“Actually, I didn’t just call to tell you I’m safe. I have something else to tell you.”
“Don’t tell me you’ve decided to move back to Sicily because then, I’d have to kill you myself!”
“No, that’s not it. Joe and I are bringing someone home with us.”
“Your mother? I thought she swore she’d never leave Palermo. Did you scare the shit out of her or what? Has she changed her mind?”
“You’d think so, but no. It’s someone else.”
“Okay, you got me. Who?”
“I’m pregnant.”
The silence was deafening. It took a few seconds to register with Bria, but when the penny dropped, she went ape.
“Pregnant! What? I leave you alone for a few days and you get yourself knocked up. Are you kidding me? How do you know?”
“I did a test before I was snatched. I didn’t have a chance to see the result, but my mother found the tube. Joe told me. First, I thought it was a concussion, then, I thought my mother’s lasagna had gone south because I puked my lungs out in the room they held me in.”
“Congrats. Ella. This is fantastic news. Poor Joe must have been out of his mind with worry. Speaking of which, where are the boys now?”
“They are at the hospital.”
“The hospital? Why?”
“Franco was shot when we were fleeing our captors.”
“What! Fabio didn’t tell me that.”
“It’s been so crazy this side. I’m sure he’ll call you soon.”
“Ella, who kidnapped you? What did they want?”
“Abriana, if you can believe it. The woman is batshit crazy. She was trying to get rid of Joe and me so that her little Gino would be Antonio’s successor.”
“Those assholes! Did Joe kick the shit out of Gino? I wish I were a fly on the wall!”
“Believe it or not, Gino had no idea his mother was behind it. He was as surprised as we were.”
“Where’s she now?”
“We don’t know. But we will find her, that I promise you. If Antonio or Joe don’t get to her first, I will.”
“I kicked Boobzilla’s ass; Abriana is all yours!”
“Thanks, Bria. This is going to be sweet!”
JOE
Franco was in surgery. The assistant surgeon came out of the theatre to bring us up to speed.
“How’s he doing, doctor? Any news yet?” Mario, who’d been pacing up and down, was all over him.
“It’s not looking good. We’re trying to stabilize him, but he’s lost a lot of blood. The patient has a collapsed lung, and the bullet did major damage to his heart. I’ll let you know of his progress as soon as I can. Has anyone notified his family?”
“His parents are away on a trip. We’ve contacted them. They’re flying back as soon as they can get a flight. Thank you, doctor.” I put my arm around Mario’s shoulders. “Come on, bud, let’s go have a coffee while we wait for the doctor.”
“This is bullshit, man! If I get my hands on Abriana or any of her fucking assassins, I’m going to squeeze the life out of them with my bare hands. Franco is one of us. He deserves better, Joe.”
“You’re right Mario, you’re right. We’ll get her, I swear it.”
Fabio grabbed Mario’s shoulder. “We’ve got you, Mario. Whatever happens, we’re here for you.”
After about half an hour, we went back up to the floor where Franco was being operated on. We sat silently in the waiting room. I was tired and my mind was all over the place. I heard footsteps coming toward us from across the hall. It was the surgeon we’d spoken to before. Mario jumped up immediately.
“How is he, doc? Can I see him?”
Nausea pushed up from my stomach to my throat as I watched the doctor’s expression, then he spoke.
“I’m so sorry but your friend didn't make it through surgery. He passed away about ten minutes ago. My condolences.”
Mario was cemented to the floor. He bowed his head and said nothing, walked to the chair against the wall, and sat down. He was still silent when he put his head in his hands. Fabio and I were stunned at the doctor’s news. It was as if I’d pulled the trigger myself. If it wasn’t for my family, Franco would still be alive. I sank into the seat next to Mario. Fabio stayed where he was.
Mario lifted up his head. In a voice that I’d never heard from him before, he spoke slowly, enunciating every word. “I’m going to find that fucking bitch, and I’m going to kill her. If anybody tries to stop me, I’m going to kill them, too.”
He stood up and started walking toward the exit. Fabio and I followed him. This would not end well.
Chapter Fourteen
JOE
The pain and rage were overwhelming. We’d been the band of misfits for as long as I could remember. Sure, Franco wasn’t the most gregarious misfit of the group, but he was our friend and we loved him. He and Mario were the closest. We never did understand it, as they were polar opposites, but they were best buds, nonetheless.
Mario dropped us at the front door and then left. I tried to reason with him but it was no use.
“I’m going to find Abriana and kill her.” That’s all he said. Fabio and I tried to convince him to wait so that we could all go together, with backup, but he refused.
Everyone was at the house by the time we got back. The men who’d been at the warehouse, other family bosses, and informants, called in to root out Abriana and whoever was hiding her. My father called Fabio and me to his study.
“Sit down,
