Page 94 of Dark Breaker

But before I can say a word, or scream, he slams a strip of duct tape over my mouth.

I turn toward the door, but he grabs my hands roughly and before I realize what’s happening he’s duct-taped them together.

I struggle, trying to break free, and kick at him.

He grabs my foot and pulls, hauling me to the ground. I hit hard and it knocks the wind out of me.

I feel more duct tape binding my ankles together. I struggle violently, but can’t get up. I try screaming, but succeed only in producing a guttural, vocal-cord shredding whimper. I attempt to slide a wrist out from the tape that binds me, but it hurts so much that I’m brought to tears and forced to give up.

He heaves me over one shoulder and hands me off to someone waiting beyond the window. I’m hauled unceremoniously outside and dragged to the back of a waiting vehicle. I’m whimpering the whole way, but we’re in a back alleyway and there’s no one who can see. Massimo’s guards, Michela… they’re all oblivious.

I’m hyperventilating through my nostrils by the time they throw me into the trunk. They grab my handbag before shutting me into darkness.

Inside that handbag is my phone. And my Mace.

The only two items that could have set me free.

16

Fabio

I’m going to kidnap her. It’s the only way. She doesn’t want to answer my texts or calls, nor does her brother? They don’t want to talk to me? Fine.

Then I’ll just take back what’s mine.

I’m heading to the University of Palermo. I’m not sure she’s going to classes today, but if she does, I’ll be ready. And if not, then I’ll take her tomorrow. Or the next day. No matter how many guards the Morettis put on her.

En route I get a call from Nicolo.

“CiaoNicolo,” I say.

“Looks like our war has started,” he announces. “The Morettis just gunned down three of our men outside Cafe Spinnato.”

Fuckers.

I was going to get their brother released today, too, as part of a peace offering in exchange for my planned kidnapping of Rosa.

Well, not anymore. No one touches my men. He’s going to rot in prison. The other Morettis will rot in hell.

I’ll kill them all, then there will be no one left to protect her when I take her.

“Call up all the men you can gather on short notice,” I instruct Nicolo. “Have them meet at Building Two of the Sea Wind site. An hour before noon.”

“You got it,” Nicolo replies. “I’m looking forward to plastering a few Moretti bodies into the condo walls.”

“There will be more than a few.” I hang up.

No one harms my associates.

I call men of my own, and instruct them to meet at the same site around eleven.

I arrive at ten thirty and tour the area of my planned battle. Building Two is only partially built. It’s a hollow husk of a structure, with the floors held up by pillars and no inner or outer walls completed. Imagine one of those cutaway dollhouses where you can see the interior, but without any dividers or furniture. It’s a great place to ambush someone, with lots of spots to take cover courtesy of those pillars.

My men trickle in and when Nicolo arrives with the rest at eleven, I send a text to Massimo.

You chickenshit fuck. Take out your anger on me, not my men. I’ll be waiting for you here at noon.

I send him the Google Maps link to Building Two.