
"Nico," he gasped. "Nico sent us."
A slow, dangerous smile curled on my lips. Now we were getting somewhere.
I ripped the knife away and threw the bastard to the ground. He hit the pavement hard, coughing as he tried to scramble back. I planted my boot on his chest, pressing down just enough to make him wheeze.
"Where the fuck is he hiding?" My voice was controlled.
The other guy thrashed in Gavino's grip, blood dripping from a split lip. "I...I don't know," he stammered. "I swear, we were just told to watch. To report back if you came home."
I pushed harder with my boot, watching as the first guy clawed at my ankle dropping the knife just beside his throat. That was enough for him to spill out what i wanted.
"The abandoned casino," he gasped. "Outside the town. The old one....east highway."
I looked at Gavino, who gave a short nod. It made sense. The Romanos had owned a chain of casinos for years and some had been shut down. A perfect fucking place to hide.
I exhaled slowly, then stepped back. "That wasn't so hard, was it?"
His body sagged with relief, right before I pulled out my gun and shot him between the eyes.
The second guy barely had time to react before Gavino's bullet tore through his skull. Both bodies hit the ground in tandem.
I turned to Gavino, slipping my gun back into my holster. He was already on the phone, his voice low and clipped as he arranged for the cleanup.
But my mind wasn't here anymore.
It was on her. Alessa.
Now I knew where she was.
And I was going to bring her back, no matter what it took.