Chapter Twenty

Sunday, September 13th

JORDAN

Remember when I told you that I wanted to make sure we had thought of every possible angle? Well, I have a confession of my own to make, dear reader. After I told my father and Angelo who kidnapped my mom, the conversation went something like this:

Angelo and my dad shared a look, as if they both knew that this situation just got a lot more serious. "You know who you have to call, don't you?" Angelo asked my dad.

"Yeah. I was just hoping I would never have to call him again." My dad replied, shaking his head in disapproval.

"Yeah, I know." Just then Angelo walked over to my dad and put his hand on his shoulder. "Well, just know, my debt isn't repaid until your wife is home safe. Anything you need." Angelo patted him on the back and went back to his previous position.

"I'll make the call." And with that, my dad went into his room and closed the door.

I watched my dad go into his bedroom. I glanced at Angelo who was now sitting in one of the chairs. Vinceta walked behind the bar to make herself something to drink. I couldn't just sit around not knowing what was going on.

I went to my father's room and opened up the door. I found him sitting on his bed staring at his phone. I could only assume because he was hesitant about having to give this person a call. "Hey dad. What's going the problem?"

"Nothing. Just thinking." My dad sighed heavily. Shaking his head.

"About mom?" I asked concerned. Trying to get him to look at me.

"Sorta. But at this very moment, I'm basically thinking how much I hate having to call this cocky bastard." He shook his head in disappointment again.

"Why?" I was a bit confused.

"Oh, you'll see." My dad chuckled. He swiped the screen and found the number he was looking for, then put it on speakerphone.

"Eat a bag of dicks Elias." A guy on the other end sing-songed.

"Fuck you Nolan! Get reamed by a bag of dicks." 'Sorry kiddo', my dad mouthed to me as this guy Nolan laughed on the other end.

"What the fuck do you want?" Nolan asked in an irritated tone.

"I have a favor to ask." Dad was dead serious.

"Well, aint that something? I haven't heard from you in over ten years and you're calling asking for favors?" Nolan's sarcasm evident.

"Ferrucci has Raquel." The other end went silent. "Nolan, are you there?"

"Ah shit, I'm sorry man. What do you need me to do?" Nolan's sounding sorrowful.

"Find out everything you can about Renato, even down to the smallest detail. Not one piece of information isn't considered important. Not just him either, his entire organization, business dealings, any and all operations. I even want to know about each person he's in business with, get everything you can. I'm also going to need around the clock surveillance Renato and his men, I'm talking audio and visual recordings on everyone. And I mean everyone. Hit me back as soon as you got something. If you can't reach me call Javier and let him know everything you find, and he'll fill me in when I get there. I'll let you know what else I need once you get me that information." Dad was all business, I wondered how many times he had to call this Nolan guy in the past.

"Shit, is that all? Here I thought you were going to give me something hard this time." Nolan's sarcasm returned.

"I'm going to need that information today. This is important Nolan." Elias wasn't taking anyone's shit today.

"Yeah I know. Give me five hours tops." The line went dead.

Before we walked out of the room, something hit me. A start of something. I turned to my dad, grabbing his arm as he was about to grab the doorknob. "Hey dad, I got an idea." He turned and faced me. "What if we were able to cut one of his suppliers out? I mean offer them a different solution to get their supply to someone else, and then use someone we trust to take their place?"

My dad scrunched his eyes together in thought. "You know what? That's actually a fantastic idea. Come on, we gotta tell Angelo." We hastily went into the main room.

Within the next hour we formulated the rest of the plan. We were going to contact Renato's biggest supplier and connect them to Javier. And let's just say once we did that, they were all too thrilled at not having to deal with Renato. They also agreed to supply us with everything we needed, for a price of course. A price we were more than willing to pay. Angelo stayed in New York to handle the deal while we went to Los Angeles. Which is why Vinceta offered to go with us, to see things through.

Meeting with Javier that afternoon, resulted in us filling in the gaps. While Oscar worked closely with Nolan and on the surveillance aspect of it all. Informing us when it was necessary. We found out within the hour of being in L.A. that Renato was upset about his supply being cut off and how pissed he was that he was going to lose half of his revenue from them alone. We wanted him to squirm for a day and become desperate for another supplier.

The day we met with Franco, was the day we discovered they found out who we were. Another important piece of information was Renato decided to use me and Vinceta as bait at some point to lure my father out. We all agreed we weren't going to let that happen. Vinnie and I knew it was going to be dangerous, I told her she didn't have to go through with it. That I could take it from here, but Vinnie can be stubborn. She said she wouldn't be able to live with herself if anything happened to me. Adding on that once she starts a job, she sees it through to the end.

The night of club, we already knew what we would have to do. I wasn't happy about it, but if the guy was an informant then I didn't want to chance him going to the DEA.

The following day in the late evening, Oscar discovered how Renato was planning to use us as bait. Renato's plan was, to invite us to dinner at his place at the villa on the day of the exchange, where they would weigh the product. They planned to have us meet in a secluded area, switch drivers and have Vinnie and I ride with Franco. With the first half of the product following closely behind, and the other half following minutes later. While they weighed everything, Renato was going to sit us down to dinner. Giving them more than enough time to make sure they had everything. Then once he confirmed it was all there, he was going to make his move.

But what Renato didn't know, is that there were two extra vans following a safe distance away from the last of the shipment. Those vans consisted of ten men in each. Another detail he wasn't aware of with were the thirty other security guards surrounding the entire area. And his men that were patrolling his grounds are already dead.

Vinceta had given the signal before we even started. "I thought the moonlit view overlooking the lake is absolutely breathtaking." The words 'moonlit' being the signal that we were outside, the word 'lake' being the signal for our men on boats to steer clear of the dock, and finally the word 'breathtaking' was signal for them to take out the guards furthest away from the perimeter.

We were ready.

Tuesday, September 22nd

I leaned forward and looked him dead in the eye. "Lo so." (I know.) His stunned expression said it all. He sat frozen in his seat. "I also know what you plan to do." I added, I grabbed my glass and sat back in my chair then took a drink.

He smirked. "And you decided to come here anyway. That's either really brave, or really stupid." His smirk turning into a wicked grin.

"Well, that's a matter of opinion really." My entire demeanor nonchalant. "The way I see it, you have to two choices." I took another drink of my cognac beverage. "One: And this is your best option so you might want to listen, you can keep the money and the product. And let me, Vinnie, and my mom walk out of here. No harm done, no hard feelings." I shrugged my shoulder as I said the last part.

"Or two: You might want to really think about this one because it doesn't bode well for you. You resist and we take the money and the product, and we walk out of here anyway, while you and all of your men lie in a pool of your own blood." My voice was tranquil, unthreatening. Yet, the look in my eyes said it all. I wasn't lying. And he knew it.

He nodded his and made a face as if he were thinking about it. Then he threw his head back and laughed. "You have a lot of balls, I'll give you that." He stated as his laughter subsided.

"You have no idea." I smirked as I took another drink.

"But I think I'm going to go with the third option. Where I keep the money and the product. Keep Raquel, you, and Vinceta. Find Elias, capture him as well, and enjoy watching him squirm as I kill you and her." He pointed at me and Vinnie. "Then finally killing him." I could hear my mother gasp as Renato said that. I had almost forgotten she was sitting next to as me and Renato stared each other down.

"Can't say I didn't warn you." I said, pulling back the hammer of my beretta pointed at him under the table.

"Jordan, bambina? Be careful." My mother said all motherly. I wanted to roll my eyes because that's exactly what I've been all along. But I didn't. I stayed staring at Renato. Waiting for him to make his move.

A loud bang echoed throughout the house, all of us turned in the direction of the noise. Renato turned his head back, glancing at all of us. Before I knew what was happening, he flipped the table knocking my gun out of my hands.

I stumble back a little, but I managed to regain my balance. Vinceta was crouched behind the table and before I could do anything, Renato grabbed my mom by the arm. Pulling her with him towards the house. Gunshots were being fired in the front of the villa. Panic rushed through my veins, I had to do something.

Without thinking, I jumped over the table and started running towards Renato. My mother was trying to get out of his grasp, but he didn't budge. He led her to Franco. Franco took her other arm and started leading her into the house. I came up behind Renato and kicked him in the back of the leg, his knees bent, sending him straight to ground. He groaned from his leg hitting the hardwood of the patio.

Just then Vinceta ran passed me in a hurry at the same time tossing me the beretta. I tuck it in the back of my slacks. My eyes still focused on Vinnie, she ran into the living room where I saw Franco still pulling my mom, while she continued to struggle to get out of his hold. I wanted to go to her, but I had to take care of Renato.

I noticed movement to my right, as Renato attempted to stand up, I walked around in front of him, leaving my back to the house. I glared into his now darkened and soulless eyes. He stood up and tried to regain his balance. "You're going to regret that little girl." His voice filled with venom, he straightened out his back, puffing out his chest in an attempt to intimidate me.

"The only thing I'm going to regret, is not being able to enjoy giving you a slow death." My vexation at an all time high.

Then without anymore preamble, Renato grabbed me by the collar, stepping forward until my back hit a wall. He grabbed me by throat, his grip tightening. I could feel my airway closing. So, I reached up with both of my arms and then brought them down, hitting the inside of his elbows with my wrists. Then pushing them away in a fluid motion, where they swung to his sides.

Without giving him any time to react, I pushed him. But he only took a single step back. Stepping forward, I delivered a right hook to the left side of his face, hitting him in jaw. As I was attempting to take another swing with my left hand, Renato managed to block it with his right arm. He pushed me back and as I stumbled backwards, Renato quickly landed a left hook to my chin.

I began to feel a little dazed, I noticed Renato move forward. Delivering a right handed blow to my cheek, then his left hand connected, then another right hand landed on my cheek. He was close enough, so I swung and missed, he had seen it coming and ducked in time giving him the opportunity to strike. He landed right handed jab to my stomach, then clobbered me with a right hook to the chin and I felt another hit land on my right cheek this time.

I didn't have time to react, I left myself open. Giving Renato time to send two quick right handed uppercuts to the body. I looked in time to see him bring his right arm down and back, then that's when I felt the uppercut hit the bottom of my chin. I felt my back hit the wall, my body was weak and beaten.

I dropped to my knees then next thing I know, my chest hit the hardwood floor of the patio. Everything happened so fast. I could feel the pain of every blow that connected. I groaned in agony as I rolled over onto my back. I was dazed, as I stared up into the night sky. I could see Renato in my peripheral. He grinned wickedly as he looked down at me.

The pain in body wouldn't let me concentrate on anything else. It hurt to move, I felt like giving up. I thought back to every fight I've ever been in. Whether it be from practicing at the gym or in the schoolyard. I've been in my fair share of fight's, and nobody has ever come close to hitting me like that. I didn't know how much more my body could take.

I turned my head in Renato's direction, his mouth was moving, but I couldn't understand what he was saying. His voice came out muffled. Then I remembered why I was here. I thought of my mom and how Renato took her from me and my dad. I thought of all the hard work and everything it took to get here. I needed to save her. I wasn't going to let that bastard get away with it. I was going to keep my family safe.

Renato looked at me one last time and then turned and started to walk in the house. I pushed myself off the ground. Ignoring the pain, I can rest when I'm dead. I stood up straight and glared at Renato's back. Then yelled, "HEY!!" Renato stopped in his tracks, then turned to face me. "We're not finished yet." I said in a growl.

Both of us getting in our fighting stance. Glaring at him, I pushed off my back foot and started to rush him, when I got armlength away Renato swung with his right arm, but before he could connect I kicked him in the back of the thigh with my right leg. He was stunned, presenting me with the opportunity to hit him again in the same place. He moved back, but he wasn't quick enough. I kicked him in the other thigh with my left leg this time. Renato staggered back, giving me an opening to deliver a high spinning kick to his chest that caused him to stumble back further into the house. I rushed up to him, lunging high into the air kneeing him in the chest. As Renato fell to the ground on his back, I landed on my feet.

As Renato lay on the ground, I turned and saw Vinceta hit Franco with a right hook to his face. He spun around and landed with both palms on the table close to the bi-fold doors. Vinnie grabbed Franco by the collar then swung him around and threw him to the ground next to the fireplace. It was at that moment, I seen my mom standing near the entry hallway watching everything unfold.

Franco quickly got up and lunged towards Vinnie and landed a left handed jab to her jaw. Franco then threw a right hook which Vinnie was able to block, she countered with a right jab, then a left, then a right to his chin. Then in one swift motion, Vinnie delivered a round house kick to Franco's left temple. Franco crashed against the wall next to the fireplace, knocking him out cold.

Turning my attention back to Renato, he stood up and was ready to fight again. Renato stepped forward and swung, trying to land a right hand jab, I blocked it, then a left, blocked it, then another right hand hook to my face, this time I was quick enough and blocked it, catching it in the process. With me holding his wrist, I swung him around so he would come in front of me, before his body could collide with mine, I kneed him in the chest then let him go.

With Renato's arms flung back, I struck him with a double punch to the chest simultaneously with lightning fast speed. Leaving me with another opportunity to grab by the shoulder and hunch him forward so I could knee him in the stomach the force of the hit caused him to stagger backwards providing me to do a front flip forward and kicking him on the top of his head. Renato dropped to the ground.

Gathering my balance, I stood up and stared at the man on the ground below me. Watching for any movement. But there was none.

There wasn't enough time for me to go to my mom, when I heard the footfalls enter the room. Scanning the area, I noticed five guards beginning to surround me. "Get my mom outta here! NOW!!" I yelled to Vinceta. Vinnie grabs my mom's hand and rushes out the front door. I glanced at Renato and Franco's bodies still laid out on the floor.

Just then a guard comes up behind me and grabs my right shoulder. I bend forward then spin out of his grasp then quickly grab his arm with my left hand and with my hand I grab his wrist and twist it. I applied pressure to his wrist until I heard a snap of his bones then threw him to ground.

Seeing movement from my left, another guard comes forward. He tried to strike me with a right handed jab, but I easily blocked it. It gave me a chance to connect a right hook to the side of his face. With another swing, using his left hand this time, I was able to see it coming. As I blocked his punch, I pushed him back with my knee, and delivered kick to the right side of his temple with more than enough force that when he landed on the floor, it knocked him out cold.

As the third guard approached me with a kick to this head, I was able to block it with my arm while at the same pushing him downward. Leaving him vulnerable for me punch him hard in the chest with both fists simultaneously. Sending him to stagger back far enough to where he trips over the carpet in the living room, he crashes into the coffee table in the center of the room.

The fourth guard came at me, swinging wildly, which never helps in a fight. I caught his wild punch, then grabbed his shoulder, while pulling his body towards me and kneed him repeatedly in the chest until I had him backed up close to the living room window. Then with one final knee to the chest, he hit the window with his back, cracking it in the process.

Once I was done with him, I focused my sights on the last guard. As he attempted to punch me in the face, I was able to capture it and all too quickly, I pulled towards me, kicking him on the side of the knee with enough force to hear the breaking of his bone. Still holding his arm, I bent forward and spun around, facing the opposite side twisting his arm in the process, he fell to his knees. While on his knees, I pulled him to me and used that source to knee him in the face. Letting his arm go, I delivered one final kick to the side of his neck.

I looked around the room, all of the guards were on the floor. No movement. I scanned the area looking for Renato, but didn't see him, neither was Franco. Fuck! I at least had to see if there was any trace of them.

I ran out the front door and stopped in my tracks in the middle of the circular driveway. Searching for any signs of Renato and Franco, but all I saw were men lying on the ground, either dead or barely alive with bullet wounds. The vehicles in the spacious driveway were marred, dented and full of bullet holes. Car and SUV's had their window shot out, doors left open and empty.

Suddenly a rush of panic swarmed me, where the hell were my mom and Vinceta? Did Renato happen to find and capture them? I began looking around, in search of a familiar face within one of the wounded men. Maybe one of them saw something.

My phone rang, making my heartbeat quicken. I answered without looking at my phone. "Jordan? Is everything alright?" I heard Vinceta on the other end. It felt good to hear her voice.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Renato and Franco got away." I said worriedly.

"Shit! That's not good." Her concern matched mine.

"Yeah, I know. Where are you? Is my mom safe?" I asked, a feeling of uneasiness as I wanted her reply.

"Yeah, she is." I breathed a sigh of relief. "After we went outside, we snuck around back. We're in one of the speedboats." She explained.

"Did you happen to see Renato or Franco?" Wondering if they too went around back.

"No. We've been hiding in the cabin, waiting for you." Damn! Then there really is no sign of them.

"Alright. I'll be there in a few." I said as I hit red button on the phone.

Making sure no one could see me, I went around back. I had to jog a little ways against the shore of the lake. It wasn't until I came closer to four speedboats on a private dock, that I seen Vinnie waving her arms in the air. As soon as I got on board, the driver didn't waste any time as he unhooked the rope and drove towards the other side of the lake.

Once we made it to the other side of the lake, we got in the SUV that awaited us. Oscar was in the driver seat, Vinceta sat in the front while me and my mom sat in the back. As soon as we were inside, I leaned over and hugged my mom for the first time in twenty days. I hugged her like I never hugged her before. Inhaling her flowering scent brought me warmth and comfort as it always did ever since I was little.

We had done it. We got my mom back.

Forty-five minutes later we were in the elevator on our way up to the presidential suite. The doors opened and we all got out. With Oscar leading the way and me following behind him, he opened the door to my dad's room. Motioning for us to go on in.

I went in first with my mother right behind me. As I walked further into the room I seen my dad sitting on the sofa. He looked up as soon as he heard our footsteps, his eyes darting to everyone standing in the entryway.

As soon as he caught sight of her, he hastily got up and rushed to her, my mother not wasting any time, met him halfway. They wrapped their arms around each other, my dad lifted her up and spun her around as they continued to hug. He set her down and they stared into each other's eyes, then he bent down and placed a gentle kiss on her lips as if she might break. When he finally pulled away, he said, "Mi sei mancata amore amio." (I miss you my love.)