Fire and Sweets (Book 3 of Wolves of Milano)

24. Hunting with Elio

They take Massimo’s car, because it’s bigger, and he will be waiting by it, so it will be fine. Kara is helping Elio map out a path they should take to where Lucia thinks she is being held. She remembered a few details that could be a closed restaurant. There are not many of those in a residential area, so it must be somewhere close to a park. How many closed restaurants could there be? And to have boarding rooms above? 

“Got it.” Elio says. “The Old hunter and deer. It was closed last year because of sanitary reasons. The pictures have the wood siding she told you about.”

“Great. Are you sure I should drop you off at the end of the street?” Massimo asks.

“Yes. It would be suspicious if you drive up, stop, and go.” Elio answers. “Haven’t you seen any movies?”

“Em?” Massimo stutters. Kara knows her brother was always way too busy to have fun or just to relax and watch TV, but she decides not to tease him about it. He is really worried for Lucia.

“We can walk. It’s quieter and doesn’t draw attention. Just two people out for a walk.” Kara tells her brother. “You drive the getaway car. Just make sure you’re close and out of sight.”

“I trust you.” Massimo nods. Well, that’s a first, she thinks. “Don’t get recognized.”

“I have a few million followers on i********:, but I’m hardly ever in a picture. It’s all about sweets.” Kara laughs. “No one is going to recognize me. And if someone there recognizes Elio, then we’re in deep trouble.”

“Why? I know I’m hardly one to demand answers, but who are you exactly?” Massimo glances at Elio in the rear view mirror.

“Ex military, special forces, drill sergeant. That’s all you need to know.” Elio smiles. His smiles have a wide range from friendly to cold and deadly. How can someone threaten you with a smile? Kara needs to learn that. 

“Oh.” Massimo nods. “I understand it now. I'll just keep quiet and drive.”

Kara gets out of the car with Elio and loops her hand casually through his. Her phone is on mute so it doesn’t accidentally goes of in the middle of the rescue. They are dressed in plain, nondescript clothes just as any other couple that goes for a walk in the evening. The air might be crisp, but people are out even in a snowstorm. Not that they need one. She is quite happy without snow. That’s just one more thing she will have to get used to in Switzerland.

“What are you thinking about?” Elio inquires. It’s just part of their cover. Walking in silence is weird and can draw attention.

“Snow. I don’t like snow very much. I guess I'll have to get used to it when I move to Switzerland with Mattias.” She answers him.

“Are you so sure about it?” He scoffs. “He could just as easily move here. Relationships go both ways, you know?”

“Not this one.” She shakes her head. “I can’t tell you who he is, but I have to go with him. Not just for me, because he’s my mate, but for all our sake's.”

“This sounds like a proper mystery. Tell me when you can.” Elio smiles at her. He leans closer to her, like he wants to kiss her. Then she notices two men watching them. He leaned down just far enough for her to see over him. Good thinking.

“Both human, smoking. I don’t see any weapons.” She whispers really quietly.

“I don’t smell anything but damn cigarette smoke.” He whispers back.

“There is light up on the first floor.” Kara continues.

“Giggle. Like I’m tickling you.” He instructs and she obliges. She hopes it is plausible. She never was a ticklish girl, so she has no idea what sounds are good or not. Would she even make one?

“Come on. It’s cold. Let’s go back home.” Elio says out loud to get the attention of the two guys. Kara nods and lets herself be led to the path behind the building. She knows it leads to the apartment buildings on the other side of the parking lot. She memorized the map of this part of town.

There are no lights on in the rooms on the first floor on this side of the building. Maybe they are empty? Or the girls are being held in the dark. She thinks there are shutters on the windows, but she can’t be sure. The shadows are falling all wrong on the building, not even her wolf eyes can see anything about this building perfectly. It doesn’t really matter, the stairs are their target anyway. Elio holds her back for a few more minutes. He wants to be sure that they aren’t followed. He winks at her just before he kisses her for real. She stiffens in his arms and pushes off of him. She’s not a good actress, but he gave her a perfect cue.

“Hey! Perverts! I don't take any pleasure in people watching me kiss my boyfriend.” Kara glares at the guys.

“Get out of here. This is private property.” One of the guys advances on her. This guy thinks he’s menacing? Oh, she almost laughed. She waits for the guy to come just a little bit closer to her and she punches him directly in the face. Down he goes without a sound. A glance the other way and she can see Elio tying the other guy up with industrial zip ties. Steel inserts can’t be snapped. The guys will be sitting tight against a tree for the rest of the night.

“Two down, seven to go. I hope the girls won’t give us a fight. Maybe they really are just makeup and hair stylists.” Elio whispers.

“Hope so.” She nods and smiles. She picked the guy’s pockets while Elio tied them to the tree. “We have the keys. No need to pick a lock.”

“That makes things easier.” Elio winks at her. She is glad that he agreed to do this with her. She feels safe with him and that is saying a lot about the mysterious enforcer. She must get to know him better and find out how she can help him with Allegra.

Elio unlocks the back door and they creep up the stairs in silence. The noises are all coming from that direction, but she can’t distinguish what is being said. The TV is on and someone is playing music on a different device. The cigarette smoke is pungent up here as well. Why did the other two go smoke outside, if everyone is smoking inside? Not really important information, Kara! She scolds herself. Stop overthinking and focus!

Elio points her to a closed door while he continues down the hall to where all the noise is coming from. She waits a minute and then she unlocks the door. How careless of these guys to leave the key in the lock. The room is dark and she can see two girls huddled together on one bed. She creeps closer and puts her hands over their mouths. Two sets of frightened eyes look at her and she can feel the girls shaking. She takes one hand back to make the silencing motion and whispers to them:

“I’m here to get you out, but I need to know where Lucia is.”

“The other room.” One of the girls whispers and cringes. They all do. The loud bang coming from the other side of the floor startled them all. There is a fight going on, judging by all the shouting.

“Don’t mind that.” Kara continues to whisper. “My friend will take care of them. My part is to get you out. As quietly as we can.”

She leads the girls out and goes for the next room when a large guy runs at her. The girls shriek, but Kara spins on her left leg to kick the guy in the face with her right. A perfect roundhouse kick, Elio would be proud. The guy goes down like an empty sack. To her misfortune, he blocks the door she needs to open. She drags him out of the way to unlock the door. The scared face on the other side is Lucia’s. The girl is sitting on the bed, shaking in fear.

“Lucia!” Kara whisper-shouts. “Get out.”

“Kara?” The girl wonders.

“Down the stairs, out the back door, and run out front. Massimo will be there. Understand?” Kara nods to her. She sent the text she had saved while talking. When Lucia nods to her she says: “Go. All three of you.”

She watches the girls go around the bend, then she runs to help Elio. The scene she discovers is hilarious. The three women, who are clearly part of this operation, are huddled in a corner, scared and shrieking. Two guys are down cold and two are fighting Elio. It looks like they are trying hard and he blocks every attack with ease. She smiles and leans on the door frame. It’s entertaining to be on this side of the fight and just watch. Elio’s movements flow like water. She would need to train all her life to make it look so easy.

“Would you stop playing around?” Kara says casually.

“Sure. Do you have any contacts in the police department?” Elio asks her and ends the fight with two swift blows. She watches the guys go down and feels nothing for them. Must be bad, if Elio asked for the police.

“I know a few guys. This might be tricky if we want to keep Lucia out of it.” Kara tells him, but she dials the number anyway. She watches him tie up the remaining men and even the girls. They didn’t fight, but the looks on their faces tell Kara they know they are guilty of helping.

The two bear shifter cops she knows drive up in silence. Explaining this thing to them is hard for her, but Elio takes over. He makes it brief and tells them just enough to be taken seriously. They know the situation in the wolf pack, they don’t like it, but the bears stay out of it for now.

“Getting you two involved might piss off Vito. We can say it was an anonymous tip, but what if the guys speak up? What if those scaredy cats over there say something?” Liam asks them while he points to the girls. 

“If they say something, you can call me in. I’ll deal with Vito. I loath human trafficking.” Elio tells them. “I would appreciate it if you can leave her identity out.”

“Yeah.” Liam nods. “Any idea where the victims are?”

“With Massimo. I’ll let him know you’re on the case. Maybe he can get the girls to talk to you.” Kara says. This thing will have consequences. How the hell can they keep it from the mayor is anyone’s guess?