Chapter 3 - THE KITCHEN DOOR
Pain disappeared when I heard Leo scream.
Maybe it didn’t really disappear.
Maybe terror was simply louder.
I grabbed the first thing I could find.
A metal medical tray.
Not exactly a weapon.
But I was a waitress with stitches in my back.
Options were limited.
I ran into the hall.
“Emma!” the doctor shouted.
Too late.
Downstairs, chairs were overturned.
Guests were hiding under tables.
One of Adrian’s men was bleeding near the bar.
The kitchen doors swung wildly.
“Where’s Leo?”
A security guard pointed.
“Kitchen.”
I ran.
Someone grabbed my wrist.
Adrian.
“What are you doing?”
“Finding your son.”
“I have men for that.”
“Your men just lost him.”
His eyes flashed.
“That’s fair.”
Then we ran together.
The kitchen was chaos.
Cooks hid behind counters.
A dishwasher was crying.
The back exit stood open.
Rain blew inside.
Adrian cursed.
We reached the alley.
I saw a black SUV turning at the far end.
“Leo!”
A small face appeared behind the rear window.
My heart stopped.
“That’s him!”
Adrian lifted his gun.
“Don’t shoot!”
He froze.
“There’s a child in that car,” I shouted.
His jaw clenched.
The SUV disappeared.
Adrian turned to his men.
“Cars. Now.”
I grabbed his sleeve.
“I’m coming.”
“No.”
“I saw them.”
“So did I.”
“I saw the driver.”
That stopped him.
“Who?”
“I don’t know his name.”
“What did he look like?”
“Tall. Bald. Tattoo on his neck.”
“What tattoo?”
“A black crown.”
Adrian went completely still.
His men did too.
I noticed.
“What?”
Nobody answered.
“Adrian.”
His gaze shifted to me.
It was the first time I’d used his first name.
Something ugly lived behind his eyes now.
“That tattoo belongs to Victor Salvi.”
“Who is Victor Salvi?”
“My mother’s brother.”
I stared at him.
“Leo was kidnapped by his great-uncle?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Adrian checked his gun.
“Because Victor has wanted my empire for fifteen years.”
“This is about your business?”
“No.”
He looked toward the street.
“This is about revenge.”
We climbed into a black SUV.
He tried to stop me again.
I ignored him again.
Two vehicles followed us through the rain.
“What happens when we find them?”
Adrian stared straight ahead.
“I get my son back.”
“And Victor?”
His face revealed nothing.
“You don’t want the answer.”
I did.
But before I could speak, his phone rang.
Unknown number.
He answered.
A man laughed.
“Hello, nephew.”
Adrian’s knuckles turned white.
“Let me hear Leo.”
“Always straight to business.”
“Let me hear him.”
A pause.
Then a frightened voice.
“Papa?”
Adrian closed his eyes for half a second.
“I’m here, piccolo.”
“I’m scared.”
“I know.”
“Is Emma there?”
Adrian looked at me.
“Yes.”
I leaned toward the phone.
“Leo, I’m right here.”
“Tell my dinosaur I’m sorry.”
My throat tightened.
“What?”
“They dropped him.”
I looked down.
The green dinosaur was still in my apron pocket.
I hadn’t even realized I’d picked it up.
“I have him,” I said. “And he’s mad at you for leaving without him.”
A tiny laugh came through the speaker.
Then Victor returned.
“Touching.”
“What do you want?” Adrian said.
“You know.”
“No.”
“I want you to come alone.”
“Where?”
“I’ll send coordinates.”
“If you hurt him—”
“You’ll what? Kill me?”
Victor laughed.
“You’ve wanted to do that since you were nineteen.”
The call ended.
Adrian stared at the phone.
“What happened when you were nineteen?” I asked.
He didn’t answer.
Then the phone buzzed.
Coordinates appeared.
His driver looked at them.
“Boss…”
“What?”
“That location is the old Moretti house.”
Adrian’s face drained of color.
For the first time since I met him, he looked afraid.
May you like
And then he whispered—
“That’s where Victor murdered my father.”
