26. Chapter Twenty-Six

Chapter Twenty-Six

Lorenzo

Pain.

That’s the first thing I register as I slowly come back to consciousness.

A searing, all-consuming pain radiates from my side, near my belly. I try to move, but the agony is too much.

I force my eyes open, blinking against the harsh light. The sterile smell of the hospital fills my nostrils, and the steady beeping of machines surrounds me. I’m alive. I made it. Barely.

I hear a door open and footsteps approach. I turn my head slightly and see Renee standing there, her face a mask of worry and relief.

This is a rare moment of vulnerability for her, but I can tell she’s trying to keep it in check. We don’t do vulnerability well in this family.

“You look like shit,” she says, attempting a weak smile.

I manage a grimace, which is the closest I can get to a smile right now. “Thanks for the vote of confidence.”

The doctor walks in, a serious expression on his face. He checks the monitors and my chart before turning to me.

“Mr. Duretti, you were very lucky. The bullet missed your vital organs by millimeters. We had to perform emergency surgery to remove it and repair the damage. You’ll need to rest and avoid any strenuous activity for a while.”

I nod, absorbing the information. “How long until I can get out of here?”

The doctor frowns. “You need to stay for at least a few more days. Your body needs time to heal.”

Renee snorts. “Good luck keeping him here.”

The doctor gives her a stern look but then turns back to me. “Please, try to rest.”

As the doctor leaves, I look at Renee. There’s an unspoken tension between us, a reminder of the strain in our relationship.

But there’s also relief in her eyes. She’s glad I didn’t die, even if she won’t admit it.

“Would’ve been sad if you died,” she mutters, trying to sound nonchalant.

“Nice to know you care,” I reply, my voice weaker than I’d like.

She sits down beside the bed, avoiding my gaze. I have to know about Daniella. “How’s Daniella?” I ask, trying to shift the focus.

Renee’s face softens slightly. “She’s at the house. She was really worried about you. She went a bit berserk when she found out you were shot. Cried a lot.”

The image of Daniella crying over me does something to my heart. Maybe she does care. Maybe I’m not alone in feeling this way about her.

“I need to see her,” I say, trying to sit up but wincing at the pain.

“Don’t be stupid, Lorenzo. You need to rest.”

“I can’t stay here. I need to be with her. I need to make sure she’s okay.” My voice is insistent and I can see the frustration in Renee’s eyes.

“Fine,” she sighs. “But you’re an idiot.”

The doctor isn’t happy about my decision, but he reluctantly discharges me with strict instructions to rest.

Renee helps me into a wheelchair, and we make our way to the car. Every movement sends a jolt of pain through my body, but I grit my teeth and bear it.

As we drive home, the tension is palpable. Renee sits beside me, her eyes focused on the road. I can tell she’s wrestling with something.

“Who do you think tried to kill me?” I ask, breaking the silence.

“Could be Massimo,” she replies, her voice tight. “He’s been gunning for us for a while now.”

I nod, my mind racing. “We can’t ignore this. The treaty with Bruno means nothing now. Massimo has crossed the line.”

“I agree,” she says, glancing at me. “But we need to be smart about this. Rushing in could make things worse.”

Vincent, who is driving, chimes in. “We’ll figure it out, Lorenzo. Just don’t do anything reckless. We need you in one piece.”

I grunt in acknowledgment, my thoughts already shifting to Daniella. She’s been through so much and now she’s caught up in this mess. I have to protect her, no matter what.

When we arrive at the house, I call out for Daniella as soon as we step inside.

Greta appears seemingly from nowhere with food in her hands. It looks like a soup of some kind.

"Eat," she says. "It will give you strength."

This is so like Greta. She is known for her silence and her practicality. I take the bowl from her hand and take one spoonful because I know that if I don't, she is not going to let it go. She nods at me, looks me over and once she determines that I look good enough, she turns and disappears.

I shift my attention back to how quiet the house is. The house is quiet. It lacks the evidence of her presence.

"Daniella," I call out, but I don't get any response.

I get up from the wheelchair, which is really a big fucking pain in the ass. Renee and Vincent grumble at me, but I pay them no mind. I walk upstairs to her room and knock.

"Daniella, open the door, please. I just...I need to talk to you. Please, please."

But there is still nothing. I open the door slightly and find it unlocked, but there is nobody inside.

"Daniella," I call again, but no response.

I turn back to look at Renee. "Where is she?"

Renee looks blank, confused. "I...I don't know. I left her in the house to come see you in the hospital."

Panic sets in like cement on a hot day I instantly get worried. This does not look good.

"Daniella," I call, running through the house, pacing room to room. I go to the garden, but she is not there. I go to all her favorite spots in the compound, but she is nowhere to be seen.

"Victor, where is Victor?" I ask, trying to find my right-hand man. Somehow, he must know what is happening since he was the only one who did not come to the hospital to see me. But Victor is not around either.

“Where are they?” I demand, looking around frantically.

“We left her here,” Renee says, her voice tinged with worry. “She was here when I left.”

“Everyone, find her!” I shout, my voice echoing through the halls. “Where the fuck is she?”

The staff and my men scramble to search the house. My mind races with fear and anger. Did she run away? Did she leave me? The thought is unbearable.

“Find her!” I yell again, desperation creeping into my voice. We check every room, every corner, but she’s nowhere to be found.

As I start to feel the weight of despair, my phone rings. I see Victor’s name on the screen and answer it quickly.

“Victor, Daniella is missing. Where are you? I need you back at home now.”

“Is she missing?” He laughs and it is the most repulsive thing I’ve ever heard.

“What have you done? What the hell have you done?” It makes no sense to me, why would he do this? Why would he betray me?

“Where the fuck is she?” I demand.

“How does it feel?” Victor’s voice is cold, filled with malice. “How does it feel to have everything slipping through your fingertips?”

There’s a moment of confusion before reality sets in. “You did this,” I hiss.

“Of course I did,” he replies, a cruel laugh escaping his lips.

“You fucking bastard,” I growl, rage boiling inside me.

“Language,” he taunts. “She looks beautiful with my fingerprints on her cheek. I can’t wait to see what other parts of her I can mark.”

I can barely see straight through the fury. “If you touch her—”

“You’ll do what? Come to the location I send you if you ever want to see her alive again. And come alone.”

The line goes dead and I’m left staring at the phone, my mind reeling.

“Renee, get everyone. Now,” I bark, turning on my heel and heading toward the control room where the security feeds are monitored. The tension in the air is thick, and my body is taut with anger and fear.

“We’ll find her,” Renee says, her voice steady but filled with worry. “We’ll find her, Lorenzo.”

The screens flicker as the footage rewinds. We see Daniella walking down the hall, looking distraught.

Then Victor appears, talking to her and leading her out of the house. My blood boils as I watch the betrayal unfold.

“Get the car ready,” I order. “We’re going after them.”

My men scramble to obey and within minutes, we’re on the road, racing towards the location Victor sent. My heart pounds with a mix of fear and rage. If they’ve hurt her, I’ll burn everything to the ground.

The drive feels like an eternity. Every second that passes is another second she’s in danger. My mind is a whirlwind of thoughts, most of them dark and vengeful.

We finally arrive at an old warehouse on the outskirts of town. I can see Victor standing outside with a smug look on his face. My men and I step out of the car, guns drawn.

“Where is she?” I demand, my voice low and dangerous.

Victor smirks. “Inside. But first, you’ll agree to my terms.”

“Terms?” I scoff. “You think you’re in a position to negotiate?”

He shrugs. “You don’t have a choice, Duretti. If you want her back alive, you’ll listen.”

Every muscle in my body is taut with tension. “Fine. Let’s hear it.”

He gestures for us to follow him inside. My men and I move cautiously, eyes scanning for any signs of danger. The warehouse is dimly lit and the air is thick with the smell of oil and rust.

We reach a large open space where Massimo is waiting, flanked by his men. Daniella is there too, her hands tied behind her back, a bruise forming on her cheek.

My heart aches at the sight of her, but I force myself to stay calm.

“Let her go,” I say, my voice steady.

“Not so fast,” Massimo replies, a malicious glint in his eyes. “We have some business to discuss first.”

“What do you want?” I ask, trying to keep my rage in check.

“Your territory. Your businesses. Everything you own.”

“Fuck you,” I spit. “You think I’ll just hand everything over to you?”

Massimo laughs. “You will if you want her to live.”

I take a step forward, my eyes locked on his. “You harm a single hair on her head and I will tear you apart piece by piece.”

He raises an eyebrow. “Big words, Duretti. But words won’t save her. Besides, you all owe me. I was supposed to marry Renee. I was supposed to be part of your family. But you all went back on your word. Now you will pay.”

Before I can respond, there’s a gunshot. The sound echoes through the warehouse.