Chapter Fifty Two
Nicholas POV
My room was dark, with just the moon peeking through the crack in the curtains. I felt like I'd barely fallen asleep. The incessant pounding on my door had me wide awake, even though my head felt groggy. I looked over at the clock on the bedside table. It was three in the morning. I wasn't due to be up for two more hours. "I hear you," I yelled out. I swung my legs over the side of the bed and stalked to the door. I flung it open, and Michael stood there, a look of concern on his face and his hair a tousled mess. "Jesus Michael, it's three in the morning."
"She's gone."
"Who is gone?" I asked, a sudden drop in my stomach telling me I already knew.
"Camilla. I heard a noise outside that woke me up. It sounded like a scream. When I went outside, I found Liam on the ground, nearly dead. Someone shot him in the gut. My guys are taking him to the hospital now," he waves a hand in the air like he's not concerned. "Camilla, though, I went to her room, and it was empty."
"What do you mean she's gone? Gone how?" I ask, frustration mounting as I move into the room and turn on lights. Michael follows me in and watches as I throw on clothes, not caring that he's watching.
"I think they took her. We need to move quickly. All of my men are up, and Jimmy too. He was getting your other guy, Antonio, out of bed a minute ago."
"What exactly did you find?" I asked, lacing up my shoes hurriedly. "Show me." We walked out to the hallway, and I could see that Carmen was up now and the kitchen lights were on. She stood in the kitchen on the phone. Who was she calling at this hour?
We didn't even talk to Carmen as we walked out the French doors to the backyard. It didn't take long for me to see exactly what he found, even if there was no longer a body there. Near the bench where Camilla loved to perch herself was a puddle of blood. Nearby were some trampled flowers and the gate leading to the walking path was swung open. "Whose blood is it?" I ask.
"It's Liam's. I don't think they did more than subdue her and drag her out of the gate. Her bed was a mess like she'd kicked her covers off. I think they came into the house and took her, maybe knocked her unconscious, before she was even able to realize what was happening. Her room smelled like chemicals."
"Chemicals? Chloroform?" I asked.
"Yeah," Michael nodded. "I don't know how much of a lead they have on us, but I'm going after them."
"Well, we are coming too," I tell him.
"You don't have too; you can stay here with my grandmother and make sure she is safe."
"I don't think so," I say, exasperated. "Listen, I care for your sister. I am going and I'm going to kill that son of a bitch if he so much as puts a scratch on her. He should have been dealt with a long time ago. I'm sorry I didn't do it myself."
"And my grandmother?"
I laugh. "Do you know your grandmother? No one is going to be able to take her out. She's on the phone with the gardener. I would wager he's on his way here now, with back up."
Michael looks at me curiously, "How do you know about the gardener?"
"Your grandmother shared a story or two over coffee, now let's go get Camilla back and stop wasting time." I turn and storm back to the house, finding my men at the ready. I expected nothing less.
Carmella POV
I had awoken to this intense feeling of claustrophobia. When I first opened my eyes, I knew I was in my bed, but the room seemed warm and for whatever reason, darker. I turned my head to look at the clock, and it was a little after two in the morning. I had no more than batted my eyes open, glanced at the clock and realized I was not alone. Before I could scream, a hand covered my mouth. That hand held a cloth that reeked of chloroform. I would know that smell anywhere. I didn't have time to make a sound. I kicked out with my legs and landed a solid kick to something. With it came a grunt and a muttered "bitch". Then, nothing. Darkness and silence.
I was waking, my body seemingly pinned. It took me a moment to come out of the fog enough to realize that I was bound tightly. A rope wrapped around my upper torso; my arms pinned behind me. Something sharp dug into my wrists every time I tried even to flex my fingers. My ankles were also bound with rope. I was being tossed back and forth in what I think is the back of an SUV. I can see it's still dark out, but it's hard to gauge the exact time as the windows are very dark. Music plays softly through the stereo system, and I can faintly hear two voices speaking softly. Male voices.
I strained to listen and could make out bits and pieces of the conversation. "When we get to the hotel, he will tell us what to do with her." Who is he? My eyes opened wide as I realized that I had been abducted, and the "he" they referred to must be Thomas Cain. I felt acid rise in my throat and held my breath so as not to vomit and make noise.
"I don't like this; we shouldn't have shot that guy. We don't have a big enough lead now." Who did they shoot? Better yet, how did they bypass my grandmother's security? How did they get through the gates? Had they dragged me through the brush and the woods? That's the only way I can think of for them to have gained access to the property.
The vehicle suddenly stops, and the engine is cut off. I hear the two of them climb out, and the doors slam. No one comes for me, though, as I lie there waiting. They did mention a hotel, so I imagine they are avoiding cameras or something.
I lay in the back of that vehicle so long that the warmth eventually forced me asleep. I'm awoken by the sound of the rear tailgate opening and a whoosh of fresh air. I squint my eyes against the light and hear myself groan. My entire body hurts, and my head throbs. "She looks none the worse for wear," I listen to a voice and a chuckle follows.
"Nice job, gentlemen." Thomas Cain. I'd know that voice anywhere, even after all these years. After his harassment in high school, I won't likely ever forget.
"Hello Camilla."