Storming past some of the locals, I attempted to curb my anger, but it was no use.
“You look like you could murder someone.” Vinni tried to read my mind.
“Keys.” I held out my hand to Vinni, and he suddenly looked very nervous.
“I’ll drive, you just tell me where.”
“Dockyard.” I swung my murderous gaze toward my father, and he handed me my gun.
He stepped close and lowered his voice. “I’m not sure what’s going on here, son, but don’t let Mariano make you do something you will regret later.”
“Watch her for me.”
“I will.”
I signaled for my cousins to follow me, and we headed over to the car.
“Elio,” Sienna stepped in our path, “what’s wrong?”
“Go find my father. He’ll take you home.”
“Elio,” she snapped, and I had to remember she wasn’t the one I was angry with.
I moved closer and whispered, “I’m sorry, but I have to go grab some papers from the dockyard. When it’s time to go home, go with my parents.”
“I will. But…” She grabbed my arm, and I looked over her head and saw Mariano watching us. I carefully removed her hand, not wanting Mariano to see she could get away with such behavior. “Whatever you’re doing, just be careful, okay?”
I gave a tight nod and left.
Ten minutes into the drive, Vinni answered a call, and I caught his gaze in the rearview mirror.
“What?”
“We have to make a pit stop.”
I cursed under my breath and wondered what the hell happened now. We turned down the old road that that led to my uncle’s villa. The place sat near the edge of a cliff and was surrounded by an electric fence with multiple guards. We had our reasons to be paranoid, and my uncle spent good money on protecting the business. Seven years ago, the property was turned over for a place of business but still disguised as a summer home.
We parked in front of the giant maze my aunt had designed years ago. It was an amazing thing, and I had taken it over for my own personal use. Fifteen-foot-high hedges were placed on sliders that could be rotated to change up the pathways to vary the route. Red roses grew throughout the lush brush, masking any smell that might arise. It was incredible, but best of all, it was designed to be inescapable. I loved it, and it was the one place I enjoyed playing.
“Donatello found two of Stefano’s soldiers sniffing around the dockyard this morning,” Vinni said as he stepped out of the car. He then opened my door. “He figured you might like to conduct your business here this time.”
“Excellent decision.” I buttoned my jacket and headed toward the opening of the maze, but not before I felt my Nonna on the balcony looking down at us. Nonna was my father’s mama and hadn’t left the property in over ten years for reasons that were best left untold. She gave me a nod then drew a cross over her chest as if to bless the work I was about to do.
Making my way along the path to where it widened, I found them and nodded at Donatello that he had done well.
“Boss,” he greeted me and smiled down at the two men who were blindfolded in front of him. Niccola came up and handed me the iPad that controlled the maze. With three little taps, I turned it to level C,advanced.Both men jumped when the sliders started to move the walls around us. Their heads moved about as they tried to understand what was happening. We were in the center of the puzzle, the one place that never changed. It was where the master motor sat like a spider with arms. It was a fascinating design and one I knew my clever aunt never thought we would ever use in this way.
I waved for the blindfolds to be removed. The young men blinked and froze when they spotted me. Fear washed over their faces as the shakes set in.
“Who wants to be my informant?” I jumped right in, not having the time for bullshit.
“We’re loyal, sir.” One of the guys puffed his chest. “We stand behind the Coppola name.”
“You’re soldiers who apparently mean very little to the Coppola family, because here you are on my territory, and,” I made a motion of listening, “you’ve been missing for some time now, and it appears no one is coming for you.”
“They will come for us.” His voice was hopeful as he looked to his friend for support, but the friend looked to be in shock, so there was little help there.
I rolled my wrist to glance at my watch. We needed to get this rolling. Although I did enjoy these games, I had a tight schedule to keep.
“I’ll tell you what,” I motioned for Donatello to cut them loose, but they stayed on their knees, unsure what I was about to do, “whoever makes it out of the maze first can go home,” I shrugged calmly, “and the other will be my informant. May the best man win.”
“What?” Both men blinked up at me.
“Run.”