For Luca (Chicago Syndicate Book 2) (14 page)

I’m absolutely confounded by his simple question. These two definitely don’t know who they’re up against.

“Luca,” I answer, without looking away, and I spot a silver cross pendant that I’ve seen before around his neck. The necklace was tucked in his collar but falls out as he leans in more.

“Who are you to Fallon Michaels?”

Fallon? I thought this was Syndicate related. Why the interest in Fallon? “Who the fuck are you?” I counter furiously through my ragged breaths.

“That’s what I’m wondering about you. You’re more than an entrepreneur, DeMiliano.”

So it
is
Syndicate related but also tied to Fallon.

Fucking great!

I grin and stay silent just to taunt him a little, and it works. Through his tight mask, I can see his jaw clenching in irritation. Then they start again. He pours water onto my face, over my breathing passages, triggering the almost immediate gag reflex for a second time. This time they stop sooner and both leave my side. In my bewildered and unbalanced state, I see them standing in the doorway, whispering frenziedly. I’m coughing constantly, my throat is killing me, and my bones ache to the core. I suppress the cough long enough to eavesdrop on their last words.

“…go now.”

They disappear from the doorway, and I breathe a sigh of relief that the horrendous torture I just experienced has ended. I force myself to keep my eyes open to try to stay as alert as possible. I’ve stopped struggling against the restraints because the skin on my wrists is broken, and I can feel the blood trickling down my hands.

Adriano will find me soon. Although I have no idea what time it is or how long I was unconscious when they took me, I need to stay positive.

These men weren’t smart enough to confiscate and destroy my phone, and I pressed ‘call’ before I let it slip back into my pocket in the garage, so I’m hoping Adriano heard that I was taken and is tracking my phone.

I hear the footsteps of several men approaching.

Fuck, don’t let them be coming back because I’ll go crazy after a third round.

A shadow holding a gun blocks the doorway and closes the distance while scanning the room quickly. “Luca, fuck!” Adriano instantly removes the shackles as Damian enters the room.

“Everything’s clear,” Damian tells Adriano, and they flank me to help me up.

“Adriano.” I cover my mouth with my fist while still coughing, and I’m extremely exhausted. “Who are they?”

“I don’t know; two men escaped. My priority was to get to you first.”

I nod, still unable to control my irregular breathing. “Get me out of here. Where
is
here by the way?”

“Industrial area outside The Loop,” Adriano replies.

“How long was I gone?”

“Three hours. It’s around eight,” he informs me.

“Take me home and call Doc.”

***

The doctor is already at The Blackhall when Adriano and I arrive. Damian stayed behind at the industrial area to do some investigating.

As I lie on my back on the couch, the doctor examines me.

“Open.” He directs his light down my throat after I open my mouth. “What did they do, Luca?”

“Waterboarding.”

Doc flinches. “Fuck, that’s torture that often traumatizes victims for years.”

That’s true, but we’re trained to have a powerful mind. “It won’t affect me.”

“Hopefully not, but if you start to experience irrational fears, you have to tell me,” he orders in his kind, professional tone.

“I will.”

“As far as I can see without performing a scan, you’re fine. Here’s some Ibuprofen for the sore muscles you’re going to have.”

“Thank god they didn’t have time for a third round because that would’ve flipped me. I could barely handle it twice.” I turn my head to Adriano who’s standing in front of the window.

Exhaustion clouds his face. “How could they’ve captured you so easily, Luca?”

“I wasn’t drinking,” I defend to my friend and sit up as Doc places his materials back in his leather bag. “This was all planned by Collopy, I think. I happened to run into Fallon today, and she told me that Collopy is blackmailing her. Thanks,” I say to the doctor when he hands me Arnica cream, which works like magic to reduce bruising and swelling within hours, for my wrists.

Adriano’s eyes narrow in doubt.

“I was taking your advice,” I comment dryly. “I ran into her when Brenda and I were about to leave— Fuck! I need to check my phone.” I suddenly remember that I was expecting a call from James, so I pull my phone out of my pocket and listen to a voicemail from David.

“Michaels has been attacked and is in the hospital. I followed her from work to that coffee shop where she met you, then she went home. I saw the woman you’re looking for, Collopy, who was obviously in pain, leave the apartment building five minutes later and then I went in. Fallon’s door was open, she was unconscious, and I think she has a broken nose. I said I was the neighbor when I called the ambulance. Where are you? I don’t have another number to contact in case of this kind of emergency.”

I leap up from the couch. “Fallon was attacked by Collopy. She’s in the hospital. I…I have to go.”

Dr. Calderone stops me by my arm. “I’ll drive you. I have to go to the hospital anyway.”

I point my finger to Adriano. “Find Kelli Ann Collopy!”

***

My shoes click on the grey floor as I approach her bed. She’s looks so vulnerable lying in a hospital bed.

Ti ho deluso.
I failed you.

If I hadn’t been so busy fighting my emotions toward her, she would’ve been with me tonight. I swallow back the brick stuck in my throat as I focus on her bruised face. Her nose is swollen, and the skin is discolored. A smudge of dried blood is on her nose, so I wet a cloth under the faucet of the sink in the corner of the room and gently wipe it away.

I sit next to Fallon and stare at her tainted bruises while she’s hooked to an IV and suppress a desperate need to punch the wall repeatedly, wishing it was Kelli Ann’s fucking face.

Doc joins me and speaks while he reads her chart. “Her medicine will keep her asleep for a couple of hours.” He lifts a page. “No broken nose, no permanent damage, but she has a minor head injury.”

I trace my fingers over hers. “Can you take her over as a patient?”

“Already did that.”

“Thanks, Doc. Keep me updated if there’s any change in her condition.”

“No problem. You need to rest too, Luca. Give your system time to heal after the shock of waterboarding, which can have negative long-term effects. And Fallon’s parents have been called, they should arrive soon.”

The thought of someone hurting her has always made me want to go on a rampage. And now that I’ve seen how she’s been hurt, I’m ready to declare an all-out war against the police department. I caress her hair and press my lips softly to her forehead. “I’m going home just for tonight. Adriano is going to send a soldier to keep guard.”

CHAPTER 16

Fallon

I’m stuck, surrounded by blackness, and a deplorable sense of foreboding has me crying. There is a need building in me to get out, but something hinders me from standing up.

A loud crash.

Someone is sniffing quietly.

“Elise, I’m worried about her. I told you something was going on. She’s been too distant the last few months. Even with Teagan; she barely speaks to Fallon.”

“When she wakes up, you can ask her everything. But, Noah, don’t pound her with questions.”

I open my eyes to a bright white and blue room and my parents sitting beside the bed

My mother immediately leans toward me and covers my hand with hers. “Sweetie.”

“Mom,” I croak out because my throat is too dry. “What happened?” I feel as if I’m in a fog and can’t quite discern whether I’m in pain or not. Last thing I remember is fighting with Collopy in my apartment.

My dad caresses my forehead. “Your neighbor found you in the living room, Fallon. Your door was open. You were attacked; do you remember?”

I nod but stop the movement instantly when a sharp pain cuts through my head, and I shut my eyes.

My mother’s panicked voice sounds far away. “Sweetie? Fallon?”

Feet are shuffling.

I want Luca.

“Miss Michaels, please open your eyes,” an unfamiliar voice coaxes me gently, and I obey.

“Welcome back.” A tall doctor in his white coat and with extremely grey hair greets me as he opens my chart. “How are we feeling this morning?”

My face and head hurt. I bring my hand to my nose and wince from the throbbing soreness. “What day is it? How long have I been out?”

He reads the chart. “Just one night.”

My mother, who has a tendency to want every answer instantly, interjects. “Tell him how you’re feeling, Fallon.”

“My head, throat, and face hurt, especially my nose.” I try to sit up, and my father comes to my aid, propping another pillow behind my back.

The doctor’s nametag reads ‘Dr. Calderone’, and my eyes widen because Calderone is James’ surname, Luca’s boss. The doctor notices my reaction to his name and quickly continues.

“The pain will subside soon. I had to insert an oral airway to facilitate suctioning because you were found unconscious; that’s why your throat might feel sore. And I have you hooked to the IV for fluids and to administer your pain medications. You don’t have a nasal fracture, but you do have a mild head injury. We’ve ruled out a neck injury, but I would like to keep you here for a couple of hours
.
If you experience repeated vomiting, worsening headache, dizziness, excessive slurred speech, unsteady walk, or weakness or numbness in your arms or legs, or if signs of basilar skull fracture develop, you’ll have to stay overnight.”

“Okay.” I sigh, relieved that I have only minor injuries.

The doctor addresses my parents. “Could I examine her alone for a moment?”

My mother nods while my father’s eyes thin. My father has been disturbingly silent. “We’ll be right outside,” he says to me after placing a soft kiss on my forehead, and he follows my mother out.

As soon as the door closes, Calderone informs me, “Fallon, I’m a friend of Luca’s. I’m his doctor. You do know what I mean, right?”

“Yes.” He’s a Syndicate doctor. He’s Mafia,
Cosa Nostra
. They’re everywhere among us ‘normal’ people apparently.

“You’ll be fine. I’m only keeping you here because Luca wants you to be protected today and not home alone.”

“But I won’t be home alone because my parents are here. I really don’t want to stay if I’m physically fine and can recuperate at home.”

He repeats, “You need to stay here and get rid of your parents.”

“Why?”

“I only receive orders, Fallon. I can’t answer all of your questions.”

“Can I call him?”

“By all means.” He hands me his phone.

Of course I still know Luca’s number by heart, and he answers immediately, “Yes.”

“Luca, it’s me.”

He lets out a deep sigh. “I’m glad you called. I suppose you talked to the doctor?”

“I did; he’s right here. Who is he?” I have to be certain that I can trust this doctor before continuing the call.

“He’s part of the Syndicate only as our doctor and is not technically a member. He’s James’ brother and only treats the highest ranking men of the Chicago Syndicate: James, Salvatore, Adriano, and me. I trust him wholeheartedly; he’s a good guy. We can’t go to the hospital when we have bullet wounds or anything else because hospitals are obligated to report it, and that’s why we have our personal doctor handling all our injuries. He’s legal and works for the hospital full time. Tell me how you feel?”

“Like shit.” I sniff loudly in an unladylike manner.

“Shhh. Everything’s going to be fine, but I need you to talk your parents in going back to Lake Forest. I have an entire team searching for Collopy, Fallon. I know she attacked you, and trust me, she’ll pay.”

That makes me feel even worse, or maybe not. And that unsettles me even further. “What am I supposed to do? Who found me? What if she finds me before you find her?” I wipe my eyes with the white cotton sheet, avoiding the area around my nose.

“You’re scared and confused.
Calmati.
Calm down. Listen carefully to me. A soldier is guarding you at the hospital. Your parents won’t know because he’s discreet. But, and I don’t know how yet, Detective Wade knows you were attacked. He’ll visit you, and you must say in your statement that you didn’t see the person that attacked you and that he – yes, you will imply it was a man – only asked for money. Wade will come to the conclusion that it was just a random break-in for money—”

“But—”

“I know it’s a lie, but it’s the easiest way right now, and Wade can’t do anything if that’s your official statement. My man that was watching you saw Collopy leave your apartment, and then he found you and called the ambulance. He also made it look like a robbery. I want you to stay in the hospital until I come pick you up, but that might take a while. I can probably be there by the end of the day.”