Chapter 29

Unspoken Desires - Chapter 29

Sareena

The door slammed open.

Svetlana and Maria walked in, side by side, not a single guard in sight, but we knew better. They were just outside. Close enough to hear everything.

“Lana, you told me you cleaned Connie up,” Maria cooed, her voice sickeningly sweet. “This just won’t do.”

“I do nothing until you bring me Matthew and Damian.” Svetlana shot back.

Constance and I exchanged a look; the disbelief clear in both our eyes. These two had orchestrated 2 flawless kidnappings, and yet here they were, bickering like toddlers. Totally unprepared and disorganized.

“Clean her up,” Maria snapped. “Alessandro’s going to wake up soon, and the Viagra will be in full effect.”

I felt bile rise in my throat.

“Show me proof you do your part,”Lana snapped back. “So far, all you Italian bitches give me is lies. Where is Matthew? Where is Damian?”

“There’s a hose outside. Just spray her down. Make her look at least presentable, Miguel won’t buy it if she looks like this.” Maria hissed.

That’s when panic took hold. A blast of cold water could send an already weak Constance, into full shock and could kill her. She’d never survive a cold water spray.

“No!” I screamed, jumping to my feet.

Constance didn’t move. She was slipping deeper into the edge of something I wasn’t sure I could pull her back from.

“You can’t do that!” I yelled. “Look at her! She’s too weak; she can barely lift her head. You haven’t given her so much as a single dose of antibiotics. If you hose her down like an animal, she’ll go into shock and she could die. How can you be so heartless?”

“I said shut up. You watch, da? You watch and smile.” She pulled my head back with a cruel grin. “This will be all they remember you for.”

She turned toward the makeshift bedding on the ground. “Why aren’t your Grandpapa and Grandmama getting up?” she asked sharply.

I forced myself to sound casual but confident, sound anything but panicked.

“Nono hasn’t had proper care in days,” I said. “And Nona has a fever. Advil and NyQuil won’t keep them upright for long.”

Svetlana rolled her eyes. “Okay, whatever.” She turned to the door. “Alexei! Bring the hose and clean Cattaneo bitch.”

Footsteps pounded the pavement outside. The guard was moving on demand.

Maria’s phone rang, when she saw who it was, she held up a hand.

“Wait. It’s Miguel.” Her eyes sparkled with anticipation. “Let’s hear what he has to say before we continue. He’s got eyes everywhere looking for this whore. Nothing can go wrong now.”

She disappeared out the door she came in from, leaving Svetlana and the guard; Alexei, standing with us.

I turned to face Lana, my voice low but deliberate. “I thought you were the brains, Lana.” I sneered. “You were supposed to be the one running things. But look at you. She’s using you and you don’t even see it.”

Svetlana’s cold eyes flicked toward me, but I didn’t stop. “You really think Maria can get you Matthew and Damian? She’s lying to you and she’s stalling. You’ll never get them, they’re smarter than this. They always were. She’s going to get what she wants and you are going to get nothing.”

I kept my tone even. Calm and calculated, but every second I had counted. If I could drive a wedge between them; plant a seed of doubt, it might be the only opening we need.

——————-

Damian

We were closing in on the abandoned complex when my Apple Watch buzzed. Lessia.

I almost didn’t answer; this wasn’t the right time, but we hadn’t heard from her since she went dark at Cesare’s condo. And Vincent? He’d gone completely silent.

I grabbed my phone, swiped, and put it to my ear. “Lessia, not a good time. We’re seconds from storming Svetlana’s hold site. What’s going on? Make it fast.”

“Damian; what the fuck! Vincent’s drunk. Cesare saw him and left a message for Maria. He’s a dead man. I don’t think he’s even sober enough to run. I have to go save him. Send backup.”

She hung up. No time for questions. No plan. Just chaos.

“Motherfucker.” I stopped cold, throwing an arm out, halting the team behind me. “We’ve got a problem. Cesare spotted Vincent, and he’s wasted. Lessia’s trying to get him out.”

Matteo cursed, already pulling out his phone. “I’ve got men in the restaurant. We keep moving.” His fingers flew across his screen. “They’ll run interference; buy her time and step in if needed.”

He didn’t wait for our input. Just acted. Time was bleeding out on both fronts.

“Done. Keep moving,” he snapped.

So we did.

⸻

We reached the edge of the property. I covered Davide as he crossed; silently towards the broken window, his scope and rifle ready.

“I’ve got eyes on Svetlana,” he whispered. “Bratva dumbass beside her. Sareena’s standing up to them. Mrs. C is on the ground. Looks to be out cold. This is the moment for you to take the front.”

Demetrius and Max moved through the brush, circling wide toward the front entrance. “We’ve got eyes on DeLuca and her minions,” Max reported quietly through the comms. “Six total. We could take them all with silencers, but can’t promise they won’t hear something inside.”

“Wait until the fucking bitch goes back in,” Matteo growled. “I want to kill her myself.”

Davide adjusted the scope. “You’re clear to approach the door. Once Maria returns inside, you can storm the back entrance.”

We moved; silently, our hearts hammering. Seconds mattered now.

—————-

Lessia

I hung up with Damian and burst from the restroom into the restaurant. No shots fired yet. That was a good sign. Maybe there was still time to stop this.

The dining room was still buzzing; patrons laughing and glasses clinking. All blissfully unaware of the dangers they could face.

I spotted Vincent, he was slouched in his seat, staring directly at me, but his eyes were heavy, almost glassy. He was drunk.

I turned toward our table, and saw Cesare. His gun drawn, aimed right at Vincent’s head.

“Nooooo.” I screamed and dove onto Vincent. Pain tore through my back, then my chest. It was blinding. A second later, I heard the gun go off and pain filled my back and chest.

“Karen!” I heard Cesare yell.

Then another shot rang out. Screams erupted, and chaos exploded across the restaurant.

Everything felt surreal; like my soul was floating above my body and my limbs went numb, but I could still feel the pain, but it no longer felt like mine.

Vincent pulled me into his arms, cradling me. His voice was in my ear, but I couldn’t make out what he was saying. It was all muffled, like I was underwater.

“I love you, Vincent,” I whispered.

Then everything went dark.