Chapter 81: Chapter Eighty One

*Enzo*

Immediately I knew something wasn’t right.

Nonno thought it was best we go separately. He didn’t trust the letter we had found since for one it wasn’t Russo’s style. Also he gave specific instructions on where to go and the place he pinpointed wasn’t anywhere near civilization. Since my father believed me to be a hothead and stated “apparently you know what you’re doing” he forced me to be the one to meet the man head on.

Nonno didn’t like that idea one bit, but I told him I needed to do this. To prove to my father I wasn’t a child anymore. I just hoped it wasn’t going to backfire on me like I think it was going too. But while I was risking my life for the sake of my cousin I didn’t go in without being prepared. I grew up with them and their dealings over the years after all. You tend to learn a few things even when you didn’t want to.

And dealing with Domenico’s antics of stupidity while growing up also taught me a thing or two as well. I sat in the back of the car that was darkly tinted so it was difficult to see out the windows where the location was on the side of the highway where not a single car was in sight. A highway that was hardly used anymore since they built the freeway that bypassed it altogether.

I couldn’t help thinking about Gabby. She was asleep when I had left her, and I didn’t want to disturb her since I knew she hadn’t been feeling well lately. Leaving her unprotected didn’t sit well with me as Nonno wanted to tag along with us. But both Maria and Ernesto promised to keep an eye on her. I just hoped this wasn’t another trap to get us away from her like I feared it was. Just to be safe I had one of my father’s men stay behind.

“They’re here.” Tommy, the driver states in a low tone.

My spine stiffens when I watch a black SUV pull over on the other side of the street. There was just one car and that in itself was even more suspicious. Uncle Tone, who was in the passenger side, turns to look at me. “You stay put for now. These windows are bullet proof and if shit goes sideways you get the hell out of here-”

“But I can’t just leave you-”

“You can and you will. You’re the future of the Giordano’s, Enzo. Your life is more precious than ours.” He sternly states, looking ready to risk his life to keep mine safe and get Domenico back.

What was the point in me being here then if I wasn’t allowed to be out of the car? But he stares at me with a hard glint, and I knew there was no way I was going to argue my way out of this one. All I could do was nod. He looks to Tommy and nods and together the two of them step out. My body tenses when my uncle rounds the car to stand next to Tommy and together they fold their hands in front of their fronts as they spread their feet apart.

My heart starts to hammer as I watch the SUV. At first nothing happens as we continue to wait. But then the driver door opens revealing a tall rough looking man wearing a black leather jacket and blue jeans with heavy boots. He wore sunglasses for some odd reason since it was nighttime so that didn’t make much sense.

“You can’t honestly make us believe that it’s just the two of you that showed up? We were expecting Giordano to be here retrieving his own kin.” The man’s voice was raspy as if he smoked on the daily.

“Well you’re in luck. I happen to be a Giordano.” My uncle sasses back.

“But you’re not Gato Giordano. Or Enzo Giordano. You’re not the one we agreed to meet up with. How do you expect my employer to risk his own neck if he’s being insulted to not even face the men who allowed their kin to blackmail him by kidnapping his daughter?”

“A lot of misunderstandings come with that I’m afraid. But you can understand our hesitance when you so graciously walk on my father’s property taking his youngest grandchild hostage. Please forgive our indiscretion that we’re just going to blindly follow his orders from a piece of paper.” Uncle Tone aggressively snaps back.

We were going to get nowhere with this banter. Gritting my teeth I disregard my uncle’s words and slip out of the car. Hearing the door open all eyes turn to me. I don’t bother to head in the open area, I wasn’t that stupid. I look at the driver of the other vehicle and demand,

“I’m Enzo Giordano. Where’s Alejandro and my cousin Domenico?”

“Only when I see Gabriela Russo come out of that car will I allow your cousin to see face.”

“Russo needs to make the demands, not you. Tell him to show his face right now or this deal is dead.” I could tell my uncle was getting antsy and that wasn’t a good thing.

I needed to get this moving along before it got even more stifle and something horrible happens right here on this highway. Sighing deeply I state, “There wasn’t any mention of Russo’s daughter being a part of this.”

The man had the gall to scoff while looking away. “Why would we bring your shitty ass cousin then if not to get the girl back? This was supposed to be a trade, Giordano not an offering.”

I carefully look around as my uncle once again starts snapping at him. Something definitely wasn’t right. Suddenly my phone buzzes in my pocket. Slipping it out I see it was a text message from Charlie. While the others were arguing still I read what he sends me.

“I found your cousin. They’re holding him in a warehouse just south of Brady’s Docks. I tapped in Ivy’s phone line. Russo doesn’t have Dom, Moretti does.”

What the fuck?

I slowly look back up to the man who I was now realizing is stalling for time. Another buzz comes through.

“Dario Moretti has Gabriela.”

Instant fear and rage fills me reading the message. What the hell was he talking about? How the fuck does Moretti have Gabby? What happened to my father’s man that was supposed to keep her safe? But if Alejandro doesn’t have her then who the fuck was this guy we were talking too?

Domenico wasn’t here with us. He knew we didn’t have Gabby either. Was he stalling or is this something else? One thing clicked instantly. He asked about me and my father. But they should have known we wouldn’t have come together. Which means…

Quickly typing without being noticed I send a message to Charlie. “Location of my dad and grandpa?”

I needed to keep them in a conversation long enough to figure things out. “I’m here so is Russo going to come out and greet us or not?” I ask loudly making it seem I was still a part of this argument they were having.

“Why would he when you don’t have his daughter here with us?”

Just what I thought. Alejandro wasn’t here either. Neither was Domenico. Which means there were either other men in that SUV or we were surrounded at least on one side. We didn’t come unprepared either as we had men out there hiding, waiting for our signal if something goes sideways, which was about to be.

My phone buzzes again. I quickly look at it and my blood runs cold. “Something is wrong. Your old man’s location shows the docks. But then it went dead as soon as I located it. Almost like they knew.”

They knew alright. God fucking damn it! Looks like we’ve been played after all by an opponent we should have considered and seen coming. And what the hell happened to all my father’s men in this?

“You know what, fine! I’ll see if he’s willing to come out. But don’t be disappointed if he refuses.” The man barks out, hands raised as he goes to the passenger side of the car.

Adrenaline rushes through me. “Uncle, it’s a trap.” I quickly state.

I didn’t need to repeat myself as he curses and pulls out his gun just as the back window rolls down and the tip of a barrel points right at me. Ducking just in the nick of time all hell breaks loose around me.