Gabriele’s POV
“Fuck this!” I hissed out as I placed around the table.
This had to be Gianni. No one would play a game this well with me. I was too late. He had Arianna somewhere else!
“Did the message say where she is?” Agostino asked me. Usually, he would be the calmer one, but right now, he was as riled up as I was.
“No, it didn’t. But you are right, she isn’t here.” I ran my fingers through my hair for the hundredth time that day.
I didn’t have to tell them what I thought. We all knew it was Gianni. He was the only rival we had that could think of a plan like this and come through with it.
Basilio’s phone ran out and he picked it up immediately. We all turned to him, hoping he would give us good news or something close to that.
But his face contorted into a thin line and he grumbled intelligent words before he ended the call and turned to me.
“It was your father.”
“What does he want right now?!” I growled. “Look Basilio, my father can go fuck himself if he wants to. I do not have time for him right now!”
“He says he has information on Arianna. Her grandparents just got to Italy and he intercepted another kidnapping. We need to go to America,” Basilio explained.
What he said made no sense to me. How could we be in America when he said he had Arianna’s grandparents in Italy?
But before I could reply to him, Agostino voiced out. “Where exactly is he and why does he want us to go to America if he has her grandparents in Italy?”
“Gianni’s men tried to get them but thankfully Mr. Andino’s men were there on another mission. They intercepted the attack and got her grandparents to safety. They tortured one who was able to give him the location. He is on his way right now.”
“What the hell are we still waiting for then?” Agostino roared and everybody spurted into action.
My mind was still in a state where it felt divided from the rest of my body. I couldn’t decide how exactly I felt.
All I wanted was Arianna…
Agostino took charge and led us to the vehicles. I sat silently with them and tried my best to keep my mind away from thoughts that would only bring me more pain and panic. If we were going to do this and succeed, I had to be strong and prepared for the worst.
“Don’t worry, Angelo. We will find her,” Agostino whispered patting my shoulder.
I could barely make out a response as my entire body felt numb. There was a constant ringing in my head and I feared if I spoke one word, my body would break from the inside out.
We got to the airport and two private planes were waiting for us. Agostino, Basilio, and I went in one while the rest of the men went into the second.
“I have already contacted Andino. His men are ready,” Agostino informed me as we sat on the plane to America.
“I have also gotten in contact with the Feds. Arianna is a harmless citizen, they agreed to help out,” Basilio put in.
I just nodded. Deep down I was happy that they were taking charge, especially at a time when my entire existence was distorted.
I would not be able to make it if anything happened to my Arianna…
The long hours faded away quickly and soon, we were in the vehicles heading to my father’s lair.
When the car stopped in his estate, my heart squeezed as my eyes met his vibrant ones in the courtyard. He was standing with five of his men, waiting for us. They were geared up like the special ops unit, waiting to commence their mission.
Tears stung my eyes as I remembered what it was like when my mother and sister got kidnapped and killed. I wished my father could be with me. I wished he could fight for me. But he had disappeared into his shell and left me to grieve alone.
My mind got jolted back to the present as the cars stopped right in front of him. Agostino and Basilio stepped down first. I took a deep breath and joined them.
As our eyes met, the strong wall I thought I built crumbled. My shoulders shook as emotions overwhelmed me.
My father saw this and closed up the distance between us. He pulled me into a tight hug and ran his hand across my back.
“We are going to find her alive, son. I promise you,” He whispered kissing the side of my head.
All the hatred I felt towards him melted away as I let him see my fears. He held me even tighter and I opened up completely.
“I am scared father,” I whispered.
“I made the mistake once, I won’t let it happen again. We are going to get her back!” He said.
He pulled away from me and looked me in the eye. “We need to move to Maldives. My sources have pinpointed Demyan’s location. He is on an island right now in the Maldives. I can bet my balls Arianna is there too.”
“I say we make a proper plan before evading. We don’t want Gianni to panic and do something stupid,” My godfather said stepping closer to us.
My father looked at him and nodded. “You are right. My men have intercepted a mission like this before. I have a solid plan,” He said.
My heart was beating at an impossible rate as I felt my brain resume its function. If we already know where she was, I had to go see her.
“Father, I need to see her,” I said desperately.
He held my shoulder and I felt his warmth pass into my body. “The plan revolves around that. Come with me,” He stated in a firm tone.
I nodded and we all moved with him to the pick-up vehicles on the other side of the estate. Inside, the truck wasn’t a simple one, there was a table and blueprints all over.
I walked in and looked closely, it was the map of some islands in the Maldives.
“We are guessing she is being kept in one of the shacks around here!” My father pointed at a brown dot in the map as he spoke. “Gabriele you will have to go to her and assure her that we are coming so she doesn’t panic. Gianni is known to act rashly and my sources point to a different boss here…”
Agostino and I shared looks as he mentioned the possibility of another boss in this game. He noticed the look and shrugged.
“Surely, you both didn’t think Gianni or Demyan can be this smart?” He scoffed. “I have worked with both of them. There is another mind at play here!”
We nodded and he went on.
“We will be doing a sneak attack. We don’t have much time. Gabriele will go in first and speak to the girl. Next, we will gather up around here and attack… But our main forces will be in these houses so we can eliminate all their soldiers…” My father explained.
We all listened attentively, following every line and backup he pointed out on the map till I could recite the location with my eyes closed.
When we were done, we all geared up and went deeper into the estate where the planes were kept. In the next hour, we were on the island, heading to the location. We camped a few kilometers from the actual attack point and the mission started.
I moved under the cover of the night with Basilio and a few of my father’s men till we got to the shack my father had guessed. I moved into it and it was empty. I was almost given up when someone held my shoulders.
“Gabriele!” She whisper yelled.
My heart exploded into relief as my eyes settled upon the love of my life. “Arianna!”
“How did you find me?” She asked clutching her side slightly.
I grabbed her hand immediately and checked her stomach but she shook her head. “It’s nothing I can’t handle. Where are the men?” She asked.
“Basilio and Mike are between those trees. Are you okay?”
“I am now that you are here… Can we go?”
I hugged her tight and pressed multiple kisses over her face. “No, baby. But don’t worry it is part of the plan. We will be back by morning. I just came to warn you to be prepared. Gianni might panic. I don’t know why Agostino thinks you can handle it but they have brought me this far,” I explained to her.
Her eyes lit up and she nodded.
“Okay, I will brace up. You need to leave now. Brett will soon be here,” She said and my brows furrowed.
“Brett?!” How did that fucktard- the question didn’t even finish forming in my head as everything cleared up.
My father mentioned the possibility of Gianni having a boss. I couldn’t believe Brett Harrison was this boss.
“Brett is their ring leader and he will not hurt me as long as he thinks he is still in control. You need to leave now,” Arianna insisted.
She was right. The point of sneaking up on them would be lost if he found me here.
I pulled her face and pressed my lips against hers.
“Hang on for me baby. I will end all of these!” I promised before slipping through the shadows and returning to the men waiting for me.