NICCOLÒ

20. Reunion

"Elias." Luca nodded his head impassively, keeping himself in check. "We have an issue."

The bulky man grinned, cracking his knuckles. While Niccolò usually kept to himself, forming minimal relations within the family, he had a particular fondness of Elias; Niccolò had picked him off the streets and trained him.

Elias had been at the Italian post, protecting the few others with Romano blood: a position that showed the trust Niccolò had in him. His tanned skin gave him away; everyone knew he wasn't to be messed with. If Niccolò was the brain, Elias was the muscle.

"So I've heard." Elias stood in Luca's office, unbothered by the night sky outside and the flickering digital clock: 4.27 am. He was always alert.

"Where's Niccolò?" Luca asked abruptly from his desk chair, trying to ignore the sharp pain in his ribs; the creases on his forehead deepening. "Cazzo."

Elias shrugged his broad shoulders, neutral. He was surprisingly short, but more than made up for his lack of height with a surplus of muscle and tattoos.

"What's the plan, boss?" Luca glared at him, bothered by the casual nickname. Elias was admiring the office as though they were having a quick catch up, not grasping the severity of the situation.

"Why the hell are you over here in the first place?" Luca asked, realising that despite their family connection, Niccolò rarely shared information with him.

Elias shrugged again. "I don't ask questions." Luca almost rolled his eyes; so that's why Niccolò liked Elias so much.

"She left at about two this morning, picked up in a black Mercedes; the car took out two men before they got away."

"She killed them?"

Luca shook his head, the frustration growing in his head. "Whoever tricked her into escaping - I know Cee, she wouldn't have wanted blood on her hands."

Elias eyed Luca warily, suspicious of the unknown girl; for some reason, she was more than just a bargaining chip to the younger Romano - and that was dangerous. He'd only met her once, when she'd been exchanged for Angela - and he could tell, even then, that she was the type to run away.

"I want Cee back before anyone finds out." Elias's pale blue eyes flashed icily; he could tell Luca meant before Niccolò found out. And he didn't deal well with keeping secrets from his real boss.

"Can do," Elias replied with a cheeky, mock-salute, hiding his careful analysis. "Just as soon as I get the say-so from Mr Don." Luca almost visibly blanched; a hand automatically shielding his bruised, cracked ribs.

"I'll tell him myself," Luca sighed, sinking into his chair. "Just hurry."

---

"Papa?"

The smell of dust filled the air, the smell of blood almost tangible. Cee gagged, tasting death - she felt a cool barrel touch her temple and a strong grip on her arm.

"What the fuck- "

"Don't struggle," Vin twisted her arm tightly behind her back.

"What are you doing?" Cee spat, trying to pull herself away. "Where is my father?"

Vin jerked her arm upwards, causing a stabbing pain to shoot up to her shoulder; Cee gasped in pain, falling quiet. Vin felt her tense still - he pushed her further into the room, past the forgotten piles of boxes to a chair, waiting in the darkness.