Still woozy, I looked around the room to see if there was anything lying around I could use as a weapon. I refused to play the sitting duck again when they came to grab me. This time, I’d be ready for the cowards. A pallet in the corner of the room had potential. Nothing like a sharp wooden spike to the eye to get rid of an attacker. I wasn’t going down without a fight.
I was thankful that they hadn’t tied me up. That was their second mistake. Snatching me was their first. Joe and the boys were going to make them pay. And God help them if Bria got into the mix! She could ballet kick the shit out of Rambo.
I took off my jacket and wrapped it around my hand to prevent splinters from sinking into my flesh. On my second pull, I yanked a piece of wood off the pallet, steel nails included. I stood quietly, listening for footsteps, but heard none. The plank was a decent size, big enough to do the damage required in order for me to escape.
The clock ticked on slowly as I waited for signs of life from the other side of the door. My stomach was in a knot. I didn’t think I could vomit anymore than I had already done. I was wrong. Maybe it was a stomach bug on top of being manhandled by a gorilla of a man. To add insult to injury, the room was cold. A blanket would have been an idea—then again, Abriana wasn’t exactly a warm and fuzzy sort. Fire breathing dragons didn’t need blankets.
I had no other option than to wait to be rescued—or kick some ass trying to rescue myself. Where are you, Joe?
Chapter Twelve
JOE
The shock of Ella’s pregnancy stunned me into silence. A myriad of thoughts cascaded through my mind as I stood staring at the tube with the floating donut. My mother looked at me with tears in her eyes.
“Don’t you worry, Son. We’re going to get Ella and your baby back safely.” She turned and left the room, leaving me sitting on the couch, pale and suddenly exhausted.
“Joe!” My father called my name as I heard the front door close.
“Papa?”
“Come here, Son. Come listen to this.”
A young man, I reckoned in his early twenties, sat in my father’s study. He had his head bowed down as a show of respect to my father, nervously wringing his hat in his hands.
“Tell my son what you’ve told me.”
“Yes, sir. I know who took your wife, sir. I’ll need protection from your family, Mr. Coli. If they find out I’ve told you, they’ll kill me and my family.”
“Yes, we agree. Now out with it! Where the hell is she? Who’s done this?” My nerves were frayed, and I was in no mood to play the patient detective, interviewing a suspect for hours on end.
“My cousin works for a very wealthy family. He came to me about two weeks ago and asked if I would help him with a very important job. My family is poor, sir. I’m not in the habit of turning down an opportunity to earn money.” He stopped as if he were afraid to continue.
“Yes, yes. Out with it!” I was running out of patience, fast. I didn’t want to lose my shit and scare the boy into silence.
“Yes, sir. When I asked him what the job was about, he said that it would be a quick snatch and deliver. I’m no saint, but when I heard who they were planning on snatching, I backed out. My cousin swore me to secrecy. If they find out I’ve squealed, I’m dead, and so is my mother and sisters.”
“I will make sure no one touches you or your family,” my father said. “Now, tell us who’s taken my son’s wife.”
The words he spoke next, hit me like a freight train. Never in my wildest imaginations did I see it coming.
“Abriana Ferrari has your wife, Sir.”
I sank into a chair in the study. I tried to get up but my legs wouldn’t obey my will. Abriana! What the fuck was she thinking? Then, the next thought arrested my racing mind. Did Gino know anything about it? Was he in on it?
“If Gino has anything to do with this, Papa, I’ll kill him.”
“Now, son, let’s not get ahead of ourselves.” He looked at the young man. “Do you know where they are keeping her?”
“Not exactly, sir, but I remember my cousin saying something about a warehouse near the docks.”
“Abriana’s family owns many export businesses. I know most of the operations and where they conduct them from. Thank you, young man. I’ll send someone with you to collect your family. You’ll be kept safe.”
My father called one of his trusted men and instructed him to take care of the snitch’s family. After the boy had left, he instructed one of his men to call Gino to the study. I sat very still while my anger rose within me with hot, pulsing waves.
Before Gino entered, my father spoke to me. “Son, I want you to leave this to me. If Gino is in on this, I’ll find out. I know you’re furious right now, and I don’t blame you. But let me handle this, please.”
I sat very still as Gino entered. My father motioned for him to sit.
“Any news, Papa?” If he were acting, he was doing a damn good job of it.
“Yes, we have news, but you’re not going to like it. I want you to listen very carefully to what I’m about to tell you.”
Gino shifted uncomfortably in his seat, but he didn’t speak. I tried not to rip off his fucking head—it was the hardest thing
