Chapter 52

Fire.

For the second time in close to three days, I saw an ominous orange glow in the distance.

This time the destructive flames were potentially killing the woman I loved.

"Fuck!" I screamed. "That has to be Ella. Faster."

Enzo slammed on the gas as we raced toward the remote beach on a deserted stretch of coastland just south of Palermo.

For over two days, we had been tracking Fino's movements after learning he had taken Ella to Sicily from Antonia, who cracked like an egg at just the sight of my father's "tools.

She didn't need to know they were actually pastry tools for Liliana's new baking hobby.

After dumping her in Dante's hands we went on the hunt.

But we were always a step behind.

Always getting there too late.

My frustration and anguish grew with each missed opportunity.

It didn't help that she was being shuttled between secret mafia detention centers around northern Sicily. There were no official records of the facilities, and no one would talk openly about them. We had forked over countless millions in untraceable diamonds provided by Sebastian for bribes just to learn about them. It had taken millions more in diamonds to bribe our way into the clandestine locations to search for Ella.

None of this was done with the local police's knowledge.

Or Dante's.

We couldn't risk it.

As much as I wanted to barge straight into Judge Marzio Delluci's office and demand to know his involvement with Antonia and where he was holding Ella, I had been convinced to hold off.

Sicily was not our territory.

We had no true friends or connections.

There was deception and betrayal at every turn.

Each person we spoke to could be the one to give the order to have Ella killed.

There was no way to know who to trust— so we trusted no one.

Which meant an excruciatingly slow process of bribes and searches.

One prisoner after another.

Each one more disturbingly cruel than the last.

I was absolutely feral in my desperation to find her. When I did finally locate Fino, I was going to tear him apart limb from limb with my fucking teeth just so I could taste his blood and crunch on his fucking bones.

Finally, we had caught a break.

Unlike before when we missed them by hours, we had only missed them by minutes.

Fortunately, we had a helicopter in the air that was able to track and access any vehicles traveling on the remote roads leading to the secret prison.

It only took a matter of minutes to zero in on the correct ones, one large black SUV and one beat-up white hatchback.

Just as we were racing down the single lane toward the flames, the SUV approached from the opposite direction.

As it tried to veer off the road to avoid us, Enzo wrenched the wheel as he gunned it.

Our Range Rover swung violently to the left, perpendicular to the other car.

I stretched my arm out the window and fired one bullet straight into the grill.

A thick plume of smoke burst around the edges of the hood, before the flat piece of metal flew upward, blocking the windshield.

The black SUV fishtailed then stopped.

The three men inside burst out of the doors and made a break for it.

As Enzo, Cesare and Sebastian pursued them, my father and I searched the abandoned vehicle.

My father cursed. "She's not in here."

The blood in my veins froze.

Two cars. An SUV and a white hatchback.

I turned to search the horizon for the origin of the flames.

It was the hatchback.

"My God! She's in the burning car."

Time stopped.

Everything ceased to exist.

There was no breath, no warmth, no life.

All was nothingness except for the thundering in my ears as I ran with every ounce of my strength to reach the car which was already engulfed in flames.

Through the driver's window I could see Ella's horrified gaze as she shook her head violently and gestured with her chin that I should stay back. Even in death, she wasn't thinking of herself.

From past experience, I knew it was useless to try the door. The only way to get her out was through the window and there wasn't much time.

From the looks of it, Fino and his goons had only doused the exterior of the car.

A rookie mistake.

If they had known to soak the interior seat cushions and to douse the engine block, Ella would already be dead.

As it was, having only the exterior hood and roof on fire bought us time.

Not much.

But every second counted.

I stretched out my arm. "I need?—"

Before I could finish my sentence, my father was at my side. "Right here, son."

He handed me his Franchi SPAS-12 combat shotgun. "Ella, lean forward," I yelled.

She ducked her head until her forehead touched the steering wheel.

I fired one shot at the upper right corner of the window, shattering it.

"Christ, she's duct taped to the fucking steering wheel."

Ella shook her head as tears streamed down her flushed face. It was clear she was trying to speak to me over her duct taped gag. Although I couldn't make out the words, it was obvious she was begging me to leave and save myself.

Knowing it was important to keep her calm despite the danger and rising flames around us, I gave her a quick wink and teased, "I love you too, baby."

My hand reached into my boot for my switchblade. After flicking it open, I made quick work of her binds.

My father and I both yanked Ella through the window.

I then tossed her over my shoulder and ran.

We needed to get as far away from the vehicle as possible before it?—

The car exploded into a searing ball of flame.

When we reached our SUV,my cousins and Sebastian had already dragged Fino and his cohorts back.

I set Ella down, carefully brushing pieces of pebble-like glass from her hair and clothes before placing her in the passenger seat. Crouching down in front of her, I held up my blade. "I need to cut the tape. Stay very still."

Her brow furrowed as she whimpered.

Very carefully, I slipped the tip of the knife under the tapes edge and sliced through it. I hissed as I was forced to gingerly pull the tape off her swollen lips. Rather than pull her hair, I cut the strands still attached to the tape. Her hair was so wavy and full, no one would ever notice the thin, uneven layer.

The moment she was free she threw her arms around my neck. Her voice was hoarse as she whispered against my neck, "I knew you'd come."

I pushed her hair back away from her tearstained face. "I told you, colomba mia. I'm never letting you leave me. And that includes even in death."

She cupped my face. "I love you, Matteo. Husband."

With my hand over hers, I turned my face to kiss her palm. "I love you too, Ella. My amazingly brave wife."

Cesare cleared his throat. "Not to interrupt this super touching scene"—he checked his watch—"but I need to get back to my own pregnant wife. Can we kill these three already?"

I turned back to Ella and winked. "I'll just be a minute."

I rose to my full height and approached the cowering men as I rolled up my sleeves. "Fino is mine."