Chapter Ninety Nine

*Dario*

He slams the car phone down as hard as he could cursing up a storm as his anger just fuels more and more. It took hours to clean up the mess at the dock and bribing the police and fire chief was giving him more of a headache as they demanded three times the amount he normally offers with this new stunt. Getting the reporters and news stations off his back caused an even heftier sum than he was nearly not willing to give.

The damage was costing him greatly and he knew it was all the Giordano’s fault. He wasn’t sure how they have done it, but they made him look a bigger fool in front of more than just his men. Those bastards became a little too cocky over the phone in his opinion and once everything was done and over with he’ll make sure he plants men he can control in the upcoming elections for choosing new city chiefs.

But right now he had more pressing matters.

His car stopped right in front of his home where men were not where they should be to keep the place guarded. Immediately he knew something was wrong and his anger was just getting started on the boiling point. Stepping out of the vehicle, not bothering to wait for his driver to open his door, he stomps up the steps and watches as some of his men stand there with their hands folded in front, heads down looking quite ashamed of themselves.

He doesn’t bother stopping as he pushes through them and heads for the front door, bursting it open and going straight up the stairs.

“Boss-” One of the men starts saying but he ignores him and takes the steps two at a time.

Walking by everyone that was still scattering around as if scared out of their wits he goes right to the bedroom door that held Gabriela in. But before turning the knob he stares down at it seeing that the door was slightly ajar just a fraction. Rage starts submerging through his veins knowing what he was going to find in there was nothing as it should be.

Barely pushing the door, it slowly swings open to reveal a dark and empty room. He takes a few steps inside and carefully looks around before turning the lights on. No one was there, no one made a sound. He walks further in to check the wardrobe and extra bathroom.

Both empty.

He stops near the cold and empty hearth taking a deep long breath before facing two of the men that stood in the doorway. Thin lips, a hard jaw and eyes that looked crazed and out of focus, he lowly demands,

“Where is she?”

The man furthest in the room swallows hard, not making any eye contact as he stutters, “W-We heard about t-the a-attack at the dock. We all started scrambling around trying to get things in order-”

“WHERE. IS. SHE?!” His voice booms across the room causing the windows to shutter.

“We don’t know, Boss. She was here locked in her room. None of us even went near it and after everything calmed down she was already gone.” The other man quickly intervened.

Dario stares at him hard. “You dipshits were hired to guard her, to make sure she stayed in this very room until I got back.” He took a deep breath to calm himself down, closing his eyes for a few moments before looking at the two of them again.

“How the fuck did she escape?” He asks next knowing he wasn’t going to like the answer.

“We…don’t know.”

Growling in displeasure he walks straight to the wardrobe again and pries it open so hard the wooden doors cracked against the sides making the men jump. Pulling and shoving articles of clothing aside he stops and growls again.

“The suitcases are gone.” He takes a step back ready to snap the necks of the men that couldn’t even do their jobs but then he stops as a thought suddenly comes to him.

“Where’s Tabitha?” He suddenly demands, knowing for some godforsaken reason Gia was telling everyone that was her name.

“Who?”

That made his anger finally snap. “Tabitha! The fucking girl whose been giving Gabriela food and water you fucking fucktards! The maid!” He yells out.

When neither of them answered and even looked a bit confused he stomps over to them and shoves them out of his way, and he rushes further down the hall and makes a right where another hallway was at. He doesn’t bother slamming his fist on the door as he shoulder crashes into it.

When he saw the state of the room his breathing became erratic and uneven. It was a mess. Clothes were thrown everywhere as dresser drawers were left wide open. Some of the rare and expensive items were missing as well.

Leaving her room his mother suddenly came out of nowhere looking completely flustered. “What is all the ruckus? What’s going on?” She asks looking at him then the men that had followed.

“Go back to your room mother. This doesn’t concern you.” He snaps, pushing her out of the way.

“I came to tell your father I think we have a thief in our home.” She huffs, not budging.

That was the last thing he wanted to deal with.

“All my jewelry is missing, including my family’s heirloom that’s been passed down for generations!”

He stops right before the bend of the hallway. Slowly looking at her his mind begins racing. “The Jade of Easter is missing?”

“Yes! And it’s priceless!” Her voice was furious.

“How would they have stolen it when it was locked in a secure place?” He asked to no one in particular.

Then he remembered things were missing in Gia’s room as well. And she was missing, taking Gabriela with her. Suddenly his eyes widen, and fear ran through him. Jetting off down the hallway and to the stairs he heads straight for his father’s study ignoring his mother’s outburst as he did.

Slamming the door open he heads right to the fireplace where a large wooden vintage grandmother clock was at. He didn’t have to pry it open to know that was inside was already gone. There was no way just a simple thief would know this very rare object was in there. When he opens it his blood runs cold with hate and rage like never before.

And in a deep threatening tone, he rasps, “Gia, you fucking brat…I’m going to kill you.”