The last thing I remembered was a noise behind me. I turned to see what it was, and that’s when the searing pain took over and darkness enveloped me. I couldn’t see my attacker, which made me fearful. A faceless foe was a frightening one. Joe! Please find me, my love. I need you.
JOE
The guard from the gatehouse burst into the house. I heard my mother directing him to my father’s study. He knocked on the open door and came in. “Boss, someone just dropped this note at the gate. Threw it at us from a speeding car, actually. I thought it may be important.”
“Thank you, Paolo. Leave us.”
“Yes, Boss.” He closed the door behind him. I opened the envelope and read it. Afterward, I sat down. I gave it to my father to read. He read it, then picked up the phone and started dialing. My legs wouldn’t move, and my hands were numb. I stared at my father as he spoke into the receiver. When he was done, he ended the call and looked up at me.
“Stay calm, my son. Help is on the way. We’ll find her. They wouldn’t dare hurt her.”
“Who would have the balls to do this, Papa? Do you think Gino would be that stupid?”
“Gino doesn’t have the brains to pull off something like this. He’s small time. It’s someone else. I’m going to find out why, and kill the bastard.”
Half an hour after my father’s call, men started to arrive. Mario and Franco joined us at the house. Mario’s father was there too, armed to the teeth with muscle heads and tommy guns. My mother and Alicia were in the living room. I went over to them to comfort and assure them that Ella would be back soon and safely.
As I went back outside, Gino was walking towards us.
“Joe! I heard what happened. I’m sorry, brother. What can I do to help?”
I was suspicious of Gino. I had been since the day his bitch of a mother ruined my wedding day. There was something slimy about him, but I couldn’t condemn anyone by sight and history alone. I had no idea—I couldn’t assume.
“Thank you, Gino. If you hear anything let me know.”
“You got it.”
He left me and went over to talk to my father. I watched as they spoke. As much as I loathed the man, I knew he wasn’t a good enough actor to pull this off—or so I hoped. All I knew is that I couldn’t sit around waiting for something to happen. I called Mario and Franco over.
“This is fucked up, man. What can we do to help?” Mario was serious, probably for the first time since we’d met.
Franco, the town grump, came over and put his hand on my shoulder. “Anything to help, Joe, I’ll do it. We love Ella. She’s the best thing that’s ever happened to you.”
I was so stunned my jaw was agape. “Thank you, guys. I can’t sit around here and do nothing.”
“Let’s get going. My father knows the streets better than anyone. I’ve learned a couple of things from him. I know someone who can help us find Ella.”
The three of us left without announcing it. I wasn’t going to answer a bunch of questions while my wife was out there somewhere, waiting for me.
ELEANORA
The room was dimly lit, so I couldn't tell what time of day it was or how long I’d been there. I wore the same clothes as the night before—thank God I wasn’t in my silky PJs. I listened in the hopes that I’d hear something or someone, but all I could hear was the sound of my heart pounding in my head.
I suddenly thought of my poor mother. The woman had just lost her husband, and now, her daughter was missing, without a trace. Whoever it was could kiss their golden years goodbye. Retribution, Sicilian style, was a bitch. If I weren’t so pissed off, I’d almost pity the poor fool who dared to kidnap the wife of a Coli. What an idiot.
I liked the smell of coffee as much as the next Italian, but the intense smell had become overwhelming. I deduced that whoever snatched me was holding me in a coffee export warehouse.
Midway through my succinct expletives, I heard footsteps. A woman’s voice was barking orders, followed by the sound of scurrying feet and clanging keys. I held my breath while someone unlocked the door and flicked on a light. I shielded my eyes with my hand as the bright light sent a sharp pain through my head.
“Good, you’re awake.”
The woman’s voice sounded vaguely familiar, but my ears were ringing and my eyes hurt. So, I averted my gaze.
“It’s good to see you again, Eleanora. You looked very different in your wedding dress.”
“Abriana? Is that you?” On a scale of one to ten on the WTF scale, I shot up to twelve.
“Good memory. Then again, I did make quite an entrance.”
“Abriana, what the hell are you doing? Is this Gino’s idea or yours?”
“My boy knows nothing about this. I thought it better to keep him out of it.”
“What exactly is your plan? It’s not money you need; you have more than enough of that, so what do you want?”
“I want what I’ve always wanted, you little gold digger. I want Gino to take his rightful place as the heir apparent of the Coli dynasty. He is the eldest son and should, by rights, take over from Antonio, not that little snot nose, Joe.”
“Sorry to burst your bubble,
