Chapter 170 YOUR FAMILY.
\~~~LUCIANO.
“We got a location!” The shout came from across the compound, sharp and hopeful.
The compound no longer looked like a home.
Instead of people moving in and out of rooms, the entire space had been turned into a command center. Long tables filled the open area, covered with computers, monitors, and blinking satellite screens. Wires ran across the ground, connecting machines to portable antennas and signal receivers. Men moved quickly between the setups, speaking into radios and checking maps on the screens.
It looked less like a house now and more like a war room.
I spun away from the tech guy who'd been droning on about some satellite feed and strode over to the source, a wiry analyst named Rico, his face pale under the harsh lights.
“Where?” I demanded, my voice rough, leaning over his shoulder to stare at the blinking dot on the screen.
“It is not very accurate, sir,” he said, hesitation in his tone that made my jaw clench. “But they are about... four to five hours away from here.”
“What the hell?’' I growled, slamming my fist on the desk. Five hours?
That was a lifetime when Raina was in their hands. Marco was a sadistic bastard and I knew his type from years in this life. He'd use her to get to me, and break her just to watch me bleed.
Before I could bark more orders, the distant hum of an engine cut through the air. I glanced away and saw the gate swing open. A sleek black SUV rolled in, stopping halfway up the drive. The door flew open, and out stepped Alessia, my sister, her face a storm cloud of fury. She marched toward the house, her heels digging into the gravel like she was stabbing the ground with every step.
The men around me shifted uneasily as she burst through them.
Her eyes locked on mine, blazing. Without a word, she closed the distance and slapped me hard across the face. The sting burned, but I just breathed out, steadying myself. Family or not, Alessia had fire that could scorch anyone.
“Alessia, come on,’' I said, rubbing my cheek, keeping my voice low to avoid escalating in front of the team.
“How the hell am I just finding out about all of this?!” she hollered, her voice echoing off the walls.
The compound fell dead silent. Even Viktor, my right-hand man, dropped his gaze to the floor, pretending to study his boots.
“Since last night!” she continued angrily. “This started last night!”
Her finger pointed directly at my chest.
“And you didn’t think it was important to tell me before that woman walked into the company and started acting like she owned the place?!”
“Try to understand, Alessia,” I replied, my tone edged with exhaustion.
“I have been all over the place trying to locate her.” Raina's face flashed in my mind, her soft eyes, and the way she'd looked at me the previous morning before everything went to hell. If I'd been smarter, faster...
Her eyes softened just a fraction, the anger cracking like thin ice. She stepped closer, pulling me into a tight hug. I could feel her trembling, the same fear gnawing at her that clawed at me.
“I am sorry," she whispered against my shoulder. “That lady succeeded in riling me up.”
I patted her back, the familiar scent of her perfume grounding me for a second, then gently pulled away.
We didn't have time for this, not with Raina out there. I turned back to Rico. “Can you get an exact location?”
“I will try, sir,” he nodded, already typing furiously.
“What is the update?” Alessia asked, crossing her arms, her voice steadier now but still laced with demand.
I swallowed hard, the words sticking in my throat. “She managed to speak to me a while ago and…’' My voice broke, raw and unsteady. Raina's sobs echoed in my head, her pleas cutting deeper than any blade.
“She…” I tried again, but the lump in my throat won. A tear escaped, hot and unwanted, trailing down my cheek. I wiped it away fast, hating the weakness in front of my men.
“No, no, come here,” Alessia said softly, reading me like she always could. She grabbed my arm and tugged me toward the quieter side, and away from prying eyes. “Luciano, she will be found.”
I shook my head, the dam cracking. “She is in danger, Allie. She was crying and pleading. Before the call ended, I heard his voice. He was full of contempt. I don't know what he's gonna do to her,” Another tear fell, and I didn't bother wiping it this time.
Marco's rage, and the way he'd snatched the phone replayed like a nightmare. What if he hurt her? Touched her? The thought made bile rise in my throat.
“She will be fine, come on,” Alessia urged, her hand on my shoulder, squeezing tight.
“This is all my fault,” I muttered, my voice thick. “I amthe one Marco has beef with. He should have faced me. Not her. God…” More tears came, unbidden, and I shook my head, my fists clenching at my sides.
I'd built this empire on steel nerves, but Raina? She was my breaking point.
“Now is not the time to break down, come on. Just calm down,” she said firmly, her eyes locking on mine, willing me to hold it together.
I nodded, sucking in a breath, forcing the emotions down. “You met Talia, yeah?”
“Yeah,” she confirmed, her lip curling in disgust. “And she told me a load of bullshit, but I knew she wasn't lying.”
“What did she tell you?”
"The truth behind our mother's death.”
I swallowed thickly, running a hand through my hair, tugging at the roots. The old wound reopened, fresh and bleeding.
“First, let's find Raina, then you will answer to me if you consider me family or not.”
“What are you saying? You are my family!” shot back, frustration bubbling up.
“And you hid the fact that my mother was murdered from me!” Her voice rose again, her eyes flashing with betrayal.
“I didn't... I didn't want to hurt you,” I admitted, my voice low. The guilt twisted like a knife, protecting her had meant lying, and now it was blowing up.
“Whatever,” she snapped, waving it off for now. “Talia asked for our shares at the company in return for Raina.”
“What?” Rage ignited in my chest, hot and fierce.
“Yes. She wants the company,” Alessia hissed, her fists balling.
“And what did you tell her?”
“We will find Raina, and I will keep my company. I am not losing either,” She patted my shoulder, a spark of her old fire returning, then turned back to the men, striding with purpose.
I followed, the tension coiling tighter. “Anything new?’' I asked Rico, looming over him.
“The call ended before we could get the exact location,” he said, not meeting my eyes. “I can only pull up the location in the 1600 meter radius.”
“How far away is she?” Alessia demanded, leaning in.
“Five hours approximately,’' Rico replied.
“Fuck,” she cursed.
“Viktor,” I barked, turning to my loyal second. He straightened immediately, his face grim.
“Yes, sir?”
“Prepare our men at that location, and then arrange a helicopter right now, for your team and me.” My voice was steel, and the air thickened with urgency, and every man in the compound felt it the charge of impending war.
Viktor nodded sharply and moved away, barking orders into his radio.
I stormed back inside the house, Alessia hot on my heels, her footsteps echoing mine. The hallway blurred as my mind raced back to Raina and that alone fueled the fire in my veins.
“I am going with you,” she declared, matching my pace.