Chapter 146 The Raiding

Chapter 146 The Raiding
GIOVANNI’S POV

"MOVE FASTER!"

I was already pushing ninety on city streets, weaving through morning traffic with Enzo white-knuckling the door handle.

He glared at me, his face flushed with rage. "Gio, we're going to crash if we keep going ate rate.”

"I don't care!" My hands were shaking on the wheel. "She called, Enzo. Arya called. She's with Marco right now and she sounded terrified."

The phone call played on loop in my mind. Her broken voice calling out to me and although it was faint, I heard the baby cooing in the background. 

I had no idea what she was going through and if Marco was the sadistic bastard that I thought he was then it wouldn’t be anything good. 

It didn’t help that the line had gone dead just before she could give me the address . And when I had tried to call back, nothing.

But I knew without a doubt that shr was in yhe lasu location Eno found. 

"The team is already en route," he said, pulling up the address on his tablet. "They'll meet us there. We'll get her, Gio. So, please let me drive normally or we’re the ones who will end up in the hospital!"

I shook my head, eyeing the speedometer wirh disdain. "We might be too late, Enzo. You didn’t hear how fucking terrified she sound. Step on the gas!”

“Fuck, Giovanni! You’re going to kill me before my wedding.” He cried out then proceeded to curse in rapid Italian. 

If we were in any other situation, I might have laughed. Instead, I threw him a glare and he stepped on the gas.

“Hold your horses.” He grumbled, taking a sharp swerve. “We're ten minutes out."

Ten minutes felt like an eternity but I pressed my lips together. 

I had been reviewing building plans when the unknown number had called again. This time, I had answered and heard her voice.

After months of searching and nightmares, and  wondering if she was even alive, I finally heard Arya's voice.

Then Marco had ripped the phone away. That goddamn bastard was going to pay for everything once I laid my hands on him. 

He would regret ever being born. My fingers clenched into a tight fist as I thought of Al lf he ways to make Marco pay

"Seven minutes," Enzo announced as he pressed harder on the gas.

I gritted my teeth together. My chest drumming harshly.

“Just hold on for me, baby.” I whispered, staring at the road ahead with a racing heart. “Just hold on for me.”

The apartment building loomed ahead, it was nondescript and modern. Our tactical team was already there, it consisted of six vehicle and thirty armed men surrounding the perimeter.

I was out of the car before it fully stopped, marching forward, my hand already finding my gun from its holster. 

"What’s the status?" I barked at the team leader.

He turned to me and bowed lightly. "There’s been movement in or out in the last thirty minutes, sir.” I didn’t miss the grim look on is face. “But we've secured all exits and on your order-"

"Break down the fucking doors,” I snarled, interrupting him. “Do it now.”

He nodded and barked out the same orders to his team. They moved like a machine, battering ram on the door and throwing lashbangs while they shouted commands.

I followed them in, my gun was drawn already and every nerve was on fire.

The apartment was too silent and a wave of uneasiness crept down my spine.

"Clear!" came the calls from each room. "Kitchen clear! Bedroom clear! Bathroom clear!"

There was no way Marco could have already moved them out of the house… unless he actually had.   

"Fuck, no!" I moved through the space, desperate for any sign of her.

The living room showed signs of a struggle. There was a phone hanging off its cord and I didn’t miss the bullet hole in the wall. 

From the heat and crack, I could tell this just happened recently. My fingers curled into a fist and I cursed underneath my breath.

I wasn’t letting her go. Not now..  when we have gotten so close. 

"Giovanni, you need to see this!" Enzo called.

I stepped away from the wall and followed the sign of his voice. It led me to a small yet beatifully decorated bedroom. 

And there, in the corner was a bassinet.

“They were here.” Enzo breathed. “They were actually here.” 

I moved toward it like a man in a dream. Inside was a teddy bear. I picked it up, and the scent hit me.

It smelled of baby powder, milk and that indefinable sweetness that belonged to infants.

My child had been here in this bassinet, sleeping where I had never watched over them.

My legs gave out and I sank onto the bed, the teddy bear clutched in my shaking hands.

Enzo was saying something about checking the other room but I could barely hear him. I clutched the teddy tighter to my chest, my throat clogging with emotion.

“I’m sorry.” I whispered uselessly. “I failed you and I’m so sorry.”  

I heard a shuffle behind me and then my name. "Gio?"

Enzo stood in the doorway, his expression stricken. I could tell that he understood immediately what I was feeling, including the cruelty of arriving too late.

"We missed them," I said, my voice hollow. "They were here and we missed them.

Enzo shook his head. "Not by much." He said and moved closer into the room. "Their clothes are still here, including the baby upplies which means that they left in a hurry."

My heart leaped with hope. Westill had a chance.

I stood, forcing myself to focus. "Search everything.” I said sternly. “Every drawer, every pocket, every piece of trash. Something here will tell us where they went."

He nodded and once again left the room, yelling orders to the others.  The team tore through the apartment with renewed intensity 

I moved through the rooms, looking for anything that might help. In the bathroom, there was a feminine shampoo and pink toothbrush. 

Evidence Arya had been living here and that knowledgeable sent another pang t llthrough my chest.

She ad been so close. For weeks, probably months, she was in this apartment while I searched the entire city.

Damn you, Marco!

"Gio! Found something!"

Enzo stood in the living room, holding what looked like a piece of paper.

I crossed to him in three strides. "What is it?"

"It’s a boarding pass or part of one… it's ripped." He held it up. "But I can make out the airline. It’s a private charter departing from the Langfid Airport.”