Page 191 of Vita Mia

“I can handle the Russians Domi. I’ll patch him up and we’ll be in the air before the sun rises. We get to the Ukraine and meet our contacts and we see it through. I’ll bring Lorenzo back.”

Dominic nodded.

“Fine. We’re using the Odessa,” Dominic said.

“Odessa? I’ve never heard of them.”

“They’re named after the seaport town near the Black Sea called Odessa.” Dominic paced away. “They are the best smugglers in the world. They have a network for trafficking that even the KGB can’t crack. They are not friends, they are not enemies, they only want one thing and that’s the bounty I’m giving them. Do you understand Nico? They take the highest bidder, always, so you have to move fast. I’ll deal with Tarzan. I’ll make sure he knows we have his baby boy. But it’s his country. We don’t have much to leverage other than Brian Smith.”

“Odessa. They Mafia? They know where Lorenzo is?”

“Yes and yes. He’s being moved away from the Ukrainian border. They said they’ll have him in 24 hours. That’s our window. So, fucking patch that motherfucker up downstairs and take flight. Don’t come back Nico without Lorenzo. Don’t come back.” Dominic warned.

Nico watched him walk off. He turned and went downstairs to the screaming Russian. He knew what had to be done.

***

SIX HOURS AFTER THEkidnapping began Brian Smith was well, enough for the travel. Nico didn’t feel secure once they were in the air. In fact, he knew the risks were even greater once he landed. And he was right to be worried. They arrived in an abandoned airstrip near the war torn border of Russia and the Ukraine. A small army of the Odessa was there to greet him. He didn’t speak Russian. He hadn’t thought of the language barrier until that moment.

Brian Smith woke as they taxied the runway. He could hear him groaning in the back of the plane. Nico nodded to one of his men. The doctor warned that the journey could cause blood clotting and possibly kill him. It was a risk they had to take. Brian was put under the pointed aim of a gun and warned to remain still and silent.

The plane was boarded.

Two men entered. One of them bearded and the other beardless. They wore the same thick black bombers and were the same height. He couldn’t discern a leader between them. That was until one of them spoke.

“Nico Battaglia?” the man asked.

It wasn’t his full name but he nodded that he was indeed the man in question. The man on the plane didn’t speak Italian but he spoke English. It would be the language between them.

“Ah, I see you brought me a present?” the man said and then looked to the back of the plane at Brian Smith. He chuckled. The man with him smiled. “Ludwig’s pup. You don’t look so good, eh?”

“I don’t have much time. I need to know. Do you have Lorenzo?” Nico asked.

The man stopped his teasing and returned his gaze. “Forgive me. My name is Mikhail and this is Adrik. You are right. You don’t have much time. We have begun our extraction, but our enemies are already hunting for him.”

“Is he in the Ukraine?”

“Close. I need five hours.”

“Five? You sure?” Nico asked.

Mikhail shrugged.

“Let us make you comfortable until we conclude our business. I’d like to have some time alone with Brian Smith.”

“He doesn’t leave my side until Lorenzo Battaglia is handed over to me. Those are the terms.”

Mikhail nearly laughed off the threat, but Nico didn’t waver. He didn’t have anything to lose so the risk was even lower. Mikhail looked to his comrade and then Nico. “Fine, but we can’t stay on this runway. We have a place for us to wait. Will that do?”

Nico nodded.

Mikhail turned and left the plane. Nico eased out of his seat as his men pulled a whimpering Brian Smith from his reclined position and half dragged him off the plane.

***

MARIETTA BRUSHED HERhair. She washed her face twice to try to do away with the fatigue under her eyes. Nothing she did to erase her pain worked. Without makeup she feared she wouldn’t look convincing. After weeks of being on and off meds her thoughts were scrambled like battered eggs. However, last night she went to sleep listening to the voice of her beloved. She lay in bed and stared at Lorenzo’s face on the tiny camcorder screen. She drifted on him saying her name over and over.

With the cassette close to her heart she slept for the first time without nightmares of ghostly visions. She slept peacefully.

---