Chapter 16 Finding Gio
Alex’s POV
It’s raining cats and dogs as I make my way towards Gio’s exact location. Luca is seated in the passenger seat as the city neon night lights pass by in a blur. The intel said Gio was spotted at the eastern docks, so I expertly maneuver my car toward the direction.
Gio - the reason Alessia is still breathing and made it out alive. If he hadn’t vanished soon after, the Sirrano would have put his head on a pike by now. I shake my head - it’s the mafia way; we do not forgive people that help outcasts.
“Manggia,” I mutter as my knuckles tighten on the steering wheel.
I hope this intel is legit and I find him alive and well.
Luca shoots me a side eye. “Do you think he will be willing to talk with you?”
“I will make him talk,” I growl, one way or the other. “Even if I have to start carving out his tongue before he gives in.”
The eastern docks come into view. It’s become a dumpyard of old dusty containers and broken-down cars. The air is filled with the stench of brine and gasoline. I slow down as I enter the last turn, turning off my car lights before parking. As I step out of the car I see a long smear of blood on the floor heading toward the gravel as if someone has been trying to crawl away after getting shot.
“Oh no, no, no. Dio santo,” Luca whispers.
I don’t say a word, but my heart is thundering like a drum as I reach into my pocket to grab my revolver and hold it in my hand, pulling back the safety cock just in case I need to quickly fire it. A gust of wind howls through the night as if giving us a warning.
“Who is there?” a hoarse pained voice calls weakly from behind one of the crates.
My head moves in that direction, my feet turning around the corner.
And there I see a man on the floor, his head propped on a fallen trash can. This must be Gio.
As I step closer I note he is shot and his T-shirt is caked in blood. His eyes move to me when he sees me.
I crouch low beside him. “Who shot you?”
He coughs as blood comes out of his mouth. “Mr Ferrini, it’s nice to meet you.”
“Who shot you, Gio?” I ask again, more patient this time, as I know he is in a lot of pain.
He looks at me though his eyes are half-lidded with pain. “I didn’t know they would find me this quickly.”
My patience starts wearing thin as I ask, “Was it then? The Sirranos?”
His mouth twists into a grimace. “I expected this. I knew they wouldn’t let it slide; that’s why I left after Alessia.”
I sigh. “Dios, this just got complicated.” A thought occurs to me - Alessia will be crushed. I push it down hard.
He grips my empty left hand suddenly, his blood seeping into my jacket.
“I helped her because it wasn’t her. I couldn’t let them kill an innocent girl. I saw shadows that night. Alessia took a coffee break and I took her place. There was no noise, just a cold gust of wind and the jewel was gone. I knew she-”
“She what?” I press, wanting all the details.
He struggles to keep speaking. “She didn’t take it. Her mother saved me once. She bound her.”
I freeze, not understanding what he is saying.
“I don’t understand you, Gio.”
His fingers tighten on my sleeve. “Find Alessia. Tell her. Her mother bound her. But it’s in her blood.”
I shake my head, wondering what all this disjointed information is actually about.
“Gio bound what exactly?” I ask, shaking him once. “Gio! Gio!” But his eyes have gone flat and his hand is limp in mine.
I shake him again. “Gio!” Silence. Luca stands behind me, silent, his expression serious.
“He is dead,” he says softly.
I rise slowly, returning my gun to my holster, wiping my bloody hands on my coat. My pulse throbs in my ears as his voice starts echoing in my head:
Bound.
Her power.
Blood.
What exactly does all this mean?
Luca exhales. “Alex, we need to go. The police will be here soon.”
I stare around the dock as the wind howls again. I turn one last time to look at Gio’s still body.
“Rather let the men clean him up and give him a proper burial. No need for the police to get into this.”
“But-”
“Luca, just do what I said.” I meet his eyes, my voice calm and cold. I don’t want this to become a murder scene. The rain has washed away any evidence anyway, so do as I say.
He hesitates, then nods. “Okay, Alex.”
I turn toward the car, walking quickly and entering. I slam the door, bending over the steering wheel. “What now? I have absolutely nothing but a few incomplete lines from a dying man.”
Luca climbs in beside me as I start the engine. “Where to now?” he asks.
I stare out of the windshield as I try to think of a master plan, but I have absolutely nothing. I have to start from Gio’s half-information.
I sigh. “Now we need to find out who Alessia Molano really is…. Thomas had also hinted at her being which blood and so had the dossier.”
Thomas.
The dossier.
Gio.
They can’t all be wrong. She is the key… Everything starts with her. It’s not only about finding the jewel any longer. It’s about her who she is and from where? I have a feeling this storm… this storm is just beginning…