Page 10 of Jake

“Yes… you are?”

“I am Godfather Andreas Masterton…” Since my father and I were both mafia dons, the senior was referred to as Godfather when we were together. Father swept his hand towards Alex. “This is Don Alessandro Bonello.”

“The European Bonello?”

Alex grinned, but it wasn’t pleasant or warm. “One and the same. We have a number of questions for you, but first, you will arrange for one of your men to take the doctor, Godfather Masterton’s son, and his mother to the hospital. Two of our men will accompany them.”

“Of course.” He signalled to one of his men, who ran over and joined him. “You are to take the doctor, Mr Masterton, his mother, and their escorts to the hospital in the Jeep. Tell Lopres, Mr Masterton is to have everything he needs as a matter of priority.”

“Yes, sir. I’ll bring the vehicle closer.”

The man ran back to the nearest vehicle, slid behind the wheel, and brought it alongside where Jake lay.

***

Mother screamed on seeing her son, and I feared she might faint for a moment. Waigi steadied her by wrapping an arm around her waist.

“Waigi said he’s alive. Are you sure?” she asked before launching herself into my father’s arms.

“È vivo, tesoro, e chiunque abbia fatto questo pagherà con la vita.”

I raised an eyebrow and Quinn repeated the words father had spoken in English so Logan, Waigi, and I could understand what was being said. ”He's alive, honey, and whoever did this will pay with their life."

Mother lifted her eyes to my father. “Trovali Andreas, cancellali dalla faccia della terra.”

Again Quinn translated for his ignorant brother. "Find them Andreas, wipe them off the face of the earth."

Mother and Father were both of Italian descent and had spent into their teen years in their country of birth before emigrating to Australia. It was the language they spoke when either, or both, were upset. I suspected the fact I couldn’t master their native tongue was somewhat of a disappointment, but try as I might, I just couldn’t get with the program. It seemed like my brain had put a block in place.

“Prometto che quando lasceremo quest'isola nessun responsabile rimarrà in vita.”

Quinn repeated father’s words with feeling. "I promise that when we leave this island no one responsible will stay alive."

After Mother thanked Father, they kissed, and he hugged her close.

While I’d been focused on my parents, Jake had been readied to move. Barry stood, his bag in hand.

Logan, Quinn, Waigi, and I moved into position. Before we lifted him from the ground, I whispered in his ear. “Don’t you dare fucking die; you fight this, little brother.”

We lifted Jake from the ground while Don Bonello held the drip bottle high. My brother didn’t stir. Thankfully, being in a coma meant he wasn’t feeling any pain.

We moved Jake to the Jeep, our two men climbed in, and we slid my brother across their laps to be held. Barry climbed in beside them while Father helped Mother into the front alongside the driver. After saying our goodbyes, we closed the doors and watched as they drove away.

Once the vehicle was off in the distance, Father spun towards Herias. “Join us on the plane.”

I knew my father’s different tones and what he’d said wasn’t a request.

After telling his men to stay where they were, Herias complied. Not that he had much of a choice. Quinn fell into step with the man on one side, and I took the other. Logan and Waigi followed behind while the two senior dons led the way to the plane. Once onboard, Herias was taken to the room at the rear, and I closed the door after my brother, and I had joined him and the two older men. Logan and Waigi remained in the other part of the cabin.

"Sit," my father growled.

Herias sat while the rest of us remained standing.

“Why the fuck did you allow my son to be kidnapped, and who the fuck took him?” Father didn’t raise his voice to intimidate Herias. Instead he spoke quietly, calmly, which usually unnerved his enemies a great deal more. It had also been very successful over the years with his sons.

“I… I…”

Father clicked his tongue and shook his head. “I suggest you tell me the truth because bullshit will have you dying very slowly.”