“Ding, ding, ding. Well, at least you’re not too stupid.”
“What have you done with Ari?” I asked.
Markie’s eyes widened as she clutched Angel’s arm.
“Nothing. Yet. You know it’s not her I want. It’s you.”
“All you had to do was ask. You want to have a sit-down with me? Leave Ari out of it.”
“It’s a little too late for that, don’t you think?” Natalia asked. “Besides, Matt tried to talk to you and now he’s missing, so excuse me for not trusting your verbal skills.”
“Matt had it coming. He fucked over the wrong man.”
“I don’t doubt that. Matt wasn’t too bright. But none of that matters now. I nabbed your girlfriend because I want you to come to me willingly, against the orders of your capo, so I can show you the truth about the Marianis,” she growled. “So I can rip their family apart, like they did mine.”
Natalia sounded fucking crazy. I needed to get Ariana away from her as soon as possible. “What do you want me to do?” I asked.
“Now you’re asking the right question,” Natalia replied. “Get in your Jeep and drive south on five-fifteen. Call when you pass Henderson and I’ll give you further instructions. Make sure you come alone, Bones, or I’ll kill your girl. In fact, I’m going to call your capo and cut your strings for you. See you soon,bro.”
The call disconnected.
“Fuck,” Angel breathed.
Markie only nodded, her eyes wide with worry.
“I got this. I’ll make sure she’s safe,” I assured them as I texted the building’s front desk, asking them to bring around my Jeep. Natalia’s promise to call my capo and cut my strings was still bouncing around in my head. Wondering what the fuck the crazy bitch was up to, I shoved my feet into my shoes and threw on a jacket. “I have to go alone.”
I’d barely gotten the words out before my phone rang. Carlo’s name flashed on the screen. Dreading whatever was about to happen, I answered, putting the call on speaker. Angel grabbed Markie’s hand and pulled her down on his lap as I greeted my capo.
“Some bitch named Natalia called me. Said Joey Durante is with her and that she just spoke to you. Where the fuck are they?” Carlo barked.
“I’m not sure yet. She’s going to call me back with a location.”
“She said she told you the direction to head. Why the fuck is she calling me with this shit? Why didn’t you call me the minute you got off the phone with her? You know how important it is for the family to find Joey.”
“She has Markie’s sister. Said if I don’t go alone, she’ll kill her.”
Markie’s eyes were watering as her gaze shot from the phone to me. I wished she wasn’t here for this, but Angel needed to know. Whatever happened, he needed to hear how this went down.
“I don’t give a shit about Markie’s sister, Bones. I gave you orders, and that’s all you should be worried about. Now, tell me which direction you’re heading, and I’ll get a team to follow you. As soon as you know where that bitch is, you let me know so we can surround her.”
Natalia had cut my strings. She’d forced me to choose between Ariana and my capo. Forced me to choose between my woman and the man who’d been like a father to me.
My woman? When did I start thinking of Ariana as my woman? I couldn’t pinpoint a date or time, but I knew there was no way I’d let anything happen to her. She was mine, and I would damn well protect what was mine.
Natalia had cut my strings, but now I had to burn them. Swallowing past the lump in my throat I stared at Angel. The tortured look he gave me made it clear he knew what was coming.
I was going to disobey my capo’s orders.
Nobody disobeyed Carlo and lived.
“I’m not going to let Ariana die,” I said.
“What the fuck did you just say to me?” Carlo asked, his voice deep and dangerous. “I gave you an order, Bones. You will follow it.”
“I’m sorry, but I can’t. I’m going alone. I’m not going to let them kill her.”
“Goddammit, Bones!” Carlo shouted. “After all I’ve done for you and your family, you’re gonna turn your back on me for some fuckin’ broad? You know it’s her life or yours, right? You save her, and I swear to Christ I will hunt you down and put a bullet into you myself.”
