Fabio was stunned. I’d never seen him so angry. I was unfamiliar with this side of him. He had a steely determination, mixed with rage oozing from every pore of his being. The boys were armed and ready. Before we left, my father kissed me on the cheek. His expression told me more than words ever could.
“Don’t worry, Papa. I’ll be fine. I’m in good hands.”
“I love you, my son. Gino, look after your brother.” He turned and walked back into the house.
“Right, boys, let’s go kick some ass,” Mario said, as the gang, armed to the teeth, hit the road.
“Are you guys sure you want to do this? I’ll never forgive myself if anything happens to you.”
Fabio spoke, putting a bullet in the chamber of his gun. “Let’s go get that bitch.”
Franco chimed in. “Of course we’re sure, Joe. We’re with you all the way.”
Mario followed soon after. “Fuck yeah, we’re sure! I’m dying to see the look on their faces when we open a can of whoop ass on them. Don’t you worry, buddy, we’ve got this.”
“There’s one more thing you need to know before we leave, boys. I want you to be very careful with Ella when we find her.”
“Are you kidding?” Fabio looked at me as if I was mad. “It’s Ella we’re talking about. We’ll handle her with kid gloves, buddy, you know that.”
“No point in mentioning it.” Mario was getting into the car. “It’s a done deal.”
“Good, because Ella is pregnant.” The air was so thick you could chop it with an ax.
ELEANORA
My pounding headache had subsided, if only mildly. My eyes were accustomed to the dimly lit room, and I was more than ready to bitch slap someone with my nail studded plank. The erstwhile quiet was transformed when the sounds of men going about their workday seeped through the crack under the door.
I heard the keys rattling and knew it meant the door would soon open again. I readied myself, plank in hand, stood next to the door, and waited to strike. The poor schmuck would never see it coming.
I wielded my makeshift baton as soon as I saw a young man entering. I hit him so hard I heard his teeth rattle. He went down like the economy in a recession. I didn’t wait for him to recover before I made a break for it. The door was ajar as I sprinted for freedom. I was in a larger room, voices coming from beyond the door. I hid until they passed me and burst into a large warehouse. Men and women were busily filling canvas bags with coffee beans. They stopped what they were doing when they saw me. No one spoke or moved.
“Please,” I pleaded softly, “help me.”
They stared for a few moments more then, to my horror, got back to the job at hand. Where was their humanity? Were they that hard up for a job that they’d watch someone die? What the fuck?
The now toothless wonder must have recovered because he was running at me with piss and vinegar written all over his bleeding face. I turned and tried to run past the heartless coffee slaves. I got as far as a few meters from the outside yard when the toothless one tackled me and threw me to the ground.
“You bitch! I’m going to kill you.” He was not happy. He smacked me hard across my left cheek. Pain exploded across my face, and a flash of white light moved across my vision. I tried to recover and get up again, but he was holding onto me with an iron grip. He put his arm around my throat and started squeezing. I was sure my eyes would pop out of their sockets.
“Enrico!” A voice boomed from across the warehouse. The startled asshole let go of my neck, and I fell to the floor, gasping for air. “What the fuck are you doing? Are you trying to get yourself killed?”
“Look what the bitch did to my face!” Enrico was holding on to his mouth. Blood was still pouring from it.
“I don’t care if she bit off your dick! Abriana will kill all of us if any harm comes to this woman. Now, get a fucking grip and tie her up!”
Enrico did as he was told. When he was done, he whispered into my ear. It sounded more like a hissing snake than a male voice. “I’m going to kill you slowly. I’ll make your husband watch. And when you’re dead, I’m going to kill him too.”
My body went cold and rigid. How could I have been so stupid? I’d just signed Joe’s and my death warrant. Oh God, Ella, what have you done?
Enrico frog marched me to a panel van outside, where he threw me into the back. “We can’t have you screaming like a banshee when we meet up with Joe, now, can we? You stay quiet and perhaps, I won’t kill you now.” He grabbed my breast and squeezed it so hard my eyes watered in pain. “Or perhaps, I’ll have a little fun before I give you back to him.” He moved his hand down the inside of my thigh towards my crotch.
“Okay, let’s go, Enrico!”
Saved by the bell. I watched as he adjusted himself and left me alone inside the van. I heard the door close, but not before he shoved a gag into my mouth.
***
