La Rosa Del Sur (The Rose of the south)

Chapter 14

Chapter 14
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Mia threw a towel over my shoulders the minute I crossed the threshold. I nodded in thanks, and pressed it into my face for a moment, breathing in the smell of damp cellulose fibers, gathering my thoughts, trying to gain focus. I brought my head up, trying to keep my expression steady.

"Ezekiel," Luca said. "Call Malik, and tell him to get his ass over here at once." Ezekiel nodded and left the room.

"Who's Malik?" I asked, looking after Ezekiel.

"You'll see," Luca said, smiling slightly. "He's our best hitman and tech genius. I think he can help us." He turned to Mia. "Could we move this to the living room? I need to sit down." She nodded and led us up the stairs.

The living room was large yet cozy, bookshelves lining the walls, like in Lorenzo's office. There was a large fireplace beneath a large portrait of Mia and Ezekiel. I sank tentatively onto a plush red couch in front of the fireplace, and immediately felt better. I leaned back and sighed a little, letting my mind race for a little bit. Rafael sat down next to me and leaned forward, hands on his knees.

"Make yourself comfortable, I'm going to let Ezekiel know where we are," Mia said, before exiting the room.

Luca pulled a purple footstool over and sat on it. He ran a hand through his hair and said, "Alright, we need a plan. Running in there with guns blazing won't get us anywhere and will most likely get us all killed." He looked at me. "And you can't just go barging in without anything or anyone to protect you."

"Let's figure out what we know about these people and what we can use as an advantage against them," Rafael said. He and Luca both looked at me.

I let out a breath. "Well, I'm pretty sure they're French. The guy who came into my hotel room had a French accent. The thugs who accosted us at the bank all had French accents, and so did the guy on the phone. I think they're all part of the same group."

"Anything else?" Luca inquired.

I strained to think of any other details. "The guy who barged into my room had a gun associated with the French army. I think that's it," I said, shrugging.

Luca steepled his fingers, thinking hard. He then got up and leaned against the mantel over the dead fireplace, staring into it. He mumbled something under his breath. I could practically see the cogs whirring in his mind.

"I think," He said slowly, looking up from the fireplace. "That we're dealing with the French mafia."

"But why?" Rafael said, perplexed. "I mean, I think you're right, for once. But why are they going after Roseina?"

"I don't know," Luca replied. "No group would ever attack another unless provoked." He ran a hand through his hair again.

I bit my lip, thinking hard. Then it hit me. "Wait a minute," I said with growing realization. "Luca, didn't your uncle say something about a war with the French when he was younger?"

Luca looked at me confused, then his eyes lit up. "You're right, he did."

"If I remember correctly," I said, rising to my feet. "Lorenzo said that my grandfather was hired by the Italians to do a job for them. The Frenchman over the phone mentioned abuelo, about how he shot him. Abuelo was killed last year." I paused, looking at Luca. "I think this person is out for revenge. Something happened in that war that this person wants revenge for. And killing abuelo wasn't enough. He was to make us pay, specifically me." There was a long silence.

"I think you're right," Luca said, smiling broadly.

At that moment, Mia re-entered the room with Ezekiel close behind her. Mia took my empty seat, while Ezekiel sat on the arm next to her. Mia looked between Luca and I expectantly.