Page 63 of Captured Innocence

“At least five. Maybe more,” Luis struggled to say. “I think I got two of them before they shot me.”

“They’re from every freaking country, boss,” Vincenzo added, confirming what I already knew.

I scrubbed my jaw, the tension remaining. Whoever had instigated the abduction had utilized significant resources in their effort to lure us to our deaths. Had they anticipated D’Artagnan would send an entire army? Maybe so. If he had, that would have left us vulnerable in Italy.

“Please tell me,” she hissed, although I could hear the sound of her resolve crumbling. “I deserve to know where you’re taking me.”

“Switzerland, Sophia. It’s too hot in Paris right now. Every other exit out of the country will be blocked. We’ll lay low for a couple days before returning to Italy, but returning home is the real destination.” Remaining in Switzerland would also allow me to meet with a particular contact who might be able to provide additional information. It was a dicey move, but one only I had control over.

“Who were they, Mattia? Do you have any idea?” she asked after a few minutes had passed. Her voice was much quieter, the anxiety she felt creating a tremor.

“The truth is, princess, that I think you already know, or at least the reason why. Don’t you?” I shifted another gaze into the rearview mirror, the morning light allowing me to see the reservation in her eyes.

“Are you out of your mind? They jumped me. Money?”

“You mean after you warned your roommate. Margot shared the voicemail with me.”

Her eyes opened wide, but she said nothing. Even her jaw clenched from frustration and hatred.

“Well, that’s what I intend on finding out. When we’re settled on the train, you and I are going to have a long discussion. Call it a debriefing. I’ll venture a guess you know more than you want to tell me, but you will, Sophia. You will tell me everything.” I didn’t wait for her to answer, yanking out my phone and dialing Dar.

She cursed under her breath in Italian, but I caught every word. I’d been called a hell of a lot worse than an arrogant son of a bitch. The rest of the expletives were amusing. They were also exciting, my balls tightening.

Vincenzo glanced over at me, lifting his brows in amusement. Why did the girl have this kind of effect on me?

“Please tell me the package is safe,” D’Artagnan stated as soon as he answered the phone.

“Yeah, but we took a hit. Carlo is gone. There were more soldiers than anticipated. As in a good thirty of them. From different countries too. I think we could have a leak in the organization the size of a battleship.”

Dar exhaled. “I’ll find out and handle it if that’s the case. Get to your destination then call me. I need to know which nationalities you’re talking about.”

“Pick one. I don’t know if the assholes were trying to throw us off, but I doubt it.”

“Shit. They’re playing a game.”

I half laughed. “You can say that again.”

“I need to talk to my sister,” Sophia insisted. When she grabbed my shoulder, her involuntary gasp was as if she’d been burned. I felt the charge of electricity as well, the heat coursing through my body explosive.

“Not yet, princess. Soon,” I answered then heard D’Artagnan laugh after overhearing.

“And here you were worrying that you two wouldn’t reconnect. Just be careful, Mattia. I don’t like what I’m still hearing on the street.”

“Which is what?”

“Whoever has come to the table thinks they have a chance at destroying everything.”

“How the fuck did you get that notion?”

He laughed, the sound one that brought fear to others but to me had always brought a smile. The man had been adopted after his entire family was murdered. He’d been treated like nothing more than an animal, yet he’d thrived, even managing to teach me a thing or two about remaining stoic through the worst our enemies could throw at us and how to do my worst to our enemies. I wouldn’t call us the best of friends, but I did consider him a brother.

“Then I guess we’ll enjoy the upcoming hunting season.” I could almost savor the taste of blood.

“Yes. We will. Give Sophia my best but make sure nothing happens to her. Lucia will kill you herself.”

“Yeah, I already know.” I ended the call just as I noticed the first sign for the train station. From here, it could get dicey. What I didn’t want to do was draw unnecessary attention. “There are some rags in the bag. Grab them.”

Vincenzo responded, finding them after a few seconds, remaining on edge as I kept just above the speed limit. I’d calculated the odds at fifty-fifty at this point. If the asshole responsible was smart, he’d covered every base.

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