Page 55 of The Enforcer's Possession
“She could use a burner phone,” he said, but there was less certainty in his voice now.I could tell he didn’t want to trust Carlo.But I’d counted on his love for his sister smoothing the way.I’d planned for this and my men knew exactly what to say.
“She did.It’s how she contacted me.She’s waiting at a café three blocks from here.Said she has fifteen minutes before Dante expects her back at the penthouse.She needs to see you, Luca.Needs to know you’re all right after everything that’s happened.”
Carlo let concern color his voice.We’d discussed the best way to handle this already, knowing Luca wouldn’t trust anyone immediately.Carlo let him see what he wanted to see -- someone worried about Caterina’s well-being, willing to help facilitate a secret meeting between siblings.The best lies were built on foundations of truth.Caterina most likely was worried about Luca.She probably would want to see him if she could do so without Dante’s knowledge.
“Why would she trust you?”But he was wavering.I could see it in the way his posture had relaxed slightly, the way his hand had moved away from his phone.
“Because there are people who care about her, and I work closely with them.She has more people on her side than she realizes.And because she knows I have no loyalty to Dante De Luca.She needs someone outside both families right now.Someone who can help without ulterior motives.”
Very good.Carlo was playing his part perfectly.
Luca studied him for a long moment.Nineteen years old and trying to read Carlo like he’d been taught.Looking for the tells that indicated deception.But Carlo had lived this life for decades and had had plenty of time to perfect his mask.To make lies look like concerned truth.
“Three blocks?”he finally asked.
“Yes.I have a car waiting right here.I can drive you over, you can see her, I’ll bring you back to get your car.Fifteen minutes total.”
“I’ll drive myself.What café?”
Smart.Not getting in a strange car, even if he was starting to believe the story.But I’d anticipated this and prepared my men well.“Café Verona.The one on State Street with the blue awning.She’s in the back corner booth.But Luca…” Carlo moved closer, making his tone more urgent.“She’s terrified Dante will find out.If you show up in your car, Dante will hear about it.It’s better to take one he wouldn’t recognize right away.”
He didn’t decide immediately.I counted the seconds but knew he’d finally relent.In the end, blood won.It almost always did.
“Fine.”He adjusted his backpack.“But if this is some kind of setup --”
“It’s not.”Carlo gestured toward the parking lot.“My car is this way.”
They walked side by side, and Carlo kept up a stream of concerned observations about Caterina’s situation.How isolated she seemed.How Dante controlled every aspect of her life.How she’d broken down crying when she’d contacted him, desperate for any connection to her old life.All of it designed to prey on Luca’s protective instincts while simultaneously moving him away from the library’s limited security.
The Ferrari chirped as Carlo unlocked it.Luca moved toward the passenger side, but Carlo had positioned them perfectly.As his hand reached for the door handle, Ricci’s van pulled up behind them with its lights off.The side door slid open.
Luca turned at the sound as three men emerged.He was fast; I’d give him that.His hand went for his phone as he backed away, mouth opening to yell.But Ricci was faster, closing the distance and clamping a chloroform-soaked cloth over Luca’s mouth and nose before any sound escaped.
Luca fought.Dropped his phone and grabbed Ricci’s arm, trying to pull the cloth away.His other hand swung wildly, catching one of the other men in the jaw with enough force to snap the man’s head back.Books spilled from his backpack as he thrashed, hitting the pavement with sharp cracks.
Carlo stepped back and I watched with clinical detachment.The boy had some training -- Giuseppe’s influence again -- but he was overwhelmed and the chloroform was already taking effect.His struggles weakened.His eyes, locked on Carlo’s with betrayed fury, began to glaze.
“Gently,” I instructed as I rolled down the window just as Luca’s knees buckled.“He’s more valuable undamaged.”
They lowered him to the ground with relative care, then lifted his unconscious body between them and carried him to the van.Efficient.Professional.
I surveyed the parking lot with careful attention.Two cars remained besides mine, Carlo’s, and Luca’s Range Rover, both empty.No pedestrians visible.The security camera on the library’s corner was pointed toward the main entrance, not this section of the lot.The smoker I’d stationed had already melted away into the shadows.
Luca’s phone lay on the pavement, screen cracked from the fall.Carlo picked it up and handed it to me.I noted it was still locked, and I pocketed it.Carlo gathered the scattered books and tossed them into my car’s trunk.Evidence to be disposed of later.
The backpack went in after.I did a final sweep of the area, looking for anything we’d missed.A scrap of paper from his notebook, a pen, nothing else.Good.
Ricci appeared at my window.“We’re ready to transport.Location still good?”
“Yes, the Via Dante warehouse.Keep him sedated but not overdosed.I need him coherent for the video.”I checked my watch.11:03 p.m.The entire operation had taken eleven minutes from initial contact to completion.“No stops.No calls.If you discover anyone saw you tonight, they cease to exist if this traces back.”
“Understood.”Ricci headed back to the van where Luca’s unconscious form was being secured.
I got out and walked to Luca’s Range Rover and looked through the windows.Expensive interior.Probably had GPS tracking, which was why I was leaving it here.The longer his car sat here, the more time we had before anyone noticed his absence.They’d think he was running late if they tracked the vehicle.
I returned to my vehicle and slipped into the driver’s seat, started the engine with a quiet purr that pleased me every time.As I pulled out of the parking lot, I caught my reflection in the rearview mirror.Composed.Satisfied.
Behind me, the panel van followed at a discreet distance.Inside, Giuseppe’s heir lay drugged and helpless, completely unaware that his kidnapping would shatter his family’s carefully constructed alliance and remind Caterina exactly what it cost to reject Marco Vitale.
