Page 88 of The Don
“He thinks I am, in exchange for Eliza.”
“Varo, Christian, and Sabele are dead. There was a massacre at the restaurant where the girls were,” Dante says.
“How many people are dead?” I ask.
“The three of ours, and two diners.”
“Fuck,” I say as I run my hand through my hair. “Get us over to the restaurant. Let’s figure out where Adrian is keeping Eliza, fucking kill him and get this over and done with.”
“15 said he was at the location, what the fuck is he doing here?” Dominic asks, anger rolling off of him.
“Adrian would’ve been in motion after she had confirmation. He’s a fucking snake.”
“Or 15 got it wrong,” Dominic spits, trying to aim his anger at everyone.
“She never gets it wrong. He got lucky.” But his luck is about to run out.
We’re in the car and heading toward the restaurant in a matter of seconds. Adrian will die. And when I get my girl back, I’m never fucking letting her go again.
The police are crawling around everywhere, making it difficult for us to get into the restaurant. Rose is sitting on the edge of the car seat with the back door open and Dominic’s jacket draped over her shoulders. She’s crying and a total mess. Dante has disappeared into the restaurant to find out what he can.
“Rose, did you see anything at all?” I squat in front of her, desperate for anything so I can find my nephew and end him once and for all.
She shakes her head as she wipes at her cheeks with the hem of her top. “Um.” She gulps and looks to me.
“Here, have some water.” Dominic hands her a bottle of water, which she takes and sips on.
Rose’s hands are trembling as she lowers the bottle. “Eliza told me what Adrian had done to her, and why she married him. She um...she was crying, and then she got up to go to the bathroom.”
“What else happened, Rosa?” Dominic asks as he rubs his hand up and down her back.
“She was gone for a little while, but I thought she was trying to calm herself before she returned. She said she needed a few minutes. But then I saw Varo and Christian run toward the back, and I jumped to my feet to follow, but Orzo grabbed me and dragged me out of the restaurant. Then all I heard was gunfire, and that was it. Orzo had me out before the mayhem.” She bursts into tears again. “I should’ve been there with her, I...”
“No, you shouldn’t have been,” I say. “Orzo did the right thing.”
“My sister is gone!” Rose lifts her chin to look at me, her angry voice accusing. “I should’ve been there.”
“No,” I reply adamantly. “You’re safest here, with us now.”
“Sir,” Dante says as he approaches. He opens his suit jacket to show us he’s concealing a black metal object, the size of a flat shoebox. “I’ve got the security recordings.”
“Dominic.” I pointedly look to Rose as I straighten. “Get her home.”
“No, I’m not going anywhere until we get Eliza back.” I haven’t told her about my phone call with Adrian, or she’d try to interfere, and right now, I need to focus on finding him and getting my girl back.
“Orzo,” Dominic says. “Get her home.”
Rose leaps to her feet as she throws Dominic’s jacket off of her shoulders. “No! I’m not going anywhere. Not until my sister is back.” She silently pleads with me. “She’s the only family I have left.”
I understand Rose’s need to protect her sister. I look to Dominic and nod. “You’ll come back to my house with us, but you don’t interfere. If you do, you’re back to your own home and that’s where you’ll stay.”
“But—”
“This isn’t open for negotiation, Rose. This is your only option.” I stay firm with her.
“But—”
“One more word and you’re back at your own house.” She blinks several times but finally concedes. I turn to Dante and give him a nod. We all head back to my house.