Page 49 of Captured Innocence

“And I said that’s impossible. Sophia is a member of this family and because of that would be considered a valuable commodity to any one of our enemies. Granted, I still don’t see her brokerage firm as being the reason for her abduction. However, we need to figure out the reason quickly if we have any hopes of keeping our women protected.”

“The two situations aren’t coincidental,” I said through gritted teeth.

“Doubtful.”

Maybe she’d been taken because she was a mafia princess, one of the few remaining within the borders of Italy. The Five Families likely knew of the contract given Roberto had taken her off the market at my request. Whether or not they’d fit all the pieces of the puzzle together didn’t concern me in the least. A hell of a lot of things had changed in the last six years.

What did trouble me was that D’Artagnan had no idea about the contract. There was no doubt in my mind it would create a rift between us given Lucia still didn’t trust me. She had her reasons, including what happened years before with the death of our fathers, but this would set her off. Fuck. Secrets and lies were the one thing that would always derail a family.

“What do you need me to do?” I asked. “Maybe I should ask, who do you want me to kill?”

“For you to take a team and extract her. Bring her to this estate where she can be placed under twenty-four-hour surveillance. And do so quickly. You’re the only one I trust who can make this happen, Mattia.”

Fuck. Now I was taking orders like a typical soldier? Exhaling, I did what I could to shut down my attitude. I was angry at myself.

“She won’t want to have anything to do with me, Dar.”

“Uh-huh. Now we’re getting somewhere. Maybe that’s the case, but it’s not up to her. As I said, she’s a member of this family and as of right now, I’m the Don. Which means she is required to follow my rules.”

It was interesting he wasn’t suggesting that I did as well. He knew what would happen.

“You don’t know her very well,” I said, laughing at his words. Our family by way of marriage. The word held an entirely different meaning to me. Sophia likely didn’t know that I’d employed soldiers over the years to keep track of her, ensuring her safety even though her father had employed two and D’Artagnan had continued to do so after our alliance was formed at Lucia’s insistence.

“And you do?” he asked. I could easily tell his curiosity was increasing. He drummed his fingers on his desk, waiting for my reply.

I’d wanted my own eyes and ears kept on her, which had done nothing but enlarge the significant rift between us. So I’d backed off after our last confrontation, Sophia making it very clear that she didn’t want anything to do with me. She’d even held my men at gunpoint until I’d arrived. That was almost two years before.

However, while she and I were less than friendly, that didn’t mean her abduction wouldn’t cause significant strife to the family. I wasn’t foolish enough not to understand the ramifications if that were to happen. Goddamn it. I’d gone against everything that I knew to be right. In doing so, I failed the only woman I’d given a damn about.

“Yeah, I do. How do you know she’s been threatened?”

He glared at me, his eyes spinning into darkness. Then he tossed a single piece of paper in my direction. “Because this was delivered by courier early this morning.”

I grabbed the note, the words written in what appeared to be blood.

The youngest daughter will be sacrificed because of the choices you made.

Exhaling, I tossed it onto his desk. “The courier?”

“Grilled and sent away. Nothing more than a kid working for a living for a company who has no clue what’s inside various envelopes and packages,” he said, gritting his teeth.

“But you’re certain she’s been taken.”

“Yes.”

“How?”

He seemed put off by my constant questions.

“Because I can’t get in touch with Sophia or the two soldiers protecting her. But I did receive this message an hour ago.” He held up his phone, replaying a voice recording. The woman’s voice held a tremor of fear.

“D’Artagnan. I can’t get in touch with either one of my soldiers. Something is wrong. Oh, my God, I—”

The call was dropped, but not before hearing a dark, male chuckle in the background. My blood boiled. Who would dare fuck with my family? I’d sworn to protect the regime and would do so without question.

“I must admit, I’d surprised at your reaction, Mattia. I know you too well. Given Lucia mentioned Sophia isn’t fond of you now, I feel I need to know the reason why. You’re the only one I can trust with this mission, but I won’t place Sophia’s life into additional jeopardy if there’s a larger issue. Lucia would kill me.”

Sighing, I glanced out the window, remembering how incredible she’d looked the night she’d stepped into my club. I could swear the taste of her lingered in my mouth. And every time I gathered a scent of vanilla and jasmine, I looked to see if she was close. “She and I have a history.”

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