Chapter 234 Not Good
Dakota's P.O.V.
I refuse to believe Galdino is dead. Whoever has him wouldn't have made the screen go black if he had shot him. They would have wanted us to see what they had done.
"Did he tell you where he went?" I ask Valentina as she sobs.
"No. He just said he needed to go somewhere and would return in a few hours." She's shaking so badly she can barely speak. I wrap my arms around her while I think. It must have been important for Galdino to leave so late and not tell Valentina where he was going.
"Did he take Benny or anyone else with him?" I ask. Ari hasn't moved or said anything. I'm worried he may be in shock.
"I don't know. I was putting Enzo to bed when he left. Do you think he's dead?" Valentina asks as she clings to me.
"No. I think they want us to believe he's dead, but we're going to find him before they can kill him. Did he say anything before he left that would give us a clue about who he was meeting?" She calms down a little, and Ari is coming out of his shock.
"All I remember was him saying something under his breath about a widow or something like that. I wasn't really listening. He left a few minutes later." I look at Ari. Galdino has to be talking about The Widow Maker. Did The Widow Maker make a deal with the Tarasovich brothers to trap Galdino?
"Stay with Enzo. Ari and I are going to find him. Let me know if anyone calls or if you get any messages." Valentina nods and walks down the hall.
"Ari, we're going to find your dad." I wrap my arms around him, and he finally lets the tears fall that I know he was trying to hold back.
"I have never thought what it would be like without him, and suddenly everything we've done together and not done flashed before my eyes. Let's see if Benny is here. If he is, he will know how to find The Widow Maker. One thing became clear to me just now." We run down the stairs to Benny and Shannon's room.
"What's that?" I ask as I knock on their bedroom door.
"I have lived too long staying in my dad's shadow. I need to start paying attention to our family business so I know what the hell is going on." Benny opens the door, and that worries me. Why would Galdino leave and not take Benny?
"Do you know how to find The Widow Maker?" I ask him.
"Yes, why?" he asks.
"We believe he has Galdino. A video of Galdino tied to a metal table was sent to Valentina. Someone fired a gun as the video went black. I don't think they killed Galdino because they would have kept the camera on. Valentina said he said something about a widow before he left." Benny doesn't look as worried as I think he should.
"Did Valentina believe it was real?" he whispers. I narrow my eyes at him while trying to control my anger.
"Yes, we all did. What's going on?" My hands are itching to grab my knife, but I need an explanation first. How dare they scare us like this if it's a joke?
"The Widow Maker met with Shapiro and Zubov Tarasovich. They want him to work for them and come after your family and Galdino's. He let them believe that he was going to betray Galdino, and as soon as he left their house, he called us. We devised a plan to make it look like The Widow Maker tricked Galdino. It had to be convincing, so we couldn't tell Valentina or you." I grab Benny by the front of his shirt.
"Why did you have to make it convincing in our house? The brothers aren't here, so how would our response make a difference?" I ask him.
"The Widow Maker told them he planted a bug in Galdino's bedroom. Galdino actually did it; that's why he mentioned the widow in front of Valentina." I am so angry and relieved at the same time that I feel like kicking someone's ass.
"So what's the plan now, and where is Galdino? Can you please tell me The Widow Maker's name? I'm getting tired of referring to him by his title. It makes him sound like he's in a damn movie or something." I spin around when I hear someone behind me. It's Galdino, followed by a short man with wire-rimmed glasses and a balding head, wearing a long overcoat.
"Please allow me to introduce myself. I'm Warren Cooper, also known as The Widow Maker." I look at the man in disbelief as he holds his hand out to me. If I saw him on the street, I would think he was a banker or salesman, not a stone-cold killer.
"I'm Dakota. So, did your little game work?" I ask as I glare at Galdino. He puts his hand on Ari's shoulder, and Ari puts his hand over his dad's. It's the most affection I've seen between the two of them. I hope Valentina gives him hell for scaring us as he did.
"Yes. The Tarasovich brothers believe that Galdino is dead and that I'm working for them. I have wanted to meet you for a long time. I've heard a lot about you." I don't know whether to be flattered or scared.
"I hope what you heard was terrifying enough for you not to want to try any of your torture on me." Everyone laughs, but I'm serious.
"No, my dear. I only kill men, and only those who deserve it." It creeps me out a little, but Warren is cute in a psychopathic kind of way.