“What the fuck do you mean ‘Ava’s been taken’?”
A bunch of muffled noises causes me to get frustrated, but before I can say anything, Rocco interrupts me. “She was taken by a few men from 'Ndrangheta. We flew to Sicily and got stopped by customs.” I feel all of the blood draining from my face before rage takes over. I let him finish before I say anything. “We are going to need some allies—”
“I’ll fire up the jet.” I cut him off. “It will take us nine hours to get there if we leave now.”
“I’ll have a few of my men meet you at the airstrip.”
“Do me a favor, Bianchi, get your shit together and find her. A lot can fucking happen in nine hours.”
I round up most of our manpower and pack us on the plane, leaving a spot for Ava. She is coming home withme.
Nine hours pass slower than my childhood. We finally land close to Catania, and four men from Cosa Nostra are waiting for us.
“Any update?” I look at the closest guy for details. “Who are you? Tell me something!”
“Big Jim. And we found a warehouse where they have her. Still alive. Rocco has men suiting up as we speak.”
“How many men in the warehouse? Why did they want Ava? I thought women and children were exempt from punishment in your area!”
Big Jim answers one question at a time while we haul ass to the three blacked Suburbans.
“Five men in the warehouse. 'Ndrangheta’s boss is not on site, but he is trying to send a message.”
I interrupt. “Send a message by kidnapping Avalyne? How so?”
“You may want to speak to The Phoenix.”
“One more question, Big Jim… Is she hurt?”
“From the video message one of their men sent, she’s tied to a chair with a bloody lip and a black eye. But our virtual forensics doctor noticed her clothes are still intact, so only superficial wounds.”
That being said, we all climb into the trucks and arrive at the warehouse in under 10 minutes.
“There is a guard at each entrance, which accounts for three.” Rocco tosses me an AK47, hands over a 9 mm, and continues, “I’m assuming the other two are in with Ava.”
I look around at my guys dressed all in black and Rocco’s men wearing black and dark red, making sure everyone is locked and loaded.
“Your guys take the back two entrances. I’ll take the front.” I take a deep breath and lock eyes with Rocco. “She better not fucking die, Bianchi.” He says nothing. “Or I will fucking kill you myself.”
AVALYNE
I
s Rocco looking for me? Does he even know I’m gone? I’m just a chess piece to him. Well, I may not be, but I sure damn felt like it on the plane earlier.
My hands are tied behind me to the back of a wooden chair and a gag sits in my mouth so I can’t scream. The walls of this room have cracks and I’m assuming what are weeds growing out of them. Maybe vines. Maybe I should’ve been a botanist. Botanists don’t get involved with dangerous people. They grow their flowers and shrubbery and love their job. They go home to the people they love, wake up and do it all over again.
I get knocked out of my peaceful thoughts when I hear the guards talking amongst themselves until I hear a loud bang outside.
“Gunshot!” one of them barks at the other. “Stay here with the girl.”
I have no idea who could be here, maybe it’s Rocco, or maybe it’s another gang trying to get their hands on the young blonde American who throws herself at dangerous men. I hear another gunshot outside of the large, thick metal door that separates me from freedom. My eyes are squinted shut in fear that this is the end.Another gunshot right in front of me.
I find myself drifting to a happy place inside my mind. I watch the clouds swirl around me with the blue sky behind them. Seagulls are squalling and a sea breeze is whipping my hair in my face. “Firefly.” Damien pushes my hair out of my face and his thumb brushes my bottom lip.Damien.
“Firefly! Wake up. Please!” Damien … is here. My eyes open slowly as I slide out of my blissful daydream.
I try to speak, but the gag is still in my mouth, although my arms are free.
