Chapter 29

                                    

                                          
2019 
The tension within the walls of Luciano's office reached an all-time high.
Marietta was missing. 
"She's not answering." Severino's fingers turned vermillion as he gripped his phone. At this point, his patience was as flimsy as a house of cards.
"Try again in a few minutes," Luciano said, keeping his refined composure. 
"With all due respe-"
A third man entered the picture. Normally, Luciano told people off when entering his office without knocking but with his older cousin he could see it through the eyes. 
Strolling inside the grim room was none other than Rodolfo Gallucci. One of the more, if not the most, competent captain in The Outfit and with a large following, it made him a force to be reckoned with. If they wanted to get Marietta, they needed him.
Severino didn't do anything to hide his disdain for Rodolfo. He couldn't stand him on a personal level, their personalities were simply too similar. 
"Don. Severino." Rodolfo greeted them. "What's so urgent that you couldn't tell me on the phone?" He sat down and took out a flask. 
Severino smacked it out of Rodolfo's tattooed hand. "Don't drink on the job when you're a lightweight. Marietta is missing."
Rodolfo stood up and got up in Severino's face. "Oh, really? Then tone down the attitude and I might actually consider lending you a hand."
Luciano raised himself to his full length, walked around his desk and separated the two headstrong men, the steely look in his eyes serving as a warning. Sometimes Luciano wished his grandfather was still the Don. When he ruled, his captains didn't dare to even bicker in his presence when doing business. 
In spite of Rodolfo's domineering nature, he was an exceedingly obedient man, but only because he worshipped the hierarchy set in place. And so, he backed off. 
Severino turned his back to them, needing to regain his cool before sitting down on one of the leather chairs. "The Irish kidnapped her," he said to Rodolfo. 
"I told you, that's not possible. We already took care of that problem," Luciano interjected. 
"Clearly, not good enough. She told me she saw them in the neighbourhood the night before," Severino argued as he tried calling his wife again. Alas, no one picked up. "Nothing," he clipped. 
"And her father..." Rodolfo snapped his fingers trying to think of his name and face. It was a lost cause and since he couldn't remember her father for the life of him, he deemed the man as insignificant. "Does he know?"
"Yes," Severino answered. 
"And?" Rodolfo said.
"He didn't care."
Rodolfo rolled his eyes at his cousin. "I'm not asking if he cares. I'm asking what he knows."
"He doesn't know anything. The man barely stays in contact with Marietta anyway," Luciano answered in Severino's stead. He sensed how much Rodolfo's condescending tone grated on Severino's nerves and didn't want their bad blood to take a physical form. "When did you last see her, Severino?"
"In the morning. She went on a morning walk."
"Rodolfo, I want you and your men in the neighbourhood. Look and ask around if there they saw anything suspicious – as nicely as possible." When he saw Rodolfo prematurely standing up, he added, "Just so you know everything we planned for tomorrow still stands."