I take the stairs down to the basement two at a time. Elio is zip-tied to a chair in the corner, his head hanging low. When he hears my footsteps, he looks up with fearful eyes.
"Marco, please?—"
I don't let him finish. My fist connects with his jaw. His head snaps back.
"That's for putting your daughter in danger."
Another hit. "That's for being a coward."
I grab him by the collar, forcing him to look at me. "And if anything happens to Elena because of you, there won't be enough of you left for the Irish to identify."
"I didn't want this!" he sputters, blood trickling from his split lip. "I never wanted Elena involved?—"
"But she is involved. Because you're a selfish bastard who sold out the Rossos and then ran like a rat when it got hot." Irelease him and he slumps in the chair. "Now you're going to fix this. You're going to help us get Elena back. Understood?"
"How? They won't listen to me?—"
"Then you better be convincing." I lean down to his eye level. "Because if we don't get Elena back alive and unharmed, you won't live to see tomorrow. Are we clear?"
He nods frantically. "Yes. Yes, I'll do whatever you need."
"Good." I cut the zip ties and haul him to his feet. "Let's go."
Back upstairs, I drag Elio into Vito's office. Dante's there now, his shoulder bandaged, arm in a sling.
"You should be in a hospital," I tell him.
"Fuck that. Elena's out there." He grimaces but stands straight. "Medical patched me up. I'm good to go."
I shove Elio into a chair. "He's ready to cooperate."
Vito looks at Elio's bloody face but doesn't comment. "Good. Because we need to move now."
"I'm taking Elio and going after Elena," I say. "Now."
"Marco, we need a plan?—"
"The plan is I take this piece of shit, trade him for Elena, and bring her home. That's the plan."
"You can't go in alone?—"
"I'm going with him," Dante interrupts.
I turn to him. "You've been shot. You're out of your mind."
"This is minor compared to what I've worked through before." Dante's jaw is set. "She was my responsibility when they took her. I'm getting her back."
"Dante—" Vito starts.
"With all due respect, boss, we can't wait. Every hour Elena's with them..." He doesn't finish. Doesn't need to.
Vito's silent for a long moment. "Rafa, pull up those warehouse locations."
Rafa brings up the map on his laptop. "The active warehouse here. Power's been consistent for three days."
"That's where she is." I'm already checking my weapons. "We go in, we get her out."
"You'll need backup—" Vito says.
