30. Ezra

Chapter thirty

Ezra

I remember my last argument with Matteo fifteen years ago, before he left, when he took a deal without my knowledge.

“You fucking stole from me!” I growl.

“I did what I had to! A deal with the Americans could have helped our mafia!” Matteo runs both hands aggressively through his hair, his bloodshot eyes locked onto mine.

“But now it’s gone wrong,” I sneer. “You stole from me to make a deal with the Americans. Now it's gone south, and they’re looking for you. Don’t expect me to cover you.”

He flails his hands in the air before slamming them against my desk. “Don’t be a fucking coward, Ezra!”

The anger in me is barely restrained as I watch the heavy rise and fall of his chest.

“The Americans have more resources! Weapons! Men! Drugs! This cartel doesn’t stand a chance against them. They’re fucking ruthless, even to their own, and have no regard for contracts!” I yell, my breathing hard as I start to take small steps toward him. “This is why I warned you to avoid dealing with them.”

The room is silent until he speaks again. “Fuck you, Ezra,” he spits. I see the hint of resentment in his eyes, but I don’t care. He should pay the price for his actions.

“I’m not willing to go to war with the Americans. And your life at stake will not change that.”

After the fight, Matteo left. His whereabouts were unknown for a couple of days, but the Americans didn’t relent, and I knew it was only a matter of time before they turned to my cartel.

They would never believe that I had no hand in the deal. So I did the only thing any calculating man in my shoes would do. I exonerated myself, found Matteo’s location, and ratted him out.

The Americans took him, and since then, I’d heard nothing about him…I assumed he was dead.

Fuck .

The whiskey bottle sitting on the corner of my desk calls out to me, and I pour myself a glass. The liquid swirls as I bring it to my lips, but even that familiar burn does nothing to shake the knot of frustration lodged in my chest.

Raven…why would she leave? I truly thought she loved me. I’m starting to wonder if I was wrong in opening up my heart again.

Just as I take another gulp, a knock sounds on the door before it creaks open. I don’t have to look up to know it’s Elio. He’s been repeating the same action every hour since yesterday.

“Boss, you’ve been holed up in here since you woke up two days ago,” he says for the umpteenth time, promptly snatching the whiskey bottle and glass. “You should be resting and not drinking.”

I wave him off, bringing my eyes to the numerous papers scattered on my desk. “There’s no fucking time for that. Not with Raven missing and Matteo still out there.” My frustration boils over.

“Boss, you took a bullet to the chest,” Elio reminds me, his tone cautious as he returns the drink to its cabinet. His quick steps fill the air before he returns to me.

“Elio,” I snap, finally looking at him. “Just give me updates on what you’ve been working on.”

He clenches his jaw and then releases a breath. “I’ve been looking into likely places he might have taken her, but there’s no luck yet. None of the guards heard their conversation the day that she…” he trails, and I nod.

The day she collected the card from the bastard.

I want to give an order when my phone vibrates on the desk. I glance at it, an unknown number flashing on the screen. Slowly, my heart rate rises, and an odd feeling settles in my gut as I watch the screen.

Clearing my throat, I pick up the call before bringing it to my ear.

There’s a moment of silence on the other side, and I fight the urge to speak first. Just as I open my mouth, a voice cuts through the quiet. I haven’t heard it in years, but I’d recognize it anywhere.

“Ezra,” the voice drawls.

“Matteo,” I say, through gritted teeth. My grip tightens on the phone as the memories from fifteen years ago hit me. “Where’s Raven?”

“Alive?” he chuckles darkly. “Well, I wouldn’t call it living, Ezra.”

My blood boils, and I resist the urge to slam my phone into the table. “If you fucking touch her I?”

“You’ll what?” he taunts. “You can’t do shit, Ezra. I have the upper hand this time.”

“I’ll make sure you bleed from every damn hole in your body!” I yell, barely able to contain the rage coursing through me as I imagine what he could be doing to her.

Matteo only laughs as soon as I finish speaking. “Careful, Ezra. Your words might bring her harm.” His laughter turns dark and twisted.

Silence settles between us as I struggle to ease the tension in my chest, fully aware of just how twisted Matteo can be.

“Why? Perché adesso (Why now)?” I demand, keeping my voice steady even though it drops to a dangerous whisper.

He scoffs. “ Perché? You’re really asking me that?” His voice hardens, venom dripping from his words. “You fucking sold me out to the American cartel like I meant nothing. Do you even know the unspeakable things they did to me?”

I clench my jaw, attempting to control my flaring temper. “You brought it on yourself, Matteo. Sei stato imprudente (You were reckless). And greedy.”

“And it cost me everything!” he explodes, and I involuntarily fist the edge of the table, my nails digging into the wood. “While you sat there, playing king in your little empire, stavo marcendo all'inferno. Ero uno schiavo (I was rotting in hell. I was a slave), Ezra. The Americans should have killed me. Instead, I was sold as a slave because of you.”

My nostrils flare at the bitterness and hate in his voice. He has no fucking right to confront me after what he did. Elio is seated on the chair, typing furiously on his phone.

“ Ci hai messo tutti a rischio (You put us all at risk). Don’t you dare act like you didn’t know the consequences,” my voice booms, as I jump to my feet and start to pace the office. Elio trails behind, pushing the IV pole. He texts on his phone.

Matteo’s laugh is bitter and hollow. “You sold me out to save your skin. Don’t play innocent with me, Ezra. You could have saved my ass or, at the very least, kept your fucking mouth shut, but you ratted me out.”

I stop. “Ti ho venduto (Sold you out)?” It was my turn to let out a loud, bitter laugh. I glare at the wall like he’s right in front of me. “I lost my family because of you!” I slam my fist on the table.

“Or maybe that’s just karma for your stupid decision,” he taunts, the sound of his laughter grating in my ears. “But enough of that, there’s a reason I’m contacting you.”

“Fuck you,” I remark snidely. “ Lascia andare Raven (Let Raven go).”

“On one condition.” He chuckles, then sighs. “ Voglio tutto (I want everything), Ezra . Dimettersi ( Step down). Relinquish your power. Hand over your empire to me.”

I blink, stunned by the audacity. What the fuck is he on about?

“ Sei pazzo (You’re insane),” I hiss.

“ Pensaci attentamente (Think carefully), Ezra.” Matteo’s voice drops to a deadly whisper. “Because if you don’t, I’ll make sure you lose more than just your throne.”

A surge of fury attacks my chest. “What the fuck do you…”

My phone vibrates loudly in my ear, interrupting me. Pulling the phone from my ear, I glance at the screen, and my heart drops.

Raven.

My throat tightens as I click on the notification. I break out in a cold sweat when I see the video.

She’s in a poorly lit room, her wrists tied together. She’s slumped against a wall, head resting limp with a few cuts on her lips. Unconscious. Helpless.

“Fuck!” Elio curses in my ears, his eyes fixed on my phone. Fuck, indeed!

My hands quake as I put the phone back to my ear, a flood of emotions surging through me.

Matteo’s voice oozes back into my ear, taunting. “I know about your little secret…the little bastard in her tummy. Now I’m going to need a little favor from you. You’re going to send me the financial records. All of them. And not the sanitized ones you present to the public. The real ones. I want the records that show every dirty thing you’re involved in. Money laundering, officers on your payroll, bribes, offshore transfers, you name it. Call it a fail-safe in case you go back on your word. One wrong move, and I’ll have them plastered on every newspaper and online site.”

Financial records. My throat goes dry.

“You have twenty-four hours to send those files, or they die.”

The call disconnects, and the screen goes dark.

For a moment, I can’t move.

Raven. Our baby.

My body shakes violently. The rage I feel is too much to contain.

“Elio,” I croak, barely getting the words out, “ Traccia quella chiamata (Track that call).”

His face tenses as his hands ball into a fist. “We tried, but the signal’s untraceable,” he says quickly.

I strike my fist against the desk. Papers fly, scattering across the room.

“Dammit!” Rage shoots through me.

Elio doesn’t flinch. He watches me carefully but doesn’t speak.

I dig a hand into my hair, tugging forcefully at my strands as my mind reels, replaying the image of Raven.

I take a seat, the knots in my stomach tightening as the realization hits me. Matteo must’ve been plotting this for a while. His first attempt to destroy my image failed and he’s still at it. The bastard now wants me to use my own hands to tear down all I’ve struggled to build.

“I need to find them.” I jerk the chair back and stand up, adrenaline fueling my movements. “He wants the financial records. I can’t.”

There’s no way in hell I’m giving him power to the mafia.

“You can’t, Ezra,” Elio says, stepping in front of me, his expression serious. “We’ll find Matteo, and we’ll get Raven back. Ma non in questo modo (But not like this). Sei ferito (You’re injured)…”

“I have twenty-four hours,” I growl, pushing past him. “If I don’t give him what he wants, he’ll…”

“We’ll figure something out,” Elio cuts me off, his voice firm. “He wants you to rush in. If you make a mistake, he wins.”

I pause, inhaling deeply, rage threatening to consume me. He’s right, but how can I stay calm? Raven’s in danger. And our baby. My hands clench into fists as I fight to keep myself from falling apart.

With a heavy breath, I slump into the chair, cupping my head in my palm. “What do we know about his location?”

Elio shakes his head. “ Niente ancora (Nothing yet), but we will search every possible lead.”

“We need to find that bastard and fast!”