23 - And It All Comes Crashing Down

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Thanks again everyone who voted and commented or even simply read this story. All the feedback on the last chapter was great so I hope I can make this one good enough for you!

Like an infant opening it's eyes for the first time, Danny struggled to find consciousness.

Before she could even open her eyes she knew something was wrong. Everything was too heavy. The air filling her lungs was thick and hot, the blood running through the veins in her body felt like lead, and there was a huge weight in her stomach making her nasueas.

The room was cold which contrasted with the warm heat of the coffee shop she last remembered. Danny's skin prickled and her heart raced.

Something was wrong.

Finally opening her eyes, it took everything in her not to cry out when sight still wasn't granted to her. Pitch black was the only thing that greeted her. She knew she was in a room, she could feel the floor beneath her legs and a wall pressing into her back, but where were the windows? The door, the lights, the anything leading to any type of an escape?

Where the hell was she?

"H-Hello?"

The gravel in her voice made her flinch and she reached out to touch the base of her throat, shaking when she felt the wetness of tears she didn't know she had been crying.

"Hello?" She repeated in a pathetic whisper.

She tried to move and could only groan instead as her body refused to cooperate. Danny felt like she was trapped in a whirl wind of heat and grogginess only it was all coming from the inside. Her stomach was twisted and felt wrong, her body heavy and ached, her heart beating far too rapidly to be healthy, and she was breathing hard -as if she'd just gotten done running a marathon.

She tried. Danny tried desperately hard not to loose it and to calmly analyze what was going on but to no avail. Before she could help herself, her body shook and sobs filled the cold dark room as a panic attack assaulted her body.

She knew she was unharmed physically but emotionally she was splitting at the seems.

Where was she? What happened? Had she been drugged? How long had she been here?

With as much strength as she could muster, Danny put her hands above her head and tried to calm herself before she really did die. All she could hear was the sound of heavy breathing and her heart thundering painfully behind a cage of bone.

She tried to think of things to calm her down like her family or Ray but the things that should have helped only made her worse.

She had no idea what was going on or who had taken her but Danny knew for certain that she had been kidnapped.

And last time she checked kidnappers didn't just kidnap you to let you go when you asked nicely.

So Danny panicked.

And she screamed.

And she lost consciousness.

When Danny woke again she was in a completely different setting. Instead of cold cement floors and walls, she was wrapped in what felt like a cloud and curled into what felt like a slightly firmer cloud.

She could feel the heat of the sun and when she opened her eyes, bright lights assaulted her to the point where she had to close them again.

"Ah, Daniela, you're awake."

Danny stirred. She couldn't remember much of what happened recently, but she remembered something being wrong. And so she was alert as she sat up and took in her surroundings.

With one hand pressing into her cloud and the other pushing her hair back and out of her face, Danny swallowed the dryness of her throat as she starred at the grand penthouse room of a hotel.

She was in a bed, the biggest and most comfortable she'd ever been in before. In front of her she could see two doors opening up to a gorgeous maraccan themed living area with a large flat screen TV posted to the wall.

On the west wall were three large windows that had a tremendous view of the city and Danny could see barely there snowflakes falling.

Great, Chicago weather was already getting crazy.

Somewhere in another part of the room there was the sound of someone clearing their throat and Danny looked up as a man stepped into the room.

He had a friendly smile and was quiet handsome with his salt and pepper beard, but something about those familiar brown eyes put Danny on edge.

"I'm glad to see you've woken up," the man smiled, scurrying about the room and cleaning, as if he was embarrassed that there was a single thing out of place in front of her.

Danny frowned and scooted as close to the wall as the bed frame would allow her. She remembered where she'd seen those brown eyes now.

It was the man from the coffee shop.

"I'm sorry, I should introduce myself again." Still smiling, the man sat on the end of the bed and straightened the navy blue tie he wore. "My name is Frederico, but my friends all call me Fred-"

"Where am I?"

"I'm sorry?"

Danny swallowed the knot in her throat. She wanted to cry and breakdown and have another panic attack, but more than anything else she wanted to go home. And she knew crying would only be wasting time. She was scared, but she also was smart.

"I said...where am I? What do you want from me?"

Freddy's eyes twinkled and Danny knew then that she was asking the right questions.

"You're at a hotel just on the outskirts of the city. The penthouse suite to be exact. As far as what I need from you.....well I think I should finish introducing myself first. I-"

This time instead of it being Danny who interrupts him, it's the sound of knocking on the door. It's then that what the man said registers and Danny realizes that there has to be more guest in this hotel.

Springing into action, she tosses the covers back and moves to jump out of the bed when something locks around her ankle and yanks her back.

Freddy is watching with wide eyes as if he's surprised she really has to courage to try and escape and Danny is doing everything in her power to pry the chain tying her to the bed from her ankle.

When that doesn't work, she begins screaming again. She's positive the man on the other side of the door can hear her and when the door does open and a wide eyed hotel servant steps in, she sobs in happiness.

Only for it all to be shattered when that same servant steps forward and hits her hard across her cheek.

"Antonio!" Freddy screams as Danny hits the floor, completely stunned.

The two of them have a quick argument in hushed tones but the ringing in Danny's ears keeps her from understanding much. She swears she hears Ray's name, but she passes it off as her being hit too hard.

"Danny, sweetheart, I'm sorry," Freddy whispers as he helps Danny back to her feet. "A close friend of ours may have died earlier by the hands of a close friend of yours and Antonio is just upset. I promise he won't strike you again though."

By the warmth in this man's voice when he speaks about Antonio Danny knows that, to each other, Antonio is more than just a servant and Freddy is more than just a guest.

"He's sick," Danny mutters after Freddy wipes the blood from the corner of her lip. "He's sick to know you kidnap young girls and still be with you."

For a moment Freddy's eyes are wide and he seems taken off guard, and then, like someone's just flipped a switch, his eyes light up and the room roars with the sound of his laughter which is heavy and thick with joy.

He laughs, "Daniela, if Antonio tolerates my kidnapping of people and is sick, what exactly are you love?" Without bothering to explain anything else, Freddy continues to chuckle as he gets up and grabs the tray Antonio brought in. He sets it down on the bed between them and even though Danny knows she shouldn't trust anything this man gives her, a plate of steak, asparagus, and a beautiful scoop of mash potatoes stares up at her and Danny's mouth can't help but water. It looks like something straight out of the magazines.

"I had to use a few sedatives to get you here without a fight. You should eat, I give you my word there's nothing wrong with the food."

"Can Antonio come back and give his word as well? Not that I trust you, but I trust him even less."

Freddy chuckles again and -even though she'll never admit it out loud and she's already plotting all the ways to stab him with the knife on her plate and then escape- his smile is comforting.

Before she can reach for the knife, Freddy takes it in his own hand and begins to cut up her door for her. When he stabs a piece of the steak with a fork and holds it out to her as if she's two, Danny glares.

"I think I can manage eating on my own."

"And I think we're both smart enough to know you plan to do anything but eat if I hand you any sharp objects, despite how hungry you may be."

Again, Freddy simply smiles and wiggles the steak hanging on the end of his fork. With a solid glare and a bit more chomp than needed, Danny takes a bite.

It's fücking delicious.

"So, we should talk right about now, huh?"

"Probably."

"Well, let's start with the basics. Have you ever heard of the Mafia?"

"You mean all of the Italian guys in New York?"

"It's a little more complicated than that but sure, them. The Mafia is a lot larger than New York and a lot more powerful than what you see on the movies or hear in the news. In New York, there are five main families who fight for the most control and the most territory. It's like bears who didn't properly prepare for hibernation and now they're all trying to live in one big cave with the most resources. Eventually, somebody is going to get pushy."

Freddy switches it up and starts feeding her some potatoes and they're so good Danny doesn't interrupt.

"In Chicago though, there's a much larger and much more powerful branch of the Mafia called The Chicago Outfit. I only say were more powerful because unlike New York, the power isn't divided. There is only one person in charge."

"I've lived in Chicago all my life and have never heard of The Chicago Outfit."

"Have you heard of Al Capone?"

"Yeah, briefly."

"Then you've heard of us. Anyway, I am a member of the Chicago Outfit. A life of crime and staying on my toes wasn't really my ideal future but, it runs in my blood. My father before me was in the mob and so was his father before him. Once you're in you don't ever really get out, not even when you die."

"So what changed?"

"The man giving me my orders. Since I was eighteen years old I've worked with mob bosses and given them the advice and reassurance they needed. Daniel Vino has always been there for me and he's a man who I respect greatly and love as if he's my own father. Daniel however is getting old and so, naturally, he plans to pass his title down to his son. Sammy is an inconsiderate, selfish, hot headed piece of shit and is going to run us all down to hell."

"You're all criminals, what makes him so much worse?"

"We're not criminals Daniela were organized business men. A criminal is a boy who snatches your purse on the street or fights and kills for no reason. Everything we in the Mafia do is done for a reason or to solidify a point. Except when it comes to Sammy.

"Sammy talks a big game because he's got his daddy's last name and he's powerful, but really he's just reckless and trigger happy. People fear him, they don't respect him. To make this long story short, I've worked by Sammy's side long enough to know he will bring us nothing good as a leader. I tried to speak to his father but couldn't get close before Sammy found out I was going behind his back and put a hit out on me. Since then, I've been watching Sammy and all my worries have basically been proven right. Sammy wants to take out the five families."

"The ones in New York?"

"Precisely. Now Daniela you do have to realize even though these bears fighting all have to share power, they still work as a unit. And the fact that none of them have died off or been taken down must mean that they're all equally as powerful. Sammy believes if he can take out at least one of these families he can slip in and get the power and grow from there. To do that though, he'd first have to kill his father and really get control of the Outfit."

"Would that even work though?" Danny asked. She didn't get it. WHY Freddy was telling her all of this or what any of it had to do with kidnapping her made absolutely no sense but she was lost in the story all the same.

"Not at all. Say Sammy does take his father out, New York is still untouchable. If they get wind that Chicago is trying to take them down then they'll team up and all of Chicago will suffer from Sammy's doing. Anyone tied to the Outfit will die. Me, my family members, loved ones, friends of my loved ones. Mrs. Garcia who stays three floors down will be in danger simply because we're close enough that she brings me coffee in the mornings. Thousands of people will be murdered and the Mafia is powerful enough that all of this can go unpunished. People will go to jail yes, but they won't stay in jail long enough and the damage will have already been done. Sammy is starting a war he can't win."

"Well can't you tell anyone?"

"If I even get close to anyone in the Outfit Sammy will have me killed and it's not like they'll listen anyway. Anyone outside of the Outfit is a no go as well. I refuse to go to the cops because that would make me a rat and I'm far to loyal to Daniel Vino for that and if I tell anyone else I'm breaking omerta which is a code of silence punishable by death."

"You're telling me though..."

"I am. And if ever anyone found out, I'd have no choice but to own up to it and take my punishment like the honorable man I strive to be. I'm trusting you not to tell anyone though because if anyone found out you knew, you could also die."

"What?! W-why are you telling me then?! Look you told your story and introduced yourself and everything, now it's time for you to tell me what any of this has to do with me."

Instead of replying, Freddy sat for just a moment and observed the girl he'd kidnapped. She was strong spirited and she was beautiful. He could understand why Ray had fallen for her, but in the same breath he pitied her for falling for Ray.

Setting the tray aside and just out of Danny's reach, Freddy stood up and walked to the living space before coming back with Danny's phone. He handed it to her but before she could make a call for help or try to discreetly send a text to someone, the home screen lit up and Freddy pointed to a photo there.

"It's not you this has anything to do with Daniela, it's him."

There on Danny's home screen was a picture of Ray she took a couple weeks ago. They were sitting on the train and Ray was on his phone completely oblivious to Danny as she posed around him and made silly faces for the camera. In this photo Danny had thrown her hair over her top lip like a mustache and behind her, Ray was looking down pretending not to notice her. But the corner of his lip was twitched up in a smile and she knew then he was having just as much fun being silly as she was.

Now though, that discreet smile wasn't bringing her the warmth it usually did.

"What...what does this have to do with Ray?"

"Sammy put a hit on my head and hired the best assassin in the city to kill me. He was taking too long though and so now the money for my death is up for grabs. I need help. I can't do this all on my own with so many people hunting me and so I have no choice but to ask for help from the very man who was supposed to kill me originally. Not only is he the best, but he's also the most respected hitman in Chicago. People fear him, but they'll also take the time to listen to him if he speaks. Or they'll at least be less likely to kill him than they would me."

"Still...still I just...I don't get it."

"Do I have to spell it out for you Danny?" Freddy sighed, snatching her phone from her hands. He pressed a few buttons before putting the phone on speaker and Danny listened as it run once before it was answered quickly.

"Danny! Danny, baby girl, are you alright?!"

Like a reflex Danny lunged forward and sobbed as just the sound of his voice made her vulnerable. She was suddenly reminded that this was a captive situation and there was no place she wanted to be other than home in his arms.

"Ray! Ray please I'm-"

Before she could so speak anymore Freddy reached out and clamped his hand over her mouth, pushing her down into the mattress and keeping her pinned as she tried to struggle and break free.

Ray could hear her muffled screams and swore, screaming as well.

"Fücking Freddy if you hurt her in any way-"

"I know what you'll do Ray and I assure you, I have no intention of harming Daniela. If you cooperate with me that is."

"What the fück do you want Freddy?" Ray growled.

Looking down at Danny as if this was all for her, as if this was something for her ears and her ears only, Freddy cleared his throat and spoke directly into the phone.

"I want a meeting with Charlie Brown. That is Chicago's best hitman after all isn't it?"

Danny's eyes widened and if the tears in them weren't enough already, she felt an even larger knot form in her throat.

No.

It couldn't be.

She thought back to all the times the nickname Charlie Brown had bee brought up. How Ray had brushed it off and said it was nothing. How he would come home would bruised knuckles and scrapes. How all of his answers to her hard questions seemed a bit vague. How he lived in such a ragged house on the wrong side of the town yet always had wads of cash and went from having no car one day to a Ferrari the next.

Every thing. Every doubt and question mark Danny ever had about Ray was suddenly answered and came falling onto her shoulders.

In the tense silence of the hotel room Danny heard shuffling in the other end of the phone followed by Rays voice. And then, when the weight was too much to take, her world came crashing down around her.

"Yeah. This is him."






*Happy 4th of July!!!*

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