Chapter 11
Michael
“They’ve got Zaira?” Vince asks.
“They’ve got Zaira?” Ricco repeats with surprise. “I knew they would come after you, Mikey, but I swear, I never thought they would take Zaira. She was so off the radar with the divorce and everything, I didn’t think they would find her significant.”
“Unless someone from the inside told them the truth,” I reply.
“And who would do that?” Ricco asks.
“Where’s Darius, Ricco?” I ask. “Have you heard from him about Zaira’s abduction?”
“Well come to think about it, I haven’t. Maybe he’s dead. They had to get to him before they could get to her. If he’s not dead, he’s one of them.”
“Exactly.” I pause to let my words sink in. “Ricco, Darius belongs to Gallardi. I don’t know when he joined them, but he is definitely working for them now.”
Ricco shakes his head in disbelief. “Darius? Holy fuck!” he says, exasperated. “I’m sorry, Mikey, I had no idea. I assured you he was loyal. I would have never guessed he’d turn on us.”
“None of us did. Don’t beat yourself up about it. Now, we need to concentrate on getting Zaira back unscathed. Pull out all the stops, Ricco. I want her found, and I want Darius in the watershed and chained. I’ll deal with him personally.”
“You got it.”
“I have to go to the hospital and check in on Pop. I’ll take Ice with me. You stay here and find her.”
“I won’t let you down, Mikey. We’ll get her back.”
“See to it.”
As I turn to leave, Vince grabs my arm. “I want in on this, Mikey. We’re talking about my fucking sister here.”
“No, you’re too emotional.”
“What the fuck, and you’re not?” He’s angry, and I really don’t blame him. I’d be the same way.
“Fuck, Vince, of course I am, but I can’t remove myself from this. I’m a big enough liability in this and have to constantly keep my emotions in check. I can’t be worrying about you too.”
He shakes his head in defeat.
“Besides, if something happened to you, Zaira would never forgive me.”
The look in his eyes tells me he gets it. “Tell me you’re gonna do everything to find her.”
I look directly into his eyes. “Do you even need to ask that?”
“I guess not,” he replies.
“Don’t worry. They won’t hurt her as long as they are still waiting for my answer. I will get her back before I give it. You can count on that.”
“Keep me posted?” he asks.
“Of course.” I nod and walk out of the office and into the hallway where Hawk and Spike are still posted outside my door. “Where’s Ice?”
“He just walked that way,” Hawk replies.
I turn down the hall in search of Ice. Hawk and Spike follow behind me, and I feel my phone buzz. I pull it out of my pocket and see I have a text. I open my messages, and the first thing I see is a video. I push play and see Zaira, bound, gagged, and strung up like an animal. My blood boils.Holy fuck! What have they done to her?
“Ricco!” I yell.
