Serena POV

"What all do we need to know pertaining to Ricardo's operations in Mexico?" Massimo asks while standing close behind me, watching me work on the computer to cover our location with a secure line.

"Well, after I left he most likely changed a lot of things so I wouldn't be able to find a way to move against him," I inform him as I type on the computer.

"What we should focus on is the guard schedule, how many men are on shift at a time, how many are staying at the house, the best way to get inside, and any locks and passcodes we may encounter on our way in.

"Basically anything and everything that has been happening in or around the house. We need to make sure he isn't working with anyone else to try and find me. If we get there and suddenly a bunch of fucking Russians starts driving towards the place we are fucked."

"Does he have any enemies we could work with?" Spencer asks while sitting across from me beside Joyce.

"As a mafia leader, he has more than even he knows. People in his own operation hate him and would gladly team up to go against him," I say with a huff as I plug the phone into the computer. "But we can't trust most. They will do anything for money and can easily be wavered if someone flashes what they want at them."

"We don't need to work with anyone," Massimo says and I nod my head lightly.

The room goes quiet and I glance at the clock. In a few more minutes, Thomas will be on the phone.

We were set to be married if Ricardo ever got his hands back on me and I don't know what scared me more. That thought of us being forced to be married or the thought that I don't think he would fight it.

I look over at Massimo to see him lost in thought. Reaching over, I place my hand on his to comfort him out of his thoughts. He gives me a soft smile as our eyes met.

"Are you sure you want to be here?" I asked just above a whisper.

I knew he felt indifferent about his half-brother since they have never met. Plus Tomas's dad is the reason his parents are dead.

I didn't want him to say something and then mess up the whole plan.

He looked at me softly and gave me a smile that didn't reach his eyes.

"I'll be fine," He says reassuringly and kissed my forehead before pulling his hand away so I can type.

When I had everything all set up and was about to join the call, I decided to announce something.

"Tomas can get distracted by his feelings easily," I tell them and look over at Massimo. "So don't tell him we are married."

"Why?" He asks with raised eyebrows.

"We were supposed to get married on my eighteenth birthday. He may feel indifferent about it so let's not risk it until after this is all over."

His eyes go dark as I am speaking but he nods his head.

"Okay," I say with a huff and go into the server. "We are being traced to Kazan, Russia."

I put the phone on speaker and hear the dull ring on the other end.

I could feel my heart racing in my throat at the anticipation.

It has been so long since I heard his voice. If I was wrong about him helping us then we would all be in deep shit.

"Serena?" A deep voice says through the line. To the others, it must have sounded like he was just waking up from the huskiness of his voice, but I knew that was his voice when he was anxious or nervous.

"Hey Tomas," I say with a smile on my face.

"It is so good to hear your voice, Hermosa," he says with a sigh. (**translation-beautiful***)

"It's good to hear from you too."

The line was quiet for a few seconds while he tried to figure out what to say. I quickly look over at Massimo as he got closer to me to lean against the desk. His arms were crossed over his chest.

"Hay otros contigo?" He asks and Massimo raises his eyebrows confused. He must not know Spanish. (**translation- Are there others with you?**)

"Si. Son amigos en los que podemos confiar," I say back and I feel all eyes in the room on me. I gave them a look that screamed 'Trust me.' (**translation- yes. They are friends that we can trust.**)

"Cualquier amigo tuyo es amigo mio." (**translation- Any friends of yours are friends of mine**)

"English?" Massimo asks with a husky voice. I smile at him reassuringly.

"Tomas, I am with a few people who have taken me in and are willing to help us with our Ricardo problem," I say and look back at the phone. "Before you ask, yes I am safe with them and no I will not tell you where I am. And if you track me down I will be pissed at you."

"He can do that?" Spencer asks but I ignore him.

"You know I would never do anything to piss you off. I still remember the last time I pissed you off and you refused to talk to me for months. I thought you would never forgive me," He says with a chuckle. "Who is it you are with, mi amore?"

I was silent for a while before I let out a sigh.

"I'm not going to like this am I?" He asks and I could see the exhausted look on his face.

"How about we save that for later? Remember, any friend of mine is a friend of yours."

"Fine," He says and stays quiet for a few minutes but there is ruffling on the line. "Ricardo is hosting his annual party in two weeks. I can get you in."

"What kind of party?" Massimo asks once he sees my face go hard at the mention of it.

"It's a yearly party where he brings all his connections to the house to celebrate their achievements. Anyone he worked with that year is invited, no matter how big or little the gang may be," I tell him but refuse to meet his eyes.

"Then why do you look so terrified? You have dealt with worse," Spencer says and a shiver runs down my spine.

"Because if they know of any traitors they wait until the party to announce it. They kill them in front of everybody with no drop of mercy in them," Tomas finishes for me. "The year Serena came, they used her parents."

I felt the hard eyes on me but didn't look up.

"I thought you said your parents were killed when leaving," Massimo says and I tensed my jaw.

"What is the party theme?" I ask ignoring him as tears fill my eyes.

"Masquerade," Tomas says. "It's August 13th at 7 pm. I will send you the invite through the link now. You can bring up to ten people inside but the rest will have to stay outside the gates to not raise suspension."

The phone vibrates on the table with the invite but I don't reach for it.

When the line stays silent I knew he was waiting for me to speak.

"I'm working with the Italians," I finally say and he stays quiet. "Your brother, Massimo, is working with me to take him down. He wants to kill him for killing his parents."

"I will not try to stop him, the kill is all his," Tomas says without hesitation and I look at Massimo. "I guess I will meet you soon, brother."

When Massimo stayed quiet I knew he didn't want to talk to his brother.

"How have you been, Tomas?" I ask leaning close to the phone wishing I could talk to him alone.

"I have been better. I miss you so much. You were the only reason this place was enjoyable before," He says with a slight chuckle.

"I'm sorry I left you there. I should have waited and taken you with me..."

"No. It was the only chance you had and someone had to distract them for a while to keep them off your trail. I'm just happy you got out," He says with a smile in his voice. Tears fell down my cheeks. "Although our reunion won't be what I thought it would be, it will be the best day of my life to see you again."

"Once this is all done we will have a true reunion," I say with a laugh to cover my sob. When we were both quiet I knew I had to ask the question. "How has Ricardo been?"

"The same as when you left," He says but I could tell the lie in his voice from how deep and spaced out his words were.

"You've always been a bad liar."

"And you always covered for me," Tomas replies.

"Tell me honestly. I need to know what we are up against here."

He lets out a heavy sigh before speaking. "A mess. You were his prized possession. When you left he took it out on everyone. He killed anyone who dared cross him without a blink of an eye."

I felt a heavy pain in my heart at those who died because of me. It was my fault they have all been suffering.

"When your eighteenth birthday came, he thought you would return for me. He tripled the guards for your return. When you didn't show he grew angrier and sent many men to find you. He started working with the Russians to find you but they never found anything.

"But he's positive you will come back for me someday and when you return..." He hesitated and I swallowed the lump in my throat. "Serena, if he ever gets his hands on you..."

The room was silent as I stared down at my phone waiting for his next words. My heart was racing in my throat.

"If he catches you, Serena, you will wish you were dead."