Chapter 8: Kidnapped by the Lion

Chapter 8: Kidnapped by the Lion

Regina’s P.O.V

Three days had passed since the incident and the streets had yet to be overrun by blood.

I frowned at the local newspaper headlines, scanning my eyes over the stupid political news and the glamour of the celebrities. They were pointless to me, at least until it was election season. What I wanted was the doings of the organized crime syndicates; the men who came to life at the darkest hours…especially the one man whose name was equivalent to that of the Mafioso Voldemort…Leonardo Draconis D’Angelo.

Someone knocked at my door then, distracting me from my thoughts. “Come in.” I sighed, setting aside the paper.

Paris came in with a steaming cup of my morning coffee alongside some French toast and fresh cut strawberries. He was accompanied by the nine year old Eugene, another child of one of the escorts in the company, who liked to follow Paris around like his little shadow.

There weren’t many children in the house, but the child of each of my escorts was protected and treated equally.

Escorts. Not whores. My women were not to be treated as cheap rentals for the night. I had made sure of that since the day I took over as their Sister. And their children were being given proper education under an NGO, which I was financing from the shadows. Which is why, when Eugene placed my plate onto the study table, I gave him a narrow eyed glance.

“I didn’t skip, I swear,” he told me sheepishly before looking at Paris for affirmation. “Everyone’s going to be bringing their parents to school today for the half-yearly PTM…and mom didn’t want to come.”

“And why didn’t she?” I frowned. “Is she not well?”

“No…she said she had to go out with an important client today.” Paris answered for Eugene, rubbing the boy’s head as he looked at me with sad brown eyes. “She’s been really busy these last few weeks.”

“Is that so?” I nodded. “Go on then, I’ll talk to your mother.”

Paris gave me a small bow before disappearing out of my room, holding Eugene’s hand as he waved me goodbye enthusiastically. I waved back, unable to stop the smile that spread over my lips as I watched the two of them depart.

Heading to the table, I picked up my phone and called the woman who I placed next in line to this brothel, in case I was out of the picture.

“Sorella,” Ivy Jane Grant greeted me with just as much warmth as she would a daughter. “How come you’re not up and around yet?”

“I’m calculating Draco’s next move.” I told her, leaning back in my chair. “He’s been awfully quiet lately. Which means he’s either got no clue where to find me…or, he hasn’t had the proper opportunity yet.”

“Regina, maybe you shouldn’t be so hasty in dealing with the D’Angelo famiglia.” Ivy sighed, worry lacing her voice. “Once you’re taken, there’s no way of coming back out of that hell other than in a body bag. And you had dared to step on the Lion’s tail. You know sometimes it’s better to just forget and fo-”

“I’ve waited too long for this opportunity to arrive, Ivy.” I spoke through gritted teeth. “No amount of persuasion will make me back out now. The fire has been lit. Hold the fort while I fall, Ivy. I’ll drag the devil down with me.”

“Then the only thing I can wish for is that the devil falls for you first…before it’s too late.” Ivy sighed. “There’s a charity event this afternoon. I’ll get the car ready and I’ll lessen the guards.”

“Good.” I felt my lips curve into a sinister smile. “Help me grab his attention.”

“I’m on my way back home…wait till I arrive, okay?”

“Sure.” I hung up the phone but I will do as I told her.

Getting up from my seat, I headed into my closet to get dressed. Nothing overly fancy. A blood red shirt with a couple buttons undone at the top and a pair of black dress pants. I let my long brunette hair loose, leaving them to take the shape of their natural waves. Some light make-up and devil red lips later, I was done dressing as the perfect target.

I had a filling breakfast, because I didn’t know when I would be allowed to have food next. But whatever the Lion of New York threw at me, I was ready to for all of it. My hunger for revenge was far greater than any other hunger I’d ever known.

Ivy was already waiting for me downstairs when I came out of my room. Cole and Alistair, two of my bodyguards stationed by her side.

“Eye-catching.” Ivy gave me a tight smile that didn’t reach her worried eyes. “Are you ready?”

“That depends.” I shrugged. “Have you sent out whispers?”

“Two of his men were spotted a couple miles to the south.” She swallowed, her dark caramel skin looking pale in the light from the overhead chandelier. “Be careful.”

“I always am.” I went into her embrace then; felt the tightness of her arms around me as she held on for a little while longer.

I looked around the room, the large chandeliers, the sofas and the bar area. This had been home…this had been my place. But now, I had bigger things to do.

“Get Eugene’s mother to take care of him more. And look after Paris…he’s too kind sometimes.” I asked Ivy a favor. “Take care of the children and the house. I’ll be visiting them as soon as I get back.”

“Yes.” Ivy gave a small smile. “Yes, you will return.”

Bidding goodbye to Ivy, I steadied my will and walked out of the house and into the waiting black Sedan. Cole and Alistair both took the front seat, leaving me alone and vulnerable at the back.

“Where to, Sorella?” Alistair asked from behind the wheels.

“The La Martina Charity Fundraiser.” I spoke with a smile. “Just drive. I’ll leave the rest to the D’Angelo’s.”

Both of them stayed quiet as the car reversed out of the driveway and into the freeway. It wasn’t long before two other black SUV’s started tailing us. The traffic was light on a Wednesday afternoon, so it wasn’t all that difficult to notice them. But it wasn’t like they were trying to hide either.

The red Lion stamped to the sides of the cars made other drivers weary and they started to move out of the way, not wanting to have anything to do with the Cosa Nostra, especially ‘the Lion’.

“What should we do, Sorella?” Cole asked, his voice coming through gritted teeth. “Tell us and we will take care of it.”

“Survive, Cole.” I told him instead. “I want you and Alistair to survive.”

“La Sorella…” Cole’s voice was helpless, as the traffic signal turned red right in front of us.

The two SUV’s rushed ahead from either side of my Sedan and came to a screeching stop only a couple meters in front of us.

Alistair pressed on the brakes hard enough that I almost bumped into the front seat, but was yanked back by my seat-belt a second later.

My heart thrashed inside my chest as I saw the men in black suits coming out of vans with guns in plain sight. No…I couldn’t get Cole and Alistair in trouble. I needed them to return home alive. They would need to protect my girls in my absence.

“I’m going out.”

“Sorella-”

Before Cole could protest, I had already taken off my seat-belt and opened the car doors.

All the other cars in the freeway had stopped a good few meters behind. Smoke rose as one car bumped into another, but no one dared to raise a voice or dared coming out of their cars. Everything was eerily quiet as I stepped out, the echo of my heels clicking on the hot pavement the only noise above the murmur of horns from far away.

“Sorella?”

I turned to face one of the suited men who had come forwards to ask me the question. He seemed to be the youngest among the group with light brown hair. His shades covered most of his face, but he seemed to be the one in command as the others handed him a handkerchief.

“Protocol?” I motioned towards the chloroform induced handkerchief.

But he didn’t answer. He only stepped forward and let his men open the car doors for me.

Throwing my purse and my cell-phone back into the seat of my car, I closed the door shut and started walking towards the SUV. Once I had gotten inside, the brown haired man followed me in and the doors slammed shut.

The last thing I remembered was the handkerchief being placed over my nose and the blissfulness of oblivion.

What a polite way to get kidnapped…wasn’t it?