Mia Figlia

Chapter 36 ✔️

PoV Riccardo

"What happened?" Stunned, I stared at Mario, who ducked his head and thus appeared even smaller than usual. His face was unnaturally pale, and his lips trembled as he repeated his words.

"They were attacked in front of the boutique. The culprits had anesthetized all our bodyguards so that no one could warn them. Stella was dragged to a car and Giovanni tried to grab his gun. They shot him in the chest."

That was as far as I listened. I did not have to worry about my sotto. He always wore a bulletproof vest. But the kidnapping of my fiancée left me slumped helplessly in my chair. Stella, of all people. I had promised her that no one would ever come near her and hurt her. Again, I had failed!

Why was I such a failure? Had my mother been right after all, that I was good for nothing?

"Il mio padrinho?" Mario stepped into my field of vision, which was becoming more and more blurred. "The men are back. Shall I question them alone?" His voice sounded concerned. It should. We had to find my fiancée. With a wave of my arm, I swept the papers off my desk. Briefly, I squinted at the cocktail cabinet, which was still abundantly filled, although I had not touched a drop of alcohol in some time. I longed for a drink to calm my nerves.

"Riccardo?" My consigliere was still waiting patiently for an answer. I banished the thought of alcohol from my mind. If I got drunk now, I would lose valuable time, and with it, perhaps, any chance of getting Stella back in good health.

"No, I am coming." I pushed myself up from my chair, only then realizing how much I was shaking. My legs were trying to give way under me. What a wimp I was, I thought in disgust.

"Where are they?" I growled, trying to cover my weakness.

"They are all in the infirmary for observation. Sam is drawing their blood to find out what they were drugged with. It is possible that the drug has severe side effects." I nodded in understanding. Narcotics had their pitfalls. Dosed too high, they could cause heart failure even after an initial improvement.

"Then we will go there first. Are Lucia and Giovanni back too?" If I was lucky, my sotto or his wife could give me valuable clues.

"They are both in the infirmary. Giovanni is unconscious from his fall after being shot, and Lucia is in shock."

Cazzo! That eliminated both of them for the time being for questioning. I stormed past Mario toward the infirmary. Oh, how I hated this damn place! My consigliere hurried after me, panting. He would arrive eventually. I had no time to waste.

"And you did not see who attacked you?" With narrowed eyebrows, I stared at the man in front of me who was lying as white as a sheet on the bed.

"No, il mio padrinho. I felt a puncture, and shortly after that I lost consciousness." My associate trembled slightly, probably fearing my wrath for not taking better care of my fiancée. But what kind of don would I be if I punished my men for my failure? I turned to our doctor, who held out a small tranquilizer dart to me.

"They used what is called the Hellabrunn mixture, which is normally used in veterinary medicine." His look was exceedingly disapproving. "So, you can say they mistook our people for a herd of rhinos."

"What does that mean exactly? The drug is unknown to me." Impatiently, I tapped one foot on the floor, arms crossed, and exhaled loudly through my nose.

"It is a mixture of ketamine and xylazine. Both have side effects, some of them serious. Sudden cardiac arrest but hallucinations or retrograde amnesia are possible too. The men will have to stay here at least overnight for monitoring."