For the rest of the drive, Matteo sat in a dazed state. He was sure he had seen Di Salvo in the car. Was he tailing him? If he was alive, why wasn’t he taking his revenge on Luigi and killing him already? “Tired or worried?” asked Freddie, noticing his silence. “Both,” said Matteo without elaborating further. They reached, and Matteo went to his apartment while Freddie went to the shop. Matteo rang the doorbell absent-mindedly, wondering why Di Salvo was following him around. What could he want from him? Marcello opened the door with a wide grin on his face. “Emilia, come quick,” he yelled at the sight of his older brother. It brought Matteo out of his daze, and he gave Marcello a quizzical look. “What’s up now?” he asked as he entered his home. He saw the wide grin on his Mama’s face too. “Guess what?” asked Marcello, wiggling his eyebrows excitedly. Amelia came out of her bedroom and smiled at him. Matteo understood from everyone’s reaction that she might be pregnant. Yet he
“We haven’t heard from Luigi for almost three months. According to police evidence, he died three months ago in a fight with Costello and his men. A week later, we nabbed Costello and his gang,” said Walsh. Matteo gaped at him in disbelief. When did Luigi die? How did they have no information on this? “Are you sure? I don’t believe this. I can smell foul play. Maybe he has escaped,” said Matteo with a deep frown marring his features. It was the most baffling news he had ever heard. Was that the reason Rafael called them? “The FBI is investigating his mysterious death. I think it has been staged, but the evidence and post-mortem report are totally fool-proof. In the meantime, the FBI is interrogating the gang members they have arrested.” “I really hope this is true. With Luigi’s death, we can lead a free life,” said Matteo with a smile of relief on his face. “Yes. Let’s wait for the results of the investigation.” Walsh stayed with them for the next few days until the FBI invest
It was the most devastating news Matteo had ever heard, but the need to revive Amelia was upmost on his mind. “We have to revive her. She’s pregnant!” he said, patting her cheek to help her gain consciousness. Megan gasped and got up to get some water. She returned in a few minutes and sprinkled water on Amelia’s face. “Emilia! Please open your eyes,” begged Matteo, looking lost. “I’m sorry, Matteo. I shouldn’t have told her the devastating news so bluntly. I didn’t know her condition was so delicate.” Matteo sprinkled some more water and patted her cheeks. “It wasn’t your fault. You don’t know what she went through for the last three years. It was more than anyone could handle,” said Matteo with a sigh. Amelia blinked when Matteo sprinkled more water on her face. She sputtered and opened her eyes wide, looking at them in a dazed state. “Matteo, what happened to me?” she whispered hoarsely. “Nothing, Tesoro. You just lost your consciousness. I’m sure you’ll be fine if you reste
The next day, Matteo accompanied Megan to the hospital to get Ryan discharged. He would have to remain under bedrest until he was better. Amelia and Alex waited for him at home. Last night after Matteo explained to her about his condition, she felt bad for her older brother. However, considering her delicate state, Matteo couldn’t tell her about Gia’s ordeal. Maybe he would explain everything to her before they left for LA. Amelia and Alex sat in the front yard, waiting for them. “Will you stay with us forever, Aunt Amy?” asked Alex. “I can’t stay here forever, sweetie, but I’ll surely visit you soon. You can come down to New York when my baby is born.” Alex turned to her excitedly. “Baby? Where is your baby now?” Amelia stroked his hair off his face and smiled at his enthusiasm. “It’s growing inside my tummy now,” she explained patiently. “Oh, really? Are you sick? Is it a boy or a girl, Aunt Amy?” he asked, touching her tummy with wide eyes. “I’m not sick, just a little tired.
Lost in his thoughts Matteo walked down the street, unaware that he had left the residential neighborhood far behind him. Amelia’s accusations disturbed him to the brink of losing his mind. He cared little about himself, having always lived dangerously. It was the thought he failed her which gripped his heart. A car screeched to a halt beside him, bringing him out of his reverie. He instantly stopped in his tracks to look and froze immediately upon seeing two men emerge from the car. Were they here to get him? He couldn’t take the risk of being captured! Matteo ran into the shopping mall he had just crossed. He could hear the footsteps of the men chasing him. So he was right. They were here to grab him! But who were they? With Costello’s men and the NSM arrested, who would want to capture him now? He entered the mall and hid behind a wall. As he looked outside, he gasped with shock at seeing Luigi standing at the entrance with the men. So Luigi was alive! He had produced fake evide
“Don’t stop. Please follow that car. They’re kidnapping my nephew!” said Matteo to the cab driver. After Di Salvo left, he took a cab to return to Ryan’s house, but before he could reach it, he saw Alex rush out of the house. Before he could reach him, a Honda Civic pulled up beside the little boy and two men emerged. They grabbed him and climbed inside, speeding away immediately. Realization hit Matteo hard, and they chased the car. “Do you have a phone with you? I left mine at home. Please, can you let me call the cops?” asked Matteo agitatedly. With the criminals escaping with Alex, he had to act fast. “Sure. Here.” The cab driver handed him his mobile phone. Matteo called 911 and informed them about the kidnap. He gave them details about Alex. “Can you keep the phone switched on for the police to track our location?” “Sure. Are you a tourist?” asked the cab driver as they negotiate around a turn and tailed the Honda Civic. “No, I’m visiting my wife’s family.” “The car's he
“Alex? Where did you find him? Who are you? Why did you kidnap our child?” asked Megan hysterically, rushing forward to take Alex from his arms. “Mom, I’m fine now. This uncle saved me from the bad men,” sobbed Alex, clinging to his mom. “I’m Andy Stewart. I’m the cab driver who brought his uncle here in the evening, but we witnessed your child’s kidnapping. We tailed the Honda Civic to Kensington Avenue and rescued the child. The criminals wanted his uncle. I didn’t wish to leave him there, but he was adamant. I’ve informed the local police and they will rescue him.” Megan scoffed, not believing his story. “Are you sure you aren’t involved in this for money?” she asked, carrying Alex inside. “I wouldn’t have risked my life and helped his uncle rescue him. I wouldn’t have brought him home in that case, but called you for a hefty ransom,” said the cab driver. “Uncle? What’s his name?” asked Amelia with wide eyes. Did he mean Matteo? “I didn’t ask his name, but I have an audio rec
“That’s what we’re trying to find. We have checked the traffic cameras at the Kensington Avenue Somerset Street Crossing. A white Nissan Rogue crossed the place once at 8:10 in the evening and back the same way at 8:55. We have two witnesses who have seen the car near the alley. The traffic control department is hunting for the car. Surely, it’s the one that took Matteo away from the crime scene.” Ryan massaged had temples as they looked like a lost case to him. It didn’t look like Matteo was alive. “Have you checked at the nearby hospitals for a critical patient with a gunshot wound?” “Yes, we have checked all the hospitals in the neighboring bureaus. There’s no news of Matteo. Maybe they’ve changed his name and admitted him somewhere if he’s alive. We have scanned the neighborhood for his body too. There’s no news so far. I’ll call you if there’s an update.” Ryan couldn’t face his sister after disconnecting the call. “What did he say? Have they found him yet?” asked Amelia, her e