138- Crossing the Ocean in Search of Giulia

**VITTORIO CASSINI'S POV**

We arrived in Miami and took a boat that headed for the Bahamas. It was three hours sailing across the sea, which made me impatient, and I constantly looked at the route we managed to track through the cell phone.

I haven't been sleeping well since Giulia was taken, and nights spent analyzing clues and investigating people to save her. Luca and Bella went to their grandparents' house, and I informed them I would get Giulia. I will bring back my wife anyway.

"We're arriving, boss!" Enzo informs, pointing to the island.

"Send a message to the other boat where the men are. Inform them to be positioned to invade the island. Keep Giulia unharmed," I order as I walk to the boat's bow.

I observe the approach, and the pilot heads to a location enclosed by trees. This would camouflage our arrival, even though it makes access difficult. Upon reaching the beach, we disembark, and the men spread out, armed and ready for the fight.

I found it strange because I expected intense gunfire exchange. Considering a man with many subordinates, leaving the island unguarded would be a tremendous mistake.

I walk with my gun drawn, looking around carefully. We pass through a path between the trees, scrutinizing the area, and when we cross a good part of the island, I spot a house.

"Boss, this must be the house where she is. Should we invade?" Enzo asks.

"Did they count the men who are spread out?" I ask without taking my eyes off the house.

"There are 13, but there may be more men we couldn't visualize."

Enzo informs, and I hear a gunshot as I analyze the place. The movement starts, and there is no time to lose. I run towards the house while being supported by some of my men, but Alessandro appears at the door and opens his arms as I approach.

"Stop!" He shouts, ordering.

I immediately stop, astonished by the order he just gave. His men stopped, and consequently, my men also stopped the attack. I look at him, feeling the hatred consume me. Remembering that, he took my wife from home, separated her from the family, and made me break the promise to protect her for the rest of my life.

I point the gun in his direction, and even though I desire to fire several shots at him, I just mean enduring my hatred.

"Where is my wife? How dare you kidnap her? I'll kill you just like I did with your father." I shout furiously.

"Vittorio..."

I hear Giulia's voice, and she appears, cautiously passing through the door. She steps in front of Alessandro but walks towards me, and I can't understand why she's doing this.

"Giulia, are you okay? Let's go, I came to get you." I speak, containing my emotions upon seeing her well.

"Vittorio, you don't need to do anything to Alessandro. It's okay, he didn't hurt me, and he was already taking me back to Milan. Let's talk!"

I look closely at her, imagining that this idiot brainwashed my wife. Giulia can't be defending him. I look at Messina's son's leg and notice the bandaged wound. She shot him, and now she's acting like this.

"Is he threatening you? Why are you acting like this?" I ask perplexed.

"Let's talk?" Giulia suggests.

"Talk? Trust this idiot?" I shout furiously.

"Vittorio, what are you afraid of? I ordered you to stop; considering the number of men I have on this island, I could kill you without hesitation." He speaks disdainfully.

Fury consumes me, and I take a few steps forward without lowering my gun aimed at Alessandro. Giulia is tense.

"You're such an idiot that you did all this for a father who never cared about you. He blamed you for your mother's death because she stepped in front of you and took the bullet to keep you alive. He sent you to the United States to get rid of you. Now... here you are, seeking revenge for a man who blamed a child. You're a tremendous idiot!" I speak all the information I gathered.

Alessandro's eyes are filled with tears. He feels affected by everything I just recounted, and Giulia looks at him with concern. After deep breathing, he looked at Giulia and lowered his head as if ashamed.

"I'll leave you to talk freely," he says and turns his back, entering the house again. I notice that he is limping.

When he enters, Giulia looks at me and runs towards me. We hug tightly; my face fits into her neck, and I close my eyes as I feel the scent I missed so much. My hands grip her back, holding her to my body, and I want to stay like this forever so that she never leaves me.

"I missed you so much." She declares.

"They were the worst days of my life. I realize you were powerful to wait for me for so many years; I wouldn't resist being away from you." I also declared, taking a deep breath and feeling relief.

We separate, but I keep holding her hands, taking the opportunity to kiss them countless times. Giulia looks at me, smiling, and seeing my wife before me is like a dream. She is unharmed, which tormented me.

"How is Luca? Bella? My parents... oh my god!" she is anxious as she speaks.

"They are all fine, actually, not so good because they miss you a lot. I had to go to great lengths to keep them from worrying. Your parents started to suspect. But I promised that you would come back with me."

She listens to me and smiles. Some tears roll down her face, and Giulia wipes them away with her hand. She looks around and realizes that there are many people around.

"Let's go somewhere else; I need to explain everything that happened before we leave," Giulia invites, taking my hand and pulling me towards the beach.

We walk side by side, holding hands and admiring the beautiful surroundings. My protective instinct remains active, and I feel uneasy being in the same place as Messina's son. I need to hear what Giulia says, and then we'll return home. We'll get married and finally leave to live a peaceful life, as the only thing holding us back is Alessandro.

"He... was arranging our return. Alessandro gave up everything!"

She speaks as we stop near the sea. I look at her, surprised by the revelation. I know she shot him, and yet he was willing to take her back. Humans are contradictory.