3.Elio
2645 Words
Oh great! Can this day get any worse? He lost Alessio in the traffic. He was trailing the guy from his new home to the fire station and suddenly he was nowhere to be seen. When did he slip away? Did he take another route or something? There are not that many Harleys in Milano to start with. How could he lose one?
It’s one thing to half-ass a job, but this was not planned. Not like this at least. He might as well go to the fire station and have a chat with Vittorio. The things Vito is doing are just wrong. And to think his own father thought it would be best for Elio to belong to a big city pack. How wrong the old man was! But it’s too late to cry about it now. He can’t go home, he can’t do that to his father. This alliance is important for their survival. If Elio pulls out, his father loses the finances he needs for the pack's survival.
He drives past a biker bar just down the street from the fire station and catches a glimpse of a girl. Her long black hair glistens in the winter sun, her porcelain skin is flawless, and the scent of her is mixed with a light floral perfume. A wolf! And she’s not hiding it. He is intrigued by her. Who is she? What is she doing here? Is she alone? He stops at the traffic light and snaps a picture of her. She must be waiting for someone. Why else would she halt at the door and look around the small terrace and parking out front?
Elio pulls into the parking lot at the fire station and parks his red Honda well behind the yellow line. He would hate to have his only possession damaged because of his own carelessness. There’s no damage if the bike touches the evergreen bushes, but getting hit by a fire truck on its way out would be bad. He slips through the side door and rushes down the hall to the Chief’s office. The sneaking around is necessary to keep the pretence up. If Vito ever finds out that Elio is a spy for the other side, he is dead.
“What’s up?” Vittorio grins at him.
“I lost Alessio in the traffic. I gotta hand it to him, he’s good.” Elio chuckles. “Didn’t see his bike outside, either.”
“It’s not his shift.” Vittorio shrugs. “What else is new?”
“Your father is off the rails. He is bringing a few new faces in.” He tells him. “And this situation with Alessio is bad. Vito will never allow him to mate with a human. The way Alessio stood up to him made him even more angry. He’s planning something, but the problem is, he’s keeping me out of it.”
“He didn’t tell you what he'd do?” Vittorio gapes. “That’s bad? Do we have anyone else that is willing to talk?”
“No. I have to figure out who else is pulling ranks. I’m sure Vito has someone doing his dirty work. He never gave me anything that would be in conflict with the law.” Elio shakes his head. He doesn’t like this at all. What use is it to be the head of the enforcers, if his boss keeps him out of the loop on things?
“Try to find out. We can’t have him disrupt the peace with the bears. After this calendar thing, Grazia is well liked by the Commissioner and the other bears in the department.” Vittorio tells him.
“I know.” He nods. A sigh escapes him, just thinking about the blond girl. “She is a well-known business woman, and a model. Humans would notice if she went missing.”
“Yeah. I never thought Alessio would settle down, but the woman he picked is in trouble.” Vittorio scoffs.
“She wouldn’t be, if your father had a speck of sanity left.” Elio shakes his head. He feels bad for the girl and for Alessio as well.
“I have a few things to do, but I’ll come by later this week. I have to talk with Alessio. Tell him I’m on his side.” Elio tells Vittorio later. He’s got errands to run and a bitchy boss to keep somewhat happy. Trailing Kara is a benefit as well. He can slip inside the restaurant and get a few sweets while he’s on the job. That is probably the best part of this city life.
The biker bar down the street is back in his sight. That girl is standing out front again. Is she waiting for the bus? Can he afford a side quest and trail her for a while? He must find out who she is. He didn’t see her face in the surveillance folder. Is someone else assigned to her? Or is she already mated and not on Vito’s list? He snaps a few more pictures while he waits for the green light. He could also see the city bus pull up. Will she step on? Where is she going?
He makes a last-second call and trails the bus. All the way to the other side of the city. The university campus opens up before him and he can see the girl rushing across the small park. She slips inside the Arts building and out of sight for him. He will solve that mystery, soon. His next stop is Rialto. He knows Kara is there, because her mother isn’t. Whatever Marra had planned, she unknowingly made his job easier. Maybe she could be a worthy opponent for Vito? If she’s up to it? Maybe a chat with the Beta of the pack is in order? If Marra steps up and beats Vito, then all could go back to their lives. Him included.
The enforcers are all useless, he deducts the next day. Not one of them can tell him who the girl in his pictures is. She is clearly easy to see, but they all claim that they don’t know her. This pack is not that big, they should know every member. He’s the one who came here from another pack, the other enforcers were born here. Another setback in his personal plan makes him angry. But it will have to wait. He found out what Vito was up to and his skin is crawling with goosebumps over it. The i***t Alpha had Grazia kidnapped. If Elio can somehow prevent an all-out war inside the pack, he must try. So he drives over to the fire station to talk with Alessio. He hopes the guy will listen to what he has to say.
“What’s he doing here?” Alessio asks when he steps inside to see Elio there.
“You’re not gonna believe it. So sit down before you fall down.” Vittorio laughs. “Did you sleep at all last night?”
“Yeah. Ty knocked me out. It lasted for five blessed hours of sleep.” Alessio smiles and Elio wonders who Ty is. “Good to have a doctor ready to help.”
“So very kind of him.” Vittorio comments. “Elio here has some information for you. You know how the drill goes: ask the right questions.”
“You are volunteering information? What happened? Did the whole world go crazy in one night?” Alessio looks at Elio with suspicion.
“Yes. If you ask the right way. You know how to bypass orders. I can’t say it outright, but if you ask me I can answer with yes or no.” Elio nods.
“It’s that easy? You’re not setting a trap for me?” Alessio inquires.
“No.” Elio answers. “I don’t like what your Uncle is up to.”
“Good. Then maybe we stand a chance.” Vittorio intrudes. “20 questions. Game on.”
Alessio: “Did Vito take Grazia?”
Elio: “Yes.”
Alessio:”Can you tell me where she is?”
Elio: “No.”
Alessio: “Can you take me there?”
Elio: “I'd rather not.”
Alessio: “How many guards?”
Elio: “Ten.”
Alessio: “Will he let her go if I give in?”
Elio: “Don’t do it. Mate bonds are sacred. I know she’s your mate. I could smell it.”
Alessio: “Would he exchange her for you?”
Elio: “No. I’m not important, just a hired hand.”
Alessio: “Can you guarantee her safety? She won’t be harmed?”
Elio: “Yes. Nobody will touch her.”
Alessio: “He still wants me to marry that wolf girl?”
Elio: “Yes.”
Alessio: “Damn! How can I get Grazia back?”
Elio: “Don’t know that.”
Alessio: “Would he let me fight for her? Like the old time rules state?”
Elio: “What rules?”
Vittorio tries his best to explain: “Our pack had a set of old rules that could be called upon if the wolves involved could not reach a compromise. My father pulled a few of those ancient rules out when he sold Marco to Vesna. She didn’t even know what she signed.”
Alessio: “That damn blood contract that started all this?”
Elio: “Wow. I only heard about that in history class.”
Vittorio: “Yeah, that. Father or not, I wish Morrana killed him. Her punishment only upped his madness.”
Elio thinks this is a good idea: “Can you demand a fight?”
Alessio: “I think so.”
“I know just where to go look.” Alessio smiles. “You think the key is still under Tony?”
“It should be. It was the designated spot to return the key to.” Vittorio smirks. “Come. I’ll give you some provisions from the kitchen. Do you have some cash on you? No credit cards, remember?”
“I have some emergency cash in the saddle bags.” Alessio nods. “We can buy everything else at the gas station halfway up.”
“We? Who?” Elio asks as he is dragged along to the Fire station kitchen. He has a suspicion, but he would like to know for sure.
“You and I. I’m kidnapping you. The question is, are you coming willingly or do I have to force you?” Alessio answers him with a grin.
“Force me with what? You’re a trained paramedic. What are you gonna take? A syringe?” Elio mocks him. He will go with him to see what the other wolf has planned. It might be good.
“Why not? One shot of morphine will knock you out for a few hours and then you’ll just wake up in a place you’ve never been before.” Alessio chuckles. Does the guy have it in him, Elio wonders.
“I’ll come. I promised Grazia I’ll help you as much as I can. I’m not breaking any orders if I go on a ride with you. And I stopped giving information to Vito unless he asked me something.” Elio tells him.
“How is she?” Alessio wants to know.
“Unhappy, bored. Who wouldn’t be locked up in a small room.” Elio shrugs. He was thinking of making it a bit more pleasant for her, but how? The girl is high society, not a wolf pup.
“She likes Dylan Dog comics.” Alessio says and packs some protein bars and shakes in a small bag that will fit into his saddle bag.
Elio wonders where they are going. He likes the Harley, but leaving his own bike behind doesn’t sit well with him. It had to be done. Being kidnapped would not be plausible if he took his own bike. The ride is short and it takes them up in the mountains. The cabin is hidden well in the forest and Elio’s wolf likes it at first glance.
Alessio parks the bike at the side of the cabin and grabs one of his saddlebags. He strides toward a plastic bear on the porch and lifts it up. The key is in a small plastic box taped to the bottom of the bear. Elio understands the reference now. It’s much easier to get in with a key. Alessio unlocks the door and sets his bag on a chair. The inside is just as rustic as the outside, only a lot dustier. Nobody has been up here in a long time.
“What is this place?” Elio wants to know.
“Our grandfather’s hunting cabin. I guess nobody has been up here in years.” Alessio tells him.
“I like it. It’s peaceful.” Elio smiles. He looks around the small space and frowns: “It doesn't look like a hunting cabin, though.”
“Grandfather’s idea of hunting was to let his wolf out and whatever the beast caught would be eaten. I remember the time when he demolished a rabbit on the lawn and grandma would yell at him to stop. She made pasta for dinner that day.” Alessio laughs at the memory.
“Brutal. Poor bunny.” Elio sniffs and laughs, too.
“Yeah. Let’s search the office for the rule book. I think it should be bound in brown leather.” Alessio nods and leads the way. The cabin has five rooms on two floors and a summer kitchen out back.
“How do you think to win a fight, if he lets you fight in the first place?” Elio inquires. He wonders about the guy’s skills. He knows the enforcers train every day, but what about other pack members?
“I haven't thought that far. I can’t live without her, you know that as well as I do. Either I lose the fight and go out honourably and she’s free or a miracle happens and I win. Then he has to give her back.” Alessio shrugs.
“Praying for a miracle?” Elio smirks. Is the guy really so naive? “I can teach you a few moves, just tell me that you had some fighting training before.”
“We all had that as kids, but I never used that knowledge. I never fought outside of training.” Alessio looks over at his new ally.
“Never? Not one bar fight?” Elio asks in wonder.
“No.” Alessio shakes his head. “Never needed to.”
“How did you manage that? You are a biker. That club you belong to is notorious for bar fights.” Elio wonders and looks at him like he’s an alien. And he’s thinking about winning a fight?
“That was easy. I went to med school. I got my paramedic licence when I was seventeen. And I was the one to take care of any injuries after the fights. Nobody touched me, ever.” Alessio laughs. “I know the basics, I just never used them.”
“You are a paramedic. What made you become a firefighter?” Elio inquires and searches the shelves.
“I got tired of seeing blood. And the first response is a brutal job. I never complained about that heavy bike. I loved it. But being first on any accident scene tends to leave a mark. I just couldn’t do it anymore, so I applied for a firefighter's position. I was a volunteer firefighter, the transition to professional was easy.” Alessio explains.
“Hm. Never thought about it that way.” Elio nods. It takes guts to be a first responder, he thinks.
- Writer
