Chapter Sixty-Two
Gualtiero
The car pulls into a deserted dairy farm in Liechtenstein. Of all the places in Europe, I didn’t expect to find Molinaro here. But it’s where the coward has been holed up for the past two days.
We’ve been chasing him all over Switzerland. Twice more, he slipped through our fingers by the skin of his teeth.
Now I know for sure that Mauro wasn’t the only rat, and that Molinaro is getting tipoffs from someone else.
Three of my soldiers in Italy have disappeared without a trace. Coincidence? Of course not.
They happen to be the men who I separated and transferred from my Sicilian compound to different parts of Italy after Ella overheard them discussing their discontent.
They thought they were safe speaking German, never realizing Ella could understand every word. That made it easy to identify them. I should have killed them then and there.
I doubt they deserted to the enemy. More likely they’re dead, even if their bodies have yet to be found.
Was it Molinaro, or someone on the inside who took them out?
I’m going to get answers to that question and many more.
As Fabio maneuvers us down the bumpy driveway, trying to avoid the worst potholes, I glance down at the lion tie-pin Ella gave me.
I wear it every day. It’s my reminder of her. Along with her three puppies.
I asked Mariella to take photos of them every day. When I have Ella back, I want to show her how quickly they grew.
There is still no news of her whereabouts. The Austrian lead went cold, and every message on Freemont’s server hinting at another sighting collapsed into nothing. Again and again. Freemont keeps digging anyway, driven by the need to reach her before I do.
I’ve read through the communications between Freemont and Rhia, and she’s growing frustrated with the lack of results. That makes two of us.
How is it that Ella keeps evading the best hackers and investigators? How do we all come up empty-handed?
Is she changing her look every week? But even if she did, facial recognition should be able to identify her.
Why isn’t it? Avoiding cameras completely these days is impossible.
As the car comes to a stop, I rub the lion’s head.
This is for you, my angel. Molinaro will never get to you again. I will do anything in my power to keep you safe, even from afar.
Mateo and I step out of the SUV. I fasten my suit jacket as I look around.
“This place is a shithole,” I say to my brother, taking in the dilapidated buildings and muddy fields.
“It’s the opposite of his fancy mansions,” Teo says, wrinkling his nose. “But he hasn’t had much choice, has he? His options outside of Italy are limited. This suits him, a turd among the cow shit.”
I chuckle. Yes, it does.
We killed Molinaro’s Swiss contacts who could have helped him disappear. He’s not getting back to any of his fortresses on my watch.
With only a few soldiers left by his side, he’s been a sitting duck. He sent them off in different directions to confuse us, but all that achieved was to get them killed and to make himself more vulnerable.
“And it all ends today.” Mateo grins at me, but I’m too pissed to smile. I haven’t since Ella ran.
Without her, there’s nothing to smile about. Instead, I’ve been at the bottom of a big, dark hole.
It’s been useful, though. I’ve been housekeeping, getting rid of opponents who should have been disposed of long ago. And today is Molinaro’s turn.
My brother has been with me every step of the way. As my underboss, he’s second in command, and together we rule well.
Letting my fury run wild has been liberating. I’m taking back control of my life, something I should have done the moment Molinaro became a problem. But for reasons I can’t even remember now, I let it slide.
Before Molinaro dies, though, he will writhe in pain; payback for the suffering he caused my family.
Avenging my father’s death is long overdue, but now, with Ella, I will not risk him getting to her. Ever.
Two of his heirs have been taken out as well, leaving only his youngest son, who turned fourteen a few months ago, as his heir. And he’s too young to be taken seriously.
The fight over Molinaro’s territory will start shortly, but my capos are ready to take over and eliminate anyone who opposes us.
We enter the main building as the lifeless bodies of Molinaro’s soldiers are lugged to a corner. The sight of them leaves me cold. They should have picked a better side.
Then Molinaro is dragged into the room. His right eye is swollen shut, blood streaming from his nose.
“I see you’ve made Santino’s acquaintance,” I say coldly as I plant my feet wide apart.
My hands clench into fists by my side as I watch him struggle against the hold Santino and Antonio have on his arms. He’s kicking out like a toddler throwing a tantrum, his eyes searching the room for a weapon.
There is none. God, he’s pathetic.
His gaze lands on the pile of his dead soldiers, but no emotion registers on his face. I hope he’s realizing his predicament. There’s no one left to help him.
My fingers twitch in anticipation. I’ve waited so long for this moment.
I will enjoy every single second of beating him to a pulp. Molinaro has messed with me for the last time.
When he finally stands before me, I pull back my arm and punch him in the stomach.
Molinaro doubles over, groaning loudly.
“You didn’t really expect you’d get away with this, did you? Having my father killed, messing with my deliveries, blowing up my warehouse and my aircraft, cloning my online business, and trying to take my woman?”
The last point is the gravest on my list. He’s got no respect for the old ways, when wars were fought between men. We may be criminals, but at least back then we had honor.
“And the list doesn’t end there, does it? But credit where credit is due… you had me stumped for some time, especially with your rat in my midst.”
I pull back my leg and kick him hard in the ribs, hearing them crack.
That was satisfying!
“Let’s have a little chat, shall we?” I say mockingly.
Molinaro is on the ground, writhing in pain while my men stand in a circle around him, watching on, unmoved.
Santino stands up an old table against a wall. He knows me so well, anticipating I want him tied against it so this bastard won’t collapse to the ground.
Antonio pulls Molinaro up. Standing in front of him, he pushes him backward toward the upstanding table. He stumbles and crashes, sinking to the floor.
Mateo appears by my side, and we exchange nods as he hands me my spiked brass knuckles. I slip them on and clench my fingers into fists.
Suddenly, Molinaro laughs almost hysterically.
I’m taken aback by the display. He appears insane. But what’s new?
He starts coughing and spitting blood, probably from my earlier punch.
“You think you’ve won, but you haven’t, little boy,” he spits out maniacally. “Your little brother will be your undoing. And even without him, I still have a few surprises up my sleeve. And my death isn’t one of them.”
My gaze goes to Mateo. What is he talking about?
My brother looks as confused as I do and shrugs his shoulders when I raise an eyebrow at him.
Molinaro’s laughter grows louder. For someone who’s about to die, he’s enjoying himself way too much. Time to change that.
But then I watch as he pops something into his mouth. With a devilish grin, he displays a capsule between his teeth.
“Stop him,” I order.
Antonio and Santino both rush forward, but Molinaro bites down on the pill, and seconds later clutches his throat, gasping for air. He topples to the ground, unconscious.
What the hell?
Santino leans over him, feeling for a pulse.
“Cyanide, I think,” he says matter-of-factly. “He’ll be dead in a minute.”
“Fucker!”
I yank my gun from my holster and fire.
My men jump out of the way just in time.
I keep pulling the trigger, hitting him again and again.
How dare he take his own life?
When the last round is spent, I lower my gun, taking a deep breath. Running my tongue over my teeth, I exhale slowly.
No one moves.
Even Santino pauses.
“I can’t fucking believe it.” Mateo’s voice is full of disbelief. “And what did he mean, your younger brother will be your undoing? I swear I would never go against you, Tiero.”
“I know that.”
I trust Mateo implicitly. If Molinaro wants to sow doubts and poison my relationship with the only family I have left, he’s not going to succeed.
“What other surprises does Molinaro have up his sleeve?” Mateo asks, vigorously wiping away a speckle of Molinaro’s blood from his hand.
That’s what I want to know.
Is it about my business? Ella? The rat?
Bastardo…
I wish I could have tortured him to death and gotten a few answers along the way.
“Did he just want to mess with our heads?” Mateo voices the question running through my mind.
“Time will tell,” I grunt. After the initial triumph of confronting Molinaro, today has gone to shit.
“What could he possibly have up his sleeve now that he’s dead?”
That’s the big question.
I roll my neck, cracking it from side to side.
This is not over.
Hours later, I’m sitting on my terrace, looking at the stars. The night air is cool against my skin, carrying the faint scent of citrus and smoke.
After setting fire to the abandoned farm and destroying all evidence of us ever having been there, we flew back to Sicily.
My men are still searching for Ella in Switzerland and Austria, but until we have more than just guesses, there’s no point in me being there.
Mateo steps onto the terrace, carrying two glasses of whiskey.
Handing me one, he studies me.
“Why aren’t you looking happier? We finally avenged our father and rid ourselves of Molinaro.” Leave it to Mateo to filter out the positive. “We need to celebrate this. We should head to one of our clubs.”
“You go. You can celebrate for both of us.”
He sighs and sits down. “Are you thinking about Molinaro’s last words?”
“Hard not to. What could he possibly have up his sleeve? And where did that cyanide capsule come from? He was searched when we caught him. We have to assume one of our guys gave it to him.”
“But all our guys have been vetted. Maybe he pulled some spy shit and had a hidden pocket in his pants or shoes or God knows where. When he was on the ground, he probably realized there was no way out. Who wouldn’t pick a quick death over hours of agony?”
“Men of honor.”
Mateo rolls his eyes.
“What else is bugging you?” my brother asks.
I don’t answer. I’m not sure how.
Mateo doesn’t have the same problem. He’s in tune with me more than anyone except Ella.
“I get you’re unhappy that Ella hasn’t been found yet, but it will happen. She can’t hide forever,” he assures me.
I let out a long sigh, swirling the ice in my glass.
“What is it? Spit it out.”
“I can’t put my finger on it,” I reply. “I’ve been feeling restless. And it’s getting worse. I want to crawl out of my skin. I’m not sure what it means. But I know it’s Ella.” I put down my glass and get up. Pacing the terrace, I squeeze my shoulders to ease the tension.
“Her biggest threat has been eliminated. Molinaro was brazen enough to go after her. His death serves as a reminder to our enemies to stay away from Ella or face our wrath. She’s untouchable, bro, even if she’s not with you right now.”
Mateo is always an optimist. Even growing up in our dark world hasn’t killed it. But he can be the jovial one, not carrying the responsibility of being the boss or having lost his woman.
“I don’t think so. She’s the perfect leverage. Somebody will make use of that before too long. I will move heaven and hell to get her back. Until then, we need to eliminate anybody who could be a threat.”
“Gualtiero, that’s insane. That could turn into a full-blown war. We need to form alliances. Get Emiliano to reach out to the other consigliere.”
“You don’t understand, Mateo. I cannot have Ella out there unprotected. If something happens to her…”
“Tiero, she’s not as na?ve and vulnerable as you think. Stop seeing her that way.”
Easy for him to say.
“What if she is pregnant? With her on the run, she can’t look after herself the way she needs to.”
“She might not be pregnant. And even if she is, Ella would never do anything to endanger the baby.”
I know that. Ella would love our baby from the moment she found out.
I need her back. I want a family with her.
But I can’t shake this feeling of foreboding. Something or someone is looming in the shadows. But who?
Whoever it is, they’re dead if they dare touch her.