Ophelia

Chapter 2 - Found

Angelo

Angelo drove through the dimly lit streets with a steely focus, his hands gripping the steering wheel tightly. The call from Lorenzo had come in minutes ago, laced with urgency—Rocco had triggered his panic button.

The bracelet was something Angelo had insisted Rocco wear at all times, a safety measure in case of emergencies. It was supposed to be a last resort, and the fact that Rocco had used it meant the situation was dire. They didn't know what they were walking into, and that put Angelo on high alert.

The thought of Lorenzo's brother being in danger set Angelo on edge, a cold fury simmering just beneath the surface. As the head of the mafia, it was his responsibility to protect those he considered family, and Rocco was as good as family to him.

As they approached the alley where the signal had originated, Angelo slowed the car, scanning the area with a practiced eye. The place was quiet now, the shadows long and dark, but Angelo could feel the tension in the air. He parked the car close to the alley, leaving the engine running, and stepped out quickly, Lorenzo right behind him. The two of them moved with purpose, eyes sharp, ready for anything.

Rocco stood at the mouth of the alley, visibly shaken but unharmed. A wave of relief washed over Angelo, quickly replaced by the urgency of getting Rocco—and themselves—out of the open.

"Rocco," Angelo's voice was a controlled murmur, cold and firm. "Get in the car."

Rocco complied, clutching a small, worn bag as he climbed into the back seat. Lorenzo and Angelo followed, shutting the doors behind them. Lorenzo turned to Rocco, his expression laced with concern.

"Are you hurt? Do we need to call Luca?"

Luca was their in-house doctor, the one they trusted to handle situations that couldn't afford questions from outsiders - like hospitals. At Rocco's shake of the head, Lorenzo let out a breath, relief softening his features.

Angelo took the lead next, his voice demanding but not unkind. "Tell us what happened. Who were they?"

Rocco took a deep breath, his hands trembling slightly as he held the bag tightly. "They were guys from Silvio's crew," he explained, his voice gaining strength as he spoke. "They tried to grab me—said they had orders to bring me in. They wanted to use me as leverage, to get to you and Lorenzo."

Angelo's jaw tightened. Silvio was a known threat, always looking for ways to undermine Angelo's position. The fact that he'd go after Rocco was a calculated move, one that would not go unanswered. 

Rocco continued, his eyes shifting to the bag he held. "But then this girl showed up. She saw what was happening and jumped in to help."

Lorenzo, who had been listening intently, raised an eyebrow. "A girl intervened?"

Rocco nodded, his expression serious. "Yeah, and she looked like she could barely defend herself. She's tiny, Enzo—like a stiff wind would blow her over. I thought she was a kid at first, but must have been about my age. Smart too. She pretended to be on the phone with her dad, said he was a cop and that he was on his way with backup. She was convincing enough to scare them off. They ran as soon as they thought the police were coming."

Angelo's gaze sharpened. "Her father's in the police?"

Rocco shrugged. "That's what she said. I don't know if it's true or if she was just bluffing, but it worked. Those guys didn't stick around to find out."

Angelo felt a surge of respect for this mystery girl. It took guts to step into a situation like that, especially when you were so clearly outmatched. But if her father really was in the police, it complicated things. A cop's daughter entangled in their affairs was a complication they didn't need.