Alessio
Ana told her story, and with every word that left her mouth, my frown grew bigger. Anson had managed to lure Mena with a simple text, and being the person she was-she exchanged herself to save the woman’s life.
No matter how many times I repeated it in my head, I still could not understand how Mena would do all of that, to keep one person safe.
As Ana spoke about how Anson had slapped Mena and dragged her across the room by her hair, my fists began to ball. My urge to kill got wilder, and I couldn’t wait to get my hands on him.
“Is that all?” I asked loudly, after the woman took a pause.
“No.” Ana sighed. “She told me to come here first thing in the morning and tell you that she took the ring.”
“The ring?” I was confused for a split-second, but then it clicked. She had taken the ring with the tracker she despised so much because she knew I would come for her. With a hopeful feeling, I once again rushed to the monitor and opened up the tracking software.
As it opened, I let out a breath-seeing the ring, and hopefully Mena, were located in one of the neighborhoods on the quieter side of the city. It pained me to think this way, but I couldn’t help but think that at least she wasn’t entirely reckless.
“Is he armed?”
“Yes, he has a gun,” the woman whispered. “And he is not afraid to use it. He’s not in his right state of mind.”
As far as I was concerned, he had never been.
“Mena knew how to talk to him, so I have good faith that it’s not too late to save her,” Ana added. “He told me he doesn’t want to…kill her, he just wants to be a family again.”
She knew how to talk to him…
I’m sure she did. Mena had a talent for knowing how to present herself to whichever person, yet all of those versions were a part of her.
Receiving a text from Anson in the middle of the night could only mean one thing, he didn’t want to be seen. My theory was that he had chosen to stop at that location because he was cautious of moving around in broad daylight, meaning I only had this day to rescue her before they would leave the city. By then, he might have already discovered the tracker, and it would be too difficult to find them.
Looking at Ana, I noticed her shifting uncomfortably. Her eyes carried a huge sense of guilt, but I could see how much she loved Mena. I had no doubt it was the same the other way around. Mena jumped over a dumpster for this woman, so they must’ve been really close.
“Thank you, Ana. I will compensate you for the information and for all you’ve been through,” I offered, trying to show some gratitude.
Ana shook her head. “I came here for Mena, but I know exactly who you are, Alessio Fanucci, and I don’t need your black money.”
Her words didn’t surprise me and didn’t hurt either. I was used to it, we all were. One not liking the Fanuccis was nothing new. Many saw us as nothing more than criminals, they feared us, stayed away from us-and you know what? They were right.
I respected Ana’s courage to come here for Mena, and Mena only.
I chuckled lightly, “Then I’ll make sure yours is legal,” I said, “I’m just doing what Mena would’ve done, so please accept it.”
Ana remained silent.
“We’ll also let someone take you back, guard your home,” I told her. “You’re shaken up, and it’s not safe for you to be alone right now-”
“I can guard myself perfectly fine,” Ana spoke up, her voice steady.
Yes, because that worked out so well the last time.
I should’ve run out of that office to save Mena, yet I remained composed and waited to make sure Ana would be well taken care of. Enough was enough.
Irritated, I stepped in front of her. Despite looking over her, she didn’t shrink or show any hint of fear. “You will accept the money, someone will drive you back and guard your home-and that’s how it will be, understand?” I commanded, dropping the nice act. We were wasting time here.
I was waiting for a nod, but all that left her mouth was a soft chuckle. She looked up at me with kind eyes, and dared to grab my hand. Her hand felt so warm, it made me feel bad for the way I had spoken to her just a second before.
My initial reaction was to pull away, but I didn’t. Instead, I just let it be as I was curious about her actions.
“I wondered why Mena came on her own to risk her life for me, but now I know,” Ana said, rubbing my hand. “It’s because you do whatever you want, whenever it pleases you-even if others get hurt because of it.”
I was speechless as her words hit me. She was right, and painfully so. If Mena would’ve shown me that text, I would’ve pulled out the biggest fucking rifle and shot up that whole apartment, not giving a damn about who I would hurt in the process-including the old woman standing in front of me. As long as I could get to Anson.
“Mena is so different from you,” Ana breathed. “Both Mena and Naty are the complete opposite of what you stand for, and they don’t fit in your world-you and I both know that.”
“Tell me,” I smirked. “What else do you know?”
Ana continued, “I know you will break them. Years from now, when that little girl finds out who you really are-you will break her.”
Her words stung. It wasn’t as if the thought hadn’t crossed my mind, or anyone’s for that matter-but Ana was brave enough to say it to my face. I was aware of the damage my world could inflict on them, the scars it could leave. But I also knew how to protect them, to provide them with all the love they desired. I could give them a happy and comfortable life.
“It’s me or Anson, and I believe I’m the better option,” I looked her in the eye. I would never lay my hands on either one of them.
Ana smiled. “Perhaps. I can’t argue with that,” she agreed. “Just bring her back safely, please.”
“I will.”
I intended to let go of her hand, but she gave me a squeeze. “Deep down, you are a good person with a good heart-and I can see it in your eyes. Jimena is not a stupid girl. She must’ve had a reason why she fell for you,” Ana stated, observing me closely as if she would find something. “That guy is a monster, but you can’t kill him, you’re not God. What he needs is help.”
Help?
I helped him enough when I gave him the opportunity to go back to Texas, but this was as far as my generosity went.
What he needed was a bullet through the head.
I gently released my hand from Ana’s grip, her words sounding like bullshit I couldn’t afford to listen to. Not when Mena’s safety was at stake.
A good person with a good heart? I wasn’t trying to be. I was a Fanucci with Fanucci ways, and a Fanucci mindset.
I gently released my hand from hers, her words feeling like bullshit I couldn’t afford to listen to, not when so much was at stake.
I opened the door and gave one of the guys a look.
“Come on, Ma’am,” he addressed Ana, understanding the situation. “We’ll bring you back safely.”
The woman gave me a faint smile before she got escorted out of the office. Right at that moment, Dad walked in with Dante, his eyes following Ana briefly before they landed on me.
Soon after they had walked in, my uncles and cousins followed, Levi and Donni trailing behind them.
“We’ve got a problem,” I announced, closing the door. “But don’t worry though. I was just on my way to fix it.”