Book 2: Chapter Seventy-Four - Evita's Visit
Book 2: Chapter Seventy-Four - Evita's Visit
Florence, Italy
“Mrs. Ricci, there’s someone who wants to meet you,” said Officer De Felice of the Direzione Investigativa Antimafia (Anti-Mafia Investigation Division). Amelia was instantly on her guard.
“Who is it, officer?” she grabbed her five-year-old daughter instinctively.
“Someone called Evita Ricci.” Amelia’s eyes widened with surprise. Who could she be? Was she related to Matteo? Hope filled her heart, and she left Mariella with Matteo’s Mama and followed the officer to the visitor’s lounge.
The last five years had been quite traumatic for them.
Four years ago, after a failed kidnapping attempt by Luigi and his men in New York, they had been having a tough time coping. Sensing more danger ahead of them, Marco came over to take them to Florence with him. He had landed a good job in Florence and had just settled down when Luigi attacked again. This time he sent a deadly bomb in a parcel. It was Marcello's timely intervention that saved them.
After a few days, Amelia survived a hit-and-run attack miraculously. She was still in a daze when she received a strange call.
Flashback (Four years ago)
“Hello, Amelia here. Who’s speaking please?” Amelia said into the phone absent-mindedly while helping with Mariella’s home assignment from school.
“Alphonso Di Salvo!” Amelia instantly froze on hearing the gruff voice at the other end.
“What do you want from me? You’ve already abducted my husband. I have nothing more to give you. I don’t fear you or your attacks. Kill me but please set Matteo free.” A sob escaped her lips as she faced the dangerous Don in desperation.
“I’m not the one to attack you, Mrs. Ricci. They’re carefully planned and executed by Luigi and his men. I have saved you and your family thrice, but it comes at a price now.” Amelia was shocked to know that it was Di Salvo who had saved them. Why would he?
“How do I know for sure it was you who saved us?”
“My men informed the cops beforehand on the first two occasions. The cops chased them away before they could pick up your daughter from the park. The second time, the bomb squad arrived a minute after you called only because of us. For the third time, my men saved you from the speeding car.” Amelia paled considerably, realizing he was right. He had indeed saved them from the jaws of death!
“What price? What do you want? Where’s Matteo? Why can’t you release him? I’ll pay any price in exchange.”
“I want money in return for saving your life. A quarter million US dollars for every time we save your life.” Amelia gasped with shock at hearing the amount. She didn’t have a job and depended on the income from Matteo’s shop for their upkeep. Where would she get so much money from? It was because of Freddie and his men that she didn’t need to bother about money, but a quarter million dollars was too much for her.
“I’ll give you a quarter million dollars if you release Matteo.” Amelia waited hopefully for his reply. She was sure Matteo was in his custody. Why else would he save them? Maybe he blackmailed Matteo to work for him in return for ensuring their safety!
“Matteo is dead! You can also die if you don’t need my services. But you owe me three-quarters of a million for saving you thrice already. Pay me 750k and I’ll not bother you again. You have 24 hours to decide.”
The phone disconnected and Amelia realized he was taking advantage of her situation and trying to extort money out of her. No, she wouldn’t give in. She didn’t believe that Matteo was dead. Her heart knew he was alive. Don was bluffing her for money. She wouldn’t pay him anything.
Di Salvo called her again after 24 hours to threaten her more. Amelia was at her wit’s end. There had to be a way out of this mess. She spoke to her family and informed them about Di Salvo’s extortion call.
They sought help from the Special Group Of Anti-crime Central Direction Of Police (SCO) who further coordinated with the DIA to protect them against all threats. They shifted the whole family to a safer, heavily guarded base immediately. The DIA involved Europol and started a manhunt for Matteo after Amelia furnished them proof of his abduction. They started hunting for Luigi and Di Salvo’s gangs, and soon the extortion calls stopped.
However, despite all attempts, the criminals escaped the authorities every time.
End of Flashback
“The meeting will take place in my presence, Mrs. Ricci,” said the officer, leading Amelia into the lounge. Amelia’s eyes were immediately drawn to a woman with dark hair and blue eyes, clad in formal clothes. She looked quite beautiful, with sharp features like Matteo’s. In fact, she resembled him a lot.
“That won’t be necessary. I know her, officer. She’s a relative.”
“I see! Call me if you need me. I’m on guard outside,” said the officer, leaving the room.
Evita stood up to see her with a forced smile on her face. “Hello! Are you related to my husband, Matteo Antonio Ricci?” Amelia asked hopefully. Did she have some news about him? Maybe that was the reason for her visit!
“Yes. He’s my cousin. Our grandfathers were siblings. But that isn’t why I came to see you, Amelia.” She looked ill at ease and sat down. “Please sit down. I have something to give you.”
Amelia sat down, looking puzzled as ever. The hope rising in her heart crumbled to dust at her statement. If not for Matteo, what connection could Evita have with her?
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. What do you want to give me?”
“Years ago, I fell in love with Rafael Moretti, Matteo’s cousin, from his maternal side. I’m sure you know him!” Amelia’s blood boiled at the mention of the criminal’s name. She had been so busy with her life that she didn’t go to LA and meet Genelia. She had no information about her! Many times, she felt guilty about it but she didn’t want Luigi or Di Salvo to know of Genelia’s whereabouts. Gia had gone through a lot and she wanted her to live a fulfilling life now.
“How can I not know him after what he did to my family?”
“I know all about it. He initially wanted to use your father’s business to grow his illegal empire, but soon he fell in love with your young sister, Genelia. It was like an obsession for him. He never loved me. My family was going through a critical phase and he offered me a cook’s job in his household. I loved him so much that I wanted him for myself. So, I spiked his drink one night and slept with him. I conceived our son that night, but Rafael threw me out of his life. Although he didn’t love me, he bore all responsibilities towards our son. I’m indebted to him that way.”
Amelia scoffed at her words. “If he loved Genelia so much, why did he torture her? Why didn’t he release Dad’s business for her sake?”
“He would have if Genelia loved him back, but she hated him. It turned him into a monster. He was determined to get her affection. Rafael was bad, and he paid the price with his life, but he wasn’t as bad as his twin, Ross Moretti. Anyway, that’s all in the past with both of them dead,” said Evita, keeping her handbag down beside her.
Amelia gaped at the woman with surprise. “When did Ross Moretti die?”
“Rafael died last year and Ross died a few months ago.”
“Rafael died six years ago in a car accident. Isn’t it?” asked Amelia, looking clueless. Evita shook her head with sadness.
“No, Ross Moretti planned the car accident for his own selfish reasons. He was going through a terrible phase and Rafael declined to help him financially. It was a misfortune your family was with him on that fateful night. However, Rafael’s trusted man, Carlos, saved him. Ross captured Rafael and kept him captive. Only Carlos had access to his room and took care of him. Rafael was extremely critical, yet he survived. He lost his right arm and received burns on his body when the car he was in went up in flames. He was bedridden, and Ross Moretti kept him locked up in a room and tortured him every month for money. So every month, Carlos paid Ross Moretti a lump sum amount from the company’s accounts. It kept him happy until he got more greedy and confiscated the business completely. He threw Carlos out, but he stuck to Rafael and looked after him. It took Rafael four years to heal, and he secretly made a will, leaving all his wealth and property for our son and Genelia.”
Amelia gaped at the woman with disbelief. Did Rafael really leave money for Gia?
“Where is the will and the money? How do you know so much if Rafael threw you out of his life?”
“Carlos is my cousin from my mother’s side. He kept in touch with me for years. The money is safe with me. I want to transfer Genelia’s share to you. I can’t face her knowing how much Rafael loved her. Please, can you give the money to her? It’s the money Rafael earned from your dad’s company, Synergist Trading, and you, too, have a share in it. I can’t live in peace until I hand it over to you.”
“Why didn’t you see me last year?” Amelia asked, not believing a word.
“Ross was after Genelia’s life. He thought she had the money and kidnapped her. It was Carlos and Brandon who saved her from the jaws of death.”
“Brandon? Brandon Davies?” asked Amelia with shock. He was Brooklyn’s twin and Gia was in love with the guy.
“Yes. Brandon married Genelia last year. They're coming here to Florence two days later.”