Page 116 of Righteous Enforcer
"Hurt her, and I'll take whatever information I have to my grave. But send her safely back to her father, and I'll cooperate."
I hold my breath as Ivan deliberates. Time stretches, and I suspect he knows what he’s going to do. He’s just drawing it out to make me suffer.
"Children complicate things," he finally says. "They cry. They need medicine. They are inconvenient hostages."
God, has he kidnapped children before?
“We’ll drop her off at the Dante gate. It will be up to her to get inside.”
Relief crashes through me. “Sweetie. I’m taking you home. At the gate, you find one of the men to let you in, okay?” I’m glad we arranged for the delivery of the medicine. I’m positive Sophia will make sure Mirabella takes it.
She burrows into me.
"It's okay, baby.” I realize that this could be the last time I hold her. I have nothing of value to tell Ivan and when he figures that out, he’ll kill me.
"Be brave," I tell Mirabella as we approach the gate.
"Aren't you coming?" Her small voice breaks my heart.
"Soon," I lie, forcing a smile through tears. "I have to finish talking to these men first."
Her lip quivers. “Are they the bad men?”
I kiss her head. “I love you, baby. Never forget that, okay?”
We come to a screeching halt at least fifty yards from the Dante compound’s gate. Ivan exits the car, opens my door, and yanks Mirabella from my arms. She cries out, grasping for me.
My heart is wrenched from my chest. “It’s okay. Go to the house, baby. Go. Sunshine.” I say the secret word we haven’t practiced in ages. Does she even remember what it means? “Sunshine, Mirabella. Go.”
Ivan plops her on the side of the road. It will be up to her to make it to the gate.
“Go to the gate,” I yell out at her, pointing in the direction she needs to go.
Ivan jumps into the car next to me. “Go.”
The car makes a U-turn and then speeds back the way we came.
“Can I call the house and let them know she’s there? I won’t talk unless I know she’s safe.” I look out the window, watching Mirabella stand on the side of the street, crying, her arms outstretched toward me. The sight undoes me. With fear and rage, I strike out at Ivan.
“Mother fucker,” he yells as my fist catches him in the jaw. He retaliates, using his gun to strike me on the temple. Pain explodes behind my eyes, and I’m disoriented. “Fucking bitch.” He hits me again, and this time, the world goes black.
29
ADRIANO
I pace the back room of Vito's auto shop, watching the mechanic sweat as he recites what he knows about Bratva movements in his territory.
His grease-stained hands shake. Most of our associates don’t practically piss their pants, but Vito is on my shit list, so he’s right to be nervous.
Good thing for him, I believe what he’s telling.
"They've been using the back of Sokolov's restaurant for meetings," he shares. "Four, maybe five cars coming through after midnight, staying for hours."
I nod, committing the details to memory. "And the shipments?"
"Twice a month. Always Tuesdays."
“What have you heard about them coming into Dante territory?”
