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"Fortunately, you won't be here too long and then we can get a doctor to look at you. Nobody wants damaged merchandise after all." He chuckles as my brain tries to make sense of the merchandise reference. What does he mean? Is he planning to fucking sell me to a sex trafficker?
It's no use. I vomit again. The pain intensifies and I almost pass out. Shaved head looks slightly concerned but steps back with a faint look of disgust on his face.
"Maksim, take her back to the storeroom. I need to organize a transport. If she lasts the night, we'll move her in the morning."
"And if she doesn't?" Maksim asks.
"Then toss her off the dock. I'd prefer it if she lived because she's young and I can sell her for decent money, but it's not essential. We have the weapons, which was my main aim. The fact I took Christiano's slut is just the icing on the cake. Either way, Alexei can't ignore me now." He smiles to himself.
"I'm not anyone's slut," I whisper then my vision blurs again and I collapse on the floor.
Chapter 16
Christiano
I'm not sure Aroldo would be pouring all of our resources into finding Cara if she wasn't Thalia's best friend. Not that Thalia or Salvo are aware of what's going on. None of us want to disturb their honeymoon and I'm certain Aroldo doesn't want to incite Thalia's wrath. She may be small but she's vicious as hell.
Romano pissed her off not long after she and Salvo got together; she snuck into his apartment and swapped out his shampoo for depilatory cream. He ended up with extreme hair loss. It was fucking hilarious.
Not that I'm laughing now. It's been eight hours since Cara was taken and I'm barely functioning. I've only known Cara for a short time but the thought of losing her is unbearable. I'll admit it, I scoffed like we all did when Salvo fell hard for Thalia. I honestly didn't understand how he possibly thought she was 'the one' after a couple of days, but now I know how it feels to meet the woman meant to be your other half.
I can't imagine a life without Cara in it. She's perfect; perfect for me. And if I have to kill the entire East Coast Bratva to save her, well fuck them all.
"There's something off about this," Romano mutters.
"What the fuck are you talking about?" Aroldo growls. We've called everyone in so we're ready when Romano tracks down where Dimitri is holding Cara.
"Alexei has nothing to gain," Romano points out. "And everything to lose."
He's right. The peace accord we put in place ten years ago has held and until the weapons shipment was hijacked two nights ago, we've had no problems with Alexei.
"Alexei has been pulling strings behind the scenes of the mayor's office for the last 18 months. I reckon he has political ambitions, and I know Salvo agrees with me. So it makes no sense for him to start a war with us. He doesn't have time for that shit if he's trying to schmooze the rich and connected assholesin this city. These people won't touch him if there's even the smallest whiff of impropriety."
Aroldo looks thoughtful. I can tell he's taking Romano's point on board.
"I think we need to talk to Alexei," I say. "If Dimitri has gone off the reservation and he has no clue, he might help us to avoid any fallout." I don't trust the Russian asshole any more than Aroldo, but everything Romano says makes sense. Alexei is not a fool. Far from it. Whereas Dimitri is a fucking loose cannon with shit for brains.
There's a beat of silence then Aroldo sighs. "I'll call the bastard and see how the land lies, but if he's fucking behind this shitshow, this is war. I will not have my family disrespected!" He slams his fist down on the table and we all jump.
He pulls his phone out and puts it on speakerphone after hitting call.
"Dobryy vecher, Aroldo, my old friend." The amusement in Alexei's voice is unmistakable and Aroldo scowls. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"
"One of yourvors, Dimitri, has kidnapped my nephew's woman. Were you aware of this?"
After a short silence, he says, "I was not, no." There's no trace of amusement in Alexei's voice now.
"This is against the terms of the peace accord we agreed to. Dimitri is also behind a hijacked weapons shipment twonights ago, but I'm more concerned about the woman he took. If she's not returned safe and well, I will consider our agreement void."
"I completely understand, Aroldo. I can assure you Dimitri is acting alone on this and will be dealt with accordingly." The tightness in Alexei's voice doesn't bode well for Dimitri, but I'm more concerned about getting some useful information so we can rescue Cara. Aroldo sees the expression on my face and raises his hand in warning.
"Oh he'll be dealt with alright," Aroldo says. "Christiano has very creative plans for his demise."
"I'll turn a blind eye to anything that happens to Dimitri and his crew in regard to this incident. But if you take it further, I will be forced to act, are we clear?"
Aroldo grinds his teeth a bit and I know he'd love it if Alexei gave him an excuse to declare war; the man lives for this shit even though Salvo is trying to steer us away from all the excessive violence and mayhem. Understandably so, now he is happily married.
"Of course, nobody wants a war. It's too damaging for both of us."
