26. Chapter 25

Chapter 25

Gabo Godoy

W e drove to the team's headquarters that Mario hired. If I didn't know any better, I'd say we were just going to a bank or something. It's in plain sight, right in downtown Geneva. After going through security, a man with a build similar to Mario's greets us.

"Cousin," I hear him say as he hugs Mario.

"Mr. Godoy, this is Elio, my cousin."

I shake his hand, expectant to hear what he has investigated so far. My phone vibrates in my pocket, and I jump, startled.

Gio : Just landed. Tell me where you are, and I'll meet you there.

Fuck, with all this ordeal, I forgot Gio was coming.

Gabo : We're on our way to get you. Hang tight.

I pocket my phone as I scan the room. There are a bunch of computer screens and a team of about twelve people, all checking traffic feeds and satellite images. This is next level, and I'm glad Mario has this sort of contact. We needed it.

"Bella's brother just landed. We need to pick him up at the airport. But do you guys have any leads yet?" I ask, a mix of nerves and anticipation invading me. I keep my hands in my pockets to avoid the more noticeable shaking. I'm a live wire ready to burst.

"Actually, we do. Once we were able to identify who took her from the hotel, we followed them on the street. They got her in an old yellow Fiat. Here." Elio points to a screen, so Vicente and I lean in, trying to see the grainy feed.

"We were able to track the car. It appears it was abandoned at a gas station, forty-five minutes from the city, in a mountainous area in France."

"Fuck, if we're not careful, this could end up being an international debacle," Vicente says out loud, and I can't believe the shit he's worried about.

"I couldn't give two shits, Vicente. Bella, my principessa, is in a precarious situation for something she had no part in. If something happens to her…" my voice breaks before I can finish the sentence, and I bite my knuckles to keep myself in check.

"Sorry, bro. My CEO mode just came out," he says as he pats my back.

"We're ready to go, Mr. Godoy. If we go now, we can use the darkness as the coverage. We need to scan the forest without being seen. Otherwise, we can wait until dawn. It's your call," Elio says, and I take a deep breath.

"It's showtime."

We pile into two black vans, and I can tell they're bulletproof. The windows are tinted, and the interior is packed with every single gun and ammo under the sun. I can't help but swallow hard at the sight. It feels surreal to be in this situation all because a deranged asshole decided to blackmail my sister years ago. And now my Bella is the one who has to pay. When I thought life had given me everything I could ever want and more, a blast from the past comes to bite me in the ass and threatens to take the love of my life away from me.

When we get to the airport, Gio is pacing the tarmac, ruffling his hair as he talks on the phone. I can't shake the feeling that Bella's siblings will resent me for this for the rest of our lives. She was under my care, after all. I promised them I would protect her at all times. But when they learn who has her, Luca is going to lose his shit.

"Hey, man. Do we have proof of life yet?" Gio asks as he hangs up the phone and gets into the van with Vicente, Rocco, Aldo, Mario, and me.

"Ha, and you thought I was being inconsiderate," Vicente chirps. I would smack him in the head if he were next to me.

"Sorry, did I say something wrong?" Gio asks, looking a little flustered.

"No, no. I know you have Bella's best interests at heart, you're her brother, after all. It's just that I'm on the edge. That's all."

Vicente chuckles as he shakes his head at me. I glare in return.

"Okay, yeah. I can see why you would be losing your ever-loving mind," Gio says with empathy.

"So, where are we going? Where is she being held captive?" Gio asks.

Mario takes out a tablet. "According to what we know, the car she was taken in was abandoned at a gas station. When we look at the satellite imagery of the area, it's an untouched forest, but there are a few paths that are visible from the data taken during winter. I want to take those trails and see where they take us. Elio and his team have more advanced equipment and will be tracking footprints."

Gio nods, mulling the information he just got from Mario. "Do we know who has her?"

When I don't immediately reply, Vicente fills him in. "Max von Willer. He's a former family friend."

Gio interrupts Vicente as he takes out his phone. "Fuck, Luca's nemesis. Isa has to be okay." He calls Luca and starts talking rapidly, filling him in.

Bella has to be safe. There's no other option.