Page 12 of Secret Revenge

Nicholas looked at me. “Is it helping to talk to him?”

I took another bite of egg. “Yes. I’m stronger after our sessions.”

He stood and walked to my side of the table and kissed the top of my head. “Good. I’ll be home before dinner.”

Chapter 6

Nicholas

Ihated to leave my wife’s side before she was healed, but after bringing her coffee and a croissant I made my way down to my office. There was too much that needed my attention, including a call late last night from Sam Turner. He said he had further information about Liliana’s mother’s death and wanted to meet as soon as possible.

Marco knocked and walked in. “Sir, we’ve confirmed the location of Abby Carbone. She’s being held in the house next door to her mother, just like Mrs. R said.”

Liliana had promised Jocelyn that we’d rescue her and her daughter after she risked everything to feed Liliana during her capture. My wife had given her word and her word was as strong as mine; I had to save them.

“Bring me the blueprints of the two houses and a map of the surrounding area. We need to plan our moves carefully.”

As Marco rushed to gather the necessary materials, my mind began to explore possible scenarios and escape routes. Every second counted, and Bianchi needed to pay for his crimes against my family and the innocent people he tormented.

Within minutes, Marco returned. “Boss, here are the blueprints you requested.”

“Good. Gather the team. We need to rescue them now.”

“Understood, sir.”

I pored over the blueprints, plotting our course of action. With every detail analyzed, I felt closer to rescuing these innocents, and delivering another blow to Bianchi and his organization. The weight of responsibility rested heavily on my shoulders, but the thought of retribution fueled my resolve.

“Listen up, everyone. We have a mission: rescue young Abby Carbone and bring her and her mother, Jocelyn, to safety. Jocelyn helped my wife and we owe her.”

“Marco says you want to hit the house today. We’re ready,” Riccardo said.

“Thank you for your loyalty. Now, let’s go over the plan. We’ll enter the first house silently, taking down any guards one by one. Our primary goal is to rescue Abby from the basement where she’s being held. Once secured, we’ll move to the second house and free Jocelyn. We’ve already been in the second house, so it should be easy to get in again.”

Marco looked at the maps. “Are you sure you don’t want to start with the mother?”

Since when did Marco question my orders? “No. The mother won’t leave without her child. We start with Abby.”

“Boss, we’re with you every step of the way,” Riccardo said.

“Good. We use the same gear as last time.”

As my men assembled their gear, I thought about Liliana – her strength, intelligence, and genuine love that had grounded me in this dark world. She didn’t know we were planning the rescue today and I hoped I would surprise her with their safety so she would have one less thing to worry about.

I looked at each of my men. “Remember, everyone: stealth is key. We cannot afford any mistakes. Not when a child is involved.”

The morning air was thick with tension as we approached the house Abby was being held in. The neighborhood was barely waking up and with luck, we’d be in and out before anyone noticed us.

“Stay close and keep quiet,” I whispered into my mic, using hand signals to communicate our next move. We crept along the back of the house, ducking down to avoid being seen through the windows.

As we reached the back door, I carefully observed the lock, recognizing its type and the necessary tools to bypass it. With a subtle nod, pulled out my lock picks. Moments later, the door clicked open, granting us entry into the silent house.

“Stay sharp, we’re going in.” The darkness enveloped us like a suffocating shroud, heightening our senses to the faintest sound or movement. We moved slowly and deliberately, each step taken with caution and precision.

“First guard, ten o’clock,” Riccardo said. I nodded, indicating that I understood. A moment later, a soft thud echoed – a sign that their numbers were growing fewer by the minute.

“Keep moving,” I said, “We can’t afford to waste time.”

“Second guard, three o’clock,” Enzo said. I felt the adrenaline coursing through my veins as I prepared for the inevitable confrontation. Seconds later, another muffled thud signaled our progress.