Saving The Capo's Heir

Eight

Esmé

It had been more than a couple of hours since Javier left my office, promising me to come back with more credible information, information that I could grasp and feel a slim of fresh air through my nostrils.

The ache that I have in my chest grows with each passing second. I am trying to be strong for myself, Mason, and those looking up to me.

“Mason, have you had meetings with all the other departments since the incident?” I asked as I typed on my computer. I will occupy my mind with reading emails until Javier comes back in.

“I met with the finance guy two days after the incident. I wanted to ensure that there was no money missing from anywhere.”

“Perfecto, I’m going to call him.” I winked at him, grabbed the landline phone, and punched David’s number.

“David, espero que estes bien.” (Spanish for David, I hope you are well.) I greeted the second he answered the call, not waiting for his bullshīt excuses. David used to work for my uncle. He is still alive and working here because, after carefully scrutinizing all the documents and bank accounts, nothing, and I mean nothing, was out of order, so he stays for now.

“Esmé, lamento—“ (Spanish for Esmé, I’m sorry—) he was saying before I interrupted him.

“David, everyone is sorry. I am calling so that you can forward me the accounting information for the last two months.” I demanded, sitting straighter on the chair.

“Oh.” He cleared his throat. (Is everything okay? Esmé?” He asked.

“David, you know I am capo to you. Everything is fine; just think of this as a surprise audit. I expect to see the information by five pm tonight.” I ended the call, not giving him the space or the time to say anything else.

“Well, that went as expected.” Mason said, leaning on his chair and crossing his ankle over his other leg.

“He seemed nervous.” I tapped the pen against the desk. My heart was hammering in my chest as if something was going on.

“You okay?” Mason asked, scrunching his eyebrows.

“Yeah, I just have this feeling as if something is going to happen. I am not entirely sure.” I shook my head, trying to rid my brain and my heart of the unknown feeling gnawing at me.

“How is security?” I asked as I switched from my emails to the live feed surrounding the estate.

“I have tripled security. Now they go as far as the border.”

I nod because that is precisely what I see. My men used to be vigilant of their surroundings and were armed but not noticeable. The men Mason has put to watch us are armed, which is very evident. We have about eighty men walking around, and they have AK-47s hanging across their chests.

Just as I was going to say something else, a soft knock was heard. “Come in.” I yelled as I turned off the monitor on my computer.

The door opened ever so slowly, and my mother’s head peeked in. I haven’t seen her since I got back from the hospital yesterday.

“Come in, mom.” I nodded, and at the same time, I gulped the knot that had formed in my throat. My daughter is missing, and I am all sorts of messed up; she looks like she hasn’t eaten or slept in days. Her eyes are puffy and red, her nose is red, and her voice is squeaky.

She walked in ever so slowly toward my desk while sniffling. I stood up from the chair and met her halfway, engulfing her in my arms. The tears I’ve been trying to keep at bay all day long were released. One never really knows how much you need a mother’s hug until moments like these.

“I’m so sorry. I really tried to stop them.” She sobbed through the crook of my neck, her shoulders shaking as she talked.

“It’s okay, shh.” I tried my best to console her, but in all honesty, we weren’t going anywhere.

“Mom, I need you to relax. You will get sick; we are looking for both of them everywhere. We will not rest until she’s back here with us where she belongs.” I lifted her chin so she could see me and how serious I was about this. “Now, do you remember anything? Anything you might have seen? Anything you might have heard?

She cleaned her face with the back of her hand and walked over to the chair next to Mason. “They were all wearing masks, black. There was one man who seemed like he was in charge, he didn’t say anything, but I saw a tattoo on his neck.”

“Okay, so you recall what kind of tattoo it was?” I asked, feeling a sense of hope—finally, something I could grasp on.

“Yes, it was a raven.” She replied, nodding her head.

“Good.” I patted her hand and looked over at Mason, who was already typing on his cell phone.

“How is Ysabel treating you?” I asked as I waited patiently for Javier to burst into those doors.

“She’s a tomb, she doesn’t talk. She is, however, always sending text messages. Have you checked to see if she has a boyfriend of some sort?” She asked, and for a minute, I forgot all that we had going on. She acted as if she was an older woman taking gossip around the town.

“Who have you told this bit of information to?” I teased her. I understand that my people have lives outside of my estate, so I can’t expect to reprimand Ysabel for having a relationship out of it.

“No one.” She shook her head, just in time for Javier to walk into my office.

“Go with Ysabel, I will come looking for you later for dinner, okay?” I asked her as I gave a curt nod to Ysabel.