Chapter 25
Chapter Twenty-Five
Dante
A group of people ambushed me on my way to the airport.
Gunshots shattered the silence of the night. Bullets struck the car, sending dull metallic impacts echoing through the darkness. I immediately pulled out my gun, tightened my grip on the steering wheel, and slammed my foot down on the accelerator.
The pursuing vehicles stayed dangerously close behind me, almost scraping against my car. The roar of their engines kept getting closer. I gritted my teeth, kept my eyes fixed on the streetlights ahead, and pushed the car to its maximum speed.
A car pulled alongside. A dark muzzle aimed straight at me. I ducked fast, whipped out my pistol and fired three rounds through their window. The car flipped sideways instantly.
I used the opening to shake them off hard, finally pulling over at the roadside.
I contacted Marco, kept it short. "Someone hit me. Can't make it back to New York. What's your status?"
"Javier's guys talked. Javier's not even in New York!" Marco's voice rose. "The docks might not be the target at all!"
Not the docks. Then what?
I pressed my head, thinking.
Until I remembered who I'd just left.
"Fuck!" The second it hit me, cold sweat broke out all over.
Mexico was Javier's turf. When I'd been renovating Elena's place recently, I'd noticed someone watching us. But I could protect Elena, so I hadn't worried much.
But what if they weren't there to attack—just to watch?
They'd know exactly how to play this. Kidnap Elena, use her to leverage me, accomplish their dirty goals.
I steered toward Elena's place while telling Marco, "Whatever it takes, find Javier's operations in Mexico. I'm taking them all down this time!"
These people never learned their lesson when Salvador was around. Made them bolder and bolder.
Marco agreed. "I'll bring people right away. Dante, hang in there."
The car stopped below Elena's building. I ran upstairs fast. The door was ajar.
I shoved it open. "Elena!"
Only Maggie was inside, watching TV. She jumped up when she saw me. "Oh my God, Dante, what happened to you? Elena's not home—didn't she go see you off?"
I'd just been in a firefight. I looked like hell. But I had no time for that.
My fear was confirmed. My heart sank completely.
Elena was in trouble.
What I'd dreaded most had happened.
"It's fine, she probably went shopping. I'll go find her." Maggie was old, couldn't handle the shock. I reassured her. "Stay home, lock the door. I'll bring Elena back."
Maggie looked at me with worry, but I had no time to say more. I slammed the door and left.
This kidnapping was planned. I thought of someone who'd definitely know how it went down.
I called Marco again. "Grab Valentina! Elena's been kidnapped—she's in on it for sure. Use whatever means necessary, get their plan out of her!"
"What?" Marco sounded shocked, but caught up fast. "Right away."
I was desperate enough to kill. But I had no idea where to find Elena. The helplessness made me want blood.
Suddenly, I remembered. The Moretti family had an ally in Mexico. We weren't close, but they owed Salvador a favor.
I bit down hard and dialed.
"Mr. Castro."
Samuel Castro answered. He was old too, ran his own fleet and controlled several exclusive routes. Not exactly cartel, but he had his own sphere of influence in Mexico.
"Dante, surprised you're calling me." Samuel's tone was slow, exactly like Salvador in his later years. "Heard you've been vacationing in Puerto Vallarta. What's up—want to pay me a visit?"
His tone was light, like catching up with an old friend. I had no patience for it.
I bit down hard. "My wife was kidnapped by the Cruz family. I need your help."
Samuel's tone turned serious. "Hector Cruz? Christ, guess he's still after your family's route."
"Yes." I could barely hold the wheel. "I need men. As many as possible. And I need you to check their operations here—I have to lock down their location."
Samuel agreed. "Alright. I'll call you back in ten minutes."
I stopped the car, closed my eyes. Couldn't let myself remember how Elena looked when she saw me off. I shouldn't have left. I'd just gotten her back, and my carelessness put her in danger.
Soon, Samuel sent word. "My people are heading your way. I sent you Javier's activity range—it's big though. You'll have to sweep it."
I replied. "Thanks."
I opened the map. Samuel's marked area was huge. No way to pinpoint the exact location.
I tried to think rationally, but my mind wouldn't focus.
I kept imagining Elena being tortured. She was even pregnant... What that bastard Javier would do to her—I knew all too well.
Goddamn it.
Then Marco messaged. "Valentina spilled everything. Their main base is in an abandoned industrial zone. Twenty miles north of Puerto Vallarta."
Finally.
I cross-checked the map, locked the exact spot. I sent it to Samuel—his people immediately changed course.
Halfway there, Hector called. He laughed coldly. "Looks like you figured it out."
"Hector!" I warned him sharply. "If you hurt her, you won't just lose the route—I'll erase the Cruz family from this world."
He laughed wildly on the other end. "Your reaction proves one thing—I grabbed the right person."
I gripped the wheel tight.
"Dante, I don't intend to hurt your wife." Hector's tone turned coaxing. "I've prepared a contract. Sign it, transfer that route to me free of charge, and I'll send your wife home. How about it?"
The nerve of this bastard.
Before, he only wanted usage rights. Now he wanted me to hand it over for nothing. That route was the most crucial one from Mexico to New York. If he controlled it, New York would descend into complete chaos.
I couldn't gamble on that.
"I need to hear Elena's voice. Confirm she's safe." I laid out my condition.
"She's alive. That's all you need to know." Hector sent me an electronic contract, his amused tone infuriating. "Transfer agreement sent. Sign it, and I'll release her immediately."
Then he hung up.
"Fuck!"
Moonlight spilled across the highway ahead. I drove toward Elena at maximum speed.
I prayed she'd be okay.