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“That wasn’t our deal,” Max growled.
“We never had a deal. I listened to your call out of courtesy and didn’t shoot you in the fecking face for speaking to me like some lackey. It’s time to step up.” I cut the call, knowing he would deal with the housemate.
I didn’t care if he put her in a hotel or took her to the mausoleum he called a house.
I stroked a hand down Amy’s cheek, hating leaving her. I locked the door and passed the key to Trixie, who appeared clutching a flask of soup.
“I’ve got to go out. Watch her for me.”
Trixie nodded and took the key. Satisfied that she would watch Amy, I rounded up my men and briefed them. Half were coming with me, and the rest would secure the house. The grounds had various deterrents, including tall walls with barbed wire around most of the property, but I felt better leaving them on high alert.
Silence filled the drive to the warehouse, and my muscles coiled with tension. Cian’s car was parked at an angle, the front door hanging open. We all drew our weapons and headed for the side door. Creeping along the corridor, I noticed a smudge of blood trailing to the main cold room. The door jerked up, and we levelled our weapons.
“Hey! Don’t shoot. It’s me,” Cian said, popping his head out. “I’ve got him in here.”
We entered and found Niko slumped forward, restrained to a chair with his hands behind his back.
“I got the piece of shite.” Cian stormed over to Niko. “Fucking dirty Bulgarian scum.” He grabbed Niko’s hair and yanked his head back, jamming his gun underneath his chin. “Could have killed him, but I knew you’d want him.” His eyes shone maniacally as he held Zhirkov like a trophy.
“Tell me what happened.” I cracked my neck, annoyance simmering through me.
Cian opened his mouth to reply, but Niko jerked forward. He seized Cian’s gun and twisted, whipping Cian across the temple. I fired as he turned the gun on us. One of my men shoved me aside, firing at Niko. A blazing pain shot through my shoulder, and I stumbled, grunting. The shot from my man hit Niko’s hand, and he dropped Cian’s gun, shouting in Bulgarian.
Fury washed over me, fuelled by the burning in my shoulder. I staggered forward and punched Niko across the mouth. His eyes rolled back, and he crashed into the floor. I shook my fist out, seething.
“Strip him and fucking string him up,” I spat.
I learned an important fact this evening, but it had been costly. Pressing on the wound at my shoulder, I gritted my teeth against the pain as the blood ran down my arm like a river.
19
A humming sound brought me back to my body. Where was the humming coming from? The soft bedding beneath me didn’t give me a clue. Was I dreaming? I lifted my eyelids, and the room swam – dark sheets and unfamiliar surroundings.
A face loomed over me, and I squealed.
“Calm down, deary. It’s just me, Trixie.”
“Trixie?”
That name rang a bell. I sat up, but the room pitched, and I slumped back against the pillows.
“Take your time.” Trixie’s greying hair was pulled back from her round face, and she smiled encouragingly.
She wore a baggy T-shirt and leggings. I flinched as she leaned over me, but she merely puffed my pillows up and helped me lay back straighter.
“Sean should be back soon.”
It clicked into place: the meal, the engagement, the pictures of Niko outside my flat. My heart sped up. Sean blindsided and drugged me. I glanced down at the massive rock on my left hand.
“He drugged me.” I gasped.
“Nobody said men were smart, dearie. But he’s got good intentions.”
I gaped at her. Was she for real? My pulse thumped as I remembered he’d said my real name. How did he know?
“How did he know what?”
“What?”
