I clench my fists as I whip the car around in the direction he said they were.
“Who is?”
“Fillipo Alfonsi. He promises not to hurt you. He only wants to question you.”
My knuckles are white as I race through the neighborhood, willing her to be okay.
“Do you really believe he won’t hurt me?”
“I do. Fillipo isn’t a bad man. He’s going to be a great boss one day. He’s going to make things better for the family. No more living in fear or death for one little mistake. He’s going to make us more modern.”
Keep him talking, Mia.
“Does he live down Douglas Road? We are turning here because he lives here?”
“You can try and memorize the way all you want. Once you’re in his compound, there is no way you will be able to leave.”
“We’re going to his house?”
“Of course. Where else would we be going?”
I pull out a burner I keep in the car and dial Bash.
“Yeah?”
“Fillipo has Mia. She’s being brought to his house. I need a team. Now.”
“Shit.” I take in movement in the background. “I’m sending a team now, but shit. We are at least twenty minutes out, Lo.”
I slam my fist on the wheel. “Get here as fast as you can! I’m pulling onto his road now.” I hang up.
“Here we are. Just answer his questions and he will let you go.”
I hear something clunk and wait for more. There’s a faint voice, then a door slams. I try to listen closer, hoping to catch something, but all is silent now. She must have left the phone in the car. Smart woman. I hang up as I pull over a quarter of a mile down, leaving my car on the side of the road. I grab the handgun I keep in the glovebox and check the chamber. I pull out the one in my waistband and do the same. I jump out and pop the trunk. Once there, I take my shirt off, pull on my bulletproof vest before putting my shirt back on. I slam the trunk shut as I head toward the house.
I stick to the shadows as I study the perimeter of Fillipo’s home. There is a tall wall surrounding the entire property, but it’s not guarded like Bash’s. There aren’t men posted up on the walls. I climb the wall in the back corner and peek over before pulling myself completely over. No one is around, so I drop as soundlessly as possible as I turn and pull my gun. I stalk closer to the house and peek through the windows.
My gut tells me I need to move fast, but I know I need to do my due diligence. Acting on emotions is what gets you killed. You get sloppy and make mistakes.
After deciding which is the best place to breach, I reach down and text Bash.
Lo: ETA?
I ask.
Bash: 7.
Shit. Too long. I need to get in there.
Lo: Breaching left side upstairs window.
I don’t wait for a response. I climb the tree right next to the house. Once on the roof, I walk over to the window I spotted from the ground. I glance in and find it’s dark other than the light coming from the hallway. It’s an unoccupied bedroom. I try to open the window, but find it locked.
I curse under my breath as I think of my next move. I hear a female scream inside, and I don’t think. I punch the window as anger fills me. I jump through and surge to the door. I make out someone running down the hall, so I grab my stiletto and open it. As soon as the man flies into the room, gun pointed toward the window, I come up from behind and wrap my hand over his mouth as I stab him in the base of the neck, twisting my knife as it goes in. The man makes a strangled scream as he starts to fall. I gently lower him to the floor as I look in his wide eyes. He’s still awake, so he just stares at me, trying to speak. I don’t hesitate. I slit his throat before I jump up and go back to the door. I glance each way and see the coast is clear.
The screaming has stopped, which only pumps up my anger and anxiety. I can only imagine what Fillipo’s doing to her right now. I fight back the urge to let the blind rage take over. I haven’t felt this uncontrolled in a long time. Even the last time Mia got kidnapped, I was pretty well put together. Something has changed for me. I don’t know what it is.
I take inventory of the upstairs and find nothing. I slowly make my way down the steps, my eyes taking everything around me in. At the bottom of the stairs, I quickly glance around. I see two men standing outside a door talking with one another. I know in my gut Mia is behind that door. I check my phone once more.
