Every Mafia's Favorite Girl novel Chapter 76

Chapter 76: "Standard Package"

The bloodstained box sat open atop the conference table at the center of the room.

A ring of mafia soldiers and capos surrounded it, every face drawn into a grim frown.

These were men who had opened duffel bags containing severed heads, witnessed executions from only a few feet away, and disposed of bodies without losing a moment’s sleep. Yet something about this single cardboard box had chilled even them.

Inside the box rested only three items: a mobile phone, a neatly folded note, and beneath them both, a cream-colored women’s cardigan.

Everyone present recognized it instantly for what it was: a standard kidnapping announcement package.

Caio reached into the box and lifted the cardigan first. His eyes lingered over the familiar wool knit, fingertips brushing across the soft fabric.

He knew that cream color.

He had seen Aren wear it often enough.

Only the flecks of drying blood scattering across the fabric were never there before.

Carefully, he searched the pockets, feeling every seam in case something had been concealed inside. Finding nothing, he folded it and placed it back on the table with deceptive calm.

Next came the note.

This one required little processing time. A message had been printed in block letters across the center of the page:

CALL THE NUMBER IN THE PHONE IF YOU WANT THE GIRL ALIVE.

The paper crackled violently.

Caio’s fist closed around it so tightly the page collapsed into a wrinkled ball before he hurled it across the room.

Lastly, Caio picked up the phone.

It was an encrypted handset, heavily modified with relay-routing software specifically designed to conceal the origins of incoming and outgoing transmissions.

When he unlocked the screen, he found only a single unlabeled number stored in its contacts.

Without wasting another second, he hit the dial button.

Ring.

Ring.

Ring.

The ringtone echoed through the conference room via speakerphone.

Each heavy ring seemed to steal another breath from the room.

At last, the call connected.

The voice that answered emerged through a voice changer, distorted enough that it sounded less like a human being and more like some demonic creature from a cheaply produced horror film.

"Caio Sartori?"

There was no way to determine whether the speaker was male or female.

"In the fucking flesh," Caio replied, each syllable carved from solid ice. "Now tell me which motherfucker you are."

A burst of jagged laughter exploded through the speakers — loud, twisted, and entirely delighted by the situation.

"HA HA HA HA HA!"

"Finally! There’s actually a day where you’re the one bowing to me!"

Caio was absolutely in no mood for laughter, taunts, or villainous monologues.

"Where’s Ariana Lombardi?" he demanded, knuckles locking. "What the fuck do you want? Stop hiding behind this bullshit and say it to my face instead of playing games like some lowlife street criminal."

"Lowlife criminal?" the distorted voice mocked. "The only lowlife criminal in this conversation is you, Caio Sartori."

Another chuckle crackled through the speaker.

"So I’d recommend adjusting that attitude... unless you’d like your precious Lombardi girl returned in several separate pieces."

Fury detonated through Caio at once.

"YOU MOTHERFU—"

The words died abruptly in Caio’s throat.

Reality struck him right after his rage did.

He had no idea who they were. No idea where Aren was. No idea what they had already done to her. Threatening them now was practically begging them to put a bullet through her forehead.

With agonizing restraint, Caio swallowed every curse until his chest burned. When he spoke again, his voice had become painfully civilized.

"...What do you want?"

Another round of laughter rolled through the speakers.

"HA HA HA! Now that’s the obedience I wanted to hear."

The voice lingered over every word, savoring his restraint.

"Now sit like a good dog and listen carefully. You are going to bring your pathetic self to a location of my choosing. Alone. If even one of my scouts spots one of your obedient little dogs following you..."

A brief pause.

"...I’m going to start carving pieces off Miss Lombardi."

The voice chuckled again.

"Let’s set the rules. One guard spotted earns you a tiny pinky finger. Two guards gets you an added thumb. Three..."

Another burst of laughter.

"We’ll improvise."

Caio’s hand clenched so tightly his veins threatened to burst through his skin. Still, he kept his voice low and steady, burying every ounce of fury beneath it.

"Put Ariana on the phone," he demanded. "Let me hear her voice."

A disappointed sigh drifted through the speaker.

"Oh, Caio, Caio..."

"...you’re still just a stubborn little bastard who refuses to understand where his place is."

"You still haven’t realized who’s holding the leash, have you?" The voice almost purred. "Allow me to remind you."

Clack.

THUD!

THUD!

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