Page 185 of Vows of a Mobster

“Watch how you talk to my wife, Declan,” I warned him, glaring at him.

“I didn’t mean it the way it sounded,” Brianna placed her palm against my chest, her lip trembling. “I meant, I hoped your family had them. At least, I’d know they are both safe. Oh my God, if-”

“We’ll get them,” I comforted her. “Declan’s men and my men are already searching the streets. There is nowhere they can hide,” I assured her.

“O-okay,” Brianna muttered, her usually calm demeanor frazzled and panicky. When she had a gun pointed at her, she didn’t care and kept her calm. But this was her child… our child.

“Who would do this?” Brianna shoved her hands into her hair and held on to a handful. “Marissa would have screamed if anyone approached them. And that back gate is always closed,” she uttered low, tears threatened to spill over and it was gut-wrenching to see her like that. “In fact, I don’t even think anyone knows how to open it but me. It has been broken since I was a kid and the latch works weirdly. Only my grandmother and I knew how to work it.”

“I will get her back,” I vowed to her. I pulled out my phone and dialed Giovanni.

He answered on the first ring. “I heard what happened.”

“Check the security, focus on the backyard. Someone opened the gate. Nobody should have been able to open the latch.”

I put him on the speaker. Emma and Marissa were both under the protection of the Italians and the Irish. I had to assume Brianna’s mother had taken them. She didn’t know it but she just rained a shitstorm onto herself. As long as Emma and Marissa came out of it alive and unharmed, it didn’t matter who saved them. We all held our breaths, Giovanni’s typing the only sound coming through the speaker.

“Fuck. Marissa was shot, no blood. Looks like a tranquilizer. Emma too. The gate was opened effortlessly,” Giovanni spoke up finally. “Sending the footage out to you, Antonio, and Declan. Two women. I don’t recognize either. I’ll run facial recognition.”

Declan’s and my phone beeped, signaling the message. Declan came closer to Brianna and me as he swiped the message. I left my phone on the table, still on speakerphone so Giovanni could provide updates.

Just as the video played, all three of us watching the video, I heard Antonio swear, “Puttana.”

And the next moment I knew why. I watched my ex-mistress, Angelica entering through the gate. She had another woman with her.

“What’s my mother doing on the surveillance?” Confusion was clear in Brianna’s eyes, darting to all of us with questions in her eyes. “And who is this other woman?”

Brianna’s mother and Angelica were working together. Damn it, I should have seen that Angelica would refuse to just move on.

Looking at Brianna’s mother on the surveillance, I remembered seeing the picture of her wedding to the senator where Brianna clung to her stepfather’s pant legs. She was never there for her daughter. It was time we ended all this so our families and our men could be safe.

I watched Angelica fumble with the gate but Brianna’s mother pushed her out of the way and opened it. Angelica along with Brianna’s mother come through the gate. First, they carried off Emma and then came back for Marissa.

“Giovanni, don’t bother with face recognition,” I gritted, barely containing my rage. “Antonio will communicate the next step.” Without another delay, I ended the call.

“Mateo,” Brianna called out my name and I could already hear the accusation in her tone. “Is this what tensions were about?”

Fuck, fuck, fuck!

“Fuck,” Daphne muttered and Brianna’s head snapped to her best friend.

“You knew?” Definitely an accusation in her voice. I couldn’t blame her.

“We didn’t want to cause you any stress,” Daphne justified herself. “Your mom has been trying to hurt you and Emma.”

“What?” Brianna shook her head. “That doesn’t make any sense. Why?” She turned her eyes to me, alarmed. “Why would my mother and the other woman do this, Mateo?” Brianna grabbed my hand and I felt like the worst scumbag. Brianna was hurting because of me. Emma was kidnapped because of me. I failed her.Fucking Angelica.Brianna glanced at Declan, wondering if he was following but he wouldn’t know it. Would he? Antonio was the only one that ever saw my mistresses. “Do you know who it is?”

“We’ll talk later,” I told her. “Right now, we need to get Emma and Marissa home safe.”

She nodded although I could still sense her confusion. I debated for a moment whether I should finally use the number I got from our captive and call Brianna’s mother. It was clear she was the one planning this whole ordeal, she was running this show. She was logical and calculating. Angelica was a loose cannon, a jealous discarded woman. But Angelica was more likely to talk.

My mind made up, I immediately dialed Angelica, placing the phone on speaker. It took only one ring before the line was picked up.

Without bothering to wait for Angelica to answer, I spoke. “Angelica, if my daughter has a piece of hair out of place, I will kill you. It will be long and it will be painful.”

Brianna’s eyes mirrored extra confusion but she asked no questions.

“You are in no position to threaten,” Angelica’s laugh was crazed. She was a fucking mistake through and through. “I’m the one calling shots here. Otherwise, I’ll blow her brains out. Turns out, your wife’s mother and I have quite a bit in common.”