Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 92071 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 460(@200wpm)___ 368(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92071 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 460(@200wpm)___ 368(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
In the haze of pain, cold, and despair, Dante’s face when I had stayed too long underwater in his pool came into my head.
I remembered the vulnerability I had seen in his eyes. It had been poignant then, but now I realized if I was unable to survive this he would be left alone. I felt my throat close up with emotion at the very real probability I might die. My great sacrifice had come to nothing.
All I had done was disappoint him.
My head ached and it hurt even to cry, but I closed my eyes and felt the hot tears cool as they rolled down my cheeks. I couldn’t tell how much time passed. I was so cold I felt myself losing consciousness. I knew then I was dying in a freezer with slabs of meat.
I tried to fight the darkness that was descending, but it was getting harder and harder. The darkness seemed soft and welcoming. An escape from the merciless cold. My eyes fluttered and closed.
In the distance, I could hear some faint voices, but it was impossible to make out what they were saying. But it seemed as if they were calling to me. Then I heard my father’s loving voice say, “No. It’s not time yet, bella mia.”
A sound so loud, it was like thunder, filled the air, and a shaft of piercing bright light hit me and burned my eyes. I screamed. Someone had opened the door. A wave of warmth blew over my frozen body. I heard gruff men’s voices. They were speaking Italian. Why did my father never teach me to speak it? I wished he had. My eyes became more accustomed to the light. I squinted and saw metal drums on the floor and huge pig carcasses stripped of skin hanging from ceiling hooks.
I wondered what was in the metal drums and felt so disgusted I felt the urge to puke. The stench seemed unbearable now that my brain registered what it was.
Rough hands picked me up and carried me away. I tried to speak, but no words would come out. I was still shivering uncontrollably. There was laughter and then I was deposited into the back of a large truck. The doors were closed behind me.
The engine roared into life and the truck began to move.
Flattening my hands against the floor I tried to pull myself up. After exerting such an excruciating effort, I was able to slightly lift up my upper body. Unfortunately, the vehicle came to a stop and I lost my balance and fell back to the floor.
Then we were moving again and I wondered where I was being taken to.
Chapter 58
Dante
So it was not Sarah who was the dirty cop, but Lisa Mellor.
I picked up my ringing phone and heard Detective Hudgens’s sheepish voice.
“Any updates?” he asked.
“Shouldn’t I be asking you that?”
“I don’t know what else to tell you-” he said.
I ended the call and threw the phone across the table. Talking to him was a useless waste of time.
My foot was tapping against the floor. I looked at my watch. I picked up my phone once again and placed a call.
“What’s the location of the boy right now?” I asked, and the response came.
“He's still in school, but his bodyguards are outside.”
There was no other choice. Ugo left me with no other choice.
“Take the boy,” I said.
“Today?”
“Yes,” I replied.
“Yes, Boss,” came the response and I set the phone down and sat at my desk to wait. One hour later I received a phone call.
I looked at the number. Unknown. I picked it up.
“I understand you had to get my attention. And it worked. It was good. You did it promptly as well, but you won’t get away with it,” Ugo said. His voice was low and cold, but I could feel the fury pulsating through it.
My lips twisted into an ugly smile. “I already did. If you hurt one hair on her head you can say goodbye to him right now.”
“Only a fool plays chicken with me. Do you really think I won’t go further than you? Hmmm? That even though you have my only child, my pride and joy, my five-year-old son, who I’d carefully hidden away in Matera, I will hack Leone’s daughter to pieces and send the pieces one by one to you. How would you feel, Dante? To receive a toe, a thumb, a hand, a whole arm, a severed bloody head …”
I felt the first prick of fear. God, I’d forgotten what a monster he was. Then I told myself he was bluffing. Of course, he wanted his only son back. Who would give up their son for the sake of an old feud?
“So, are you ready to play my old friend?” he drawled. “I’d love to see just how fearless you’ve become over the years. If I remember correctly, gore was difficult for you to stomach. You couldn’t even drink a glass of piss, but if you’re ready, I am.”