CHAPTER 303
Ellis pondered for a moment, aware that this decision would shape the fate of the Amorielle family. The prospect of having Donna and Jake back, intertwined with the challenge of delivering Vittorio, created a harrowing crossroads.
“So, Donna and Jake in exchange for Vittorio,” stated Ellis, seeking a better understanding of the proposal.
Grigory, a sturdy man with a penetrating gaze, nodded. “Yes, that's right.”
“There's a slight problem,” she said. “Vittorio has been declared dead. Not even his Consigliere could save him.”
A subtle smile appeared on Sergei's face, while Grigory openly laughed. Ellis looked confusedly at the two men.
“What's so amusing?” she asked.
Sergei replied, “You're a terrible liar, Ellis.”
“I'm not lying!” she insisted.
Grigory intervened, “So, you're the naive type. Vittorio is alive, and we know it.”
The idea that the charred body in the warehouse wasn't Vittorio Amorielle's but Jácomo Grecco's shook the foundations of her understanding of the situation.
Ellis swallowed hard, trying to keep her composure. “How can you be so sure?”
Sergei smiled maliciously. “It's simple. After the tests conducted by the Amorielle family, we also conducted our own investigations, using Jácomo's sister.”
Confusion took over Ellis's face. “Sister? Since when did Jácomo have a sister?”
“Hello, sister-in-law,” said Svetlana with an ironic smile.
Ellis stared at Svetlana in shock, surprised to learn that Jácomo Grecco had a sister. It was something that had never crossed her mind since she arrived in Kurgan. Sergei, noticing Ellis's reaction, approached Svetlana.
“Svetlana Petrova is Jácomo's half-sister. She wasn't as involved in the Grecco family business, which allowed her to stay in the shadows until now. By the way, she's our cousin,” he explained.
Grigory's eyes fixed sternly on Ellis as he continued. “Maybe you met our aunt, Maria Petrova, known as Ava Smith,” he said, his voice grave and authoritative.
Svetlana stared at Ellis with a mix of anger and disbelief. “You remember my mother well, don't you? After all, you killed her while mourning my brother,” she shot, her cutting words echoing in the room.
Sergei continued the story, revealing details about the complex relationship between Jácomo, Tommaso, and the Petrov family. “Jácomo's father was married to Maria, but when he was murdered, she returned to Kurgan, taken in by our beloved older brother, Andrei Petrov, who is our father. However, she couldn't bring Jácomo and Tommaso with her. It was thanks to Messina that Jácomo could return to his mother's arms.”
Ellis looked at everyone in the room, feeling the weight of the exposed truths, but asserted firmly, “Despite all this, I still can't help you. I don't know how to find Vittorio. I even asked Messina for help, but he also believes Vittorio is dead.”
Messina intervened, his expression indicating a change of thought. “I thought that too, but I've changed my mind.”
Surprised, Ellis questioned, “What?”
Messina calmly explained, “There is strong evidence that it was Vittorio who kidnapped Donna in Sicily.”
“What do you mean?” exclaimed Ellis, perplexed.
Messina's eyes met hers. “Vittorio's men were involved in Donna's disappearance. They infiltrated my team and found out everything they needed. Besides, only Vittorio knew the place so well. The same happened in Pedesina. Only an Amorielle could have done that.”
Ellis turned to Grigory, questioning the discrepancy in information. “Why did you say you had Donna and Jake when, in fact, suspicion was on Vittorio?”
Sergei laughed, responding, “We never said we had Donna and Jake. We wanted to help find Donna and Jake in exchange for Vittorio.”
Ellis shook her head. “There's no deal.”
Turning away, Grigory asked coldly, “Who said we were trying to make a deal with you?”
Ellis turned to him, confused. “What do you mean?”
Grigory clarified, “You're not here to make a deal with us. You're the bait for us to reach Vittorio and eliminate him.”
Perplexity took over Ellis. “How can you be sure Vittorio will come after me? He hasn't shown up until now.”
Messina responded confidently, “Vittorio would never leave you wandering around with his child in your belly, especially in enemy territory.”
Messina intervened once again. “Vittorio wouldn't leave you, carrying his child, wandering around, especially in enemy territory.”
Sergei smiled at Messina. “We're grateful for your loyalty in bringing Ellis to us.”
Ellis turned to face Ângelo Messina, seeking answers. “Is this true?” she inquired, her voice laden with anticipation.
Messina nodded, maintaining composure. “Yes, it's true.”
Ellis stared at Messina, incredulous. “You really did this to me?”
Messina, with a somber seriousness, replied, “I did it because Vittorio stabbed me in the back. He entered my home and left me in a weakened position before others. Now, I'm just protecting my interests.”
“That changes everything,” muttered Ellis, directing her gaze to Grigory and Sergei.
“Yes, it does. Now, your presence here will bring him to us. By the way, not only him but Donna and Jake as well. It's time to reunite the family,” said Grigory, with a penetrating gaze.
Ellis, trying to understand what would come next, cautiously asked, “What will happen when Vittorio shows up?”
Svetlana, with a subtle smile, responded enigmatically, “If you think you'll leave here unscathed, you're mistaken. Once we capture Vittorio, you'll pay for what you did to my mother. You belong to me, Ellis Barker.”
“So, the game continues,” affirmed Ellis, while Svetlana observed.
Grigory intervened decisively. “Mikhail, please take Ellis Barker to one of the rooms. She needs to rest, considering her condition.”
Mikhail approached Ellis with seriousness and led her into the mansion, following Grigory's orders. The tension in the air still lingered, but the situation remained under control.
As Ellis moved away, Grigory directed his penetrating gaze at Messina. “Do you really think Vittorio will come after her?”
Messina, staring firmly at Grigory, replied without hesitation, “Ellis is Vittorio's Achilles' heel. For her, he's capable of anything, even death.”
Sergei, the ironic smile dancing on his lips, intervened, “We're counting on that.”
Messina, fixing his serious gaze on Grigory and Sergei, warned, “Believe me. Don't forget the deal. Vittorio is mine.”
Grigory nodded slightly, accepting Messina's words. “Understood. Vittorio is yours.”
Meanwhile, Mikhail guided Ellis through the silent corridors of the mansion, taking her to one of the rooms where she could rest.
Alone in a room, isolated from the rest of the group, uncertainty hung over Ellis as she reflected on Svetlana's words and the inevitable consequences awaiting Vittorio's arrival.
The fate of Ellis and Vittorio was now in the hands of these ruthless leaders of the Kurganskaya Bratva and Ângelo Messina, each with their own interests.