Duchess Trilogy: Book 1: Mafia

Chapter Eighteen: Prison of Love

Ryan's POV

It was late in the evening, and I started my search on Brie. The cameras don't show her anywhere near the gazebo; she wasn't around, and neither was Alex. The last people that saw them two were Stacey and Niccolò's child in the hallway, close by those doors. But that is the oddest thing. Who was the one that carried Brie that the child saw? And if the couple watched them head out this door, why aren't they seen on the cameras?

Once word got out that Brie was missing, the party came to an immediate end, and everyone either went home or stayed to help with the search around the property. Jake and Janja wanted in on the search, but we told them that we would find Brie and head off to their honeymoon. It took a lot of alcohol, but finally, Janja left with Jake for their trip. I continued to try to call Alex, but the phone would ring too long, giving a no answer. We tracked the phone, and it still kept bouncing on cell towers all over the country. Until one of the techs can pinpoint the location, there is nothing I can do to find him. We find Alex, we find Brie...

"Anything new yet, Ryan?" Asks Carmine, looking concerned.

"No, we will still be investigating," I say, holding myself back, trying not to interrogate him. He seemed to be the one highly interested in her, but he is helping here, so I can't label him as a suspect in whatever is going on. The only suspect is Alex, and I honestly can't figure out why.

I know Alex approached me a couple of weeks ago, confessing that things with him and Brie didn't work out, but I presumed they agreed to be just friends and nothing more. Did Alex go out of his way to kidnap Brie to get her to reconsider? I honestly didn't think he would be this type of guy. Suddenly, my mind went to the play where he did try to force himself on her, and I stopped the situation. "Never mind, it is a possibility that he did this." I think as I still watch the cameras.

I turned around to everyone, holding back my frustration, and just sent everyone home. "I'm sure it is a misunderstanding and not a kidnapping. We will go home, sleep it off, and try searching again tomorrow." I say to those who stayed to help.

Everyone nodded and then went on their way. I watched Carmine as he left to see if there was a change of behavior from him, but he didn't show any change of emotion other than concern. Soon, it was just me alone in the room, and I threw an empty bottle to the wall, upset about the incident. I grabbed all the tapes and then took them home with me. I knew it would be a long night of watching some scandalous affairs and all at the gazebo, but I needed to find Brie. I need to know if she is safe.

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Alex's POV

I awake groggy from an intense dream. Did I get shot in the neck? Blinking my eyes, I still see the room is still blurry. I feel for my neck to where I had gotten hit. As I lifted my arm, I heard chains moving around and saw a blurry vision of my hands cuffed at the wrists and chains hanging off the nearest wall. I raised my arm and pressed as gently as I could with my hand on the spot, but I felt horrible pain immediately and winced. "The sleep dart..." I think to myself. I moan in more pain and drop my weak arm, hearing an echo of chains hitting the floor, indicating that the ground is concrete.

I adjusted my eyes and finally was able to see with a better vision. I looked around and noticed that I was in a cell with dried-up blood on the walls and the rusted chains around my wrists. I sat up slowly and tried to sense my body and what I could or couldn't move. Thankfully, I still have mobility everywhere, but I was confused as to how I got here.

The door creaking cut off my thoughts, and I see two men dressed in black and wearing face-covering black masks coming in. One was carrying a food tray and then left it on the floor in front of me. Knowing how these things go, I glance up at the person and don't move.