Kidnapped

CHAPTER FIFTY-SIX

>The dress above is her outfit for the party ;)

-TATUYANNA TORRONO >

I couldn't stop the triumphant grin from leaving my face, as I strolled through the lobby of King Hotel, out of the gigantic building. "After I spent twenty-five years with your father, I thought he was the source of my gray hair." Leo sighs. "I think God was preparing me for this."

As we both stand near the pavement, waiting for the car, I lean on one leg and place my hand on my hip. "Don't be dramatic, Leo."

"At this age, I never thought I'd be babysitting a twenty-two-year-old, for my old friend." He shakes his head, disappointed.

I wave him off. "Leo, I don't get the luxury of feeling this happy, alright? Let me have this." My eyes trail around the area. I may have the upper hand against that family right now, but they could strike back quicker than I could celebrate any further. I smile and nod at the officials who walk past me and into the building.

It was mostly random people. Unfortunately, trained assassins can blend in a little too well in the crowd of randomes. Or so I've heard, I've never played with fire in my life. I have yet to be burned alive, but it doesn't seem as scary as it should be.

"Tatuyanna, if you keep smiling like that, I'll have to resign earlier than I have to." I throw him a slight glare, crossing my arms. Then a random thought shoots into my mind. "Do you want to come pick a wedding dress with me?"

He gives me a pointed look. "I'm sure you have a thousand girlfriends to help with that."

I cock my head to the side. "Not really, I don't know where that friendship stands at the moment." I haven't spoken to either Marcela or Alessia after that little incident. Maybe I'll give Aless a call later.

The SUV pulls up, and Paolo comes out of the driver's side, rounds the car, and nods at me as a greeting. Seeing him made pride bloom within my chest. I had sent him and a few of my other men to the Rostov region and the Republic of Dagestan in Russia to cause a little damage. "Paolo, I'll make sure your reward gets delivered to your household. I'll make sure to have your family protected."

His dark brown eyes shoot up to meet my mismatched ones in panic. "Thank you, Capa. But the late Capo had my family under watch ever since I started working with him. I don't need a reward either. My family received enough generosity from yours. I couldn't be more grateful."

If the world had an increase in men like Paolo, would life in general have been better?

A warm smile stretches my lips, I pat his shoulder, having to stand a bit on my tiptoes. "You're a good man, Paolo. Allow me to thank you for staying loyal, and putting your life on the line for me." He nods with hesitation and proceeds to open the door for me.

I step towards the door, but a sharp whisp of air blows past my cheek and into the metal of the SUV, a dent now replacing the previous smooth asphalt color of the Mercedes. Not only that, but a stinging pain from my cheek made the hair behind my neck rise. Less than a minute later, I'm being tackled to the ground.

"Cazzo!" Paolo hisses.

A few more gunshots ring in the air, before the hotel's security comes filing out of the building, walki-talkis in hand and weapons out. "Sbrigati capa, sali in macchina" Paolo gets me into the car and then we're speeding away from the scene. [Hurry boss, get in the car.]

I felt liquid trailing down my cheek. Couldn't tell if it was sweat or blood. A quick inspection and there's blood on my fingers. A silent giggle huffs out of my lips. Leo is heaving for air beside me, his hand on his heart. "Goodness, Leo you're dying and you barely ran a couple steps."