Stolen Touches - Page 83

The sliding door closes with a firm click as the engine comes to life.

The phone on my desk rings while I’m in a meeting with Cosimo. The moment I see Alessandro’s name, a feeling of dread forms in the pit of my stomach. He could be calling me to approve a change of route because Milene decided to go somewhere else after the mall, but I somehow know that’s not it.

“What happened?” I bark into the phone.

“The Irish attacked us while we were at the mall,” Alessandro says. His breathing is labored, wheezing. “I managed to neutralize them, but before we reachedthe car, Vincenzo grabbed your wife and pumped half a magazine into me.”

I squeeze the cell in my hand. “Where did he take her?”

“I don’t know.” Alessandro coughs. “I was wearing a bulletproof vest, but I passed out from the impact. They’re gone.”

“Get out of there and call someone to pick you up.” I cut the line and look at Cosimo. “Leave. Send Nino here. Right now.”

I open the GPS tracking software on my laptop and stare at the red dot that shows Milene’s location. The signal is moving along the highway. They’re taking her out of the city.

* * *

“They won’t touch her, Boss,” Nino says. “It’s you they want.”

“I know,” I say and continue staring at the red dot flashing on the screen. I haven’t taken my eyes off it since the moment I opened the tracking app, as if it will disappear if I so much as blink. Something dark and hungry for destruction awakened inside my chest when Alessandro called. An abyss of darkness grows with every passing second, yearning for slaughter. A black hole ready to swallow the entire universe. They dared to take my Milene. Oh, how they will pay.

The pulsing dot stops. My heart skips a beat. A minute later, the phone on my desk rings. I grab the phone and take the call.

“Ajello,” the voice on the other side says. “I heard you lost something.”

“Where is my wife, Patrick?”

He laughs. “Oh, wouldn’t you love to know?”

“Where. Is. She?”

“Get into your car and drive south. Someone will call you with further instructions. When you reach the destination, we’ll make a trade. You for her,” he says. “If you are not alone, I’ll tell my men to snap her neck.”

The call disconnects.

“Take thirty men,” I say to Nino. “They’re holding Milene somewhere west of the city, probably in the industrial zone. You can get the exact coordinates off this. Take it with you.” I nod toward the laptop.

“I can have them ready to go with you in ten minutes.”

“They won’t be coming with me. You’ll take the men directly to wherever Milene is and find cover close by. I’ll call you when I get there. Patrick will probably lead me around in circles for a while to make sure no one’s following, so you’ll be there before I arrive.” I pin him with my stare. “Don't even think about sending anyone after me,” I whisper.

“But, Boss . . .”

“Don’t you fucking dare!” I snarl and strike the desk in front of me with my palm. “I will kill anyone who follows me, and I will end you too for disobeying orders! Do you understand?”

Nino grinds his teeth. “It’s a trap.”

“Of course it’s a trap.” I put the phone in my pocket and take the car keys off the desk. “When I get there, waittwenty minutes, and then you and the men can go in with guns blazing. Not a second sooner, Nino.”

“They’ll kill you.”

“They won’t. Not right away, at least. I want them focused on me, not on Milene, while you storm the place.” I get up and walk around the desk until I’m right in front Nino. “Whatever you find when you go in, you will get Milene out first. Only when she’s safe are you are allowed to come back for me. Nod if you understand.”

He stares at me with wide eyes.

“Fucking nod!” I yell into his face.

Nino closes his eyes and nods.