Ciao Bella

by Dixie Lynn Dwyer

  “Well, Costano and Feluppe and crew arrived, and we’re going to be listening in on everything Gordon and Century see or hear, so be prepared,” Vince said and they listened in to the play by play.

  It wasn’t easy. Not to hear about the way Costano and Feluppe watched Bella, insisted she come over to talk, and definitely not taken well when Century described Costano kissing her hand and whispering to her. They were all feeling ready to kill.

  * * * *

  Bella was getting annoyed, and when Costano pulled her by his chair as he sat and she stood, the son of a bitch had the nerve to wrap an arm around her waist and practically caress her ass. She went to step aside and Feluppe stopped her.

  “You’ve gotten even more beautiful since the last time we saw you in New York,” Feluppe said to her.

  “Thank you, Mr. Garcia,” she said to him.

  “Feluppe, remember that,” he warned. She nodded.

  “This is quite the nice set-up your family has established in such a short time. Business is doing well,” Costano said to her and then took a sip from his glass of wine.

  “It’s been positive, but it’s new and people are always interested in the new place.”

  “Ahh, very humble answer. However I think the place will continue to do wonderfully. In fact, the town is impressive as well as its location,” he said and smirked.

  “It’s a great town. There are a lot of soldiers, law enforcement, and other first responders who live here. Safest place around, actually,” she said and he narrowed his eyes at her. “So much so that your family and uncle have been able to handle things without a glitch.”

  “Not my family. Uncle Antonio, I don’t know what he has done, but I know my father and brothers haven’t done anything.”

  “You were at the warehouse and picking up boxes. From my understanding you’re involved,” Feluppe said to her. She turned to look at him, the anger getting the better of her.

  “I’m not involved in anything. In fact, if I never went there to pick up the boxes that hadn’t been picked up by the driver, I wouldn’t even have known about this.” She went to move but Costano grabbed her hand.

  “Sit down,” he ordered and she was breathing through her nostrils. Feluppe moved to the next seat, and she sat down, crossed her legs as Costano leaned back and placed his arm over the back of her chair. She glared at the bastard. His thick black hair, the light streaks of grey by his ears, and that pompous look all aggravated her, but she had to keep her cool. The agents would take care of everything. They promised her.

  “You’ve changed in the last several months, Bella.”

  “I haven’t changed, except for gaining an understanding about men like you.”

  “Men like me?” he asked, almost chuckling. Feluppe turned to face her better. She glanced at him, and he smirked. “You have no idea what we are capable of, so I suggest you tone down that attitude or you’ll find out firsthand,” he threatened and by the way Feluppe stared at her and eyed over her breasts in the beige dress she wore she knew he meant business. She wasn’t supposed to get so upset, and to reveal her disrespect, but it was just coming out. She was angry. She wanted to have a normal life. She wanted to pursue things with Chord, Lucky, Slane, and Vince to see where it led. They were real men, good men, and maybe she thought they could protect her. She couldn’t do that to them. She just couldn’t.

  “You were right, Feluppe. She is definitely of interest,” Costano said.

  “What do you mean?” she asked him.

  “You’ll see. We’re only visiting today, well, the weekend,” he said and caressed her forearm. She went to pull back, but that expression and his eyes warned her to remain still. “Your family are involved whether you want to accept that or not. It’s a done deal. We have people who expect this route to be successful and that will pay big bucks to have it expand and do its job. As long as your family complies and continues the deliveries then they will live. It’s that simple.” Her eyes widened. He would kill them if they didn’t help.

  “They haven’t had to do anything. Don’t you understand what I’m telling you? Uncle Antonio took their truck and used it as an additional truck. My father and brothers, none of us knew about it until I showed up at the warehouse to get those four boxes.”

  Costano watched her and she didn’t like it. He was planning something. He was a manipulative prick. “I’m sure we can work something out, eventually. Something that could perhaps relieve them of their assistance and maybe allow Feluppe and I to let them out of it.” Her heart began to race, and she knew this wasn’t good.

  Costano caressed her hair, his arm still over the back of hers, and she tightened up. “We have a series of shipments coming up and leading to an even larger one in New York. If all goes well with that, I may be cutting my ties to this route here and letting a much smaller organization handle things. If that goes well, then your family will be relieved of any connections or continued operations. Until then, when we come back here in a few days, I expect a lot more respect from you, and even the opportunity to explore any talents you have.”

  “Talents?” she asked.

  “Your degree is in accounting. You run your family’s books. That’s an asset in the many businesses I have. Under my payroll you will be rolling in the dough like never before. I can get you that kind of wealth. It can be an added incentive on our part to release your family of their obligation as well.”

  “I don’t live in New York. I live here and I work here.”

  “Not if you’re with us.” He leaned closer and kissed her temple as Feluppe squeezed her knee. She tightened up and went to lean back, but Feluppe whispered a “no” to her. Costano reached up and gripped her face. She panicked and held his gaze.

  “When we return to close this deal, plan on coming back to New York.”

  “What? No way. Why would I do that?”

  “Because I said so, and right now I own your family and I own you. Be reasonable, Bella, it’s not uncommon for a restaurant to go up in flames because someone left the burners on, nor is it out of the ordinary for the problems to begin to form and inspections fail, and even car accidents happen,” he threatened her and she couldn’t help the tears that filled her eyes. Costano was a monster. Her father was right. This man would stop at nothing to get whatever it was he wanted.

  She looked at him. “What do you want from us, from me?”

  He licked his lips and made a soft purring sound. “Mmm, we’ll get to that, but for now your company will be just fine.”

  She didn’t have much choice as more people joined them at the table and they began to talk about things. She wondered if she could use any of the information to help save her family. When this man Pino arrived, they mentioned Trevor Vasto and that all went well with the deliveries to the warehouse in Fayetteville on Germonds Road. She memorized certain things they said that she thought might make a difference. Anything that would get her family and herself out of this jam and of course keep them out of jail.

  “Luther mentioned to Trevor that you may want to sell off this route. If that’s true then Trevor is interested. Him and I would partner up fully and take this over,” Pino said to them.

  “We haven’t decided what we’re doing yet. It all depends on whether another offer and bigger commitment could come to fruition and take precedence over everything else,” Feluppe said to him.

  “What could possibly be a better opportunity than this one? It’s hands free for the most part and not as risky.”

  “A position with Luther and his crew along with some foreign investors. It’s much more lucrative, and we don’t need to waste time with this small stuff,” Costano told him.

  “That would be a much better opportunity. Would we still be able to use those connections of yours in New York?” Pino asked.

  “Of course, for a small fee,” Costano said with a grin.

  Bella was getting tired of sitting here, and the more Costano and Feluppe touched her, caressed her thighs under th
e table, and even whispered things to her, the more annoyed she got. She prayed she gathered something in this conversation to tell the agents that could get this man locked up and away from her family for good. When they finally decided to call it a night, she went to part ways, her father right here now looking none the happier, but Costano gripped her hip and pulled her against his side.

  “Your daughter has agreed to assist me with a few things. Her cooperation is necessary to ensure your future here and the success of this business. Her acceptance could give you and your family the freedom you’ve wanted.”

  “Please, Mr. Punzini, leave my daughter out of this. Please, we had nothing to do with—”

  Mr. Punzini raised his hand up and her father stopped talking.

  “We’ll be back in a few days and discuss things. Bella, come with me.” Mr. Punzini took her hand and led her from the restaurant. She didn’t know what he was going to do to her or to say to her. She hoped he wouldn’t try to lead her away. Tears stung her eyes, but she straightened out her shoulders, hoping that the federal agents were nearby and that they were watching and if he did try something then they would help her. As they got to the SUV, she could hear her father and brothers arguing with Costano’s men.

  Another man opened the door and Punzini motioned for her to get in. Feluppe got in on the other side. They closed the doors, and she sat there shaking. Costano squinted at her then reached out and stroked her jaw. She was going to turn away, but he gripped her face firm enough to get his message across.

  “You’re shaking. You know I’m a powerful man. What you don’t know is that I’ve had my eyes on you for quite some time. You going to that warehouse, retrieving those boxes, and bumping into Feluppe was not by accident.” She felt Feluppe’s hands go to her shoulder, his mouth against her neck and ear. His hot breath brought her fear up another notch and a tear fell from her eyes.

  “You will do as I say, and we’ll work things out with your family, Bella. I promise you. Now you need to promise me something,” Costano said just as Feluppe’s cell phone rang. He moved back and looked at his cell phone and answered it as Costano continued to speak to her. She was trying to listen to what Feluppe was saying at the same time. A warehouse in Crescent Valley. Luther Valderez, guns going to a guy representing Asid Jhakla.

  “You will be here when I return. You will pack a bag to stay a few nights with me in New York as we close on a business deal with some associates of mine.” He used his thumb to caress her lower lip.

  Feluppe confirmed the guns, the meeting in an estate in Hoboken, NJ.

  “No men. No dating, no flirting, no sex with anyone, or you’ll suffer.” Her eyes widened right before he kissed her.

  * * * *

  “Want to grab her now? We get her out the back door and into the SUV. You guys take the brothers and parents into the back room and start questioning them.” Vince gave the orders, and they all headed into the back door to the restaurant towards the end of the evening. Sodo, Track, Gordon, and Century handled the brothers and parents. Vince and Chord entered the office to find Bella.

  As soon as they walked into the office, she turned around to face them and they saw the tears. She covered her mouth with her hand and turned away from them.

  “What are you doing here? I told you I was too busy to do anything tonight.”

  “Let’s go. Right now,” Vince ordered in a tone that he hadn’t meant to be so harsh, but he was feeling a lot of things right now. He wanted to know what her part was in all this illegal activity and what relationship she had with Costano Punzini and Feluppe Garcia.

  “I’m not going anywhere.” She turned toward them.

  Vince showed his badge and her jaw dropped, and then she covered her heart with her hand.

  “Oh my God. Oh God, you were using me? You were just trying to get information?” she screamed at them.

  “Don’t even go there. That isn’t what happened. We’re as shocked as you are that you’re part of the case we’re investigating. Now not another word until we’re out of here,” Vince ordered.

  “My parents?”

  “Sodo and his team will be questioning them and your brothers to find out what the fuck you’re all involved in. I just hope for your case that it isn’t what it appears to be. Now move it,” Vince said and Chord took her arm and they guided from the office and then down the hall and to the back door.

  When they got into the SUV Lucky was driving and Slane was in the passenger seat. Bella continued to cry. “They’re going to kill us. Oh my God, I don’t know what to do. Oh God.” She sobbed and was shaking.

  “No one is going to kill you. You cooperate and explain things and we’ll see what we can do. If you’re guilty then it’s out of our control, but we will do what we can,” Vince said to her.

  “It’s not what you think. I’m not guilty of anything, and my parents and brothers aren’t either. Costano and Feluppe are the reason why we were forced to leave the city and give up the restaurant. They made demands and my dad got deeper and deeper into debt, so we left.” She was rambling on to them, and he was trying to keep up. She was crying and then telling him and Chord everything. He was shocked to learn how things all transpired.

  “So your uncle is the one who has been working for Trevor Vasto?” Chord asked her.

  “Yes, and I thought it was just bad luck, a crazy thing that I wound up going to retrieve those boxes because our driver left them, but it wasn’t. It was done on purpose because the driver was delivering to Crescent Valley, and then in Costano’s SUV he told me it was fate that I went and not my brothers and met Feluppe because we’re all supposed to be together. That he’s been watching me and wanting me for a while. Both him and Feluppe. I was so scared, and he told me to be ready for him. To pack a bag to stay with him in New York as they seal some deal.” She continued to tell them so many things and it became clear that she wasn’t lying, but instead truly was the victim here.

  They had gotten to their house, were parked in the long dirt driveway leading to their ranch and estate.

  “Please help me. Please, please believe me.” She cried and held onto Vince’s thigh and then laid her head on his lap. He caressed her hair and head and looked at his brothers. They were all angry and concerned, but they were ready to protect her and do what they needed to do.

  “Let’s go inside. We’ll talk and figure this out. There’s a whole investigation going on here, Bella,” Chord told her. She lifted up and held her head.

  “I’ll do whatever you ask. Please just protect my family. Please don’t let Costano and them hurt them and destroy what we have here. Please.”

  Chord got out and so did Vince and they helped Bella into their home. She took a seat on the couch and Lucky handed her a box of tissues. They gathered around her and began to explain about the case and what was believed to be some kind of dealing with a terrorist Asid Jhakla.

  “Oh my God, I heard that name tonight.”

  “What?” Slane asked.

  “When I was in the SUV and…and Costano and Feluppe were touching me and telling me things, and then Feluppe got a call.” She cried.

  “They touched you?” Slane asked, teeth clenched. She started crying again, and Slane reached out and caressed her thigh. Chord moved her hair from her shoulder, and she looked up at him. “I didn’t ask for this. I didn’t do anything to deserve this. He’s going to force me to have sex. They both are. Oh God.” She cried.

  “What the fuck?” Lucky said, but Chord lifted her up and onto his lap and hugged her. “We aren’t going to let those fucking assholes get their hands on you. We’ll make a plan. We’ll figure this out and protect you. You just need to trust us and allow us to do this. You need to obey our orders in this,” he said to her, and she hugged him as he held her and then looked at Vince, then Lucky and Slane.

  * * * *

  Bella looked into Chord’s eyes as he caressed the tears away. Vince was rubbing her bare thigh, moving his hand higher and higher. They had g
one over so much information her head was throbbing and her heart ached, even her voice sounded hoarse. “I’m scared,” she told them. In the back of her head she was thinking about the federal agents. These guys said that the feds were dealing with the terrorist aspect of the investigation and that they were part of other teams trying to stop these illegal shipments of weapons and ammo and trying to prevent some kind of terrorist attack as well. She didn’t know if she should mention the agents, and then figured by now those agents would know she was with these men and had their protection.

  “We’re going to be working on this with our friends and other law enforcement officers in the state police and the Texas Rangers. Our plan will be to organize these raids at these warehouses. That one in Crescent Valley we didn’t know about, and we didn’t have any concrete evidence on Asid working so closely with Luther Valderez and his crew. Costano and Feluppe are probably talking about a meeting with associates of Asid and others who have been trying to illegally distribute guns and ammo to street gangs in New York. It’s profitable and the demand is high,” Slane told her.

  “They said they were meeting at an estate in New Jersey. That’s where they were going to take me,” she said and her voice cracked. Vince shook his head, reached out, and cupped her jaw and cheek. “That isn’t going to happen.” He leaned closer and kissed her. She immediately kissed him back as Chord held her on his lap. Vince deepened the kiss and she felt Chord’s hand on her back and then under her hair against her neck. She felt aroused and wanted more. She really wanted these men to be able to protect her and her family. She moaned into Vince’s mouth then his phone began to ring. He eased his lips from hers.

  “Rest, while we try to get a grasp of what we need to do next and how we can save you and your family.”

  * * * *

  Chord held Bella on his lap. She laid her head against his shoulder and closed her eyes. Lucky took the seat next to Chord. He ran his palm along her thigh as Slane’s phone rang and he walked toward the kitchen.