Mafia's Redemption: Terzo - Chapter 97: Chapter 97

DANI
“So you will let her die for money? You have five seconds to decide, Dani. 100 million dollars or her life?”
“I will give you the hundred million dollars right now if I have it, but I don’t.” My chin trembled, and tears streaked down my cheeks.
“I know you got your father’s money. One. Two—”
“Wait. Wait. I can’t access the account from here. It’s a little complicated, but I can transfer the money from the bank.” I rushed out my words before he could shoot Celestina. “I swear.”
“You’re lying. You’re stalling. Your husband is not coming here to rescue you if this is what’s all about. He hasn’t figured it out until now.”
“Trust me. I don’t care about money—”
Aidan pulled the trigger and shot Celestina. The gunfire jolted me, and my heart thundered in my chest. She screamed. Her arm bled, blood dripping from the wound down to the floor.
“Son of a bitch!” I yelled at Aidan, but it didn’t even bother him. I cried in anger and helplessness to stop him from hurting Celestina. “I will fucking kill you.” I dragged myself to her to check the affected arm, but there was nothing I could do. My feet were tied, too. “I’m so sorry, Cee.”
“It’s just a graze. The next time you lie to me, a bullet through her head, and the blood is on your hands, Dani. So, bargain carefully.”
“You can check my account. The money is not there. I swear.” I looked at him through teary eyes as I dictated the account number. “The only way to get your money is either to ask for a ransom demand from my husband, which he will surely pay you, or you send me to the bank and transfer the money directly to your account. You have to believe me. I will give you the amount you ask, but you have to, please—” I looked at Celestina’s wound. “At least stop the bleeding because if she dies, I will guarantee you, I won’t pay you a penny. So you might as well kill me first.”
“I’m fine, Dani.”
“No, you’re not, Cee. I’m so sorry if I dragged you into this,” I say, trying to be strong, fighting back tears, but it was too late. Tears streamed down my face endlessly. I started to hiccup from controlling myself not to sob for the guilt and regrets I felt.
Darragh nodded at Aidan to confirm that I was telling the truth.
“Fine.” He left. Darragh followed.
“Dani, what is your plan?” Celestina tried to be calm, but she was in pain. She was sweating and grimaced at small movements.
“I have to give him what he wants, but you have to come with me so that I know they won’t harm you.”
“I don’t think they will agree.” She swallowed.
“That’s the only way I will do it, but it’s not up to us, is it?” I shook to cry as I watched her arm continue to bleed. “Hey! Just patch her arm, please? I will give you an extra fifty thousand for this.”
Darragh’s footsteps echoed against the concrete floor as he strode in with a bandage.
“Son of a bitch! You have it all this time?”
“Shut up.” He wrapped the bandage around Celestina’s arm harshly, making her groan in pain.
“Do you know he will kill you once he gets his money, right?” I shot him a glare. “Unless it’s a joint account.”
“Shut up.” He pointed his thick finger at my face. “One more talk, I will gag your mouth.”
“I’m just saying. I’ve seen this movie a thousand times.” I gasped as I felt my face snap to the side. My cheek stung, and I tasted blood in my mouth later.
“Did you see that coming?” He leaned close, seeing me eye-to-eye.
I drew a deep breath and butted my head against him. He was a giant, and his head was bigger than mine, and it hurt that I thought I saw stars and almost blacked out.
“Bitch!”
“Uh-uh.” Aidan came back. “Are you crazy? You can’t hurt the person who will make us rich, Darragh. Keep your anger for later. She can’t get inside the bank with a bloody face.”
Darragh left, stomping his feet in anger.
“What you did was stupid, Dani. Do you think I did not hear what you said? I know what you’re doing, but you can’t turn them against me. They are loyal dogs. They may bark, but they fall for the treats.”
“Asshole.”
“Stand up. Let’s go to the bank.”
I tipped my chin at my feet. “Care to untie me?”
He grabbed his knife from his boot and cut the rope.
“Celestina is coming with us. I wanna make sure your men won’t violate her or kill her once you get the money.”
“This is not a negotiation, Dani. She stays. Once I get my money, I’ll call my man to drop her somewhere safe. You have my word.”
“I have your word?” I stood up. My legs were still shaking. “I thought we already established that I couldn’t trust you after what you did to Marco.” God, Marco. I swallowed as the guilt severed my stomach.
I should have listened. We would have been far right now, safe somewhere, but like always, I was so stubborn and trusting that was why I got the people I cared about hurt. I sniffled when my tears fell like streams.
“Don’t do something stupid.” He also cut the tie rope around my wrists. Why rope, though, if he could just use duct tape?
“And get her killed? I told you I don’t care about the money.” Once I was freed, I turned to Celestina and hugged her. “I’ll find you, I promise.” Then I whispered, “I have a plan.”
As they dragged me away from Celestina, I asked, “Where’s my bag? I need my ID, and I want to freshen up so that I won’t look like someone just held me hostage.”
“Here. Don’t look for your gun, I took it,” said the pink-faced man. “It’s pretty by the way.”
“Can I use the bathroom? I need to wash off the stain on my face.”
“No. Stop stalling. I’ve wasted so much time on your bullshit. Like I said, your husband is not coming to rescue you. Tell me the address.”
After I dictated the address of the Palazzo, they put a black bag around my head as they put me inside the vehicle. It wasn’t a van. I was sure it was an SUV. I was sandwiched between Aidan and the other guy.
After about half an hour, the bag was pulled off my head. My eyes adjusted to the light.
“Are you fucking with us? Do you really wanna die right now? I can call Darragh to shoot your friend,” said the other guy. When he mentioned Daraggh, I looked around. My guess, he was watching Celestina.
“Yes. I didn’t mention it was a regular bank, did I? I’m sure you won’t allow me to go alone, will you?” I looked at Aidan. God, I hated this asshole. I trusted him. I even pity him, for taking care of the house, that I didn’t have a clue he killed the real caretaker.
“Go with her. If she makes unnecessary moves, call me. I will order Darragh to kill the girl.” He put a necklace around my neck with a pendant that could be a micro camera or a tracker. “This is the account.”
“I will send the money to your account. Just don’t kill Celestina.” I grabbed the paper before I climbed out of the vehicle and fixed my dirty blazer and pants.
I went through the same process. The security guard stood at the elevator door and stopped the guy.
“He’s with me.”
“He can’t enter without the ID, ma’am. That’s bank policy.”
I grabbed the man by his arm away from the security guard. “You have to wait here or they will suspect us if you insist.”
He didn’t resist, but not after he threw me a glare as a warning.
The manager smiled, recognizing me. “Miss MacLynch. Welcome back. It didn't take long.”
I swallowed hard. This next step was crucial, or I could get Celestina killed. “Yes, I’m here to make a withdrawal.” I was sure Aidan was watching this conversation. He might as well have been following me the first time I came here with Terzo and the boys. So I had to sit down, grab his pen and paper, and write the amount and the message I wanted him to send, and Terzo’s number.
I showed him the message first, away from the pendant, before I pushed the paper and account number where the money was to be sent.
“Very well, Miss MacLynch. One hundred million dollars. It me take a few minutes, but I will transfer it right away. To this number.”