The Mafia's One Desire

chapter 18: safeguard

One Week Later:

Alessandro Prince Chavicci

After a week of hard work, filled with research and arguments, my men, Sofia, and I have found Victor. He has been hiding out at his family's old abandoned mansion. My girl was right when she said he didn't have any close family or friends to even come into contact with. We have been observing him for a few days, just to see his movements and know the best ways to apprehend him. He mostly spends his time by himself, ordering pizza, and watching movies. 

Then, during the night and into the early morning, he diligently yet not-so-effectively searches for Sofia. Since I decided to move her into headquarters, it seems like Victor has not found where she is, which is a good thing. However, there is a slight problem.

It would be better to kidnap him off the street with him not having the advantage of defending his home turf. Just like we want to be on the defensive instead of offensive, he has taken that same position...unfortunately for us. We don't want to rush him home when we aren't exactly sure about the protective measures he has. 

Of course, Sofia thinks I should let him have a chance to get her, and then I could ambush him while he's distracted with her. Yes, on paper, it sounds like a good plan, but I don't want to put her in any more danger than she's already in. I'm not willing to toss her into a bad situation, knowing that maybe something won't go according to plan. 

My goal is to have her avoid even having to come into contact with Victor. The note was enough. We've thought of a few alternative plans, but as much as I hate to say it drawing him out is the best.

My pen swirls along the paper as I write my signature on other orders and deals from the past week. Just because Sofia is being threatened, doesn't mean that everything else I have on my plate stops. The world will continue spinning no matter how long this thing with Victor happens. 

It's like we are at a stalemate as each side comes up with our next plan of attack, and who makes the next move can change the whole course of this war. I chew on my lip, biting down so hard that I draw blood. A string of curses flows out of my mouth as I wipe away the red liquid from my bottom lip. As I suck my lip in my mouth to get rid of the excess blood, my girl walks through my office door. Usually, people knock, but with her, it doesn't matter to me.

"What happened to you?"

"Hurt myself."

She gasps, rushing to my side, and pulling the lip out from in between my teeth. I chuckle deeply as she runs her thumb over the hurt stop, her mouth parted slightly. Her eyebrows furrow in concentration as she grabs the first aid box from the third drawer on the right of my desk. I try to stop her from taking such close care of me, telling her that I'm fine and I only need a kiss, but she is determined to clean one of the smallest wounds I've ever had. 

With a cotton swab and dabbing it in a little bit of water. She cleans it quickly, holding it against my lip for a minute to stop anything bleeding. I love taking care of her, I love that she needs me, but I also like being the one to need her. Something is calming and relaxing when I allow her to take care of me when I don't feel like I need to be in control of the situation.

"Are you better now, Sandro?"

"Much better. But I'm feeling a little sad."

"Would a kiss make it better?"

"Oh, most definitely."

She giggles before pressing a light but a sweet kiss to my lips. A knock comes on the door just as I'm about to deepen our movements, forcing her to break away from me. I sigh heavily, but she only rolls her eyes. I pat my lap to allow her to sit and yell a 'come in'. 

Basilio and Ettore come running through the door as soon as they get permission. The devastated and sorrowful looks don't do anything to ease the tension and hidden fear within me. Sofia's small hand wraps itself around my bicep as much as it can, taking comfort in the stability I provide for her.

"Well...!"

"Sofia, Victor attacked your parents about twenty minutes ago. They just arrived at the hospital and the doctors are awaiting you to make any unnecessary decisions about their health."

"How badly are they hurt?"

"That we don't know yet, but we can head over there now. Boss, is that okay with you?"

"Of course. Take her with Valentina."

Sofia turns to me in fierce surprise.

"But Alessandro, he's out there."

"You leaving will get him to the hospital, we will capture him there."

"You were against this before."

"I'm still extremely against this, but my hand is being forced. I'll take the bait, but we'll be prepared. We leave in five."

I hold my hands on Sofia's precious little hips and caress light kisses on her neck. I lift her up, placing her on the floor, and Basilio and Ettore follow her out the room while she goes to get ready. Once she's left, and I know she's going to be taken care of, I press the alarm. It quietly signals my men that I want them in the main part of our building and that I need them for a mission. 

I aggressively make my way out of my office, making my dominating way around headquarters. It takes a maximum of two minutes to get some of my men geared up. Since I don't need everyone on this particular mission, it's common sense that not everyone has to gear up. That would be a lot of weaponry and the number of cars down the street would allow Victor to get spooked. 

I choose Luca, Fiaro, Agustin, Celia, and Emelia, and the six of us pile in the car about three minutes after Sofia and her crew so it doesn't look too suspicious. The drive of thirty minutes is one of the most difficult drives I've ever had to partake in. I want to be beside her, but I know that Victor would get scared and not take his shot if I was there. I want to be the one protecting her, but I also want to catch the man that wants to hurt her. 

It's not that I don't trust Valentina, Basilio, and Ettore. I think they are some of my most loyal acquaintances and members of my team. At the same time, I trust myself way more than I trust anyone. I have to believe that I made the right decision and that I'm going to safeguard my girl without being right next to her. 

I have to believe that we are going to capture Victor, and I'll be able to torture him in the basement. I have to believe that my men are going to defend her with their lives. I have to believe that this is going to end well for us, even if it doesn't go exactly according to plan.

Once we reach the hospital, I see the separate car that Sofia was in parked close to the entrance. I park about ten spaces away, close enough to be able to reach both cars quickly, but not close enough where it looks like we are together. We climb out of the car, and we're about to post ourselves at the entrances and exits when a scream echoes through the air. 

I have a team of three go right, and the other three -- myself included -- go left. I wave to Celia to go up on the roof of a building next to the hospital to get an aerial view. Luca and I make our way across the parking lot, and I figure if the scream was that loud and echoing it didn't come from inside the building. 

I whisper in the earpiece for the team on the right to go down their alleyway beside the hospital while Luca and I go down the one on the left. We flank either side of the alley, staying hidden in the shadows, and what I see is not a surprise.