But before he could respond, he blacked out.
ChapterEleven
DANTE
Iwoke up in less pain than the night before. It was time to go home and get the fuck out of this hospital bed. Ava talked me into it, and I listened only because I knew she was right. Going home would have been mistake.
Nico entered the room with Stefan and Angelo trailing behind him. The twins didn’t look like they’d been shot last week.
“Yeah, so…” Angelo sighed, shoving a hand through his black hair. “We got a problem. Vinnie Corallo is working with Johnny Z. He took Ava from the cafeteria.”
I winced as I slid my legs off the side of the bed, trying to hide my pain level from my brothers. “Are you fucking kidding me? Vinnie?”
I could barely get out the words.
“Dante, c’mon.” Angelo curled his hand around my forearm. “Stop trying to get up. You’re going to hurt yourself.”
I shook him off. “Don’t tell me what to do. I’m the fucking boss.”
He scrubbed a hand across the scar on his right cheek, which he often did when stressed. “Yeah, I know.”
I paused for a moment. “Tell me what happened to Ava.”
“I left Ava in your room to help Paulie plan dad’s funeral. I wasn’t gone that long.”
“Why didn’t you put someone on my door?”
“I did,” Nico countered. “Tony and Pete were standing watch in the hallway. I guess they didn’t see her leave.”
“She should have known better.” I aimed a hateful stare at the bastard brother. “And you… How could you let this happen, Nicodemus? You had one job. I left you in charge of her safety.”
I hated Ava for a long time. Over the past few months, she had grown on me like mold. But now, I couldn’t imagine going back to my boring, routine life without her.
She’s my queen.
If we found Ava alive, she would one day be my wife. That was my father’s dying wish, one I planned to honor.
“I thought she would be safe here,” Nico said with a defeated look. “How was I supposed to know Vinnie was working behind our backs with Johnny Z?”
“He’s right,” Stefan chimed. “None of us knew. Not even me and I worked with Vinnie every day.”
“That’s not the worst part,” Nico said. “Ava is up for auction. We have less than seven hours to find her.”
“You three are fucking idiots. I can’t even get shot without you fucking up.” I held out my palm. “Where’s my phone?”
“Umm…” Angelo turned his head to the side, giving me his scared little boy face. “I don’t know.”
My brothers thought they were tough, but not with me. They reverted to boys in my presence. The dynamic between us complicated our unusual arrangement with Ava.
“I’ll get it.” Nico crossed the room and opened a drawer. “Who do you need to call?”
“That’s how we find Ava.”
His eyebrows tipped up with a question.
“The bracelet I gave Ava for her birthday has a tracking chip.” I wiggled my fingers, and he placed the phone in my palm. “I have an app that traces her movements.”
“Wow.” Angelo chuckled. “Is this what Dante looks like when he’s in love? Crazy stalker.”
