The trunk was dark and stuffy, and it was becoming harder to breathe. Tony tried to remain calm and take slow, deep breaths, but every time the car hit a pothole, he bounced against the hard objects inside. Since his hands were bound together, he was unable to move the things from underneath him. His already badly beaten body was becoming more bruised with each bump in the road.
Shortly after they left the factory, Leo began asking where the documents were and how they were going to retrieve them. Without thinking it through, he told the man everything he needed to know to retrieve the documents alone. Within minutes, Leo had him pull over and get out of the car as another car pulled in behind them. His heart rate surged as adrenaline raced through his veins. Something bad was going to happen, but hopefully, he would make it out alive.
Three men got out of the other car and proceeded to beat the crap out him. The first blow to the stomach wasn’t too bad. Sure it knocked the wind out of him, but he could handle it. It was the kick to his knees that had him falling to the ground where they continued to kick him repetitively. He guarded his face and head hoping to prevent a death blow. The men screamed in Italian. They were laughing and seemed to be enjoying the brutal assault. Dirt was kicked into his face and mouth. He tried to fight back but each time he used an arm or leg to defend himself, it made that part of his body more vulnerable to the attack. The last thing he remembered was spitting blood at one of the men before he was kicked in the head.
He had no idea how long he’d been in the trunk. He could be in Switzerland for all he knew. He shouldn’t have underestimated his cousin. He should’ve gone for the gun and shot him right then and there. The false sense of security from being wired, and the desire to find Kate left Tony vulnerable. I’m a fucking idiot.
The car rolled to a stop. Were they at an intersection, or were they parking? He prayed that if they were parking, he wouldn’t be left in the car to suffocate and die from the heat.
The car door opened, and footsteps approached the trunk. The best thing he could do was pretend he was still knocked out until he figured out where he was and find an option to escape.
The trunk opened and sunlight bounced off his skin. The cool air was refreshing, but he focused on his breathing and fought against the urge to take a big gasp of air even though that was what he wanted—needed more than anything in that moment.
The man shook him like a rag doll, attempting to wake him up. He refused to open his eyes until the ice water was poured onto his face.
“Huh…what? What’s going on?” he mumbled.
“Wake up, you parasite.” The man grabbed Tony’s arm and pulled him into a sitting position. “Get out of this trunk before I have someone remove you. Trust me, you don’t want that.”
Tony struggled to shimmy himself out of the cramped space. It shouldn’t have been too difficult but with his hands and feet bound together, it was a challenge. When Tony finally got to the edge of the trunk, he lost his balance and fell to the ground, landing on his already badly bruised side.
“Ha! Not such a tough guy, now are you?”
Tony grimaced. “Fuck you.”
Another blow landed on his stomach. He gasped for air as he searched for the breath that escaped him. The bones in his chest moved every time he took a breath. Tony was almost certain some of his ribs were broken. The acidic taste of blood took hold of his mouth and his spit only confirmed his suspicions.
“Come on, tough guy. Get up.” The thug bent over and removed the ties before helping Tony to stand.
As Tony stood, the blood rushed from his head leaving him dizzy and unsteady on his feet. As the unknown assailant dragged Tony by the arms, he willed his feet to move underneath as he clumsily took each step.
“Move it.”
“Maybe I could go faster if you and your goons hadn’t beaten the shit out of me.”
“If you didn’t wire yourself up and try to get Matteo arrested, you wouldn’t be in this predicament.”
He slouched and grimaced from the pain of the broken ribs. “If I hadn’t done that, I’d be dead now. Either way, I’m screwed.”
“Maybe you’re not such a fool after all.”
They approached the door to the familiar house. It had been forever since he was here last. The blue door opened and instantly he was face to face with the man who could’ve been his brother.
If the color could’ve washed from his face, he was sure it would. He was sure it was already a nice array of blue and purple. Instead, he swallowed and waited for the assault that was inevitable.
“The pretty boy isn’t so good-looking anymore, is he?”
He refused to buy into Matteo’s remarks. It was useless to indulge. It would only cause him more harm in the long run.
“Did you really think I wouldn’t figure out you were wired? What kind of stupid fuck do you take me for?”
Tony stood motionless, just hoping he could find a place to lay down and nurse his wounds. The pain was overwhelming as he struggled to stay alert and not pass out. Fortunately, the goon behind him was holding him up, or Tony would be a jumbled mess on the floor.
“What do you want, Matteo? I’ve given you everything you’ve asked for.”
“Ha! I hardly think that’s true. You’ve sent my men on a wild goose chase to obtain the packages you should’ve had in your possession when we met. I’m sure the papers you left at the Waldorf didn’t even touch what your father left for you. Until I get everything I want, you’re going to have to spend a little more time with me. Sounds like fun, doesn’t it? Good old cousin bonding.”
Tony coughed and spit more blood onto the floor. “Some—” The blow to his face was jarring, and his jaw felt as though it almost dislocated from the force of the impact.
“How dare you disrespect our grandmother’s house by spitting on the floor. Show some manners, you bastard.”
“I’m sure she’s looking down right now, frowning on the fact I spit blood out on her floor. I think her dismay comes from your cowardice.”
“You have a lot of nerve to call me the coward. You’re the one trying to run away instead of fighting for the woman you love. Did you really think the Guardia was going to come save her? Don’t you know they all work for me?”
“I don’t believe you.”
“I don’t really give a shit what you believe. All you need to believe is your short time on this Earth has come to an end. You need to beg for any second of life I allow you to have.”
Matteo nodded and motioned to the guy supporting Tony. An arm slipped around his neck and applied pressure, trapping the air in his lungs. Tony struggled to free himself but to no avail; his body was too weak to fight, and gasping for air was futile. He was powerless. The broken ribs and difficulty breathing left his reserves minimal. Within seconds, his world went black.