Matteo’s POV
Some minutes later I was driving like a crazy person to my club where the torture room was situated. As a Capo I had to be calm at all times but the fact that someone had found a way to intrude into the room which was security tight got me worried.
I arrived and parked recklessly, storming into the club and ignoring the greetings from the few workers that cared to greet me. They should have known by the stoic expression of my face and my clenched jaw that I could kill in the blink of an eye.
Francesco stood at the door, his arms folded and his eyes glistening with disappointment. Of course I couldn’t hurt him because he had been a loyal soldier and he would have been my best friend if I allowed myself to be less anti-social.
“Where is he?” I rumbled, my voice dangerously low. Other people would have flinched at the tenacity of my tone but he was used to it.
“He’s been covered with a white linen. We were waiting for you to come before burning him,” He informed me.
I crouched to the floor where he lay and scrutinised his face which was marred with several cuts of different lengths which I’d inflicted on him. I appreciated his strength and ability to endure everything I put him through, and if we were in a better situation, I’d have made him one of my soldiers.
He looked bigger than I’d left him and I guessed it was an effect from the poison.
“How did this happen?”
“I asked Demitrio to watch over him while I take a piss, but why I was at the convenience room, I felt uncomfortable like something was going to happen. I had to hurry out, but then Caterina was being molested by one of the customers so I had to save her,” He explained, looking away which was one of the few times he did that.
“Caterina? Your crush?” I inquired in disbelief.
He snorted and slanted a surprised look at me. Did he think that I didn’t know the names of all my workers?
“I don’t think I have a crush on her. I just have this urge to protect her and ensure that she’s alright, that’s all.” He replied in a carefree manner, unfortunately, his eyes didn’t agree with his words.
“That means your feelings are stronger than a mere crush. Be careful man,” I patted his arm and nudged him to continue.
“I handled the issue with Caterina and when I returned here, Demetrio was nowhere to be found. Then I saw our captive motionless and his eyes widened open but it wasn’t moving.”
It was very obvious that whoever did this had been watching our every move especially Francesco. I couldn’t blame him for going to help out the woman whom he felt something for. Even though he denied it, I knew that he liked her very much.
“Where’s Demetrio right now?” I asked, sensing that some must have gone wrong with him.
“I sent some men in search of him, they will be right back any…” His words were interrupted by some of the guards that came back with terror written all over their faces.
I needed no soothsayer to tell me that something had gotten really wrong.
“Speak!” I ordered and Paola came forward.
He was the only one looking coordinated out of the three other guards that came with him.
“I was doing my guard duty around the basement when I heard stifled noise and then a scream. I was too late by the time I got in to check because I found Demetrio writhing on the floor and blood gushing out from his mouth.”
I banged my fist on the wall and caused a crack on it, and the particles from the wall bruising fingers but the pain was nothing compared to the anger that was fired up in me.
“Were you able to save him?”
“Fortunately, the medic attended to him and gave him some drugs so he’s stable and resting in one of the rooms,”
I palmed my forehead in dismay, pacing to and fro in the room while they inclined their heads apart from Francesco who shared the same ferocious look with me.
“Where’s Marco?” I yelled, needing all the strong hands I could get at that moment.
“He went to check what had been delaying our trucks from getting to us.” Francesco informed me.
I huffed and propped my hands against my waist. I was very sure that one person from the Camorra was causing all these problems and the person just had to pray that I never caught him or her.
I headed towards the corpse to take a final look at him. My eyes scanned his features once more and when there was nothing new to discover I got up from my crouched position and tried to make my way out of the room.
My shoe got stuck, nearing causing me to trip. I caught myself quickly and bent down again to check what might have tangled with my footwear. My hands caught a cold tiny long piece and when I finally untangled it from my leg, I discovered that it was a silver necklace with a .
An evidence that was forgotten in a bid to escape getting caught.
Blood was smeared on it which possibly belonged to the person whom he was trying to kill. Then something struck me; a memory that I’d seen the necklace on someone close to me.
There was no need of brooding on who had it when I could find that out later on. I got up and approached Francesco who bore a quizzical look.
“This belongs to the intruder, I guess you know what to do with it.” I passed it to him, and he received it with the tip of his finger.
“Where did you find it? Are you sure it doesn’t belong to him?” He asked, referring to the corpse opposite us.
I shook my head in disagreement. I’d ensured that every accessory and weapon he came with were stripped off him so it couldn’t belong to him. Besides, I tortured him myself and I was good at noticing details.
?
Lorenzo, Aurora’s uncle, stood beside the pool with his short-sleeved beach shirt unbuttoned and a pair of black shorts while making a call. His chest was bare and then I remembered where I’d seen the necklace.
It was right on his neck the day I first saw him and the few times I’d seen him around the house, it stuck his neck like glue.
I waved at him, trying to initiate a conversation even though it was the last thing I wanted. He wasn’t wearing a single accessory which upset me the most as I didn’t want to imagine that Aurora’s uncle had anything to do with what was going on.
When he was done with the phone conversation, he left the poolside and came to me.
“It’s been a while since I saw you around. Are you enjoying your stay here?” I asked, doing my best to be civil with him while I expected an uninterested response.
“Sure, I am. That’s why I decided to take a tour around the city yesterday and it was fulfilling,” He replied bubbly and excitedly, which was surprising.
“That’s good to hear. Well, I’d like to ask you a question that has been troubling me for the past few days, Lorenzo and I need an honest response from you.” I said, as he peered at me curiously.
“Go ahead, I’m all ears,” He encouraged me.
“You sent a message to Aurora the night she was shot, which stated that the deed had been done. Do you care to explain what that means?” I dropped and he froze, his eyes blinking in sheer surprise.