55. Cole

It took forever to reach the city, or at least, that was what it felt like, but when I checked the time, I realized that I had driven so fast it had taken me just over half the time it usually took. I must have truly been flying through the roads, focused and furious. I probably triggered some traffic speed camera, but thankfully the cops hadn’t stopped. But now that I was inside the metropolitan area, I was forced to reduce my speed in order.

I arrived at Paganini’s address. The place was filled with guards, but I wasn’t stopped at the door. I could feel the anger, though, especially from a few familiar faces. They were disciplined enough not to outrightly confront me for killing one of their own, or perhaps they were waiting for whatever Paganini had planned for me.

I was quickly and thoroughly frisked before being ushered towards an elevator. We travelled two floors down into the ground. It was probably his safe space like the one I had built for Anya, but whatever it was, it ensured that no one could find it unless they were looking for it. I stared straight ahead and focused on my sole goal of being here, which was to find a way to save my daughter and Montana, finish off Paganini, and escape with my life.

Travelling into the depths of his lair, full of dangerous psychopaths, it seemed an almost impossible goal to achieve.

Since I had defaulted and gone rogue, they gave me a second search when the doors of the elevator swished open. Once, I was considered a trusted part of their organization and so my searches had been kept to a minimum, but it was no longer the case.

I had expected it so I hadn’t bothered bringing any guns.

“What is this?” One of the men asked as they tapped on the flat, hard surface inside of my jacket.

“A hard drive,” I replied, and he gave me a look. He was new, so he didn’t know.

“I need it to do the work I’m here to do.”

He smiled and then leaned forward to whisper to me. “Work hard and fast little rabbit. Otherwise, it will be the Don’s sharp knives for you. He makes his victims suffer for days. Cut by cut, until they bleed out completely.”

I towered over him both in height and stature and so in that moment, all I could do was be amused because this was what Paganini had reduced me to. I’d been prepared to wait and bide my time, but I knew now that if I kept getting provoked in this way, I just might burn down the place with me in it.

I willed myself to control my temper and not let myself be goaded as I headed to my audience with Paganini.

I met him in his office surrounded by his goons. For the first few minutes, he deliberately kept me standing as he answered a phone call, his eyes were full of disdain and mockery, which made him just as insufferable as he was annoying. Eventually, he ended the call and turned to me.

“The prodigal son returns.” He grinned at me, flashing his yellowish teeth. “You really took two of my men out?”

“They came uninvited.”

He came closer to me and inhaled deeply. “I can smell your fear.” He moved away from me and looked into my eyes. “I have your daughter and your woman so don’t play games with me, Luca. I could so easily crush both their necks but don’t worry, I’m a nice guy.”

I swallowed hard, but I said nothing.

He smiled, and to someone who did not know him, they would call it a kind smile. “We need transfers made. Many multiples have been delayed since you left. You understand what this means, right?” he asked. “You understand how much damage this has caused me, right?”

I said nothing.

“You are a traitor and I should kill you, but I won’t. I have too much regard for your father to take away his only son. And now that you are back, it would be mean-hearted of me not to forgive you. I forgive you, Luca. I have known you since you were a child. You are almost like my own son.

He smiled again, but the smile never reached his dead eyes.

“All I ask is that you teach one of my men to do the things that you do so that I can let you go and live your life the way you want to live. This way I am not dependent on you and you are free. Today or tomorrow you will pick a few brilliant men from my team, and over the next few weeks or months, you will teach them how to wire the money across the world in a safe and untraceable manner. And all that time I will keep your daughter and your woman safe from harm. Is this understood?”

“Yes,” I replied.

His eyes narrowed at me. “Follow Gianni. He will take you back to your old office. I believe you have much work to do.”

Just then his phone began to ring, and he waved me out of his office.

I was led then through a door to the computer room I had spent so many days in I could probably draw every single feature of it in my sleep. I had promised myself when I left this place the last time that I would never return here again, but here I was.

“Get to work,” Gianni said and closed the door.