Chapter 131: Who Will Kill You?

After breakfast, Dimitri went to pack a small bag.

Eve followed him to the bedroom.

"You’re sure everything’s okay?" she asked, watching him move efficiently through the closet.

"Positive. Why?"

"You just seem... I don’t know. Tense. Like something’s on your mind."

Dimitri stopped packing, came to her, cupped her face in his hands.

"The only thing on my mind is you. And how much I’m going to miss you while I’m gone." He kissed her deeply. "I love you. More than anything in this world."

"I love you too."

"Good. Remember that." He pressed his forehead to hers. "And remember to stay safe while I’m gone. I’m leaving men here. Extra security. Just to be careful."

"Dimitri, you’re going to Italy for business meetings, not war. I’ll be fine."

"Indulge me. Let me keep you safe."

Eve sighed. "Fine. Extra security. Whatever makes you feel better."

"Thank you."

An hour later, Marco arrived with a car.

Eve walked Dimitri to the elevator, held his hand until the last possible moment.

"Two days," Dimitri said. "Three at most. I promise."

"I’ll be here when you get back."

"I know." He kissed her one more time. "Be good while I’m gone."

"When am I not good?"

"Exactly my point." He smiled, stepped into the elevator. "I love you."

"Love you too. Be safe."

The doors closed.

Eve stood there for a moment, feeling the absence of him already.

Nonna appeared beside her, put a gentle hand on her shoulder.

"He’ll be back soon, cara. And until then, we keep each other company, yes?"

"Yes." Eve smiled. "Maybe you can teach me to make that pasta dish he loves."

"Finally! I’ve been waiting for you to ask!" Nonna beamed. "Come. We start now."

***

POV: DIMITRI

The drive to the private airfield took thirty minutes.

Marco sat beside him in the back of the SUV, reviewing files on his tablet.

"Everything’s set," Marco said quietly. "The warehouse is ready. Dr. Armani is secured. Our people have him contained but unharmed."

"Good. I want him conscious and able to talk."

"He will be." Marco looked up. "Boss, are you sure you don’t want to tell Eve what this is really about?"

"No. She doesn’t need to worry. Doesn’t need to be involved in this." Dimitri stared out the window. "This is between me and the doctor."

"Understood."

They pulled up to the airfield.

Dimitri’s private jet was waiting, engines already warming up.

They boarded quickly, efficiently.

The jet was luxury....leather seats, full bar, bedroom in the back.

Dimitri had spent millions on this plane.

Worth every penny for moments like this, when he needed to move fast and discreetly.

The pilot’s voice came through the intercom. "Mr. Valentino, we’re cleared for takeoff. Flight time to Rome is approximately nine hours. We’ll arrive at 11 PM local time."

"Thank you, Captain."

The jet taxied, then lifted smoothly into the air.

Dimitri watched the city disappear below them.

Somewhere down there, Eve was safe in the penthouse with Nonna.

Protected by his best men.

Monitored by security he’d personally installed.

She’d be fine.

She had to be fine.

Because if anything happened to her while he was gone....

Dimitri forced the thought away.

She was safe. She’d stay safe. He’d made sure of it.

"Boss." Marco settled into the seat across from him. "Want to go over the interrogation strategy?"

"No. I know what I need to ask. I know how to make him talk."

"And if he refuses?"

"He won’t refuse." Dimitri’s voice was cold. "Not after I explain what happens if he doesn’t cooperate."

Marco nodded, pulled out his phone. "I’ll let the team know we’re en route. They’ll have everything ready when we land."

"Good."

The flight was long.

Dimitri spent most of it staring out the window, thinking.

They landed in Rome at 11:17 PM local time.

A car was waiting on the tarmac.

Dimitri and Marco got in, and the driver pulled away immediately.

"How far to the warehouse?" Dimitri asked.

"Twenty-three minutes," the driver replied. "Traffic is light."

Dimitri nodded, settled back into his seat.

***

The warehouse was on the outskirts of Rome, in an industrial district that had seen better days.

The car pulled up to a nondescript building with no signs, no markings.

Some of his men were waiting outside.

"Boss." One of them....a man Dimitri recognized as Lucas, one of Marco’s most trusted....nodded in greeting. "Subject is inside. Second floor.

"Good work." Dimitri moved toward the entrance. "Everyone stays outside unless I call for you. Understood?"

"Yes, sir."

Dimitri and Marco entered the building.

The interior was exactly what Dimitri had expected, concrete floors, metal beams, the smell of dust and abandonment.

They climbed a set of stairs to the second floor.

At the end of a hallway was a single door.

Marco opened it.

Inside was a large room, mostly empty except for a single chair bolted to the floor.

And sitting in that chair, cable-tied at the wrists and ankles, was a man in his late fifties.

Dr. Armani.

He looked up as they entered, his eyes going wide with fear.

"Who are you?" His voice shook. "What do you want? I have money.....I can pay..."

Dimitri crossed the room slowly, deliberately.

Dr. Armani’s fear increased with every step.

"My name is Dimitri Valentino," Dimitri said quietly. "And you, Dr. Armani, have information I need."

The doctor’s face went pale. "I don’t....I don’t know what you’re talking about...."

"You’ve been treating Isabella Russo for years. Prescribing her medication for anxiety. Panic attacks." Dimitri stopped in front of the chair, looked down at the terrified man. "Is that correct?"

"I don’t know...."

"Think before you lie to me." Dimitri’s voice was still quiet. Still controlled. But there was steel beneath it. "I know you’ve been working with someone. I know the medication you prescribed the last time wasn’t a panic attack medicine"

Dr. Armani was shaking now. "Please....I have a family....children...."

"Then you should have thought about them before you became involved in this." Dimitri crouched in front of the chair, brought himself to eye level. "Now. You can tell me what I want to know willingly. Answer my questions. And you’ll walk out of here alive, free to go back to your family."

He paused, let that sink in.

"Or you can refuse. You can lie. And I will make you talk anyway. But it will hurt. A lot. And by the time I’m done with you, you’ll wish you’d cooperated from the beginning."

Dr. Armani was crying now, tears streaming down his face.

"So," Dimitri said softly. "What’s it going to be, Doctor? The easy way? Or the hard way?"

"Please....I can’t....he’ll kill me...."

"Who will kill you?"

"I can’t say....he’ll know...he has people everywhere...."

"I don’t care who he is or what he’s threatened you with. Right now, the only person you need to worry about is me." Dimitri’s eyes were absolutely cold. "Because I’m here. I’m in front of you. And I want answers. Now."

Dr. Armani looked at Dimitri’s face.

Saw the absolute certainty there.

Saw the promise of pain if he didn’t cooperate.

And broke.

"Okay," he sobbed. "Okay. I’ll tell you everything. Just...just please don’t hurt me."

Dimitri stood, moved back slightly.

"Start talking."