Destined

Chapter 28

~ Dino's point of view ~ 

Rafa, Enzo and I just finished tasting the new rum, it almost had a citrus flavor and I think on its release it would be a big hit for younger target market and women who prefer something a little fruity or flowery. I pick up two sealed bottles for Capricia, hopefully she can appreciate the taste.

We walk out the factory and I reach for my phone and see a voice message from her.

"Hey Dino, you didn't pick up. I think we should cancel dinner. I have some shopping to for my job, so I'll just see you in the night when I get back to the estate or tomorrow morning. Also, I really loved the apartment you picked. Bye."

I guess that makes sense. She has work to do. So, do I.

Nikolai and Paulo were dealing with the smaller groups of our family so Rafa, Enzo and I headed for our appointment with the informant.

It was a long forty-five-minute drive out of the city to the safe house where the meeting was set. Enzo and his detail searched the perimeter while Rafa and his detail cleared the house. I got out of the car and went inside. Informant number 02 was sitting at the dinner table. He looked terrified.

"Qual è il problema Lorenzo? Sembra che tu abbia visto un fantasma" I said. (What is the problem Lorenzo, you look like you have seen a ghost)

"Capo, è bello vederti ma temo di non avere buone notizie per te." He replied. (Boss, it is good to see you but I'm afraid I don't have good news for you)

"Sputalo Lorenzo." (spit it out Lorenzo)

"Franci è stata catturata. È morta, capo. Ma prima di morire, mi ha inviato questo pacchetto di cocaina e mi ha detto di dartelo." He said and handed me the packet. I investigated it before taking out a switchblade and ripping it open. (Franci was captured. She is dead, Boss. But before she died, she sent me this packet of cocaine to give it to you).

As the cocaine flowed out on the table, I noticed a paper in the packet. I opened the piece of paper and it said "Capo, la tenuta dell'impero è a Roma. Il mafioso ha una zia di nome Gloria. Trovala e lo troverai. Buona fortuna capo." Franci was one of my closest friends when I was a mere boy. She was by my side when my father died and when I had to take over. She has infiltrated dozens of operations for me. She will be avenged.

"Thank you Lorenzo, I would still like you to work in their gang because if you come back now, you could be killed"

"Yes Boss. Thank you, Boss" he said, and he left.

"Rafa, get Nikolai to find all women named Gloria in Rome. Reference them with women over the age of 55 but under 70, only the ones alive. Find criminal records, dental records, school records, birth certificate and marriage licenses. Find the most accessible ones and the least accessible ones."

"Yes, Boss"

"Enzo and I will take a detail and meet with the accountants and come back home. Take everyone else with you. I need this information by tomorrow. Go now" I said as I got back in the car with Enzo.

Suddenly I get a call from Silvano. "Speak" I say.

"Boss, Ms. Devitto has shaken off her detail. She is nowhere to be found. Her cellphone is switched off and she left her satellite phone in my jacket and she even left the car behind."

"Call for back up, find her. Don't come back without her. And tell no one else about this" I said and I cut the phone. Rafa asked what I was suddenly so worried about and I told him that Capricia was missing.

"Primero, if you want I can go to the accountants if you want to go home and wait for her" he said.

"No, I don't want to do that. This meeting is important and Silvano is looking for her" I was praying that she was not doing anything reckless or gotten herself in trouble.

~a few hours later ~

It was late, almost midnight and Capricia still wasn't back. There was no update from Silvano. I was getting worried. What if someone knew that Capricia was special to me and decided to take her? What if some low life though she was a tourist and mugged her? What if she purposely escaped the security detail because she is tired of this life? Enzo tracked her passport and she hadn't used it to book any flights or tickets, so she is still in the country. Her last credit card purchase was at a boutique so hopefully she was in the city.

I was on my third glass of scotch and I was getting lazy eyed. The dinner was on the coffee table and it had gotten completely cold. There was a stack of files next to it. The information on all the Gloria's in Rome. I was supposed to go through them and narrow down a suspect list but all I could think about was Capricia. I put my glass on the side table and took my shoes off and closed my eyes.

The next thing I knew was there was a knocking on the door and Rafa was walking in.

"Primero, it's almost 9 am"

"Did they find her?"

"No Boss, she is still missing but they found scarf in the alley near the boutique where she was last seen. We cross-checked it from yesterday's CCTV footage and it's hers. I think she's been taken"

"Taken? Who are the suspects?" I asked as I got up from the chair and took the scarf from Rafa's hand. Maybe I should have been in the city looking for her. Suddenly, there was this weird pain in my chest. Like there was water in my lungs. I buried the feeling. "What else do we know?"

"There was a Bratva car a few miles from the boutique, but we can't be sure if they took her." Rafa said. He sounded unsure but I knew something was up. I knew that Dmitri might not hurt her but she could be his insurance. I needed answers.

"Rafa, make the preparations and call the secure number and shift Friday's dinner to today's late lunch. I want the Bratva leader in this house before the end of the day. I have my own questioning to do. I am going to go get ready. Tell the security I want to meet them in 4 teams an hour from now at the garage. Gather the thirteen and brief them about the Bratva and Capricia. I don't want the news spreading that Capricia is missing. Talk to Nikki and prepare a feast, it's time to dine with the devil"

"Yes Boss"