Page 124 of Lupo

"Now we understand each other." I straighten up. "You took my family. Now I'm explaining what happens if they're harmed. If even a hair on their heads is touched or if there’s the slightest rip in that bunny on the table."

"We have them," Vittorio says, but his voice isn't as steady now. "You make a move, they die."

"And if they die, your entire family dies. Your grandson. Your daughter. Your wife. Everyone you've ever cared about. I will burn your organization to the ground. I will kill everyone who works for you, everyone who's ever helped you, everyone who's ever said your name with respect." I pause. "And I'll make you watch. Every single death. Until you're begging me to kill you too."

The restaurant is completely silent. The civilians are frozen, too terrified to move.

"Here's what's going to happen," I continue. "You're going to make a phone call. You're going to tell whoever has my family to let them go. Unharmed. Right now. And when I get confirmationthat they're safe, then maybe I let you live long enough to regret ever hearing my name."

"You're insane," Vittorio says. "We have all the leverage..."

"You have nothing." My voice is cold. Absolute. "You think you're the first person to try this? You think I haven't dealt with threats before? You grabbed my family thinking it would make me weak. Thinking I'd negotiate. Thinking I'd back down. Thinking I’m a changed man."

I pick up Elena's rabbit from the table. Hold it carefully.

"But all you did was remind me who I am." I look at Vittorio. "The man who's killed everyone who's ever threatened what's mine." I squeeze the rabbit gently. "And you just threatened the only two people in the world I actually love."

“Boss." Ciro's voice is quiet. "We're surrounded.”

I watch Vittorio's face and see the doubt creeping in.

"The moment I don't check in with my men, they move. On your family. On your operations. On everything you've built."

It's a bluff. But it's a good one.

Because Vittorio doesn't know if I'm lying.

And he can't afford to find out.

"Make the call now," I say again. "Let my family go. Or we all die tonight, and your family dies tomorrow. Your choice."

Vittorio stares at me. I can see him calculating. Weighing options. Trying to figure out if I'm bluffing.

The truth is, I am. We don't have men positioned on his family. We didn't make those calls.

But I have something better than a plan.

I have absolute certainty that I will kill everyone in this room if that's what it takes. The certainty that I will tear Florence apart brick by brick to find Isabella and Elena. The certainty that I will spend every resource, burn every bridge, destroy everything I've built if that's what it takes to get them back.

And Vittorio sees it in my eyes.

Sees that I'm not negotiating. Not threatening. Just promising.

His hand moves slowly toward his phone.

"Smart choice," I say quietly.

He pulls out his phone and dials. Everyone in the restaurant is watching. Waiting.

"It's me," he says when someone answers. His voice is tight. "Release them. Both of them. Unharmed. Right now." A pause. "Because I'm fucking ordering you to do it. Do it."

He hangs up.

"There. Done. They'll be released within the hour."

"Where?"

"The old textile factory on Via Senese. Outside the city. They'll be left there unharmed."