Page 107 of Dark Breaker

She walks me to where Rosa parked the scooter.

I search it and find a GPS tracking device attached underneath. I rip it off and show it to Michela.

Her eyes widen. “That’s how they knew where she was.”

The storage compartment is locked, but Cateno has spare tools in his glove compartment and I use them to pick the lock. I find her wedding ring inside.

“She wasn’t wearing her ring,” I comment to Michela.

“She was a bit pissed off at you,” Michela replies. “I would be, too.”

I pocket the ring. “I made a mistake.”

“Do you care for her at all?” Michela asks. “Or is she just a tool for you. The glue for your alliance?”

I feel the anger rising. “That’s none of your concern!”

But Michela doesn’t stand down. “I’m her best friend. Of course it’s my concern.”

I’m about to snap at her, then get a hold of myself. She’s Rosa’s best friend. She deserves an answer.

“Of course I care about her,” I tell her finally. “If I didn’t, you really think I’d be here?”

She nods slowly. “If you didn’t, you’d send your men instead. Or not come at all. So you’re not doing this for the alliance at all then, are you? You’ve fallen for her.”

I don’t answer her and instead head back to Cateno’s car.

Michela follows me. “I want to help!”

I sit down in the passenger seat. “I’m sorry, where I’m going you can’t follow.” I close the door in her face.

“Where to?” Cateno asks.

“Head for my apartment,” I tell him.

During the drive back I think hard, trying to figure out who did this. I mentally peruse my ever-growing list of enemies. Starting with the Jackal and his allies. It could be any one of them… even the Jackal himself, who could be lying about not having her. Fuck, there are too many leads to follow.

On the way back Angela calls.

“CiaoAngela,” I greet her.

“Ciao,” she replies.

Before she can say anything further I ask her: “Has there been a ransom demand for Rosa yet?”

“Not yet,” she replies. “Massimo thinks we’ll hear something in the next day or so.”

“Not soon enough,” I reply. “Look, I need you to come up with a list of any enemies the Morettis and Amatos have. I’m trying to narrow down who took her.”

Angela pauses. “Quite a few families hate us, honestly. I don’t know them all. I’ll ask Massimo and my father and get back to you.”

“Thank you,” I reply.

“I do have an update for you on our family’s contribution,” she replies.

“They’re contribution?” I ask, confused.

“To the ransom,” she replies. When I still don’t answer, she adds: “For Massimo and Luciano, and your brother Nicolo?”