The Ruthless Mafia King's Posession|18+|

31. Despair

★LUCIANO★
While waiting impatiently for those that went to search for Janie, Romano left me for a second to tend to the ones that had just returned from delivering my merchandise to a prospective client.

Whereas, I thrummed my fingers loudly, wondering why it was taking my men so long to find Janie and bring her back to me.

Screw this wheelchair! Screw everything! Luigi would pay for doing this to me, but I was waiting until my wounds were completely healed, and I'm back on my feet before snuffing the last breath out of his damn body.

I detest being in a vulnerable condition just like I was now, but I knew deep down that with time, my body would recuperate fast.

It always does.

Four bullets weren't enough to put me down. For someone like me, it would take lots and lots of effort.

Once, I had received eight bullets that almost rendered me incapacitated for life, if it wasn't because of my influence, money, and power.....Luciano would have become a name from the past.

“Boss, the deal went smoothly," Romano announced as he walked over to me then positioned the briefcase on my thighs, before unlocking it to reveal the stack of new dollar notes. “They paid the exact amount with no negotiations as you instructed."

"Good," I replied with little interest. “Make sure to tip the three of them later on. By the way, why haven't they returned yet?"

Romano sighed then closed the briefcase. “I really don't know.”

“But Janie isn't supposed to have gone that far. Eight men should be enough to capture her and bring her right back to me." I added, desperately hoping they would pop out of nowhere with Janie in their grasp.

“Relax." Romano chipped, picking the briefcase up. “They would return anytime soon with Janie."

I shook my head vehemently. “It's utmost impossible to relax. I should have gone to find her myself. She might be out there alone, and I don't want to imagine if something bad has happened to her."

Romano placed a hand on my shoulder, prompting me to raise my head and hold his gaze.

"Nothing will happen to Janie, Luciano." His eyes stared at mine intently and they held so much concern for me. “...you just have to believe that she will be alright. You know your men, they are as loyal as a domestic dog. They would make sure to carry out your order thoroughly and bring back the girl you have feelings for."

As soon as he made that remark, I cocked my head to the side, tossing him a cursory look. “Really?"

Romano chuckled wryly. “Okay okay, I'm sorry. I know now isn't the time to joke around. But I'm assuming that they will return with her."

I gave him a disapproving nod. “No, no...I don't think I can keep waiting for them to return. Get any of the cars from the garage, we are going to search for her around." I instructed in an authoritative tone.

"But Luciano—"

“—Do what I asked you, Romano!" I barked at him.

Bowing his head, he pressed his lips together into a grim line, straightened his posture then proceed to strut off with the briefcase in his hand.

Just as he was about to leave to do my bidding, my men emerged from the annex of the mansion, and the both of us exchanged looks before pausing to hear what they had for us.

But my heart clenched in pain the moment I noticed Janie wasn't with them.

Did they not find her? What happened to her?

My mind was starting to run amok. Tightening my grip around the arm of my wheelchair, I readjusted myself uncomfortably, waiting for them to finally get to where I was.

“Boss." They chorused, bowing at the same time. Then Matthias stepped forward to speak. “We didn't find Janie."

Don't you think I can see that?

Hardening my jaw to contain my rage, I said nothing.

Yet, Matthias rambled on. “We make sure to search around the woods thoroughly, Arnold even sustained a fracture on his leg."

My glaring orbs traveled from Mathias to Arnold, who was being held by two men to support his stance. Indeed, his pants were covered in blood and he was barely able to stand on his own.

“How come?" I demanded distastefully.

Arnold cleared his throat and then began. “Boss, while I was searching around for the young lady, I heard a little noise, thinking it was her, I moved towards that direction then fell into a ditch and a broken branch pierced my leg in the process." He explained.

Although I wasn't happy with the situation, I decided to ignore the negative aspect and put their own priorities first.

“We have to take care of the bleeding immediately. Get the van, anything and take him to the hospital...I've got the bills covered."

“Yes, Boss." Arnold and the other two supporting him walked off, while I drifted my attention to the rest standing in front of me. “Jordan, get the SUV, we are going to search for Janie one more time."

Jordan darted towards the garage and then returned some minutes later with the SUV.

Romano offered to drive, so he slipped behind the wheels, placing the briefcase just at the base of his feet while I occupied the passenger seat beside him. And five of my men occupied the back.

Without wasting time, Romano drove out of the mansion, into the main highway. Surveying every nook and cranny thoroughly, Our eyes were feasted on the road, hoping she would be trudging along the sidewalk. But after frantically searching for several minutes, there was no sign of Janie.

“Let's double it one more time," I stated, unsettled because finding Janie was proving more difficult than it seemed.

Now, it literally felt like I was searching for a needle in a haystack and the feeling was pissing me off.

Driving past the barbed-wired fence guarding my mansion, Romano suddenly blurted. “Boss, do you see that?"

Sparing him a confused look, I asked. “What?"

Romano hastily to pulled the SUV to an abrupt halt. I watched him unbuckle his seatbelt and then alighted, running off towards the waist-length fence.

He picked up a piece of clothing, hanging loosely on the edge and then brought it back to me.

Taking it from him, I expelled a sharp breath of shock. The clothing was bloody, torn and the fact that I recognized who it belonged to, made my stomach churn.

Janie.

For the clothing to be this bloody, that meant two things— she has been badly injured and also, she was no longer in this vicinity.

A fit of despair slowly seeped into my mind and I wanted to yell every bottled frustration buried deep inside my guts.

Did someone help her? Or was she still wandering around helplessly along the road?

Every part of me became unsettled and I kept on reassuring myself that Janie was still alive and well. Maybe a little bruised, but we would find her soon.

Clutching the dress tighter in between my palm, I raised my head to look at Romano, who had been solemnly staring back at me.

“You can continue driving. I am sure we will find her after scouring a few more lanes." I said, even though my mind depicted otherwise.