Page 117 of Beautiful Desire

The back passenger window rolls down, and I’m not able to see who’s inside. But the man standing in front of the car door is dressed in all black tactical gear. He nods his head at whoever he’s talking to before getting back in his car and driving off. Three of the SUVs follow in the direction the first one went in, while the other four stay behind.

Keeping my eye on them, I pull my phone back out, sending Enrico another text.

Me

Four black Suburban SUVs headed northwest on Greenwich.

Enrico

Did any stay behind?

Me

Four. Why? You think it’s a trap?

Enrico

Could be. I’ll send a car to tail them just in case.

Looking up from my phone, I see the other four cars still sitting in the same place. I begin spinning my phone in my hand in anticipation of what’s about to happen. The first time I’ll be meeting my daughter, and it’s when I’m taking her back from a man whokidnapped her.

Sickness swirls in my stomach, and I feel a stinging in the back of my eyes. I shake my head and clear my throat as a text comes through on my cell.

Enrico

In position. Clear view.

A slightly relieved sigh leaves me, and a small thrill of confidence runs through me. I’m glad to have Enrico and his men as backup. Looking out the window, I watch as some of Nero’s men pile out of the four remaining cars. They begin talking amongst one another, laughing. Anger surges through me at how relaxed they are. But then again, none of them have a small daughter who’s being held hostage.

Lifting my phone, I click the app on my screen. I open it up and check on Elle’s location. I fitted a GPS tracker on her phone when she had gone to the bathroom after we arrived at Fabi and Gia’s house. The red dot flashes with her location, still at the compound. I know no matter what happens between Fabi and me tonight, he and Gia will always have Elle and Lily’s backs. I just need to know she’s okay and safe, and far away from all that is about to go down.

They deserve better than this life, and I hate myself for the fact that it’s because ofmethat she’s even in this position. Noting the time is 8:27, I slip my phone back into my pocket. I wipe my sweaty hands on my suit pants and exhale one final deep breath, hoping to steady my nerves.

“I’m going to get my daughter,” I tell Bill before stepping out of the car, desperate to get this over and done with.

CHAPTER35

DOM

I closethe car door and make my way toward Nero and his men, who stand huddled in a circle like a bunch of teenagers laughing and joking. As I get closer, one of his men notices my arrival, nudging the man beside him, and like a domino effect, they all turn their heads in my direction. I watch as the second man turns and walks over to a blacked-out SUV and knocks on the window before opening the door.

Nero steps out of the car with a shit-eating grin plastered on his face, happy with himself and the position he’s put me in. Just the sight of him has me seeing red and balling my fists. Visions of me pummeling this stronzo and wiping that smug look off his face run rampant in my mind.

The only reason I don’t is because of Lily. I know I’m walking on thin ice here, and one wrong move could be detrimental to my daughter. It’s bad enough she was kidnapped because of me. I couldn’t live with anything else happening to her because I couldn’t rein in my anger.

“Cugino, è cosi bello rivederti,” he says in a sarcastic smug tone.Cousin, it’s so good to see you again.

I don’t reply. Instead, I allow my searing gaze to burn into him.

“Lui e qui?” Nero asks when I don’t acknowledge him.He’s here?

“Si, e dentro,” I bite out in reply while shoving my hands into my pants pockets.Yes, he’s inside.

“Speriamo bene. Altrimenti, sarai tu quello con una pallottola in testa,” Nero says, patting me hard on the shoulder.Let’s hope so. Otherwise, you’ll be the one with a bullet in your head.

I’m doing this for Lily and Elle. My girls, I keep telling myself.

Nero walks away and opens the car door to the SUV he exited minutes ago. The front half of his body is inside the back seat, so I take this opportunity to shoot off a quick text.

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