I am Emily Rose

Chapter16: Truth

Riccardo's P.O.V

We found Tommy dead this morning, shot in the back of his head in his car, stationed on the sidewalk where he was keeping watch. Amanda's house is empty, no sign of a struggle. My girl is gone.... Only God knows what is happening to her. I gave Aldo a good beating when he came to pick me up from the club. I've had my men chain Monica up in my torture room. I'll deal with her later.

"You had better f*****g pray that we find her unharmed!"

"Boss, I'm really sorry... I... It was innocent fun."

"Innocent fun? Have you lost your f*****g mind? My wife is missing Aldo!"

"Yeah, I didn't.... Oh, I've got a call coming in from Zeb."

Zeb is one of my best trackers. He can find almost anyone anywhere on the continent. I watch Aldo's facial expression and pray that Zeb has some good news.

"Zeb has a location. An old house near the harbor. He said... Riccardo...It's Franco."

"Get our best trained men NOW!"

"On it, Boss."

Oh f**k! Franco wants Amanda and Rosa dead. I hope that I'm not too late.

Rosa's P.O.V

I'm taken to the living room where my father is sitting like royalty with a glass of what looks like whiskey in one hand and a cigar in the other. I'm thrown roughly down at his feet. He lowers his face to my level and blows out a puff of smoke that makes me cough.

"Ah! Rosa, dear.. Did you sleep well?"

"Where's my mother?'

"Huh! She's a little... tied up right now."

He starts to laugh. I hope that he hasn't hurt her in any way.

"What have you done to her?

"Nothing more than a husbands right, my dear child."

"What does that even mean? What do you want from us?"

"You, my dear Rosa, were taken away from me with a very large sum of money that your mother stole. I simply want that back."

"My name is Emily, please ...don't..."

"YOU ARE ROSA ROMANO!"

I jumped at the change in his demeanor. He looks almost crazed, his eyes bloodshot as he spits out his words. I need to find my mother ... but I also crave the truth.

"I was brought up as Emily Rose Heath!"

He stands abruptly and grabs my neck. I can see the devil in his eyes.

"Yes, you were, because of your w***e of a mother!" He spits.

"I…I… Can't breathe."

He releases me and I slump to the floor gasping for air and coughing. I have no doubt in my mind that this man, my father, wouldn't hesitate to hurt me. I need to pick my words carefully.

"Please...father... I need to remember what happened."

"Rosa, Rosa, Rosa... Your mother wasn't happy that I had to find a woman who could satisfy me and decided to leave me. Obviously, I told her that she wouldn't live to see that day and that's when she thought that it would be best to run away like a little b***h. She was smart enough to steal a large sum of my money before she took off with you. I've been searching ever since."

"You threatened to kill us?"

"I would rather see you dead before being taken from me."

"What will you do with my mother?"

"I haven't decided yet... Use her as my slave... Give her to my men to pleasure them or just put an end to her miserable life."

"How... How could you even do that?"

"Oh, Rosa, there are many things that I can do at the drop of a hat, my dear."

"What about me? Will you kill me?"

"No, no... I have more...profitable plans for you."

He traces me from head to toe with his eyes. They've turned almost black, and he has this merciless grin...I don't like the sound of this.

Riccardo's P.O.V

We pulled up to the address that we got from Zeb. The place looks like it was built in the 1800s. I see no sign of anyone, not even a vehicle in sight. I tell Aldo to go round the back while I take the front. There are ten of my men surrounding the area, all armed for battle. When it comes to Franco Romano, you need to be prepared. I creep to the front window and peep through. There I can see Franco talking with Rosa. I see one guard standing with them. No sign of Amanda.

"All men are stationed, Boss, we await your signal."

"Right, I'll bust in, and you cover me."

"Got it."

I burst through the front door and my men follow shortly after. Franco's men start filling in from the other rooms, but they've been taken by surprise and we have the upper hand. I go directly to the living room where Franco is now standing with his gun pointed at Rosa's head.

"Riccardo... So nice of you to pop in. I'm sorry that I cannot offer you a drink."

"Cut the s**t Franco, I've come for Rosa and Amanda."

"Oh, yes...pity though...I have other plans for them."

Aldo comes out of one of the bedrooms with Amanda. She's wearing only a torn t-shirt stained with blood. She's been beaten pretty badly, she can hardly stand.

"MOM!"

Rosa struggles against the guard holding her, not caring about the gun pointed at her.

"Get her out of here!"

I shout to Aldo. My men file into the living room. Bodies scattered everywhere in the house, mostly Franco's goons.

"It's over Franco, you're surrounded. Give her to me!"

"Oh, no Ricci... It's only over when I say that it's over."

He starts to back away toward the front door, still holding Rosa, with his guard covering him. My men and I follow. Once we reach his black Range Rover, I signal to my men to get ready. I c**k my gun and point it at Franco...

"Huh! Ricci my boy...would you really shoot me?"

"Don't f**k with me Franco! Give her to me!"

"You want her that bad, huh? Take her then."

With that, he pushes Rosa forward and then shoots.

"f**k! Rosa!"