The Don’s Soulmate

51. Vittorio

Chapter 51

Vittorio

Anxiety coils in my gut like a snake as the minutes tick by with no word from Leandro. Something isn't right.

My fingers tap an impatient rhythm against the glass of whiskey in my hand as I wait for his routine evening call. My younger brother has never been late to check in before. He once even called me in the middle of murdering someone.

I slam my fist against the desk, cursing under my breath. Where the hell is he?

I can't take it anymore. There’s only one way to find out. I slam the glass down on the table, its contents sloshing over the edge, and grab my phone. It's time to put my tracking skills to use.

I breathe a sigh of relief when I see the route of Leandro’s GPS mapped out in front of me. He’s parked out somewhere in the woods. Maybe there’s no signal. What on earth could he possibly be doing out in the woods at this hour? My eye catches an alert blinking on the corner of the screen. I click it, and a message notifies me that another person on my radar has been on the same route and stopping at the same destination.

Sofia. The connection between her and Carlotta can't be a coincidence. In fact, I hunted Sofia down and made her fall for me for this very moment. I knew that someday Sofia would prove useful, and today, it seems like she has, at last.

She’s probably led my brother straight to Ettore and Carlotta. It was wise of me to have Leandro tail her car 24/7.

I put two and two together. If Leandro followed Sofia out to such a remote location, it probably means that she is meeting with Carlotta and possibly Ettore. If anything goes down, he will be outnumbered. "Shit," I curse, my concern growing tenfold. What if he’s in trouble?

I already lost one brother. I won’t lose another.

"Leandro, you better be alright," I whisper, pushing the pedal to the floor the minute I enter my car. "I swear, if anything’s happened to you, there will be hell to pay."

I speed along a dark, winding road. My hands grip the steering wheel tightly, eyes shifting from left to right, looking out for anything suspicious.

"Come on, where the hell is this place?" I mutter under my breath, glancing at the GPS coordinates for Sofia and Leandro's location. Every second feels like an eternity as I weave through the trees on rough, muddy terrain, my destination drawing ever closer.

Finally, I spot it - a quaint, wooden hideaway nestled deep within the foliage. As I drive, I spot Leandro’s car, concealed behind some trees. I look through the windows – it’s empty. The sight of it brings no relief, only heightened anxiety.

Shutting off the engine and stepping out of the car, I'm immediately struck by the silence. It's unnatural and suffocating. I swallow hard, pushing down the growing lump in my throat.

As I approach the cottage, I notice another car. Sofia’s. A trail of tires leads away. Fuck. Did Sofia, Carlotta and Ettore getaway in another vehicle? A getaway car, perhaps?

Where the hell is Leandro?

I notice signs of a struggle - a broken window, splintered wood scattered across the ground, and drops of blood staining the earth. My heart hammers against my ribcage, each beat echoing the panicked drum of my thoughts.

Where is my brother?

"Leandro!" I call out, louder this time, desperation clawing at me like a wild animal. There's no response, only the distant caw of an owl breaking the silence.

I continue searching the area around the cottage. What happened here? And where the hell are they?

"Leandro, if you've been hurt because of that damn woman," I hiss through clenched teeth, fury igniting within me. "I swear, Carlotta will pay for this."

She was never my target. Ugo wants Ettore dead. But if my brother is harmed, I will seek my revenge against the bitch who started this war.

A chill runs down my spine as I stumble upon a small piece of land where the soil looks disturbed. Leaves are scattered all over, almost to perfection, like the soil is trying to hide something.

And then, even before I move, I feel the truth shouting at me.

“No!” I clutch my hair, falling to my knees. “Nooooo!” I roar into the night, the tears rolling down my eyes. I feel my heart pounding against my chest, an overflowing dam about to shatter my soul.

"Leandro..." I whisper, my voice choking with fear. "Please, don't let one of these be yours."

I start digging, like a desperate animal hunting for a way out. The soil is cold and damp, staining my calloused fingers, yet I dig deeper and deeper, praying that I won't find what I'm dreading. My hands ache from the relentless digging, but I force myself to push through the pain, needing to uncover the truth.

"Damn you, Carlotta," I growl under my breath, sweat mingling with tears. "If you've done anything…”

Finally, after what feels like an eternity, my fingers connect with something solid. My stomach churns with dread as I carefully brush away the remaining dirt, revealing the lifeless face of my brother Leandro.

"No," I choke out, feeling as though the earth has swallowed me whole. "Not you too Leandro. Not you."

Overwhelmed with grief and anger, I cradle my brother's body in my arms, his once-vibrant eyes now distant and dull. They didn’t even bother closing his eyes. The shockwaves of pain radiate through my entire being, consuming me like wildfire.

“I swear I’m going to find Carlotta, Leandro," I whisper to my brother, clutching him close. And make her pay for what she's done—her and that lover of hers."

I hold Leandro close for a moment longer, saying a silent goodbye before laying him back down on the cold ground. My heart may be shattered, but there's no time to grieve. Not when vengeance is calling out to me.

I need to know all I can before I can exact my revenge. Fury and grief blend together, forging a lethal cocktail. I will avenge both my brothers, no matter the cost.

I stride towards the cottage and inside, my eyes immediately notice something. Two books, one on how to raise a baby and one on what to expect while expecting, and an empty bottle of prenatal supplements are scattered about the living area as though someone had hastily packed up their belongings. The sight gives me pause.

"Whose are these?" I mutter under my breath, my anger momentarily forgotten as curiosity takes hold.

And only one name comes to mind.

"Could it be…?" I say to myself, grappling with this newfound knowledge. The thought of Carlotta carrying a child – possibly Ettore’s – makes revenge seem even sweeter.

And I know just how to spark the chain of events that will get me what I want. Her death. I pull out my phone, waiting for the receiver to pick up.

“Hello?” a thick, boisterous voice booms through.

"Ugo," I say tersely, trying to control the tempest within me. "I have news about Carlotta."

"Speak," he barks.

"She’s pregnant," I reveal with a small smile. “I assume it’s Ettore’s.”

Silence fills the line for a moment before Ugo's voice returns, seething with rage. "That spoiled bitch! She is worthless to me now. You know what to do, Vittorio. Eliminate her and him . Make sure you do it before a baby comes. She should feel her child die within her."

"Of course," I reply with a cold smile. The thought of ending Carlotta’s life ignites a surge of power within me, burning away any doubts. This is my purpose—seeking vengeance for those who have wronged me and my family.

"Good. Make sure she doesn't escape this time," Ugo snarls, his voice dripping with disdain.