“The port, we need to free the girls and intercept the ship coming in from Colombia that has Mario’s coke on it and we’re giving it to the customers Angelo promised it to, not the people the Conti brothers screwed over,” Sal replies with a grin to convey his excitement.
“A reverse sting,” I mumble. Great brain on this man. I love it.
“So, we’re setting Mario up? Love it, little brother.” The glee Dante has with the plan isn’t lost on me.
I smile in the darkness amid the stench of sweaty men who are as wet as us.
“I’ll let you guys handle that, you’ll need most of the men, drop me off at dock five for the girls, I only need a few men,” I say as the vehicle creeps down the road to the port.
“Like hell,” Sal objects.
“I can handle it,” I insist.
“Mario still has men out there looking for you, it’s not safe.”
“It will never be safe. I have to find out if Sofia is there.”
“I’ll do it with Marchello, and a few men,” he offers.
“I have to see with my own eyes.” He knows he’s not going to win this.
“Is this a lover’s quarrel?” Dante’s voice is one of curiosity and experience.
It’s his keen sense of human interaction that throws me off as he’s actually talking to me like I’m in the family. His family.
“It’s settled. Marchello, let’s bring a few men as they’ll need to drive the girls out of here so save your best soldiers for the compound and wait for us.”
“I’m on it.” He talks into his mouthpiece giving directions as we arrive at the port, his men shoot up the guard house and we arrive at the dock.
We roll out of the vehicle as Dante runs to Mario’s port master so he can secure the ship coming in. Out of the corner of my eye, I can tell he argued as his blood is splashed all over the booth's glass.
Sal, Matteo, and a few of their men follow us to the girls. Sal opens the lid that leads down, extending a ladder from the warehouse used to get the girls out.
I attempt to walk down first, and Sal shoots his arm out to stop me.
“There might be armed men in there.”
I pull out my gun. “I got this.”
Sal follows behind me and we find the girls huddled against a wall living in squalor. They are scared and thin, looking more and more like they were primed for a Hannibal Lecter movie, as creepy as that sounds.
My eyes are searching the faces for Sofia.
“We’re here to free you,” I say in Italian and English, as I have no clue if they speak either language, while Sal and some of the men help them up the ladder.
They are weak and can’t move fast.
“Sal, we need to get them medical attention.”
“We will, let’s just finish up what we need to do first, huh?”
I scan all the girls, “Sal,” panic sets in, “Sofia isn’t here.”
“Fuck.” He clinches his fist as he’s put his weapon away to not frighten the girls.
“Where can she be? Did Angelo lie?”
“Doubtful, but we’ll find her before the night is out.”