“You hear that, honey? You’re gonna die right quick if you don’t speak up.”
I took a shallow pained breath and fought for some sense. I felt the hot hand on my sore cheek, encouraging me to speak. “I don’t know who you’re talking about,” I wheezed.
“Wrong answer.” He dropped me into the water, and I sat there relieved. I hoped they would just leave me to die.
The chain was jolted several times in a choppy movement, digging my bindings even deeper than before. “Don’t make me angry, little girl. I know you’ve been staying with Daniel Valente. Now tell me where he lives!”
“I don’t know who you’re talking about.”
I was punched again and left swinging. “Daniel Valente Bartoli. The man you were with at the wedding. Where the hell do you live?”
“I don’t know who you’re talking about!” I shouted and was thankfully dropped back into the water. The suffocating ice water was a peaceful reprieve. I was sure that wasn’t what they were going for, but with every dunk, I prayed they wouldn’t pull me back up.
“I’m getting tired of this game, little girl. Let’s try this again.” I heard the click of a lighter and the searing heat of a flame was held to my arm. “Tell me where Daniel lives.”
I tried to pull away, but it was fruitless. I ended up just swaying around, and the flame was gliding across more flesh.
“It looks like we’re getting somewhere. We just needed a different motivator. Now, tell us where he is, little girl.” He moved the lighter to my ear.
I couldn’t stop myself from screaming out in pain. They pulled the flame back and shouted again. It didn’t matter what happened. I couldn’t give up Daniel. I wouldn’t let them do this to him.
“Come on, honey, just say the words. Give us the answer and this all stops.” I felt the flame leave, and then a fingernail jabbed hard into the burn. “That’s gonna scar. Talk or we’ll ruin your whole face.”
I felt the flame hit in a new spot, and I cried out and tried to get away or at least ease it some by swaying. There was no stopping the pain, though.
“Tell us! Where the hell is Daniel? You want this?” He jammed the lighter into my neck, all but extinguishing the flame. I felt the print of the hot metal on my flesh and the flame finally went out. “Tell me where to find him!”
“I don’t know,” I sobbed.
“Fuck this, drop the whore in the water and let her die. We’ll get our lead somewhere else.”
I felt the flame run along my jaw, like they were waiting for me to talk, but it wasn’t going to happen. They finally dropped me unceremoniously into the water and left. The cool ice water felt wonderful on my burned skin and beaten body. Peaceful solitude was quickly taking me under, death would be my victory. They could get no answers from the deceased.
I was yanked back to reality.
“Get a towel, for god sakes! Where’s a knife or something to cut this!” I heard a man snap. The ties on my body were all released, and my body fell open like a rag doll. “Get a medic!” Those were the last words I heard, before I completely blacked out.
I didn’t know how long I had been out, but it felt like the swelling of my face had gone down, when I woke up in the hospital. There was a doctor by my IV and a man across the room.
“I’m Dr. Torrente, your physician. You’re on some strong pain medication for your lacerations. You need to call a nurse if you want to move. You have stitches across your back and in several places. You’ll need to stay in bed for a while to keep from tearing them. Would you like to sit up some?”
I nodded yes, and my head felt like a boulder. I cupped it with my hand and noticed the bandages on my arm.
“You have a concussion. You should probably take it easy.” The bed was slowly raised, and I knew what the hell the man was talking about. I hadn’t sat up too much, when I felt the pull. It wasn’t too painful, but I had a feeling that was because I was drugged.
The doctor stepped out, and the man from across the room stepped forward with a friendly smile and a notepad. “I’m Agent Marks, with the FBI’s organized crime division. I’m the one who found you in the warehouse. Can you tell me your name, sweetheart?”
“Jane.” If he was the FBI, I didn’t want to be dragged back into that interrogation room again.
“Jane…alright, do you have a last name?”
“Doe.”
He let out a deep breath, before he looked up at me. “I need your cooperation, if we’re going to put these men behind bars.”
“I know, but I really don’t know anything, and I’d rather not draw attention to myself.”
“We can protect you. If you really feel you’re in trouble, I can have you put into the witness protection program. You don’t need to be afraid of them.”
“They left me for dead. I am for all they know.”
“Look, they’ll most likely find out you aren’t. You look like you’ve been through hell. You need to talk to me or risk being put through it again. Now, can you tell me why they took you?”
“I don’t know. I think they mistook me for someone else.”
The man grimaced, like he didn’t believe me. “Can you tell me what they were asking about? That looks to be some pretty intense water torture,” he pointed to my bandaged wrists.
If the FBI was going to put me away for knowing about a little paper, they would definitely throw Daniel in a whole hell of a lot longer for knowing way more. I couldn’t mention his name and draw attention to him.
“I don’t know what they wanted.”
The man pulled a chair over next to my bed. I knew he wasn’t going to give up easily. “How about you just tell me what they said. I know they had to be asking you about something.”
“There was a lot of water in my ears. It made it hard to hear.”
The man rubbed his face. “Sweetheart, I’m really trying to help you here. You need to work with me. I promise I’ll make sure you’re safe. Can you please tell me what they were asking you about? Did they make mention of anyone or anything?”
“I’m sorry.”
“What questions where they asking you?”
I knew he wasn’t going to give up, so I had to come up with something. “I think it was about money. I told you they were mistaken. I really don’t know who they were talking about.”
“Did they mention any names, like who you’d owe this money to?”
“No, I was ‘paying’ for it, but I didn’t know what it was. I don’t know what they were talking about. I’m tired now.”
I faded out then, and the doctor must have come back in, because I felt something being pushed into my IV. My body quickly felt like it was floating, and my mind was cloudy. I knew I was trying not to say something, but I wasn’t sure what, and I couldn’t seem to focus anymore.
“Can you please repeat what the men were asking you? Say it again, so I can write it down clearly.”
“It again,” I answered, and I knew I needed to keep my mouth shut. “I’m sorry, I can’t talk.”
“Why can’t you talk, honey? Who are you protecting?”
When he called me honey, I remembered that sick voice taunting me with the water.
“Who called you honey? What was his name? What was he asking you?”
I didn’t realize I had said that out loud, and I knew I had to shut up. School, I would focus on Principal Stewart and how much I loved detention. He was so nice. I just had to focus on him, until that man went away.
I must have fallen asleep, because I was startled awake, when it felt like I had hit a big bump. I was being moved.
“She’s waking up. I think her pain medicine is wearing off.”
I knew that voice. Marky.
“You can drug her once you get her home. I’m sure she’ll appreciate you more for it.” I knew that voice, too. It was Anthony Valente.
“Gramps, she’s fucked up,” I heard Marky worry.
“It can only work in your favor. I want her dead. She knows too much.”
“She passed all your tests. Just let her…” I heard Marcello Senior’s voice say.
“No one fucks with my son. If you want her, you can have her, but she’s too much of a risk to have around my boy. You get her to agree to forget about Daniel and keep her under control or she’s dead,” Anthony growled. “You keep your whore in check or she’s gone.”
I felt a gentle hand push some hair back from my face and lips softly kiss my forehead. “I’m so sorry,” was whispered in my ear, before I blacked out again.
Chapter 34 – Arrangements
I woke crying, when I felt my back tearing.
“Shush, baby, I’m so sorry. I swear I wouldn’t do this if there was any other way,” Marky whispered in my ear, as he attempted to carefully carry me somewhere.
“Make her kneel,” Anthony ordered.
“There’s no way I’m making her kneel. She’s too fucked up. I’m not hurting her anymore,” Marky refused.
“Boy, don’t you dare…” Anthony started, but Marcello cut in.
“Give the boy a break, Dad. He’s never seen anyone messed up like this. You fucked his girl up way more than she needed to be.”
“I decide how much she takes.”
Marky had laid me flat out on the ground, and that stopped the horrible tearing feeling from my back. “Careful, baby, don’t move. Just lay still. Once you agree to be my goomah, Anthony will let you go.”
My eyes fluttered open in time to see Marky’s lips land down on mine. I pushed at him, trying to stop him. He felt my hand and grabbed it. He held it down next to my head. His eyes locked with mine. “You’re my new goomah. We just have to prove it. It’s the only way Gramps is gonna let you go.”
“No, please, I want Daniel. I love him.”
Marky frowned at me. “You can’t have him. He’s been sent away, and you can’t compromise his new life. You need to be with me.” He kissed my neck and cheek, up to my ear. What used to feel good now made my skin crawl.
“Please, stop, don’t do this,” I begged.
“It’s the only way. You’ve got to be with somebody. I want it to be me. You have to be with a Valente, and there isn’t anyone near your age but me. You want a dirty old man fucking you?”
I couldn’t stop my tears. “Please, don’t do this.”
“He’s gonna kill you, Gabby.” Marky leaned in closer to my ear and whispered so softly that I almost missed it, “He’s gone nuts. No one is safe around him. Just let me get you out of here. Once I fuck you in front of him, he’ll believe you’re mine.”
“NO, please don’t.”
He slammed my wrist to the ground, making me cry out in pain. I watched him walk over to his father, obviously upset about something. The cocking of a gun grabbed my attention. I looked up to see Anthony standing over me.
“Hold up! Damn it, I’m not done. It’s not my fault she’s in love with that douchebag!” Marky shouted.
“Watch your mouth!” Anthony growled at Marky and trained his gun on him.
Marcello pulled his son aside out of range. “Dad, let him have another go at her. She’s probably worried about getting knocked up.” His nervous gaze shifted to me. “Ain’t that right, honey? You don’t want to mess things up with him and Luisa Marie, but she knows he’s taking a goomah, so it’s all good. There’s nothing to worry about. Go on, Marky, work your magic, you had her begging for it every time we turned around.”
Marky moved back over me and started kissing me. My hands fisted his shirt, too weak to push him away, but I knew he felt my protest. He kissed down to my ear again. “You have to want this. You have to be my goomah, baby, or he’s gonna kill you.” He kissed and nibbled my neck, and my eyes squeezed shut in disgust. He spoke louder, so the men could hear him, “That’s it, baby. You used to love it when I touched you. You begged for it, swinging that tight little ass in my face. I’ll take care of you. You’ll have your own place, and you’ll be mine.”
He was kissing me again, and when he pulled back, he saw the tears in my eyes. “I don’t ever have to fuck Luisa Marie again. I swear to god, if you let me keep you, it’ll just be you. I don’t need to fuck her anymore. I’m never gonna touch her again. If I got you, I’ll never touch anyone else, just like I promised. Remember that night in my bed? It was you. I only wanted you. We can be that again, baby. You just have to let me take you here, and then I’ll keep you safe for the rest of your life. I promise.”
“Please,” I begged so softly, I knew the other men didn’t hear it. “I love him.”
“What was that?” I heard Anthony ask, turning toward a sound in the woods.
“Shit, I think we were followed,” Marcello answered.
The noise was louder, and it was obvious someone was moving quickly through the underbrush towards our position.
“We gotta get out of here,” Marcello warned.
“Grab the girl. Pick her up and move!” Anthony ordered.
“Fuck that. She’s heavy. I ain’t getting caught.” Marky gave me a sad smile and a nod. I knew it was his way of getting me away from Anthony. My eyes followed him to the edge of the clearing, and I saw Anthony turn and point his gun at me. Marky saw it, too, and shoved his arm, making the bullet hit next to me. “Move, we got to get out of here!” he shouted, trying to cover his actions. I was worried, because by the look on Anthony’s face, he knew exactly what Marky had done.
Bullets whipped through the air, hitting the trees around them. One grazed Marky, and I knew I had to stop them.
“Stop, help! Please, don’t shoot!” I cried.
The pause in firing was just enough for the Valente men to get away.
It had been a while since I had last seen them, but I still recognized Agent Ortega and Agent Richards. They looked down at me and frowned. They radioed for a medic, and Agent Ortega moved in closer to get a better look at me. “Ms. Salvecchio, it looks like you landed on the wrong side of the Valente family. Are you ready to talk now?”
I moaned, more in annoyance than pain, but they thought it was pain. My back was killing me. “I think my stitches are torn.” He looked at the bloody bandages on my wrists. “Not my wrist, my back. They hurt like hell.”
“We called for an ambulance. It’ll be here soon.” My eyes fluttered closed, knowing I was safe, and I let the drugs pull me under again.
I cried out in pain, when they moved me onto the backboard, and I was grateful, when they pulled up to the hospital. I wondered if Joey was on duty. From the way Marcello and Marky had been acting, it was clear to me Anthony was completely off his rocker, crazy even for the head of a crime family. I was worried Marcello wasn’t going to be able to save Marky from Anthony. He knew Marky had interfered with his kill shot. I had to get word to someone to help them.
I was checked out, washed up, and re-stitched, and once I was medicated again enough to withstand being moved, I was escorted down to the station with Agent Ortega and Agent Richard on either side. They couldn’t cuff me because of the wounds on my wrists, but I knew they had a feeling I wasn’t going to talk again. Anthony had gone nuts, but there was no way to take him down without hurting a lot of people, including Daniel. I just couldn’t do that.
They let me stand, since sitting was uncomfortable. “Well, here we are again, Ms. Salvecchio. I want you to understand how precarious your position is. You disappeared for a vast amount of time, with an open investigation in progress. That can be construed as evading arrest. Now, if you wise up, you’ll realize that the Valente’s are not on your side.”
He pointed to my bruised face. “That’s what you get for keeping quiet and staying loyal to them. You should really be questioning the rewards of your silence right about now, Ms. Salvecchio. You have to know a whole hell of a lot more than the whereabouts of some paper to receive that kind of treatment. How about you do yourself a favor and talk. I can assure you a place in witness protection.”
I wasn’t going to risk anyone by talking. I had to find a way to get out of there and
have someone look in on Marky. That was when it all clicked. “My lawyer, I want my lawyer, call Victor Bartoli.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me. You walk out of here with that guy, you’re not coming back. You’ll be added to the list of murders we’re investigating, sure as you’re breathing.”
I trusted Victor. I trusted the Bartoli’s. “Call Victor Bartoli.”
It wasn’t ten minutes later, before Victor was rushing in through the door. His face looked pained, when he took in my appearance. He was looking me up and down, like he was taking an inventory of my injuries. “Are you okay?”
“Yes, but we need to leave, now,” I said in an urgent voice.
Once we were in his car, I told him to have someone check on Marky and Marcello. He was on the phone immediately and had Luke, Sergio and Santino looking for them.
“Christ, even after what they pulled last summer, you’re still looking out for them.”
“I think Marky is the only reason I’m alive right now. In fact, I know it is.” I explained everything that had happened, and that I had overheard my being kidnapped was something Anthony had done as a test.
Once we were settled into the secure confines of his office, I asked him where Daniel was. I was dying to see him.
Victor frowned. “He was sent out of state and into hiding as soon as you were taken. We didn’t know it was Anthony, and he led everyone to believe it was the rival family after Daniel. Joey had to sedate him to get him to go. We all promised we wouldn’t stop looking for you until we found you. Luke and Santino swore not a man would survive once you were found.
“It took a while, but we were able to convince him he’d do you no good captured, tortured and dead. He knows we were all looking for you. We were, I swear. I think that was how Marcello found out Anthony had you. He was smart to try and pawn you off on Marky. From what it sounds like, Anthony doesn’t think anyone will be good enough for Daniel. That’s gonna be a mess.”
“Please, you have to help me find him. I want to be with Daniel.”
“I know, honey, but this is a bigger mess than it looks like. From what I gathered, Anthony doesn’t want you outside the Valente family. If he was willing to let you live as a goomah, then that’s what you’ll have to be, or better yet, a wife. A wife is pretty untouchable, and it’s more permanent. He’d be more likely to ease off. I’m gonna need time to get things pulled together. I’ll let Daniel know you’re safe and to stay where he is.” He got up and was pacing, deep in thought. “For me to pull this off, it’s gonna take a month. If Daniel keeps his mouth shut and acts like he’s been dumped, we should be good to go. Now, I just need to get you a husband.”
Straight Up Interfererence Page 24