Page 37 of Savage Hearts

“Foremost, Manuel’s operation extends into Mexico, which isn’t a surprise. He is in deep with the skin trade business, though not the face behind the madness. Manuel is just a pawn.” Katya took a breath. “Cristian and I have spent months upon months dealing with this very thing. Before my father met his well-deserved death, I learned there are many hands in the pot of selling women and children. Just when we make a dent in their plans, another auction pops up.”

“Great, but how does this help us?”

Cristian and Katya shared a quick glance, but it was Cristian who spoke.

“We believe Manuel shipped Celestina’s sister to Colombia for an upcoming auction.”

“Mother fucker.” Massimo slammed his fist onto the desk. “Where?”

“Based on the information we’ve found, the man Manuel works for is planning a major auction in Bogotá.”

I pushed up from my seat, knocking over the chair.

“We’re going, right?” My gaze moved around the table at the men staring at me with similar expressions. “It’s our chance to get Celestina’s sister back and maybe end Manuel for good.”

“This is fucked up,” Vincenzo growled. “Running guns, taking out people who have it out for the family is one thing… but this? This is beyond anything we’ve ever done.”

“Not really.” Matias shrugged his shoulders. “Your family helped us once with a similar problem. This isn’t much different. Cristian and my wife have spent enough time hunting down these men, we’re familiar enough to lead you. While we still deal with mining, and now wine, we’ve taken it upon ourselves to rid South America of men just like Manuel. And if I had to guess, his boss is the same man we’ve been searching for.”

“Then there really isn’t an argument. We’re going. At least, I am. I owe it to Celestina to bring Carmela home.”

“I’m going, too.” Alex stood and folded his arms across his chest. “If this means I’m risking death, then so be it. I’m dead without her, anyway.”

“I like your grit.” Lorenzo leaned back in his chair, grinning. “Count me in. I’ve been bored in Italy and told Father I wanted to stay here… maybe settle close by.”

“Lorenzo.” Massimo turned toward him. “You do this… and I will make sure you’re set up with your own territory close by. Having an Italian alliance close by will benefit both of us.”

Lorenzo nodded. “Then we need to plan and determine who will go with us.”

“I agree.” Massimo sat back down. “Have a seat, gentlemen. It’s time to take back what belongs to my family.”

We carefully combed through the information Cristian and Katya had amassed over the last few years. It was shocking to see the depravity some men partook in to earn a buck—at the cost of another human. It was shocking to learn that Cristian’s own wife had been the victim of the same enterprise Carmela was likely embroiled with. The thought of what she might be going through made my stomach roll with disgust.

The vibration of my phone buried in my pocket startled me, causing the others to glance my way. Slipping the device out of my pants, my chest constricted when it saw Catarina’s name on the screen.

“What is it?” I stood again, making the surrounding men do the same.

“She’s awake.”

Closing my eyes, I willed my heart to stop pounding in my chest.

“I’m on the way.” Shoving it back inside my pants, I turned to Massimo. “Celestina’s awake. I need to go to her.”

“Let’s go. Matias,” Massimo turned to the eldest Silva brother. “We’ll reconvene tomorrow at Michael and Antonio’s. I’ll send a car for you.”

The walk to his car felt like I was walking into the unknown. Would she have brain damage or not remember me? Every possible scenario ran through my head, but none of them mattered because I would love her until death—no matter what.

sixteen

CELESTINA

My mouth feltlike someone had stuffed an entire bag of cotton balls inside, then taped my mouth shut. Not to mention my eyelids felt heavy, as if they’d been weighed down by sandbags. Slowly, I blinked them open, the bright light burning my retinas as they adjusted. My head turned as a noise sounded from beside me, and I was surprised to find my sister sleeping in an uncomfortable-looking chair pushed against the bed. A bed I had no idea how I’d gotten in.

“Catarina.” My voice sounded rough—nearly as rough as I felt. I cleared my throat and spoke again. “Cat.”

Catarina’s eyes snapped open, and her head turned toward me.

“Oh my God, Cee.” She stood from the chair and moved to the bed. “You’re awake.” While she seemed relieved I was awake, there was no masking the anger in her eyes. “Jesus Christ. You had us all terrified. Why didn’t you tell us you were hurting this bad, Cee? We would have helped you. You… you almost died.” Tears welled in her eyes, spearing me with an exuberant amount of guilt. “I can’t lose another sister.”

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