Florence, Italy“Mrs. Ricci, there’s someone who wants to meet you,” said Officer De Felice of the Direzione Investigativa Antimafia (Anti-Mafia Investigation Division). Amelia was instantly on her guard. “Who is it, officer?” she grabbed her five-year-old daughter instinctively. “Someone called Evita Ricci.” Amelia’s eyes widened with surprise. Who could she be? Was she related to Matteo? Hope filled her heart, and she left Mariella with Matteo’s Mama and followed the officer to the visitor’s lounge. The last five years had been quite traumatic for them. Four years ago, after a failed kidnapping attempt by Luigi and his men in New York, they had been having a tough time coping. Sensing more danger ahead of them, Marco came over to take them to Florence with him. He had landed a good job in Florence and had just settled down when Luigi attacked again. This time he sent a deadly bomb in a parcel. It was Marcello's timely intervention that saved them. After a few days, Amelia survi
Amelia’s eyes filled up with happy tears. Her little sister, at last, had found the happiness she deserved. She was glad Brandon pursued her and married her after so many years. “Why are they coming here? Do they know I live here?” asked Amelia with dread. With her own life under a threat, she didn’t want to meet anyone. She didn’t want to endanger their lives as well. “No. They'll be here to attend Carlos’ wedding and to celebrate their first anniversary, maybe. Even Brandon’s twin, Brooklyn and her husband, are coming over. Don’t you know? She’s your best friend,” said Evita. Evita’s words surprised Amelia. How did she know everything about her? Then how did she not know anything about Matteo? Or did she? Could she help? “I didn’t keep in touch with Brooklyn in the last five years. I called her five years ago to inform her about my family. After Matteo’s disappearance, life has been unbearable for all of us. With the mafia after us, we’re struggling to stay safe.” Evita sighed a
Carlos’s uncle went inside the heavily guarded place to have a word with the authorities. After a few minutes, he returned with a few officers who led them inside the base. They asked the group to wait in the visitor’s lobby instead while they went to summon Amelia. “We can’t allow you to the quarters. It’s against the rules. Mrs. Ricci will join you in a few minutes. The meeting will take place in the presence of Officer De Felice.” “That’s fine. We will wait,” said Carlos’s uncle. They sat waiting while Nikolas leaned in towards Carlos. “How are you planning to start the investigation?” “I’ll fit my spies and find out if Matteo is working for Di Salvo. Let’s find out if he is alive. Then we’ll plan the next step.” “Yes. Five years is a long time. If he was alive, he would have found a way out of this mess,” said Brandon with a sigh. “Let’s not jump to conclusions. First, let us talk to Amy,” said Nikolas. The door opened and a haggard Amelia walked into the room, looking puzz
Aldo returned with a worried look on his face and sat down beside Carlos. “What did he say?” asked Carlos.“Giuseppe has been with Di Salvo in Catania for the last few years, ever since he joined the gang. They’re shuffling between Palermo, Catania, Ragusa, and Agrigento to escape the cops. He has never met Matteo during his association with Di Salvo.” Carlos frowned at the information, wondering if Matteo was alive. “He offered to ask around in the gang. There are old members who had been with Don for the last five to six years or even more. They would surely know!” “This is urgent, Aldo. I want the information immediately. I have only 24 hours to find out about Matteo. I’ve promised his wife!” Carlos got up to pace the floor, his mind in a state of turmoil. Giuseppe was a new member of the gang, and he wouldn’t be of much help. He needed someone who had been with Don for the last ten years. Who could he turn to for help? “Let’s go to meet Don’s old chauffeur, Viktor. He just reti
“Nice to meet you here, Carlos! Let’s catch up! I have a good proposition for you. Get inside my car!” said Luigi, as he stopped a few feet away from him. “Why don’t you get into my car instead?” said Carlos, still on high alert. “Ask your men to step back,” Luigi asked his men to stay in the car while he followed Carlos into his. Carlos climbed into his car, but he was on high alert in case Luigi’s men attacked him. There was no trusting Luigi and his men. “So, how have you been, Carlos? I heard you’ve been searching for your cousin?” asked Luigi with a crooked grin. Carlos wanted to smash his crooked face into a pulp, but he took a deep breath to calm himself down. “Yes, I am. Let’s come to the point, Luigi. What do you want from me? Why are you tailing me?” he demanded, not in the least perturbed by Luigi’s awareness of his motive. “I can help you rescue Matteo if you help me kill Don.” His request didn’t surprise him at all. “How can I believe you?” he asked instead. “You h
Inside Di Salvo’s Mansion/Headquarters, Hammam Al Agzaz, Tunisia, Africa. “Don will arrive here any minute,” said a guard of the dungeon. “Here? Are you sure? He hasn’t been here for the last five years,” said another guard in disbelief. “He has some work here. He will stay the night.” Matteo strained his ears, listening with interest as he carried the empty food trolley back to the kitchen. So, Di Salvo will be here tonight. This was the opportunity he had been waiting for. It was now or never. He had to take his revenge on the man. For the last five years, he trudged on like an automaton with only one hope. Revenge! He was mentally unstable, but he meditated every day to keep his sanity.“Matteo, make Don’s special breakfast tomorrow morning. He will leave afterward,” said the guard. Matteo nodded, a plan forming in his head. They would open the prison lock to allow him access to Don’s kitchen. He wouldn’t eat food cooked in the dungeon’s dirty kitchen.“Open the lock. I need t
Carlos, and Donovan accompanied Matteo out of the house for the first time since Mariano came to power. “It’s such a beautiful morning!” said Matteo, breathing in the fresh air outside the house. “Yes, it is. So do you remember me? I’m Carlos Sorrento. We’re both related to Evita, your cousin.” Matteo smiled and shook his head. “No, I don’t remember you now but maybe I will soon.” “Yes, I’m sure you will. This is Donovan, my best buddy. We both used to work for Don long ago. Do you remember your cousin, Rafael? He died, but he too used to work with us.”“Good that Rafael died,” said Matteo as they walked down to the main gates. Carlos immediately turned towards him with a frown. “Do you remember Rafael?”“I don’t remember distinctly but I think I’ve heard the name a million times. He harmed someone close to me.”“Yes, he harmed your wife’s family. They died in the accident he was in. It’s a long story,” said Carlos, not going into the details now. “Do you remember your Mama, your
“Emilia has gone to the school nearby to drop the children off,” said his Mama, wiping her eyes. “Children?” asked Matteo in confusion. “Yes. We have been blessed with two baby girls, your daughter, Mariella, and Marco’s daughter, Angela.” “I remember Angela! She was tiny when I last saw her,” said Matteo with a smile. It was strange that the moment he saw them, he started remembering his past. “Wow! Your memory is coming back, Matteo. It’s a great sign,” said Brandon. “I’m sure he will remember everything soon,” said Carlos’s uncle. “We will leave now, Mrs. Ricci. The paperwork is complete. You are free to return home. Both mafia leaders are dead and their gang has been arrested.” They thanked the officers profusely before they left. “We will go back to Sicily, to your Pápa’s house,” said their Mama. “You can stay at my house for a few days before you leave, Aunt Bianca,” offered Carlos. “Thank you, Carlos, but I want to go home now. It’s been so long since we lived there,”