The grip on my arms loosens, only for me to be shoved forward. I stumble inside, catching myself when landing on the wall. The door is slammed behind me with a slam of finality that makes my skin crawl. I then remember what Carlos said, that his father knows about me. Is this about that? Am I going to be a pawn in his gameplan?
I press my head to the cold iron bars and allow myself a moment to panic.
Carlos said he would protect me.
Where is he? Does he even know I’ve been kidnapped from my bed?
25
CARLOS
R ushed, urgent footsteps awaken me, followed by a harsh whisper of my name.
“Carlos,” Lucas hisses, shaking my shoulder. Mark looms behind him, face pale like he’s seen a ghost.
I blink myself awake, heart pounding before my mind catches up. “What is it?”
Lucas’ eyes flick to the door, then back to me. “Your father’s guards have taken Simon. To the cells.”
For a brief second, the words don’t register. They run through my head like water, meaningless—until the name strikes me like a knife through the heart.
“No,” I rasp, sitting upright so fast the sheets tangle around my waist. “No, no, I warned my father about touching him.”
Mark steps forward, hesitating like he doesn’t want to be here telling me this is happening.
“Gabriel ordered it. Caio said that he wants to see you in the meeting room.”
My breath catches. Nothing good ever happens in that room. It’s a stage. A stage for violence, for retribution. Heat floods my skin, an anger so sharp it starts to blur my vision. Rising from my bed to throw some clothes on, I then pick up the clock that sits on my desk, and throw it onto the floor, wood cracking under the force, glass smashing everywhere like a firework.
“That motherfucker. He’s going to use Simon to get to me.”
The guilt hits next, heavy and suffocating. Tugging my hair with my hands, I start to pace the room like a caged animal. Trying to work out a plan to get him out of there. I should’ve made him stay in my room, no, fuck that, I should never have brought him here.
“I swear to all the gods,” I spit, my voice low and venomous. “If he so much as hurts a hair on his body, I’ll tear this house apart. Father or not, he will bleed for this. I need to know you're with me.”
“You never need to ask. I’m with you always,” Lucas says, squeezing my shoulder to reassure me.
“Me too. I’m in this,” Mark says, and I’m relieved I have at least two people on my side.
“Let’s go see what that fucker has planned. Mark, you stay back and call Dima, let him know what's happening and that we may need help getting out of here. Anything he can do. What time is it?”
“It's five am,” Mark says.
“Also call Pedro, have him meet me at our spot at lunchtime. He’ll know where I mean.”
“Got it,” he says before taking his phone out of his pocket and making the call. My father has no idea what hell he has caused, not only does he now have me as his number one enemy, The Kozlovs will want to destroy him for taking their man. Their family.
“Pedro? What's the plan, Carlos?”
With a fire in my belly and a plan set in my mind, it's time to unleash hell on Gabriel and Enrico Silva.
“He told me about some trouble my father has had with the Marins.”
“Holy shit, the Marins? When did they get involved?”
“I’m not sure, but they want the holdings in Leblon.”
“Okay, but what has that got to do with us?”
