Page 138 of Arranged

About a dozen men had been called, more from Drago’s side. If the bastard took the fucking children, there would be nothing anyone could do in this world to prevent me from taking weeks before I allowed Gio to die.

I rushed from room to room. It appeared by the smashed vase in the foyer that Carmella had put up a fight.

There was no sign of my beloved or my sister. I rubbed blood from my eyes, still gasping for air.

I had to think. Where the fuck would the bastard take them?

“The children are alright,” Drago said. I noticed he kept his voice low, but the pained look on his face told me he understood what we were facing.

“Where the fuck are they?” I started to storm from the room, but he grabbed my arm.

“They’re sleeping. Try and breathe. We’ll find them.”

I jerked my arm away. “They will die, Drago. Make no mistake.” My heart did several flipflops and I jogged down the hall, taking deep breaths before walking inside. The two babies were sleeping side by side with their heads pressed together. I wasn’t a praying man, but I thanked God the children had been spared.

“There’s no sign of your sister.” Drago was right behind me. “I’m sorry. I have additional men on the way.”

I’d been forced to tell Drago about Maria and Jessica. He hadn’t condemned or threatened me, simply made immediate phone calls.

“I fucking failed them.”

“You didn’t fail anyone. You trusted. We all did. Look, I’m sorry, boss. My gal has two kids. The world revolves around them. You know?” Drago said. I was shocked he was attempting to make me feel better. Nothing would.

I bent down, brushing hair from Jessica’s face. Two perfect angels. How was I supposed to keep them safe?

Think. Think…

“There’s a security system set up down the hall. Check the cameras,” I told him. “Call Don Lupini. Tell him the children are coming to them.”

He didn’t argue with me, leaving immediately.

I took Jessica’s hand into mine, pressing a single kiss on her palm. She opened her eyes, blinking a few times.

“Hi, baby girl. Just rest. I just wanted to say hi.”

She nodded and rolled over, cuddling next to Gabriel.

Her soft sighs came close to breaking me. I tousled Gabriel’s hair before I stood. The little man didn’t move at all. Carmella was right. He could sleep through anything.

The moment was precious, but I couldn’t stay. I couldn’t protect them as I wanted to. Time wasn’t on my side.

I headed toward the door, stopping to catch my breath when I heard her little voice, and it ripped into me.

“Night, Daddy.”

As soon as I left the room, rage unlike anything I’d felt nearly consumed me.

I stormed down the hallway and into the security room.

“We got it. A black van,” Drago said. “It’s right there. Can’t make out the license plate, but you can see the women being pulled inside.”

“We don’t need the fucking plate. I have a tracking system on her.”

“Wasn’t the tracking system on her phone?” Drago asked, peering up at me quizzically.

“Yes, but I shoved another one into the pocket of her jeans.” I jerked my phone into my hand, shifting to the application. The beep was strong.

“Fuck. I’m beginning to like you,” he said. “Let’s go. We might be able to find the fuckers. Lupini is on notice. So are the guards keeping Enzo safe. No one will get to the rest of the families.”

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