The Mafia King: To Insanity

I sat in his bed crying for what felt like days. I was wearing his favourite silk button-up shirt finding serenity in his cologne. I shot my head up when I felt someone’s hands on my shoulder, I stared at him with blurry vision … ‘Vincenzo?’ I whispered relieved. I jumped into his arms tightening my embrace in fear if I let go, he would disappear. A low husky chuckle escaped his lips as he held me burying his head in the crook of my neck.

‘I- How? I thought the plane crashed, and you- we couldn’t find your body. I- w-w-we thought you were de-‘ I hysterically cried out all the words escaping my mouth at once. ‘Shhh, I told you I’d come back home, didn’t I? I never break a promise’ He whispered.

‘Then where were you? How did you escape the plane crash … How are you here?’ I asked nothing making sense to me. He pulled away smiling before he started coughing up water ‘VINCENZO’ I screeched watching him.

My body shot up as I started painting, I looked around the room frantically realising he isn’t here, and it was another bad dream. I hurried to my feet running towards his office, I spread out the map and hung it back up ‘I’m not giving up on you’ I whispered, still panting my fingers gently stroked the paper circling and trying to determine a pinpoint location.

Lorenzo and Ariana walked in and stood in silence watching me frantically drawing over the map. ‘Isabella’ Lorenzo whispered softly, I looked at him and my heart ached as I watched him look at the floor. Both Lorenzo and Ariana haven’t been doing well, the loss of their brother impacted the entire Mafia, but it hit them the hardest. He was like their father a role model someone they could always count on being there but now his … NO, no.

‘Isabella’ Ariana now whispered I stared at both of them their eyes puffy from crying their bodies looked weak none of us were able to find the will to eat. I shook my head tears threatening to spill ‘NO. HE’S ALIVE. I CAN FEEL IT. H-H-HE ISN’T GONE’ I cried out feeling every single drop of hope slowly drain out of me as I watched them staring at me in a pained expression.

‘Isabella he’s dead’ Lorenzo cried out, ‘NO HE ISNT! YOU’RE HIS BROTHER WHY ARE YOU GIVING UP SO EASILY’ I yelled. Lorenzo looked at me with hurt in his eyes ‘Yes, Isabella he is my brother, and he will ALWAYS be my brother. Do you think it’s easy for us? For us to accept the facts that he is gone! Well, it’s not … every day I wake up hoping it’s all just a bad dream and he’s sitting in that chair’ He angrily pointed at the chair as tears started escaping his eyes

‘But then I come in here every morning for the past 2 weeks and he … he’ He shut his eyes closed taking in a deep breath before finishing his sentence ‘He isn’t there. That’s my big brother OUR big brother, the man who raised us when our dad and mum were fighting nonstop, the man who would cover our ears to make sure we didn’t hear the gunshots or the swearwords coming from our parents. The man who told us bedtime stories, our brother the one person in our lives that was always there for us, who we could always count on to be standing behind us in case we screw up, or we need to talk, or we’re upset, angry, happy the person who was our backbone, a safe place, our brother our best friend … is dead. If he was here, he would tell us to move on, to finish what he started to cry for a few days then get on with life. Make memorise, smile, be happy. Because that’s all he wanted from us when he was alive’

Ariana by now was in full-blown tears, she fell to her knees, and she let out a pained cry for her brother. I watched them my bottom lip quivering as I fought back my own tears. ‘He was my favourite person to ever live, my rock, the first person I loved, my big brother, my best friend. He taught me everything, he made sure I knew my worth and how I should be treated. He was there for me through everything, when I was small, he taught me to ride a bike, he would kiss my scratches, he would hold me when I felt sick, he would leave everything to take me shopping. He would no jokes tear apart the world if me or Lorenzo were upset. Growing up our parents only ever birthed us … Vincenzo raised us he was our dad and big brother all in one. He was the person we would run to for everything ever since we were little. When Dante died, he told us that Dante was only dead when we stopped thinking about him, when we stopped remembering him … when we no longer made room for him in our hearts, that as long as he was in our hearts Dante would live in each and every one of us. I think if he was here, he would’ve said it again but about him. Isabella no one wishes he was alive more than us … but it’s time’ she whispered the last part and this time it was my turn to fall to my knees and break down in tears.

My head was spinning, my eyes were burning my nose was blocked, the pain in my heart was too much to bare my entire body was in complete shock and pain. I didn’t want to accept it, that he died. I looked at Ariana and Lorenzo who sat next to me embracing me in a comforting hug. ‘Okay,’ I whispered feeling defeated.

We all stood up and walked to our rooms to change, Maria, Ariana and I in black laced dresses the Mafia men all dressed in black suits as we all walked outside in the backyard for his funeral. His body was never found but we wanted to remember him, taking time today to mourn his passing. We all sat in our seats as everyone stood up to speak, I looked around and felt disgusted neither his mum nor dad came. I prayed it was simply because they didn’t want to believe he was gone, but when we arrived from Spain their first concern was for Lorenzo to take over. I winced at the memory as I stared up at the sky with pure sadness. ‘I’m not giving up … you’re not dead’ I mentally whispered.

Hacker suddenly stopped talking as he stared behind us, all of our heads curiously following in the same direction. My eyes went wide, anger began rising as I felt a fire light up. ‘Leave,’ I demanded, Xavier cocked his eyebrow up as an amused smirk reappeared on his lips. ‘I’m just here to say my farewells’ he replied with a sinister tone laced in his words. ‘Xavier unless you want to be the next person, we host a funeral for. I highly suggest you leave and never come back’

‘It’s funny, Vincenzo made a similar threat before I bombed his plane’ Looking to my side I noticed on the table that everyone put something on to remember him by, I saw Vincenzo’s knife. I grabbed it in my hand and flung it at Xavier the knife piercing his chest, I go up to him and twist the knife. His men drawing their guns i laughed as Vincenzo’s men stood up in an instant and aimed their guns to Xavier’s men’s heads.

I purred satisfied as I watched the pain in Xavier’s eyes as I twisted the knife ‘I promised myself that today was a day of peace, so we can all say our goodbyes. I want to kill you and oh I will kill you Xavier, but your death will be anything but quick. I’m going to watch as the life drains out of your eyes, watching in pure pleasure as your soul struggles to leave your body. You just declared war and one I will happily give to you. I just hope old age hasn’t ruined your memory, I’m Isabella Knight the dragon who is going to eat you whole.’ I sharply took out the knife from his chest as I watched the blood squirt everywhere, ‘LEAVE’ I yelled as his men took him dashing to the door. ‘Tell the guards at the front the mansion is no longer open to all’ I ordered one of the men as he hurried off to the gate.

‘WHY DIDN’T YOU KILL HIM’ Ariana yelled, I shook my head ‘Not today, but I promise I will. I know him too well; he is hiding something, and I won’t kill him before I know what. Someone else was responsible for the bombing of the plane, he couldn’t have known about it without inside help’ I informed the group. Everyone went silent as I urged Hacker to continue his speech.

After the funeral was over, we all went back inside his men and women still mourning the loss of their beloved boss, after my long shower I saw Lorenzo, Ariana and their parents arguing in Vincenzo’s office. ‘I’M NOT READY TO TAKE OVER, I WILL NOT TAKE OVER.’ Lorenzo yelled, ‘YOU FOOL! YOU’RE THE UNDERBOSS YOU’RE THE ONLY ONE THAT CAN DO THIS JOB’ He yelled slamming his fist on the desk. ‘NO! I WILL LEAD OUR MEN TO THEIR DEATH! I CAN HANDLE THE SHIPMENTS THE LOGISTICS THE INVENTORY BUT I CANNOT RUN A MAFIA’ I believed Lorenzo could run the mafia if he wanted to, he wasn’t trained for it but if he had time to be properly trained, he would have been an equal boss to his brother.

Vincenzo ruled with an iron fist, yes, he was ruthless, merciless and some would say evil. However, he always showed kindness to his people, helping them off the streets, training them, paying them in incredibly high sums making sure they had money to feed their families. He owned 99% of New York but think of it yes everyone feared him because he’s a King, but he was respected as Vincenzo. If you said his name on the streets everyone would run the other way, but if you needed help, he was the first name people would say. He was powerful, ruthless but he was noble a well-respected man within the crime families. I shook my head trying to refocus as I went to walk away ‘ISABELLA’ Lorenzo shouts stopping me in my tracks.

I turned around watching them suspiciously ‘yes?’ I answered uneasily. ‘You!’ he shouted like he just discovered something amazing. I walked into the office hesitantly and stood beside Lorenzo. ‘You need to take over, you need to become the boss of the Kings … Isabella you need to be our Queen’ he begged. I shook my head no ‘No, I can’t- I can’t take over the King’s Vinc-‘ Lorenzo cut me off ‘Vincenzo wouldn’t trust anyone more than you to continue his legacy … to avenge his death. Isabella, there is no one more capable of running a Mafia in this room besides you, you have been shot in this line of work since you were small. You ran Spain, everyone coward, benefit you at the mere mention of your name just like they do when they hear Vincenzo’s name. You from a young age had to kill and rule over people without so much of a say! Isabella, I can’t do this, Vincenzo didn’t get to teach me this part of it and I won’t do it without him … I can’t’ He looked at me with pleading eyes.

‘Isabella, you already have the King’s loyalty. Our men loved and protected you from day one, you slowly gained everyone’s trust. You managed to single handily train Roberto, Luca, Massimo, Hacker and even me how to shoot a m24 and an m25, you taught us skills none of us knew. You trained Ariana in combat; you taught her how to fight now she took on Snake our strongest female fighter and won because of your training. You today managed to throw a knife at a target Xavier and penetrate him in the chest without even thinking twice. You did that, our men jumped ready to die because his men had guns aimed at your head. Isabella, you might not see it but you’re our closest link to Vincenzo … you both rules with an iron fist and are capable of a lot. You are a female version of our Vincenzo.’

I closed my eyes feeling the tears slide down my cheeks dangling on my jawline, I looked up at Lorenzo’s pleading eyes ‘For me, for Ariana, for our mafia … for Vincenzo’ he pleaded. I looked at his parent’s unamused faces when I noticed slight fear in his parent’s eyes. I shook my head probably overthinking everything and looked back at Lorenzo ‘Ok’ I agreed ‘But only until he comes back’ I stated ‘Isabella-‘ Lorenzo tried to desperately remind me he wasn’t coming back. ‘No, Lorenzo he isn’t dead. Call it what you will, denial? delusion? Craziness? I just, I just know. I’m not giving up on him.’ I explained.

I stood up, ‘she cannot run our mafia’ his mum spat. I turned around and looked at her ‘Can you?’ I asked. She stared at me slightly taken back, I edged closer to her ‘Can. You?’ I repeated myself, her husband went to fight me ‘How dare you, speak to her like a child’ I looked at him amused ‘I believe my question was simple and clear, no hint of mockery just a question I still haven’t heard an answer for’ I stated, looking between both of them.

‘Can you run a Mafia?’ I asked once more, ‘Yes’ she answered not confident. I smiled ‘Then go for it. Just remember this every time you wake up in the morning you are no longer waking up for yourself, but for an entire clan. You are responsible not just for your life but the life of the Mafia, the legacy of the King’s lives and dies in your hands. Can you do that?’ I asked her as she looked at me with an unreadable expression.

‘You couldn’t do that for your own children, I wonder how you’ll care for the men and women your son has cared for.’ Lorenzo and Ariana stared at me with wide eyes, ‘I loved my children’ I shook my head as I watched her ‘loved? your kids are right there’ I pointed at them, ‘can you tell me anything about them? Something unique to them?’ I asked as I watched her struggle, ‘Lorenzo has a wing-like birthmark on the back of his neck, Ariana has a beauty mole on her collarbone’ I sate, she goes to mock me before I continue ‘Ariana’s favourite thing is singing, she has a voice of an angel, her favourite song is the song Vincenzo sang to her when she was a baby. A lullaby for a soldier. Lorenzo has a wish to travel with his wife and kids. He wants two girls and two boys. Aurora and Sofia for the girls and the boys Francesco and Gabriele’ I looked at the two of them as they stared at me in discomfort and shock.

‘Vincenzo … Vincenzo’s dream his desire was love. He wanted to feel it, wanted to give it but died before he could. He although might never admit he wanted kids, a wife a life he could be happy with. A life he could proudly tell Dante about, he goes out every night and talks to the sky on the balcony. Vincenzo wanted love, a love he never got from the two of you. He made sure this mafia only killed and attacked those who killed and harmed the innocent who just did it for sport. He took down human trafficking in many cities and was hoping to kill everyone who kidnaps people to sell in all of America then make his way around. He single handily housed so many people on the street anonymously so YOU’ I pointed at his father ‘Wouldn’t see it as an act of weakness and tear the homes down, He wanted a life he could be proud of because he promised Dante that.’ I watched as his mother’s eyes went from stone to soft, she let a few tears drop before she quickly regained her composure and shook her head.

‘That has nothing to do with ruling a Mafia’ he states. I smirked ‘Yes, but in order to rule over people, you need to gain their loyalty. You need to know them, you need to put in the work for what’s a ruler without people to rule’ I looked at her, I smiled and laughed. ‘Okay, let’s put that aside. Have you ever held a gun? Have you ever killed someone? Have you ever had your hands stained with someone else’s blood? Have you ever had someone’s life in the palm of your hands? Have you ever had thousands of men and women waiting for your move? Waiting for your order? Waiting for you to lead them? Have you ever had to wake up in the morning and put aside everything to help the thousands who depend on you? Have you ever been able to do anything selfless? … have you ever been able to look in the mirror and accept the monster within you?’ I questioned her. She continued to stare at me with a blank expression while her husband looked at me astonished and once again fear.

‘I didn’t think so’ I finally broke the silence as I watched them walk out of the office. ‘For Vincenzo’ Ariana whispers, ‘we need Dragon’ Lorenzo whispers. I look at the both of them ‘I am coming for all the monsters that ever touched him, I am coming for all the ones who twisted his stars into shadows, they turned him into a nightmare, So I’m going to be theirs … and they’ll never wake up’ I threatened my voice was low and demanding. I felt myself once more saying goodbye to Isabella and hello to Dragon.

‘If we are doing this, our first mission is finding his body and killing Xavier’ I stated looking at both Ariana and Lorenzo. Both swiftly nodding their head in agreement.

x

It’s been a month, a month of searching for Vincenzo and we haven’t found anything. Hacker, Sebastián and Lorenzo, all stood around me as we looked over the map where the plane crashed. ‘We checked every inch possible; the only explanation is someone took his body. Hacker find me the nearest towns in the area, re-check every morgue and hospital within proximity. Lorenzo, get in the car and your contacts call another search party but this time.’ I Circled the last possible location ‘Here, check for his body. If you can’t find it once Hacker finalises the nearest civilization to the crash site go and start questioning. Just see if anyone knows anything. Sebastián and I need to follow up on a lead, we have intel about Xavier’s right hand being at our local strip club. When Vincenzo and I were on the hunt for him we found out that he’s hiding someone, a secret weapon? or blackmail? We don’t know but hopefully tonight we will.’ I let out a deep exhale and looked at the men ‘Thank you, I know we’ve been on edge b-‘

Lorenzo cuts me off ‘But nothing, in under a month you managed to take down over a dozen human trafficking businesses save the girls and boys. You managed to triple our number of men while training them in firearms, shipment businesses and combat. You’re doing us and Vincenzo is proud, you’re finishing off his dream. None of us are on edge, we feel right at home. I told you, you’re our closest tie to Vincenzo with you in charge it’s like he never left’

I smiled nodding my head, I closed my eyes before opening them up slowly. Feeling like I changed personas. ‘Let’s go’ I ordered the men off; I grabbed my long leather coat and tucked my gun in my stockings. Sebastián grabbed his gun and followed me out, Andres thought it would be of help if his son came and assisted me in a few errands. I rolled my eyes knowing Andres just wanted me to train his son, the second the crime families got word Dragon was back and running the Mafia Kings everyone has been on edge, excited, and terrified. The return of Dragon they called it, I was back and hungry.

We stepped out on the floor, I looked ahead to the right of the garden we had firearm training, then combat training. To our left, we had knife training and anatomy class. To get the best answers out of people sometimes you need to know what and where to put a knife or bullet through, that class was specifically reserved for those who have been in the Mafia for more than 4 years. Skills like that can’t be handed over to new recruits not yet.

I jumped in one of the black range rovers accompanied by Sebastián driving me, ‘Strip club?’ he asked ‘Yes, and don’t get distracted’ I ordered him. Men, I rolled my eyes. ‘Isabella, I know you hate it when I ask you this but are you okay?’

‘Yes,’ I answered, was I okay? I had no idea, but I didn’t care there’s no time to waste on stupid emotions, I was numb. ‘I got good at blocking out emotions a long time ago Sebastián, It just slows you down. I can’t afford to slow down’ he went to say something before I shot him a warning glare to keep it to himself.

Finally arriving at the strip club, we park the car around back getting in through the back door. I walk inside and the workers all eye me, I smirked watching the fear. I walked up to the manager and told him the description to keep an eye out for, nodding his head we went and informed the rest of the staff. Was it wrong I felt good? The feeling of being feared again. The power I have … was it bad I missed it?

‘What is she doing here’ I heard a familiar pitched voice; I spin on my heel and eye Roxy. I inch closer to her and the closer I get the farther back she goes. I grab her by her throat and slam her against the wall, ‘where are you going kitten?’ I purred flicking my tongue on the roof of my mouth as I watch her squirm. ‘The next thing to come out of your mouth will result in my nails piercing your throat. Got it?’ She nodded her head frantically, ‘I don’t know why or how but I know you’re up to something. If you prove your disloyalty to the King’s, I won’t hesitate to kill you’ I warned lowly, the other girls watching us. I turn to them and smile ‘the shows over ladies’ quickly hurrying to their business I look back at Roxy watching Lexi help her up.

I go to walk off before Lexi grips my arm, I turn my head to look her in the eye before my eyes trail down to her hand still gripping my arm. ‘If you don’t get your hand off me in the next two seconds you won’t have hands’ She quickly removes her hands from my arm before rolling her eyes. ‘I’ll never understand Vincenzo’s fascination with you, he probably crashed that plane on purpose to get away from you.’ Without thinking I grabbed the beer bottle sitting on the dressing table and smashed it over her head, gripping her head before she could fall down, I pull her up then grip her neck. Pinning her against the wall applying pressure to cut off her airways, ‘Don’t. Test. Me’ I warned lowly my voice laced with venom.

‘I say I’m a fair boss, I pay you all well. I take care of all of you and am friends with all of you. However, the second you disrespect me. Is the same second I cut your airways off’ I looked around the room then back at Lexi. ‘Should I kill you now?’ She slowly shook her head losing oxygen. I released her neck and watched her body fall to the floor. ‘Roxy and Lexi get the fuck out, you longer have a place of work here.’ I fire the two of them, they stare at me with wide eyes shocked at my words.

‘I don’t care if you don’t like me … but you spoke about Vincenzo’s death like it was nothing. That’s not tolerated, get. out’ I grab a short black wig and leave the changing room. Putting on the wig I check myself in the mirror before walking into an empty private room, I grabbed my phone and messaged Sebastián ‘Anything?’

My phone buzzed, ‘manager is sending someone in’ I quickly put my phone away grabbing a mask to cover my face, ‘are you black fire?’ A rather old man spoke, I smiled not saying a word and started the music. ‘Straight to the point, I love that’ He sat in his chair while the sweet music began pumping through the speakers.

I played with the tie of my jacket swirling it around before slowly untying it is making sure the coat still covered my gun, I slowly walked up to him grabbing the knife I saw tucked in his pants out looking at his hand on the hand rest I smirk and stab his hand with his own knife. His hand impaled as the knife forced him still in the chair. He lets out a grunt, ‘YOU CRAZY BITCH’ He yell’s.

I roll my eyes ‘yea, yea. Shut up, your voice is annoying’ I pull up a chair and sit in front of him smiling. The way the wrinkles in his eyes curved reminded me of someone, I analysed him for a moment ‘What’s your name’ I asked, he kept his mouth shut as he squirmed in pain his face and body shaking from both anger and pain. I watched him curiously, ‘I’ve never seen you in Xavier’s gang before, and yet you’re his right hand why does he keep you hidden?’ I asked.

In my years when I worked with him in Spain, I never saw nor met this man, which is making me wonder who he is and why I was never introduced to him. I still couldn’t shake off the feeling that I knew him from somewhere. ‘Okay, look either way you’re not returning back to Xavier. So, I suggest you tell me what I want to know. Otherwise, I have another method to get you to talk’ I pull out him gun and aim it at his head.

He smirks daring me, like he wasn’t afraid of dying. I raised my eyebrows and remained my gun at his dick. Wiping away this smug smirk, ‘Whose Xavier hiding?’ I asked, the man looked shocked like I just discovered a ghost. ‘Who is it!’ I yelled. He flinched back looking at me, ‘How do you know about that?’ I smiled and shook my head ‘No, no. I’m asking the questions’ I informed him, he looked down at the knife stuck in his hand then back at me. ‘Why is this information useful to you?’ He asked, I raised my eyebrow at him and took the safety off.

He gulped ‘Okay. Okay. Who Xavier is hiding is more of a blackmail.’ I looked at him confused ‘Blackmail?’ I questioned. ‘Someone he can use to control another member of his group’ I looked at him, none of this made any sense. ‘Who are they?’ I asked him. He grunted taking the knife out of his hand and stabbing me in my stomach.

I fell to the floor as I watched him hover over me victorious. He locked eyes with me for a moment looking smug, his chest heaved in unison before finally taking the knife out. ‘I win.’ He spat looking at me in disgust. He stepped away, dropping the knife on the floor as he gripped his hand. A few months ago, I would’ve died here, but Isabella wasn’t the person he stabbed it was Dragon.

Without warning a wave of strength overcame me as I stood up, I gripped the man’s arm, twisting it behind his back and shoving him so his torse was flush against a wall. My grip around his arm was iron, grabbed the knife and pressed it to his neck. ‘Wrong again.’

I pinched a nerve located on his neck causing him to pass out. I can’t kill him without getting the answers I need. I messaged Sebastián to come, he came in and saw my bleeding stomach. ‘Bel-‘ I cut him off quickly ‘No time, grab him and let’s get home NOW’ I yelled.

We got out from the back door, and I saw men approaching us, Fucking hell. ‘IN THE CAR NOW GO!’ I yelled. Pulling my gun out I swiftly shot the two men in the head. I hide behind the car while the other two shoot at me. Looking underneath the car I saw their feet approaching, swiftly standing up I shoot them both in their head barely moving my arm an inch I watch in satisfaction as their bodies drop to the floor. I grunt and grip my stomach before jumping in the car ‘go’

x

Arriving to the estate I ordered three men to take the man downstairs to the basement and handcuff him in so he can’t escape and stay with him until I arrive. ‘Isabella!’ Lorenzo, Ariana, and Maria scream when they see my hand griping my stab wound with blood pouring out. ‘IM FINE’ I yelled, ‘any word on Vincenzo’ I asked them.

They all shook their heads in disbelief, ‘You need to get that taken care of now’ Lorenzo yelled at me and escorted me to the onsite hospital. It was more of a clinic but whatever. She cleaned my wound and stitched me up.

‘You lost a lot of blood’ she began, I swiftly cut her off ‘I understand your concern and appreciate the help but I’m fine. I have to much to do to rest, I can’t afford to stop’ I stood up exiting the hospital and getting a ride back to the main house, ‘ISABELLA’ Hacker shouted. ‘I HAVE NEWS’ my heart started beating as he approached me with a folder, ‘I did some digging and found out that someone took in an injured man into their home before calling officials to send him to a hospital before he was transferred to a hospital in New York yesterday’ I looked at him with wide eyes as tears began to form.

‘He’s alive?’ I asked, Hacker looked at me hesitantly ‘We don’t know it’s him Isabella, so let’s not get our hopes up.’ I nodded my head, ‘Lorenzo, Ariana and I will check it out get us that address.’

I motioned for Sebastián to call them and meet me in the car now. I looked over at the training fields, I watched as snipper showed the newbies how to handle and operate a gun while teaching the oldies more technical firearms. I walked up to the site everyone stopped and stood in front of me as a sign of respect and acknowledgment. I smiled and nodded my head ‘How is everything?’ I asked, as I watched the targets in awe and sadness about the distant memory of Vincenzo bringing me here to let off steam.

‘Amazing the soldiers are learning quickly’ I nodded my head, ‘can I see?’ I asked eager to see them shoot. ‘Yes boss’ I winced at the phrase boss, I didn’t feel like the boss, and I don’t want to its Vincenzo’s title not mine.

They stood in their posts as they took form and shot their guns, majority hit the stomach or neck, no one got a headshot. ‘For soldiers who only recently began training that is impressive, however, I need headshots. If you are in a death situation the quickest and easiest way out is a shot to the head. As we call it a death shot’ I grabbed one of the guns from the table re loading it before aiming it.

Shooting each target in the head, I placed the weapon down and smiled at them ‘I’ll be back tonight to help train.’ They smiled joyful as I looked at snipper ‘You’re doing amazing, thank you. I’ll be back tonight so you can rest’ he smiled nodding his head ‘Thank you … and Isabella thanks for everything’ with that he walked off.

I yelled ‘EVERYONE THATS BREAK MEN TO YOUR ORIGINAL POSTS’ everyone nodded their heads and scattered off. While I waited for Lorenzo and Ariana, I went around briefing and tasking everyone with something to do tonight.

Shipment collection, distributing products, money collectors and territory runs. Underground fighting, dealing and so forth territory runs just to check up on our turf and make sure everything is okay.

‘What’s going on?’ Ariana asked me, ‘Hacker found something, we’re going to check it out’ They nodded their heads as we quickly got in the car. I rested my head against the headrest trying to control my heart rate. ‘Could it be him?’ Ariana broke the silence, I looked at her and shrugged ‘I really don’t know’ I answered her ‘It’s been over a month what are the odds?’ Lorenzo asked. I shrugged my shoulders again ‘I don’t know, I just … I hope it is’ we all fall back into a comfortable silence as we nervously wait to get to the location.

We run out of the car and into the hospital like mad, ‘Hi we are here for the JohnDoe, he was flown here yesterday and has serious injuries’ the receptionist looked at us hesitantly ‘I can only allow you to see the patient from a far if you can confirm his identity and your relation you can see him’ We nodded our heads as she guided us to his room.

My breathing hitched when I saw his lifeless body on the hospital bed, tubes and machines connected to his body. ‘Vincenzo … VINCENZO’ I yelled storming inside, Lorenzo explained to the nurse the situation and she left us. Ariana rested her head on his hand as she cried out. ‘You’re not dead. You’re not dead’ but he wasn’t moving. ‘He’s been in this coma for the past month’ Lorenzo filled us in from the information he got from the nurse. ‘He’s alive, that’s all I care about right now’

I sat down and gripped his hand tears flowed down, ‘Italy’ I laughed out swallowing ‘please wake up, come back … come back to us‘ I whispered. I jumped at the sound of my phone ringing, ‘Hello?’ ‘The hostage wants to talk’ ‘I’m on my way’ I stood up and looked at the two of them and hesitantly bit my bottom lip ‘Go, we won’t leave him alone’ I nodded my head and hesitantly left the hospital and went back to the estate.

x

I looked at the doors and go inside, I take a deep breath feeling my wound starting to hurt. I calmly walk inside and up to my room to change. ‘Isabella’ his father calls for me, I look at him unamused ‘Giovani, I’m really busy’ I state, he looks at me nervously before scratching the back of his neck ‘Have you managed to get a hold of Vincenzo’s belonging’s yet?’ I squinted my eyes and shook my head like he lost his mind. Why does he care about his stuff and not Vincenzo himself. Something wasn’t adding up ‘Until we find Vincenzo, we have no idea about his belongings’ I decided to keep the fact that we found him quite for now. ‘Oh of course’ we stood in awkward silence for a second ‘Okay’ I stated and walked off.

I walked downstairs as I saw the man sitting up, his hand bandaged. I nodded for the men to leave, they nodded their heads and headed out waiting at the door. I grabbed a seat and sat down ‘I see they treated your wound’ He nodded his head, ‘I’m getting old, I’m already sick and my days are near. So, after I found out who you are, I wanted to make sure I saw your face one more time before I died. My dear Isabella’

I tilted my head as I looked at him confused ‘how do you know me?’ I asked the smile on his face grew wider, ‘Oh it’s not just me who knows you … but you know me better than you think’ I stood up and flung the chair to the side and grabbed his throat. ‘No riddles, who. are. you.’ I threatened. ‘I have held this guilt in for years’ he looked down his eyes full of guilt and remorse. ‘I did something to you that at the time I thought was justified but later found out I got it all wrong.’ I backed away looking at him trying to decipher what he was saying and figure out who this man was. I felt like his name was on the tip of my tongue, but I couldn’t put my finger on it.

‘I like many others was tricked … Xavier is no ruler, but he damn well knows how to play mind games.’ I nodded my head in agreement, he was a lousy ruler. Terrible at making deals but the one thing he was good at was getting in the heads of the weak. ‘What did he trick you about?’

‘He convinced me that my boss was firing me, that he was the reason my wife and kids died. So, I helped him kidnap and hold hostage. I only recently found out that it was in fact Xavier who did all those things. When I asked him why he said because it was the only way to keep someone, he loved with him’ my heart rate began picking up.

‘I have regretted my actions for so long and I tried to make it right …’ He took a deep breath before he continued ‘My name is-‘ My phone ringing cut him off, I looked at my phone and saw Lorenzo calling. I hung up and messaged him I was busy and would call him back in a second. I looked back up at the man who was staring at me with admiration. My heart was now in my throat, a gasp escaped my lips as I looked at him. ‘Diego’ I whispered. My phone slipped from my hand it felt like everything was in slow motion.

And all of a sudden, I felt really tired. Like the world had finally drained me for everything that I had. ‘No’ I whispered. ‘NO!’ I yelled. The men stormed back in as he uttered out the words I didn’t want to hear.

‘The people he has, the ones he is keeping hostage are your parents Isabella … I’m so sorry”