CHAPTER 289
Donna was deeply asleep in her room at Villa Monforte. She had no idea what was happening on the lower floor of Angelo Messina's mansion, where intrigue and tension were rapidly escalating.
While Donna rested, Francesca, one of the house staff, was in the process of preparing breakfast for the girl. She was carefully arranging the dishes and utensils on the tray when one of Messina's associates entered the kitchen in a hurry, wearing a nervous and tense expression.
Francesca looked at him with concern and asked, “What's going on?”
The associate, clearly disturbed, replied urgently, “I've received direct orders from Messina to take Donna, Ellis Barker's daughter, from here.”
Francesca was taken aback by the sudden news and questioned, “Why? I haven't received any instructions about this.”
The associate seemed hesitant and said, “I received explicit orders to take the girl. I don't have any further information.”
Francesca studied the associate's face suspiciously, trying to understand the situation. Finally, she decided that she needed to verify the situation before allowing Donna to be taken. She responded, “Okay, I'll wake the girl.”
With cautious steps, Francesca ascended the stairs toward Donna's room. At the same time, she attempted to contact Angelo Messina by phone to seek clarification. The tension in the air was palpable, and she felt that something was amiss.
However, as Francesca approached Donna's room, she felt a sudden jolt in her chest, followed by intense pain. Looking down, she saw blood staining her uniform. She barely had time to process what was happening when the associate who had accompanied her appeared and coldly said, “You shouldn't have done that, Francesca.”
Francesca, now struggling to breathe, looked at the associate with wide eyes of shock and pain. She knew she was in danger but was still trying to understand the situation when the associate, with a gun in hand, entered Donna's room as darkness closed in on her eyes.
***
Ellis stared at Akeem Omoregie, shock dominating her face as she tried to process the information.
Akeem, the leader of the Black Axe, spoke seriously, explaining, “We received information that Donna was taken from Angelo Messina's house.”
Angelo Messina stared at Akeem with an expression of disbelief. He refused to believe that something like this could have happened in his own home. “This can't be true,” Messina asserted firmly. “No one could get into my house in Sicily without being detected.”
Akeem, maintaining his firm gaze, replied with calculated coldness, “One of your associates orchestrated the kidnapping, or you may have given the orders directly, Messina.”
The tension in the air was palpable, and an exchange of accusatory glances occurred between the two men. Messina was not willing to take such accusations lightly. “Are you accusing me of betrayal, Akeem?”
Akeem directed his stern gaze at Ellis, as if assessing her position in this standoff. He proposed a straightforward, no-nonsense solution, “Ellis, if you want, I could take care of Messina right now.”
Messina's response came swiftly, tinged with suspicion, “Who can guarantee that this wasn't your ploy, Akeem? Perhaps you orchestrated all of this to incriminate me.”
Akeem, keeping his composure, warned Messina to choose his words carefully, “Don't go down that path, Messina.”
Feeling the escalating tension between the two men, Ellis intervened to calm the tempers. She urgently requested, “Please, stop this. Akeem, Amina, let me talk to Messina privately, please.”
Akeem agreed, accepting Ellis's request. He and Amina withdrew from the room, leaving Ellis and Messina alone.
Messina turned to Ellis, his eyes seeking hers. With a sigh, he began to explain, “Ellis, this is exactly what I was trying to tell you when I asked you not to request me to renounce my loyalty. I knew Akeem would plot to take me out of the equation.”
Ellis was impatient, and her voice reflected her distress, “Give me a good reason to believe that you wouldn't be capable of kidnapping my daughter.”
Messina maintained his stance, aware of the need to convince Ellis of his innocence. He responded firmly, “Clearly, I would never do that, Ellis. I would never put my own house at risk.”
Messina's words appeared insufficient to reassure Ellis. She countered, recalling past events, “You set the Milan mansion on fire during Jacomo Grecco's attacks... What guarantees that you didn't use your house to kidnap Donna?”
Messina tried to explain that the situation was different, but Ellis was determined to obtain a clear answer. She questioned, “Different how, Angelo?”
He sought a compelling argument, “Now we're in Nigeria, and I wouldn't allow anything to threaten what I have here.”
However, Ellis did not seem willing to accept his word without further questioning. She inquired, seeking more details, “What's so different here, Angelo?”
Messina attempted to explain his perspective, insisting, “Ellis, you're getting involved in a complex plot with Akeem and these men, and you have no experience dealing with people like him. Besides, it could be a move by Alessandro Amorielle.”
Ellis reacted, challenging Messina, “Are you suggesting that Alessandro is superior to you?”
Messina vehemently denied, “No one is superior to me, but there are people who operate similarly to my way, like Akeem, Rang Bone, and some others.”
Ellis was not satisfied with Messina's words and continued to press him, determined to get answers, “I want to believe you, Angelo, but everything seems to indicate the opposite.”
Messina could not contain his curiosity and asked Ellis the reason for her action. “Ellis, why are you only doubting me? This wouldn't have happened if you hadn't asked for his loyalty first.”
Ellis crossed her arms and stared directly at him. “I didn't doubt you, Angelo. You were the first one to doubt Akeem. Remember that you promised to lead me to the possible kidnappers of Jake, and Akeem is not the kidnapper.”
Messina sighed, recognizing the truth in Ellis's words. “You're right; I acted hastily.”
Ellis continued, maintaining a firm tone, “We need to find Donna, Angelo, and that means we have to consider all possibilities. Now, I need to know whom you suspect.”
Messina pondered for a moment. He sighed again and, reluctantly, replied, “Some of my associates... but I can't say for sure.”
Ellis nodded and said, “Okay, here's what we'll do: you'll make a list of all your partners and contacts who could be involved in this. This includes the Kurganskaya Bratva, the mafia that Jacomo Grecco and you worked with.”
Messina seemed concerned about the implications of this. “Ellis, you need to understand that this could ruin business. Some of these partners are crucial to my operations.”
Ellis showed no compassion. Her priority was to find her daughter, and she was willing to do whatever was necessary. She responded with determination, “You're not in a position to negotiate, Angelo. If you want to leave Nigeria alive, you need to provide that list. Akeem will search for Jake, and now you need to do your part and give me a list of anyone who could have done this. Ellis had a plan in mind and laid it out straightforwardly: “I need you to make a list of all your partners and contacts who could be involved in this. This includes the Kurganskaya Bratva, the mafia that Jacomo Grecco and you worked with.”
Messina sighed, aware that there was no perfect solution. However, he finally agreed, “Alright, Ellis. I'll compile the list, but we'll work together to find Donna and ensure that everything returns to normal without harming my business.”