Chapter 51: Chapter Fifty One

*Enzo*

When I left my father’s place I immediately called Charlie and explained what was discussed between us. I was so livid that I couldn’t quite calm down, nor stop the shaking of my hands from the rage that was near boiling.

“So, what are you going to do? You know his word is solid. He never backs on them. If he knows about the two of you he’s going to use it to his advantage against Russo, stirring the fire more. He sees this as leverage to get what he wants.”

I know that. Which pisses me off even more.

“I want to head back sooner. Cancel whatever I have left and send an apology gift. This is more important now that it directly involves Gabby. I’m not going to allow him to use her like that. She isn’t an object for him to parade around and dangle in front of her father.” I bit out.

“On it, but Enzo, he’s your father and he isn’t likely to soften on you just because you’re his son. He’ll find a way to get to her. He knows she’s staying at your grandfather’s.”

“Nonno isn’t a fool nor is he weak. He knows how to handle my dad. Besides, he loves Gabby as if she’s his own granddaughter I doubt he’ll allow his son to harm her or use her either.”

Speaking of which I need to call him once I get off the phone with Charlie. He wasn’t going to like what I was going to tell him especially when in involves someone that was special to him and treasured more than anyone. Even his own children.

“We need to think of a plan.” He mumbles and I knew he was off into his own little world again.

“Did you find anything else out about Elena?” I ask.

“Not really, its only been a few hours since I gave you the last update, but I think I’m going to tail her, just not sure on how yet.”

There was a certain tone in his voice that he wasn’t revealing. Frowning, a spike of worry hits me. “What aren’t you saying?” I ask.

I hear him sigh deeply on the other end. “It’s just…the timing of all this.” I hear a bit of shuffling like he was settling in more comfortably.

“Well we know she had nothing to do with Gabby’s kidnapping, maybe it’s just a coincidence?” I supply uncertainly.

“But did she have nothing to do with it? I know your cousin pretty well because of you. Domenico isn’t as stupid as everyone thinks. Its almost as if he was persuaded.”

I sit up straighter in the back of the car, my frown deepening. “What are you implying?”

“What if…and this is just on a suspicion…but what if Ivy planted the seed in his head about the kidnapping? Not exactly outright telling him the idea but gave him that little push enough to actually, stupidly do it? But instead of her it was Gabby.”

“Or she knew Gabby was going to be there instead of her.” I whisper, the wheels rolling around in my head.

“Or that too, was my exact thought.”

“But why?” I press heatedly.

“That’s what I’m trying to figure out.”

I breath out slowly trying to calm the racing emotions in me from everything that happened tonight. “Keep me posted?”

“I always do.”

Once again he just hangs up knowing the conversation was over. It left me thinking all sorts of things. However, it seemed this was a lot bigger, deeper than I thought it was. What turned out to be a mistaken kidnapping might not have been mistaken at all. Domenico just didn’t know it and was completely used and taken for a fool.

But what did all of this have to do with Elena Russo and her secret rendezvous?

Before I forget I quickly call my grandfather, but the call just goes to voicemail. Frowning I check the time to see it was well past midnight. He was probably sleeping. I’ll have to call him first thing in the morning.

Staring out the window as the scenery passes by in a flash, I couldn’t help wondering what would have happened if I didn’t intervene? In what situation would Gabby have been in if I hadn’t stepped in and took control of everything?

***

Nonno doesn’t pick up in the morning either.

Something wasn’t right and I couldn’t risk calling anyone else at the house. Why wasn’t he or Maria picking up the phone? They should be up by now eating breakfast. With radio silence on their end I couldn’t sit back and wait. Calling Charlie to inform we were heading back this very day we both hurriedly hopped on the first available flight to Butte, Colorado.

I just wasn’t expecting to discover a hectic, manic household when I entered the foyer. My grandfather was cussing up a storm as he was yelling at someone in the living room. Quickly walking in I stop to see him looking down at Dom, Brittney, and Ivy. With Benny standing off on the other side.

Maria and Sabrina were both silently crying and looking highly worried. Something was definitely not right. And there was one person noticeably missing.

“What the hell is going on here?” I demand as Charlie sets our bags down frowning as well.

They all turn to look at me.

“Oh Enzo!” Brittney starts bursting into tears as she gets up and runs to me, looking devastated.

Clutching my arm she stares up at me as she says, “It’s horrible! We don’t know where she’s gone or what’s happened! She’s been missing for two days now.”

I stare at her not understanding what the hell she was talking about.

“That’s enough! Sit your ass back down and stop acting like you care.” Nonno snaps angrily.

I’ve haven’t seen him this pissed off since I was a kid, and it was towards my dad and uncles.

“You honestly think I’ll believe all this poppycock bullshit stories. I know you two had something to do with her disappearance and I’ll find out so help me God.” He seethes staring at Brittney and Ivy.

“I told you. I don’t know where she is. One moment she was in her room and the next she never came back down. I don’t know why you’re putting the blame on me when I had nothing to do with it.” Ivy sasses as she rolls her eyes.

It was slowly starting to click for me. Gabby wasn’t here in the room. They were discussing someone had gone missing and kept saying ‘she’. I look to my grandfather seeing the worry lines on his face. Panic was slowly entering my body.

Pushing Brittney out of my way I demand, “Someone needs to tell me right now what the fuck is going on.”

Benny sighs like he was bored. “Gabriela is missing. No one has seen her all day yesterday or today. Apparently she just up and vanished.”

I stare at him without really looking at him. Gabby was missing? Since yesterday? I swing my head to Nonno. “Why the hell wasn’t I informed? Why didn’t you call me?”

“Now calm down Tesoro, you have a lot on your plate right now. I’m handling it.”

“Handling it? It doesn’t matter if you’re fucking handling it! I should have been told! I would have come back yesterday if that was the case. And today you didn’t call me either, what the fuck?!”

I was getting angry, and panic stricken. “Who was the last to see her?” I demand in a harsh tone, scanning my eyes to everyone.

“I saw her at breakfast yesterday, but after that I don’t usually see her since she hates my guts.” Domenico shrugs.

“I saw her in the living room before I took Brittney to town yesterday. When I got home she came down to greet me and we talked for a bit in my study. After that she went to her room and that was the last time I saw her.” Nonno sounded distraught and I noticed he was starting to breath heavily.

I can’t focus on that right now though. “Nobody else saw her after that?” I ask.

Silence hits the room only spiking my rage more. “Well why the fuck are you in here sitting on your asses for then? Find her!” I rage and stomp out of the house without bothering to get any responses from any of them.

I should have called her while I was gone. I should have called every single day just to make sure she was okay. Too long I was away and now this shit has happened. Was it Russo? Did he find out where she was and somehow was able to kidnap her back without any of them noticing? Or was it someone else?

My father enters my mind and the last conversation we had last night. What if that was all a ruse to keep me busy and unaware of him taking Gabby right out from under my nose? It would have been the perfect opportunity to do it. The threats, the plans he was making. I wouldn’t put it past him.

“Charlie-” I start off just for him to quickly state, “I’m already on it.”

I watch him dash away to another part of the house, already on his phone.

My heart was thumping hard, twisting that I may have just lost her. But I was going to get her back. I wasn’t going to rest until I knew she was safe and back where she belonged. Heading to the fields I faintly hear the workers calling out her name, looking everywhere they could. I couldn’t believe I didn’t notice it before.

I had been to much in a hurry to see her, to find out why my grandfather wasn’t picking up his phone and now I knew why. I was going to find her, even if it killed me to do it.