Heartless Soul Book 2 of the Heartless Series

Chapter 30 - Taken

Carmela's POV

I stood silent as the warehouse had been destroyed, fire blazed high into the night air as if signalling someone, the sound of falling timber and metal sheeting could be heard from even 500 yards away, where I were positioned on the cliff edge. My heart jumped into my throat as realisation hit me that Enzo and Amy were in that building as it exploded. I need to get to them, I need to help them, my mind raced as my body stood frozen in shock. I took a last look through the scope of my rifle to see Romeo entering the building, but it wasn't long before he came stumbling out coughing followed by a thick stream of smoke and a few flames lapping at the door, confirming that the building was inaccessible to even try and help our friends.

Timo was ordering everyone to convene at the check point through the earpiece. I started to numbly dissemble the riffle as fast as I could so I could get to them, I needed to be there for everyone, to console Romeo and Timo for their loses. As the final zip locked into place a heard a twig snap behind me, I whirled around quickly to see Mel stumbling towards me, with blood dripping down her face from her temple and she was clutching her arm to her chest, panting lively as if she ran all the way here to me. I must admit I lost her in the fighting that took place but how did she get all the way here so quickly. "Camy, I need your help." I was in motion before her words were fully out. I had dropped the gun bag and opened a small med kit that I always had to hand on missions.

She winced as I pressed gauze to her head to stop the bleeding and mop up the remnants that trickled down her cheek. She leaned on my shoulder lightly before pressing a knife into my belly. "Mel?" I questioned her with her own name, my eyes widened showing all my shock and surprise at her actions. "You really are a stupid bitch." She pressed harder into my stomach with her blade and I took a step back into the solid body of someone behind me. "You continue to disappoint me Carmela." That voice was unmistakable. I took a deep steadying breath in and closed my eyes knowing there was no escape for me, I would have to act cautiously if I am to try and find a way out of this later. I would have to keep up appearances and do as I'm told for my babies sake. "What do you want?" I looked deep into Mel's eyes as I asked this, but I wasn't addressing her I was talking to my grandfather.

"What I've always wanted. What's mine." I looked over my shoulder at his seething cruel face. He had what he wanted, he had my mafia. I was the rightful leader and he knew it just as much as I did, but that wasn't enough for him. I never challenged him for it, but he still insisted on coming after me. "You have what you want." I challenged. His bony long fingers wrapped around my shoulders and squeezed them to the point of pain. "I only have part of what I wanted. Now I want him dead and to have you watch him die by your own hand." Tears silently streamed down my cheeks, but I said nothing. I just held my chin up high and pursed my lips, this was my natural posture when dealing with my grandfather. Mel just smirked at my discomfort, but she too said nothing. She must know only too well what my grandfather is like, and didn't want to be punished later herself for anything she does or says now. Clever girl, I thought as I continued to stare into her eyes. I knew there were something off about her but didn't know what it was. I could now see how blinded I were to her and her so called friendship towards me. My only true friend is dead, I made a metal note that she will pay for it one way or another and I will live to see that day.

Romeo's POV

Once we got a fair distance away from the fire and destruction of the warehouse, we could hear a conversation going on through the earpiece. It was Carmela and Mel, the way she questioned Mel instantly made me realise that it was her, the rat was her all along. I knew I should have followed my instincts from the beginning when I found her in my office on two separate occasions, but then she had ample opportunities to gather information and feed it back to Vincent. I suspect it's Carmela's grandfather who's behind it all, but it just all seemed bigger than just him. I just couldn't figure it out in time. I looked at Timo and he instantly knew what I was thinking, and we simultaneously began running. We bolted for the treeline that lead up to the trail and then eventually to the cliff edge where Carmela was positioned as a snipper. My lungs burned as we ran, the smoke still present in them which only made me tire quicker, and my throat was raw, but I couldn't stop. I had to get to Rose, to the baby before anything happened to them, I had to protect them at all costs.