58. Dante

Chapter 58

Dante

S o it was not Sarah who was the dirty cop, but Lisa Mellor.

I picked up my ringing phone and heard Detective Hudgens’s sheepish voice.

“Any updates?” he asked.

“Shouldn’t I be asking you that?”

“I don’t know what else to tell you-” he said.

I ended the call and threw the phone across the table. Talking to him was a useless waste of time.

My foot was tapping against the floor. I looked at my watch. I picked up my phone once again and placed a call.

“What’s the location of the boy right now?” I asked, and the response came.

“He's still in school, but his bodyguards are outside.”

There was no other choice. Ugo left me with no other choice.

“Take the boy,” I said.

“Today?”

“Yes,” I replied.

“Yes, Boss,” came the response and I set the phone down and sat at my desk to wait. One hour later I received a phone call.

I looked at the number. Unknown. I picked it up.

“I understand you had to get my attention. And it worked. It was good. You did it promptly as well, but you won’t get away with it,” Ugo said. His voice was low and cold, but I could feel the fury pulsating through it.

My lips twisted into an ugly smile. “I already did. If you hurt one hair on her head you can say goodbye to him right now.”

“Only a fool plays chicken with me. Do you really think I won’t go further than you? Hmmm? That even though you have my only child, my pride and joy, my five-year-old son, who I’d carefully hidden away in Matera, I will hack Leone’s daughter to pieces and send the pieces one by one to you. How would you feel, Dante? To receive a toe, a thumb, a hand, a whole arm, a severed bloody head …”

I felt the first prick of fear. God, I’d forgotten what a monster he was. Then I told myself he was bluffing. Of course, he wanted his only son back. Who would give up their son for the sake of an old feud?

“So, are you ready to play my old friend?” he drawled. “I’d love to see just how fearless you’ve become over the years. If I remember correctly, gore was difficult for you to stomach. You couldn’t even drink a glass of piss, but if you’re ready, I am.”

“You understand, don’t you, that her death automatically means yours as well as everyone you care about. It doesn’t have to be that way. All I want is a straight exchange. Her life for his.”

He laughed softly. “How I miss having you around ...”

He was enjoying this too much. My grip tightened around my phone, but I forced myself to keep my cool and kept my voice firm. “Where can I pick her up?”

“Not so fast.” He chuckled. “I haven’t decided if you get to see her again. Now that I know just how much she means to you, I need a little time to think this over.”

I couldn’t believe him. “Your son or her? Really? These are your considerations?”

“You know me,” he said.

“Yes, yes, I do. People mean absolutely nothing to you. It appears not even your own flesh and blood do.”

“You’re not going to kill my son,” he scoffed. “We both know it so quit the ridiculous tough talk. I’ll contact you when I have made up my mind on how to make the exchange.”

And with that, the call came to an end.

I got to my feet, restless and unable to remain still. It had all been fruitless. All efforts to get to her and determine her location had been fruitless and it was driving me crazy. I didn’t know what to do anymore and neither could I contain it for one more moment. I felt suffocated. I swung my arm and phone at the wall. It hit with such force that it shattered into tiny pieces. I watched the pieces fly apart, and words popped into my head.

“Not if but when everything falls to pieces, call me. If you contact me before that moment I won’t respond. Come to me only when you are ready to completely get rid of Ugo.”

I turned around to meet Giotto’s gaze. “Do you know Tommy the Blade?”

His eyes slightly widened. “One of Ugo’s underbosses.”

“I need to speak to him. Now.”

“I’ll get you his phone number, Boss,” he said and strode out of the room.