Sold to the Capo-Chapter 123: SECOND ABDUCTION

ADRIANA’S POV

My eyes watered above the gag and I struggled with the restraints as I stared at Vincenzo’s shocked expression.

This wasn’t what I had planned. I had never thought I would get kidnapped for the second time and just like the first time, I felt like shit knowing that they were using me to get to Vincenzo.

I was at the casino, heading back to the room at the end of the hallway when something had hit me in the back of my head and before I lost consciousness, I was pulled into an adjacent room.

The casino was tight with security, meaning they hadn’t used the doors, they had probably used the windows to get out of the place and immediately hid me from sight and the thought made me sick to my stomach.

"Tesoro?" Vincenzo’s voice cracked and my heart dropped as I watched him lower his gun, his lips slightly parted, several expressions warring in his gaze: Shock, anger, fear, confusion. Each one felt like a knife twist because I never wanted to be a liability to him.

The fact that I was taken by the man who had taken me the first time made me queasy. Julius was one step ahead since he hadn’t be able to get the ledger. He didn’t need to go after it. He needed to go after me and somehow he knew that I was in town.

"Let her go right now" Vincenzo growled, a warning undertone in his voice.

I looked behind him, my stomach dropping even more when I saw that there were only 2 guards behind him, they would surely lose in a fight if push came to shove.

Julius hadn’t said a single word to me since I regained consciousness in the van, he just kept toying with the ring on his finger, twisting the metal around his finger, tracing soft lines around the engraved skull face.

"I’m betting that your people will be here in a while, hm?" Julius folded his hands together and smiled at Vincenzo before casting me a glance. "She still looks just as beautiful"

I could see the gears in Vincenzo’s head turning and I knew he wanted to shoot, I could spot the way his hand tightened ever so lightly across the gun, his finger hovering so dangerously close to the trigger.

As soon as I saw that, I quickly shook my head, praying he would get my message. If he shot Julius, he would never be fast enough, Julius had about 15 of his men in that Van, they would kill Vincenzo before he would bat an eye. This wasn’t a movie, he wouldn’t be able to take them all out without getting both of us killed.

The words I tried to get out came out as muffled against the gag however and I shut my eyes in frustration.

Vincenzo looked at me, his eyes wide and he sighed, putting his gun to the side by letting his hand fall back. "What do you want, Julius? Do you want to put a bullet in my head?"

My eyes widened at his words. Not this again.

Julius seemed to think. "Now that I think about it, I don’t want that. I would actually want a very different fate for you...." He paused and looked at his watch. "Oh, your backup is almost here"

I prayed to everything that existed that Salvatore would get here and if Salvatore couldn’t, Hale or Micheal would instead. However it turns out we don’t always get what we want because Julius turned to me as though he knew what I was thinking about. "Oh and, the huge man with the car? You can rule him out. He’s... Busy" Julius grinned and I felt dread rise like bile in my stomach.

They had gotten Hale? What the fuck had they done to him?

Julius turned back to Vincenzo. "I won’t kill you, Enzo. I give my word. You don’t deserve to die by my hands, we’ll talk about this later when you come with me"

One of Vincenzo’s men immediately took a step closer to shield Vincenzo and almost immediately, the sound of a gun going off beside my head made me scream against the gag as I watched the guard who stepped up with Vincenzo crumple to the floor, blood oozing out of from the gunshot.

Vincenzo didn’t bother to look down, he fired a shot and Julius man who had made the shot beside me, dropped dead instantly.

Vincenzo didn’t want to kill Julius, he knew I would die and so would he but he knew Julius wouldn’t bat an eye over what he did.

"You have 10 seconds to come with me, Vincenzo. I would rather not meet with your men. I’ve had enough bloodshed for today, come with me and we’ll talk things out for once, hm? 10..." Julius kept his voice level and I kept shaking my head to Vincenzo who was gently biting his lip.

No...no..nㅡ

"Fine!" Vincenzo managed through gritted teeth.

My eyes widened and I stared in shock as Vincenzo started forward, his gaze fixed on me, eyes roving over my body, searching for any bruises.

Apart from my aching head and pounding heart, I was fine... Barely. I think.

Julius grinned. "Perfect, let’s go, Don Enzo. I hope you can manage in restraints because you’re not coming close to me unbound" Julius took a step back as Vincenzo took a casual step back.

A wicked smirk spread Vincenzo’s lips, seeing that Julius was scared of him. "You think I will let your men bind me? You think I will let them lay a hand on me? I will do it myself" He said, his chin raised.

Julius raised two fingers to signal two of his men forward, one of them holding an open handcuff. "I would rather they did" then he nodded towards Vincenzo.

The moment Julius signaled for his men to bind Vincenzo, I felt my pulse quicken, a silent scream clawing at my throat.

Two of his men stepped forward, one gripping the open handcuffs, the other standing ready to subdue Vincenzo if necessary. But before either of them could so much as brush against him—

Vincenzo moved. Fast.

Like a beast unleashed, he twisted to the side, grabbing the wrist of the man holding the cuffs and snapping it with a sickening crack. A scream tore through the air, but it was cut short when Vincenzo spun, grabbing the man’s own gun and slamming it up under his chin, pulling the trigger without hesitation. Blood splattered as the man’s body crumpled to the ground.

The second guard barely had time to react before Vincenzo pivoted, driving his elbow into the man’s throat with bone-crushing force. The guard choked, staggering back, but Vincenzo wasn’t done. He spun the stolen gun in his grip, flipping it to hold it by the barrel, and brought the butt of it down on the man’s temple. The second guard hit the floor, unconscious before he could even scream.

It had happened so fast that I barely registered what had just taken place.

A sharp click and my breath caught.

Julius had his gun pressed to the side of my head.

"That was impressive, Enzo," he mused, voice eerily calm. "But you’re not as fast as a bullet, are you?"

Vincenzo’s entire body tensed. His grip on the gun tightened, and I could see the murderous rage simmering beneath his composed exterior. His eyes locked onto mine, searching, calculating.

"Let. Her. Go."

Julius sighed as if he were disappointed. "We both know that’s not happening. You put up an impressive show, but I have what you want." He nudged the gun harder against my temple, making me wince. "So unless you want me to decorate the floor with her pretty little brains, you’re going to do exactly as I say."

A muscle in Vincenzo’s jaw twitched. Then, to my horror, he took a deep breath, rolled his shoulders, and slowly bent down to pick up the fallen handcuffs.

My eyes widened as he clicked them over his own wrists, binding himself.

Julius raised a brow, amused. "Now, that’s what I call obedience."

Vincenzo smirked, lifting his gaze. "You should be scared, Julius." His voice was lethal, dripping with venom. "Because when I get free, and I will, I’m going to personally carve your name into your own flesh before I send you straight to hell."

Julius chuckled. "That’s the spirit. But let’s not assume now, hm?"

Vincenzo’s remaining guard stepped closer, eyes burning with defiance.

Julius clicked his tongue. "Ah, I can’t have him running off to bring reinforcements." He aimed his gun at the man.

Vincenzo stepped forward, stopping him with a single deadly glare. "You shoot him, and I swear to God, Julius, I’ll make sure your death is slow. I won’t just kill you—I’ll burn everything you love. I’ll make you beg me for a bullet."

Julius hesitated.

For a moment, tension hung heavy in the air.

Then he shrugged, lowering the gun. "Fine. He can live—for now."

The guard shot Vincenzo a conflicted look, but Vincenzo only gave a small nod, an unspoken command. Stand down. The guard clenched his jaw but obeyed, stepping back.

Julius smirked. "Good boy. Now, let’s go."

One of Julius’ men stepped forward, frisking Vincenzo from head to toe. They confiscated his watch, phone, and even his ring, tossing them aside as if they were worthless trinkets. They searched for trackers or anything dangerous, patting him down roughly before finally nodding.

Satisfied, Julius turned to me. "And now, for our little VIP."

My stomach lurched as rough hands grabbed my arms, yanking me forward. I tried to struggle, but it was useless. They dragged me toward the van, my feet barely touching the ground. My heart pounded violently against my ribs.

"Be gentle," Julius taunted, laughing as I kicked at the air. "We wouldn’t want her all bruised before the fun begins."

Vincenzo stiffened. "If you touch her—"

Julius turned to him with a smirk. "Relax, Enzo. She’s getting special treatment."

I was shoved into the front seat, my wrists still bound, my gag still tight over my mouth. Julius slid into the driver’s seat beside me, adjusting the mirrors as if we were about to take a casual drive through the city instead of whatever hell awaited me.

Vincenzo was forced into the back, surrounded by armed men, a strong metal transparent pane separating the back from where we sat at the driver’s side.

Julius started the engine. "You know," he mused, tapping his fingers against the wheel, "I thought the ledger was your greatest weakness." He turned his head slightly toward me, grinning. "But I was wrong."

My pulse pounded.

Julius leaned in, his lips almost brushing against my ear. "She’s the real weakness, isn’t she?"

Disgust churned in my gut.

Julius chuckled. "And since you worked so hard to keep her safe, I think it’s time I gave her a little surprise."

I stiffened.

He turned, his smirk widening. "I have a present for you, Adriana."

I swallowed hard, my blood turning ice cold.

Julius leaned in even closer, his breath hot against my skin. "You’re going to meet someone dear to you."

Panic gripped me.

Who the hell was he talking about?