Chapter 3 003

Miranda's POV:

I can't breathe!

I opened my mouth to scream for help just to get assaulted with a stream of icy water right into my face. The water clogged my nose and mouth, when I tried to breathe I would gargle on it and choke.

The realization settled inside my belly like a massive ton of bricks.

The piece of cloth pressed to my face was soaked with the icy water. i couldn't see, I couldn't make out anything but the ice in my face.

Another assault of water was thrown into my face. I pursed my lips and tried to hold my breath, as much as I wanted to scream. Struggling was pointless, my hands chained behind me so snug my fingers felt numb

"She's awake now." A deep gruff voice said. "That's enough now."

"Yes father," the soft voice I recognized as that blue eyed man said.

The cloth was ripped from my face, the instant it was gone bright light flooded my senses. A rough hand grabbed my chin and squeezed.

"Hmm, is it another one of your girlfriends?" the deep voice asked.

"I do not know her."

"What a pretty little thing."

I forced my eyes open. Standing before me was a man. The first thing I noticed was how impecabble he looked. Dressed in a pristine white suit, and shiny shoes. He had dark hair with streaks of silver running through it, and he had a full neatly trimmed beard. His eyes were dark, and he had a smile on his face. He was good looking, but something about his face was rubbing me off the wrong way.

"You work for Federico, don't you?!" I spat out.

He grinned at me, flashing white teeth. "Such lack of manners on this one," he said and pulled back, shoving my face to the side. He turned to the blue eyed man. "Son, where did you find this one?"

"She followed me, I assumed you knew her."

The man looked at me. His eyes scanned my body from head to toe and I shoved down the feeling of disgust that rose inside me. He did a double take.

"She does look familiar. Don't you think so, son?"

I turned to the blue eyed man. He was still in the clothes from the bar, except he had taken off the jacket and rolled the sleeves up his arms. He stared at me with those terrifying dead eyes and shook his head. "I do not know her, father. If she is worthless to us, then I will dispose of her immediately."

My heart dropped into my stomach. "You're going to kill me? Do you have any idea who I am?"

"And who would you be?" the man asked.

"First off, who are you? You're one of Federico's men, aren't you?"

"Young lady, you amuse me. First, you follow my son. And now you blatantly accuse me of being affiliated with the mafia?"

"Answer me!"

"Father, your orders? I will make her death swift or mess, however you choose."

The man stared at me. And something close to recognition flashed in his eyes. "Let her go, son. She is not to be harmed."

"What?" I spluttered. "You're just going to let me go? After I've seen your faces? Do you have any idea-"

"Consider yourself lucky, young lady. I am simply not in the mood to deal with you today." The man said and turned to leave. "Come to the club when you're done."

"Yes, father."

"Hey! I'm talking to you!"

The man walked out, totally ignoring me.

"Where do you live?" the blue eyed man asked. He walked up to me and crouched down to untie my restraints.

"You're crazy if you think I'll give my address to a fucking Federico goon."

"My name is Cole, not Federico goon."

My body went rigid. "Cole?" I whispered. "You are Cole?"

He stared at me blankly. "Yes, that is my name."

There's no way.

This isn't Cole. It's just a name. Just a name. But... it doesn't

He undid the ropes that held my hands. Then he bent to do the ones on my feet. "Who is your Mother, Cole? What's her name? And your father, what's his name?"

"My mother is dead, she died in childbirth. Her name was Amelia. You just saw my father, he did not deem you worthy of knowing his name."

That can't be.

He's not my brother. If he were, I would have recognized him. Cole and I are split images of each other. This man...he is not my brother. He just happens to bear the same name to my brother.

But still, I can't help but peer into his face. What are the odds that he is alive and now in the mafia? It can't be. There's no way that is possible.

"Do you recognize me?" I can't help but ask. He undid all the ropes and stepped back. Cold eyes stared into mine. Blue against green. "Cole? Do you recognize me? Its Miranda, your sister."

"You are mistaken. You seem to have me mixed up for someone else. I do not have a sister, nor have I met you in the past that I need to remember you."

My hopes shattered. "I see." I got to my feet, my muscles and joints crying out in protest.

He took a piece of cloth out of his pocket. "A blindfold. For your eyes."

"I am not wearing that."

"Would you rather I knock you out?"

My hand instinctively went to my jaw where he had struck me. Truth be told, it still hurt like a fucking bitch. And I would very much not get hit like that again.

Cole would never punch me in the face.

I stared at this Cole. His eyes are wrong. His face is wrong. His mannerisms are wrong.

A feeling of helplessness settled in my heart. The tiny voice of doubt that I had been able to stave off for so many years came creeping back.

Your brother is dead and you'll never find him.

"The blindfold." I said.

"Turn around please."

My brother is not dead. I will find him. I will make sure I find him.

**

Chief Joan glared at me, her jaw set tightly and ger hands clasped behind her. I sat opposite her, too weak and exhausted to stand up straight. As much as it hurt, I held her reprimanding gaze.

"Officer Fontaine,"

"I'm sorry chief. I -- "

A stern look from her made me seal my lips. "Look at you! You're all battered up and bruised! What were you thinking? You could have been hurt, or worse we could have lost you!"

"I'm sorry."

She let out a heavy sigh. I just knew I was going to get suspended. After she had warned me about running off, I went ahead and did it. Worse, I was unarmed and out of uniform.

"You should take the rest of the week off. Get treated and get some rest."

"You're giving me just a week of suspension?"

She frowned. "Whoever said I was suspending you?"

"I'm confused."

"You are a bright mind, Officer Fontaine. Your brilliance has helped us solve multiple impossible cases in the past, and for whatever reason, all the cases were tied to the underground. You will be added to a special criminal unit that is currently tracking down the head of the Federico family – Luca Federico."

I jumped to my feet. "What?!" she raised a brow. Everyone knew Luca Federico. To the public he was an enigmatic but elusive billionaire and CEO. But to law enforcement, he was rumored to be the head of the Federico family, a highly organized mafia family. No one really knew what he looked like, and I had heard whispers of an elite task force that was tracking him down. There was never enough to pin him down with. Each time something tha could implicate him came up, the matter would die down.

"Yes?" chief Joan asked.

"I mean....You're letting me do this?"

She favored me a small smile. "Yes. You deserve it. You have proven yourself countless times. And besides, you and I both know you've wanted this more than anything. Your obsession with the underground will finally be put to good use."

I couldn't contain my smiles, although I didn't miss the biting in her tone. This was wonderful! This way I'd have direct access to confidential files, and direct access to Federico.

That means soon I'll find Cole. Federico is the key to finding my brother.

Chief Joan took out a file and handed it over to me. "This contains all the information we have gathered about Luca. There will be a party by next week which he will be in attendance. Successfully gather sufficient evidence on him and bring him in, then your name will be set in stone."

I took the file and leafed through it. A photograph fell out of it. I picked it up and glanced at it, and my blood ran cold.

"Who is this?" I held up the photograph to Chief Joan.

"Him. He's suspected to be one of Federico's upper men. No one knows what he does, but he's important to Federico."

I stared at the photograph. It was taken from a distance, but the man in the photo was clear as day. His dark eyes hidden behind shades, his hair with its gray streaks was wild in the wind. He was talking on the phone, and beside him was Cole, not my brother Cole but the other one.

He was one of Federico's goons. My instinct was fucking right!

Anger boiled in my veins. I felt insulted that he just let me go. Like he didn't consider me a threat. The fucking bastard. I'll show him that I am not to be taken lightly.

"What do you say?" Chief Joan said. I looked up and met her eyes.

I crumpled the photograph in my hand. "I accept."