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I faintly hear the glass I was holding crash to the floor, but my ears are too busy ringing and my blood is too busy boiling to give a fuck about it.
I take a step closer to the television...every cell in my body wants to rip him right through it and do the most vile things to him.
Things that haven't even been invented yet.
He better not be who I think he is...
Lou-Lou told me her father was dead. She told me DeLuca personally took care of it.
Hell, I believed it. I know for a fact that Lou-Lou told him everything he did to her. There's no way DeLuca would have let him live.
Why would DeLuca let him live? Why would he do this to her? I know he loved her...his reasons for loving her were way beyond fucked up...but I know he did.
"I am too," John says before turning to face the camera. "So you see, New York? Do you see why I want to keep you all safe? Bruno DeLuca might be dead...but his son is very much alive. And I'm telling you, folks. I know first-hand what the DeLuca's are capable of. And I promise you—Ricardo DeLuca is every bit the man that his father was. In fact, he’s even more dangerous."
He begins ticking things off with his fingers and I feel my pupils
constrict. "He is a mobster, he is violent, he is ruthless...and he is controlling the entire city—and you people don't even know it. "
Beside him, A
He turns to face her. "You want proof, A
"That was my daughter...is my daughter. Because I refuse to lose faith that she's still out there, just waiting for her dad to save her."
A few tears trickle down A
"I know," John says, and I wish A
Instead the idiot reporter dabs at her eyes with a tissue. "You've got my vote, John. I think the city of New York needs a noble man like you to keep us safe."
She shifts in her seat. "John, I want you to turn and face the camera." When he does, she says, "If you could say one thing to your daughter...what would it be?"
Another tear trickles down his cheek and I bring my phone to my ear.
I've never called the council directly before so I'm surprised when it's Ernesto of all people who picks up on the first ring.
“It's him, isn't it,” I say, because it's no longer a question at this point and everything is begi
“Tick-tock,” Ernesto sneers. “Looks like you better find her before he does,” he says before the line goes dead.
All the air gets sucked out of the room and everything around me
starts spi
With the exception of the most vile, and disgusting man to walk this
earth who's currently staring right at me through the television screen.
"I love you, baby girl," he begins, his voice shaking. "And I hope that wherever you are...you're safe and not in any pain."
He sniffs and I instinctively reach for my gun and pull it out.
"And I want you to know...I'll never stop looking for you,” he continues.“Daddy will find you."
The fuck he will.
His expression turns hard and I aim my gun at his head right before he says, "Daddy's coming for you, Lucia
And that's when I pull the trigger. So many times I lose count.
Behind me, both Momma and Alyssa start screaming their lungs out, but I don't give a fuck.
I immediately pick up my phone and start barking orders to the P.I. team on one line and my own men on the other.
All I see is pure black and my rage takes over as things begin shattering and crashing all around me.
I swear to Christ— I will happily kill each and every last person who is currently breathing on this fucking planet right now in order to get to her before he ever does.
It isn't until Momma starts screaming, “I know where she is, Ricardo. Sugar, please stop and listen to your Momma. I know where she is,” through large sobs that I finally come out of my haze and my eyes begin to focus and take in my surroundings.
Alyssa and Jackson's apartment is a mess. Everything in my near vicinity is trashed and Shelby is holding a shaking and absolutely terrified Alyssa in a small corner of the room far away from me.
When I look down I notice that Tyrone is grabbing one of my legs and Jackson's gripping me by my shoulders.
From the look at the destruction around the apartment, it's clear that neither one of them were able to stop me in time.
But at this moment, I don't care, because Momma just said the only thing I want to hear.
And now she's my target.
“Where?” I grunt low and deadly as I maneuver out of Jackson's hold.
I love this woman, I remind myself as Jackson attempts to grab hold of me again. It's Momma, I tell myself. You can't kill Momma.
“Ricardo,” Jackson grinds out through clenched teeth. “If you hurt Momma...I'm go
“Look at me, Ricardo,” Tyrone shouts desperately as he claps his hands.
When I do he says, “We're go
He reaches up and squeezes my shoulder. “Ain't nothing go
His eyes turn dark and hard. “Because you're go
Everyone around me gasps, but I don't have the time to explain to them all what Tyrone already knows.
Besides, Tyrone's right...I do need to focus...but more importantly, I need to get to her.
I can figure out a game plan later, once she's under my protection.
I look at Momma and she takes a deep breath. “My house,” she begins. “She's been staying at my house in Alabama for the last two months. She's been doing real—“
Momma doesn't have time to finish that statement because I start ushering her toward the door. “You can tell me what she's been up to on the plane ride, Momma.”
Luckily, she doesn't argue, she just nods and starts walking.
And that's when Jackson stops me. “Do you want me to come with you?”
“You can't,” I whisper while subtly nodding in the direction of Alyssa.
He opens his mouth but closes it when I say, “Ford's in the hospital. The new guard on shift didn't know the protocol when it came to him.”
When Jackson raises an eyebrow I grumble, “I can't tell you everything right now because I don't have the time. But long story short—I figured out Ford had the answers to things that I needed to know. Things like what I found out before. But when I confronted him at the prison a few days ago, he wouldn't budge—”
“I guess that would explain why the last time I saw him he was wearing an eye patch, huh?” Jackson notes.
“Yeah...let's just say I let Dwayne stick it anywhere.”