Page 14 of Stolen By the Devil

I answered, already sensing that something was wrong. "What is it?"

There was a slight pause on the other end of the line, and when Reaper finally spoke, his voice was rough, edged with tension. "It’s your uncle…Salvatore…He’s missing."

My grip on the phone tightened. Salvatore. The old kingpin. He had been the head of the family for a decade since my father died, before his own health started to deteriorate. When the Consigliere decided Sal was no longer fit to lead, they had turned to me. I’d taken over, stepping into his shoes when his mind had started to go, when his sons had proven too weak to handle the mantle of power.

In the year since, Sal had been a ghost of his former self—still sharp in moments but fading fast. But even in his decline, he had never gone off the map like this. Not without reason.

"Missing?" I repeated, my voice hard. "How long?"

"Two days," Reaper replied. "Maybe longer. None of his usual contacts have seen him, and he’s not answering any calls, not even from his sons. Looks like he’s gone off the grid."

The knot in my stomach tightened. Something wasn’t right. Sal might have been unpredictable, but he wouldn’t vanish without a trace.

"Start the search," I ordered, my mind already racing through the possibilities. "Get everyone on it. I want to know where he is, and I want to know who’s with him."

Reaper grunted in acknowledgment. "Understood, boss. I’ll keep you updated."

I ended the call, but the sense of unease settled deeper. Sal going missing wasn’t just a personal problem—it could signify a threat. The old man still had connections, alliances that ran deep. If something had happened to him, it could spark a war I wasn’t ready for.

And yet, as much as I needed to deal with the situation, my thoughts kept pulling me back to Angel. My heart pounded in my chest, a sudden fear clawing at me. I had to get home. I had to make sure she and the kids were safe.

The drive back to the estate was a blur, my unease growing with every passing minute. I kept my eyes on the road, my mind spinning through the possibilities. If something had happened to Sal, if someone had gotten to him, it could mean danger for everyone connected to me. And that meant Liliana, Marco…and Angel.

By the time I approached the estate, the sun had dipped low on the horizon, casting the grounds in deep shadows. My gut twisted as I neared the front gate, a dark premonition settling over me. The guard stepped forward as I rolled down the window, his face tense, like he had seen a ghost.

"Mr. Barone, sir," he said, his voice uneasy. "Your uncle came by earlier. Said he wanted to pay you a visit. He’s waiting for you in your office."

I froze. Salvatore? Here? My blood ran cold. That didn’t make sense. If Sal had gone off the map, why would he show up here, unannounced?

Something was wrong. Very wrong.

I forced a nod, keeping my voice steady. "Thanks. I’ll handle it."

The guard stepped back, and I drove through the steel gates, my mind racing. If Sal was here, this wasn’t just a visit. He wanted something—something more than just a conversation. And if he had gotten to my house without warning, without reaching out to me, it meant he wasn’t playing by the old rules anymore.

I parked the car and hurried toward the front entrance, my senses on high alert. The house felt too quiet, the usual bustle of activity absent. Every step I took felt heavier, the sense of impending danger growing with each passing second.

As I neared the hallway that led to my office, my worst fears were confirmed. Milo, one of my most loyal men, lay slumped against the wall, his eyes wide open, staring blankly at the ceiling. Blood pooled beneath him, thick and dark. A single gunshot wound to the chest.

A silencer. Someone had shot him without a sound. No one had heard a thing.

I clenched my fists, fury and grief warring inside me. Milo had been with me for years. He wasn’t just a soldier—he was family. And now he was dead, murdered in my own home.

Whoever had done this was still here. And they weren’t finished.

I hurried toward my office, my pulse thundering in my ears. I felt my demon rising within me, and my hand itched for the gun at my side. I had to get to Angel and the children.

When I reached the door to my office, I kicked it open with a force I barely contained, ready for whatever waited on the other side.

And then I saw him.

Salvatore stood at the far end of the room, a gun in his hand, the barrel aimed directly at Angel. She stood in front of the children, her arms protectively spread wide, shielding them. Liliana and Marco crouched behind her, their faces pale with fear, their small bodies trembling.

Sal’s eyes were cold, devoid of the warmth that had once filled them. His face, usually sharp and calculating, was twisted in something close to madness. The gun never wavered as he stared at Angel, his finger hovering over the trigger.

Everything inside me went cold.

"Sal," I growled, stepping into the room. "What the hell are you doing?"

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