Valentina.
“That bastard.”
The drive back from the family estate was heavy with unspoken tension. Matteo hadn’t said a word since we left Luca’s cold and mocking smile behind. His jaw was clenched tight, and his grip on the steering wheel had his knuckles white.
Just like when we were going to the estate.
I could see the storm brewing in him. The frustration, the anger, and most of all, the fear that Luca might be telling the truth and we were nowhere close to finding my sister. Or that she had chosen to leave without persuasion.
To stopping Matteo from losing his place as the Mafia Don.
But I knew that wouldn’t happen. Not for a second.
Isabella would never abandon me like that. Luca was playing his games, twisting the truth. I could see it in his eyes when we confronted him, that glint of satisfaction knowing he had Matteo right where he wanted him.
Doubting.
Second guessing.
Attacking.
My thoughts spun around, replaying the encounter with Luca over and over. Every word, every flicker of expression on his face. There had to be more, something we were missing.
As we pulled into the safe house, I exhaled a long breath, trying to calm my racing mind.
This was far from over.
Inside the house, Ethan, Jackson, and Valerie were already waiting for us, their faces tight with anticipation. The latter was breastfeeding her baby, and just that sight was able to bring a smile to my face.
I loved the little one.
They must have been on edge while we were gone, wondering what would happen during our confrontation with Luca.
Ethan was pacing near the window, while Jackson stood near the door, his posture alert, like he was ready for anything.
Marteo closed the door behind us, the sound echoing through the quiet house. Without a word, he went straight to the bar, pouring himself a drink. His hands were steady, but the tension in his shoulders betrayed the calm front he was trying to maintain.
Ethan stopped pacing, his gaze flicking between the two of us. “So? Did you get anything out of Luca?”
Matteo downed his drink in one gulp, setting the glass down with more force than necessary. “He’s playing his usual games. Denied everything, said Isabella must have made her own choice to disappear.”
I sat down on the couch beside Valerie, rubbing my temples as the weight of it all settled over me again. “He didn’t admit to anything. But we have the footage of Isabella getting into his car. That much we know is true.”
Jackson’s brow furrowed as he leaned against the wall, arms crossed over his chest. “But Luca wouldn’t just give her a ride and let her vanish. There’s something more going on here.”
“Of course, there is,” Matteo snapped, his voice rougher than usual. “Luca’s always been slippery. He loves making people chase shadows while he’s pulling the strings behind the scenes.”
Valerie cleared her throat, looking uneasy. “Do you think he’s… harming her? I mean, it’s Luca. He’s capable of anything.”
My stomach churned at the thought, but I pushed it aside. I couldn’t let myself spiral into worst-case scenarios. Not yet.
“If he wanted to hurt her, he would have by now.” Not that I had any way to confirm that particular theory.
Matteo’s hands were clenched into fists on the counter, his knuckles still white. “Whatever his plan is, we have to stop him before it goes any further.”
Ethan crossed his arms, leaning back against the wall. “Luca’s a hard man to pin down. If he’s behind this, he’s covering his tracks well. But we still have that footage. That’s something. A starting point.”
Matteo nodded, his jaw tight. “And we have to move fast. Whatever he’s planning, we’re already behind.”
Jackson, who had been silent until now, finally stepped forward. His face was tense, but there was a gleam in his eyes. “Actually, I’ve been digging into Luca’s digital trail. I was able to track some communications coming from his private server.”
Matteo’s head snapped up. “What did you find?”
Jackson held up his phone, his fingers moving swiftly over the screen before turning it toward us. “I intercepted an encrypted message sent from Luca’s server shortly after Isabella disappeared. It was hard to crack, but I got through it.”
I leaned forward, my heart thudding in my chest. “What does it say?”
Jackson’s gaze shifted between us before he spoke. “It was a shipment order, marked urgent. And it’s being moved out of the city.”
“A shipment?” Matteo’s brow furrowed. “What kind of shipment?”
Jackson hesitated for a moment. “I couldn’t get all the details. The message was heavily encrypted, and most of the file was corrupted. But from what I could piece together, it’s not just any shipment. It involves something or someone of high value.”
A chill ran down my spine. “You think… Do you think it could be Isabella?”
Matteo was already shaking his head. “Luca wouldn’t smuggle her out of the city like cargo. That’s too risky, even for him.”
Jackson shrugged, his expression grim. “Maybe. But it’s the only lead we have right now. The shipment is set to move tomorrow night. If we can track it, we might be able to figure out what Luca’s really up to.”
Silence settled over the room as we processed the information. My mind raced, trying to connect the dots. If Isabella was part of this shipment, where was Luca sending her? And why?
Valerie broke the silence, her voice soft but steady. “Even if it’s not her, following the shipment could give us more answers. It might lead us to where Luca is keeping her, or at least give us more leverage to use against him.”
Matteo’s eyes were hard, his fists still clenched as he stared at the screen in Jackson’s hand. “We don’t have a choice. We follow the shipment. If Luca’s moving something valuable out of the city, it could be our only chance to find her.”
Jackson nodded, slipping his phone back into his pocket. “I’ll keep digging. Try to get more details on the shipment, and maybe find out who’s on the receiving end. But we don’t have much time.”
Ethan pushed off the wall, his expression serious. “We’ll need a plan. We can’t just go in blind.”
Matteo’s eyes flicked to me, and for a moment, the cold mask he’d been wearing cracked, revealing the fear and desperation underneath. “Valentina, I need you to stay here. This could get messy.”
I opened my mouth to protest, but the look in his eyes stopped me. He wasn’t trying to sideline me; he was trying to protect me. But I wasn’t going to sit on the sidelines while my sister’s life hung in the balance.
“I’m not staying behind, Matteo,” I said firmly, standing to face him. “Isabella is my sister. I have as much at stake here as you do.”
His jaw tightened, but he didn’t argue. Instead, he just nodded, a silent agreement passing between us. We were in this together, no matter how dangerous it got.
Ethan clapped his hands together, drawing everyone’s attention back to him. “Alright then. We follow the shipment. Jackson, keep us updated on any new intel. We’ll need to be ready by tomorrow night.”
Valerie stood, her eyes flicking between Matteo and me. “And what about Luca? He knows we’re onto him now. He’ll be expecting something.”
Matteo’s eyes darkened. “Let him expect it. We’ll be ready.”
There was a finality in his voice, a determination that sent a shiver down my spine. Matteo was ready to do whatever it took to find Isabella, even if it meant going up against his own brother. And I wasn’t about to let him face that fight alone.
Jackson stepped forward again, pulling up a map on his phone. “The shipment is being moved from a private dock just outside the city. It’s a secluded area, minimal security. We should be able to get in without too much trouble, but we’ll need to be careful. If Luca’s involved, he won’t make this easy.”
Matteo nodded, his expression hardening. “We’ll be ready.”