“Are you disobeying a direct order?”
The guard quickly lowered the gun, his expression now worried. “Please forgive me, Don. We’re on high alert after the Landi threatened the Santini,” he said, referring to the Orsini’s bosses.
“He’s helping me.”
“Regardless, no Landi can enter the property. There are women and children inside. My Capo will kill me if I allow a Landi to walk in there.”
I turned to the Landi soldier. “Stay at the wheel.”
He gave me a curt nod and got back into the driver’s seat.
I pointed at him. “If he’s hurt in any way,” I said to the guard, “I will do the same to you.”
“As long as he’s passive, he won’t be harmed.”
“Bene.” I walked to the gate, the guard opening it for me. I entered, spotting Orsini soldiers exiting the two-story beige, flat top house. Their holsters were full, some of them holding rifles. On the second floor, the Capo’s sixteen-year-old daughter was watching the activity from the balcony. As soon her father stepped out of the house, she shouted at him, “Papà, can I come?”
“Silenzio!” Georgio snapped at her. His hard gaze moved to his wife, who appeared at the front door, Mariella a stunning dyed-blonde bombshell. “Get her away from the window, woman!”
As she disappeared back inside, Georgio turned to me, quickly giving me a bow, the man old school, but not old in age. He was in his late thirties, austere-looking, packed with muscle, and intensely loyal to the Santini. Originally, his family had been connected to the Donatelli, until his father had gone to prison for a crime the Donatelli had committed. His uncle took over the family, changing their allegiance to the Santini. After the man died from a heart attack, Georgio took over, his friendship with Ricardo Santini sealing their connection further.
“We’re ready when you are, Don,” he said.
“Your plan?”
“We will circle the property, going in at different angles. But first, I must deploy my soldiers to the surrounding houses. I don’t want to be walking into a sniper’s line of fire.”
“Bene. There’s just one thing. I believe my woman’s in there, trying to get her brother back. She has long brown hair and is absolutely stunning. Her brother has auburn hair and looks similar. They are Salvi.”
Georgio frowned. “I thought the Salvi left the island several years ago.”
“Two of them are back, so tell your men to be careful not to shoot them.”
Georgio nodded, then called out to his men. All of them stopped what they were doing and turned to him. There was about a dozen, all wearing dark suits. Georgio relayed the instructions, then snapped, “Andiamo!”
We headed out of the property. I signaled at the Landi soldier to come. The Orsini ones stopped in their tracks, a few raising their guns at him.
“He’s safe,” I said. “He’s helping me find my woman.”
“I understand you trust him,” Georgio said. “But my men don’t, and when trust isn’t there, mistakes can happen. He would be safer staying cuffed to the wheel of your car than walking amongst my men.”
I nodded. “Just make sure he isn’t harmed.”
“As long as he’s cuffed, I give you my word he will remain safe.”
The Landi soldier held out his hands. “Do what you must,” he said.
Georgio gave one of his men an order. Moments later, the Landi soldier was cuffed to the steering wheel and we were heading for Rita’s old home.
***
We stopped a few houses away from the Salvi property, taking cover behind a row of trees. The first wave of Orsini soldiers split off from us, following their instructions to inspect the surrounding properties. A few minutes later, a gruff voice came over the radio, telling us that a Donatelli sniper had been taken out.
Georgio snapped out instructions to his remaining men, who slipped through the trees, both the Capo and I leading the way, holding our guns at the ready. We headed for the property, hearing gunfire. It stopped seconds later. As we arrived at the gate, the gruff voice came over the radio again. “We’re inside the house. I will radio you once it’s been swept clean.”
“Va bene,” Georgio said.
A few minutes later, the same voice crackled over the radio. “It’s clear to enter. We’ve killed all but one Donatelli. There’s also a Salvi hostage in here.”
“Rita!” I pushed past Georgio, running through the gate. Before me stood a two-storied, mottled gray house, with a flat roof and vines climbing up the side. I burst through the front door, demanding where Rita was. One of the Orsini soldiers pointed at the lounge, saying something I didn’t hear, since I was already running for it. I stopped behind the leather couch, recognizing Rita’s brother. A soldier was untying him, as well as trying to calm the hysterical man down. I headed around the couch, stopping in my tracks at the sight of the two dead bodies sitting on either side of Lucan, their hair dyed different tones of red.
The Orsini soldier removed the remaining rope from Lucan. “Those two aren’t Salvi,” he said, “they’re civilians.”
“I can tell. Let me talk to Lucan.”
The soldier moved aside. Lucan jumped up, looking like he was about to bolt. I grabbed him. He started screaming and struggling against me, trying to get free.
“Calm down, Lucan,” I said. “I’m your sister’s boyfriend.”
Lucan stopped screaming. He looked a lot like Rita, only with a square jaw and long auburn hair. “Jagger?” he said, squinting his eyes at me.
“No, his cousin Frano.”
“Your brother hates my sister! He hates her, he hates her!” Lucan started trying to get free again, his voice childish. Although he looked in his late twenties, he sounded and acted like a kid.
“Stop it, Lucan.”
“Alberto wanted to kill my sister!”
“Lucan!” I boomed.
He went still, his face startled.
I lowered my voice again, but kept a firm grip on his arms. “Alberto can’t hurt your sister, he’s dead.”
Lucan started trembling. “You’re his brother; you’re a bad man too.”
“You’re wrong. I’m here to help Sophia. Tell me where she is.”
“No! I will only talk to Jagger. He’s good, not you.”
I exhaled loudly, beyond frustrated with him. But I knew if I bullied him into answering me, he’d just scream or cry, the man not having matured past childhood. I’d seen him in the psyche ward once while visiting a relative. It had been from a distance, but I’d still recognized him. I remembered being surprised he was on the island, let alone alive, since I’d thought he’d died. I had wanted to talk to him, but the nurse had said he was too fragile, so I’d decided not to bother since I didn’t really know the man, other than he was Sophia’s brother.
“I’ll call Jagger for you,” I said. Letting go of Lucan, I pulled out my phone and speed dialed my cousin. Jagger answered a few seconds later. I told him what was happening, and to ask Lucan if he’d seen Sophia and Christo. Once I had an okay, I put the phone in Lucan’s hand, saying, “Jagger wants to talk to you.”
Lucan’s face lit up. “Jagger!” He put the phone to his ear and started talking fast, asking questions a child would. He stopped suddenly, then nodded. “Sì, sì, the bad man took my sister. He wants to tie her up in a barn. Barns have horses.” Lucan continued talking about horses.
I held out my hand, having heard enough. “Give me the phone, Lucan.”
Lucan jerked it away. “No! It’s mine now, you gave it to me.”
I breathed out. “Okay, Lucan, you can have it.”
Lucan resumed talking to Jagger, asking him to save his sister.
I headed around the couch, finding an Orsini soldier pushing a Donatelli one to his knees in front of Georgio.
Georgio pointed his gun at the Donatelli man. “Tell us why you’re here? And why the hell there are two dead civilians on the couch with dyed red hair, because the last time I saw them, they had brown
hair.”
“My Don made us dye their hair,” the soldier replied, staring up at Georgio with wide eyes.
“For what purpose?”
“To trick a woman.”
“What woman?”
“Sophia Salvi.” The soldier’s eyes moved to me, his expression scared. “Don D’Angelo, please show me mercy. I’m not of Donatelli blood, I’m just an employee.”
“If you tell me where she is, I won’t torture you.” I smiled for effect.
The man flinched. “All I know is she’s been taken to a barn.”
“Which barn?”
“I don’t know, but it’s got something to do with the Rossos. That’s all I know, it’s the truth.”
“Radio through to your Don. I need to talk to him.”
He unclipped the radio from his belt and spoke into it: “Don, I’ve been captured by the Orsini and Don D’Angelo.”
Christo’s voice crackled over the wavelength, “Give Frano your radio.”
The soldier held it out for me.
I took it. “Where’s my woman?!” I barked into it.
“She’s not your woman, she’s my schiava.”
“She’s not a slave! She’s my fiancée, and I want her back.”
“I might consider giving her back if you repay a debt.”
“What debt?”
“You destroyed my famiglia. I was going to kill you for it, but it looks like I need the money more, so you’ll die instead for what you did to Don Rosso’s daughter.”
“I did nothing to that troia!”
“That’s not a very nice way to speak about your dead wife. Even worse, you’re the reason why she committed suicide, hence why the Rosso Don wants you dead. So, if you want your woman to live, you’ll meet some of my men, so they can bring you to me. I will then torture you in front of the Rosso Don. After that, his son will kill you. Of course, your woman will witness your demise, which I’m hoping will break her. And by the way, if you don’t come alone, I will torture her instead, then slit her throat. Now, the question is, how much do you love her?”
A female scream pierced the line.
“You bastardo!” I yelled. “Don’t hurt her!”
“I will only stop if you answer my question correctly,” he said over the screams. “Will you give up your life for her?”
“Sì, sì, just don’t hurt her.”
The screams ceased. “Molto bene,” he said. “Now, do you have any questions for me?”
“I will only come if you set her free.”
“Once you’re dead, I’ll be happy to. I want her to live with the knowledge she’s the reason why you suffered a horrible death.”
“You’ll be the reason, not her.”
“She won’t see it that way, and I must say I’m disappointed in you, Frano. Your father wouldn’t have sacrificed himself for a woman. What he did to your mother was spectacular. He was a real man, unlike you gallant bastards who fall over yourselves to save figa. Pathetic.”
“Where do I meet the ride?” I said, ignoring his derision.
“How about the little cottage you and Sophia used to fuck in, or possibly the river where you fucked behind a bush. You two were very entertaining.”
I gritted my teeth, disgusted that he’d watched us.
He continued, “Let’s make it the cottage. Again, come alone.”
“I have a driver,” I said, wondering how I was going to ditch the Landi soldier.
“He can drop you off, but must leave straight afterwards. I will have someone watching you from afar, so if he tries to follow, I’ll slice your woman’s throat open before you even get where I am. Then I’ll torture you, leaving the Rossos to finish you off. By the way, Don Rosso ordered your hit a long time ago, but my older brother had made a deal with Alberto, so he refused. He also threatened to slaughter the Rossos if you died. But since your famiglia killed him—”
“He died of a heart attack.”
“Because your sister-in-law poisoned his son!”
“That had nothing to do with me, and I don’t believe anything you’re saying about the Rossos. You’re trying to pit allies against each other through lies.”
“I’m not lying.”
“I’ve had enough of this conversation. Just tell me the time to meet your men.”
“Nine o’clock tomorrow morning. Get a good night’s sleep; I know I will … once I put a load into your woman’s culo.” He hung up, my yell startling Lucan. Rita’s brother started crying.
I handed the radio to Georgio. “Don’t tell the Santini about what Christo said about the Rossos.”
He frowned. “They need to know just in case it’s true.”
“It’s not. If Don Rosso blamed me for Angelica’s death, he wouldn’t have hugged me at her funeral. Plus, him and my father remained friends afterwards. Christo’s nothing but a manipulator, hell bent on destroying our alliances.”
“Okay, I’ll keep it from them for now, but if I hear anything else that suggests the Rossos are traitors, I won’t hesitate in telling my Don.”
“That’s fine. Now, take care of the Donatelli soldier.” I headed out of the house, a gunshot going off behind me.
***
I woke up the next morning to a girl’s face in front of mine. Georgio’s sixteen-year-old daughter had snuck into the guest bedroom I’d been given for the night. She was a pretty girl, with a long mane of thick brown hair and the most stunning blue-green eyes.
“Cool, you’re awake,” Nina said.
“Not surprising, considering you were tapping my forehead.” I sat up, making sure the sheet was covering my lower half, since I only had briefs on. “Leave the room, you shouldn’t be in here.”
“Not until you say I can come with you.”
“Where?” I asked, still half asleep.
“To save the Salvi lady. My papà’s getting his soldiers ready and I want to go too.”
“No one’s coming with me, I’m doing this alone.”
“But my papà said—”
“I don’t care what your father said. I outrank him. So leave my room before I give you an anatomy lesson.”
“An anatomy lesson?”
“I’m not wearing anything.”
Her mouth formed into an O. She pushed up and ran for the door, closing it behind her.
Shaking my head, I got out of bed and grabbed my pants, pulling them on. I slipped on my shirt next, quickly buttoning it as I stuffed my feet into my shoes. Once finished, I headed out of the guest room, knowing there was a high chance I wouldn’t be breathing tomorrow.
I descended the staircase, spotting Georgio cutting across the lounge. It was sparsely decorated, almost Spartan. I wondered how his wife put up with Georgio’s taste in bland furnishings, not to mention his austere character, especially with the way he barked orders at her.
He stopped at the bottom of the staircase, his green eyes narrowing in on me. “Nina told me that you refuse to accept my help.”
“Christo will know if I’m followed.”
“If you don’t have backup, you’ll be walking to your death.”
“I don’t have a choice.”
“Then at least wear a tracking device so we can come in from a different angle.”
“You won’t be able to sneak up on them without being noticed. All it’ll take to get my woman killed is one of their guards seeing you. So, grazie for your offer; it’s just unfortunate I have to turn it down.”
“Again, you’ll be walking to your death. You must at least have a plan.”
I shook my head, not wanting to endanger Rita’s life. “I will do this my way.”
“At least have breakfast before you leave.”
Nodding, I followed him to the dining room. After a full breakfast, we headed out of the house, stopping in the front courtyard.
He placed his hands on my arms. “I understand why you’re going in alone; I would for my wife too. I wish you the best, Don. I will be praying for you.”
“Grazie,” I said. “And if I die today, pass on the message to Jagger to take refuge with the Santini. They will protect him from the Black Russian and anyone else. Whatever I own goes to him, unless his brother’s found, then they can share it.”
“I won’t need to tell them anything, because you’ll be returning with your woman.” He smiled, although it appeared strained. Despite his encouraging words, the man probably knew I was a dead man walking.
After we said our farewells, I headed to my car. I climbed in, the Orsini having left the Landi soldier cuffed to the wheel all night.
He grunted in relief when I uncuffed him. “I didn’t mind being left here for an hour, but not the whole night,” he said, stretching his arms. “The bastardi could’ve at least brought me a blanket. I was freezing.”
“It’s considerably better than what they wanted to do to you.”
“True,” he said, probably realizing that meant a bullet in the head. “Though, we haven’t attacked the Orsini—or even the Santini, so they shouldn’t be violent towards me. They have no affiliations to the Rosso.”
“The Santini have, hence why they were careful with you, plus Valentino Pirelli’s car was bombed and he’s a half-brother of the Santini.”
“I had nothing to do with the bombing.”
“So, Pedro was responsible?”
“Whether he was or wasn’t, is unimportant right now. We need to find your woman. What’s your plan for the day?”
“You’re dropping me off at a cottage I went to yesterday.”
“I have to stay with you,” he said, starting the engine.
“Unless you want the Donatelli to kill you, that’s not advisable.”
He grimaced. “No, they will end up dying.”
“You can’t touch them or my woman will be killed. I’m exchanging my life for hers.”
“Are you crazy? No woman is worth dying for.”
I smiled sadly. “This one is.”
He reversed the car onto the road. “So, you’re going in without any backup?” he said, sounding surprised.
“Sì.”
“No disrespect intended, but that’s foolhardy.”
“If anyone follows me, my woman will be killed.”
The soldier shook his head. “You’re still mad.”
“No, not mad—just in love.”
My Masters' Nightmare, Season 1 / Episode 14 Page 3
