“Oh, I’m sure you think so.”
“What do you want?” I’d attacked his territory. From what I knew from Remo and how he’d conquered the West and won back his birthright to rule over the Camorra, he wouldn’t be placated easily. Remo saw himself as the undisputed ruler of the West. Everyone who doubted his rulership was removed in the most brutal way possible. That my men had dared to attack him and his brothers was something he’d never forget or forgive, and he’d make me pay thoroughly for it. I doubted he’d name a price in exchange for Serafina I’d ever be willing to pay.
“It’s not time for that kind of conversation yet, Dante. I don’t think you are quite ready for it. Tomorrow morning, we will have another date. Set up a camera. I want you, her brother, father, and fiancé in a room in front of that camera. Nino will give you instructions how to set everything up. I will set up a camera myself so we can see and hear each other.”
“Remo—” I growled but then a click sounded. Remo had ended the call. I resisted the urge to smash the phone. I had more control than that, even if it was slipping with every passing moment. Slowly, I put my phone back into my pocket, weighing the words I’d say.
Danilo smiled bitterly. “He’s toying with us, isn’t he?”
I gave a terse nod. “He’s trying at least.”
Samuel stepped up to me. “What about Fina? Do you know anything?”
“She’s alive,” I said. “Tomorrow morning, he wants to establish a video connection.”
Ines frowned, glancing between Pietro and me. “What does that mean? Will he allow us to talk to Fina?”
Val pressed a palm to her chest and swallowed hard, realizing what Ines was incapable of seeing.
Danilo shook his head. “He’s going to make us watch?” He sank down on an armchair and propped his elbows up on his knees. “The fucker is going to make us watch when he tortures or… or… fuck!”
Samuel nodded toward the doorway where Anna, Leonas, and Sofia were poking their heads in, eyes wide, lips parted.
Danilo shoved to his feet and stalked out of the room, past the children who gawked at him. A few seconds later the front door slammed shut and the engine of his Mercedes roared to life.
Ines stumbled toward me. “Dante, do you really think they’re going to hurt my girl in front of a camera and make us watch?” She peered up at me, hoping I’d deny it, begging me to do it, and I wanted to do it, needed to do it and so I lied. “Danilo is overwhelmed. We don’t know what Remo wants to achieve with this call. Maybe he’ll let us talk to Fina to prove she’s well so he can start making demands.”
Ines nodded. She needed to believe this.
“Mom?” Sofia whispered and slowly came in. Pietro stared down at his clenched hands and Samuel had gone to the window and was clutching the frame.
Ines turned to Sofia and hugged her tightly, whispering words of assurance to her. Val approached me and squeezed my arm then kissed my cheek, whispering. “This was the right thing to say.”
Lies had a way of getting out and in this case, they would undoubtedly do so tomorrow.
Ines led Sofia back into the kitchen.
“Can you take Leonas and Anna back to the kitchen as well? I need to have a word with Pietro and Samuel.”
Val nodded then she turned around and gently ushered our children out. Leonas threw me a curious look while Anna pressed up to Val.
When it was only Samuel, Pietro and me, I let out a sigh.
Pietro cast his gaze up. His eyes were tortured. “You know what a video chat means, Dante. You know it.”
I did. Remo was going to hurt Serafina for us to see. It was the beginning of our torture, the next step in his game. “We can’t allow the women to watch it.”
Pietro nodded. “Ines will insist, but I’ll put my foot down. She mustn’t see this.” He sank down on the couch, closing his eyes. “Fuck, I don’t want to see it. I…” He put his face into his palms, taking a shuddering breath. “If he… if he…”
I walked over to him and touched his shoulder. “We’ll find her. That video is our chance to gather hints. The more we gather, the better for us.” It wasn’t any kind of consolation but I couldn’t allow my own despair to surface. My family needed my guidance and I would give it to them.
* * *
Ines had insisted she watch with us, but neither Pietro nor I had given in. It wouldn’t do any good.
Danilo, Pietro, Samuel, and I gathered in the conference room of the safehouse in front of a camera and screen. Of course, Remo wanted to see us as well. He wanted a taste of our pain. He’d relish in it.
“Try to remain calm,” I urged again shortly before the designated video time. “Remo will only get further ammunition against us if he sees how much this bothers us.”
Samuel glowered. “Bothers us? He kidnapped my sister! He’s going to torture her. And you think I can stay calm?”
Danilo gritted his teeth. His thoughts probably followed a similar trail but he’d learned to think strategically since becoming an Underboss. Losing our heads in this situation would be the worst thing we could do.
I sought Pietro’s gaze. I’d known him almost all my life. Pietro had nerves of steel but right now his emotions were written all over his face. I couldn’t blame him. If Anna was in Remo’s hands… I shoved the thought aside. I could only hope that Remo was bluffing, that he wanted to have us at our breaking point but not willing to risk war. Because if he hurt Serafina, war would be the result.
“One minute,” I reminded them.
Santino lifted his thumb. He’d set up everything since he was the one who had the most technical knowledge. I gave a small nod.
Then the screen flickered and the camera glowed red, announcing that we were life now. Serafina appeared on screen, dressed in a thin silver nightgown, arms crossed over her chest. Her face was pale, her eyes swollen from crying. Good Lord.
Samuel took a step forward, his face a mask of horror. Pietro and Danilo remained frozen.
My fingers twitched, my teeth clenching in an effort to keep my outward calm even as my insides shook with a hatred so pure and raw, it was almost impossible to contain.
Remo stood beside Serafina but he smirked into the camera, not at her. I’d seen photos and videos of him, so I recognized him immediately. The scar along his brow and temple twitched as he smiled triumphantly. “I’m so glad you could make it,” he drawled.
Danilo made the smallest sound, one hopefully only we could hear. His struggle was written all over his face.
Remo seemed to look straight at me for a moment, a challenge, an invitation for war. He wanted war, he’d get it. Then he faced Serafina who stiffened.
“Serafina, in Las Vegas women get a choice…”
“Don’t you dare!” Samuel shouted, storming toward the camera as if it were Remo and he could throttle him with his bare hands.
I clamped a hand down on his forearm and jerked him to a stop. Samuel’s eyes flashed to mine and for a moment he looked as if he considered hitting me. The anguish in his eyes reflected in my insides. I’d held Serafina when she was only a few days old. I’d seen her grow up. She didn’t deserve this. Least of all the choice Las Vegas was famous for.