“Well, let’s see, the guy who shoved me into the van was Russian, for one. Lev, Ivan, and Mikhail have been acting sketchy, and I recognized some of the rifles used at the venue as ones Gideon’s sold to the Bratva.”
He nodded. “Observant. Yeah, the pakhan or whatever you call their godfather of sorts, was very intrigued by my offer. See. I want one thing…maybe two.” He stood from behind his desk and moved toward the small bar.
“And what’s that?”
“I want my family home, and I want Gideon to suffer. Simple, really.”
I snorted. “So, you’re butthurt you lost the election because you’re an abusive prick and were called out, so now you want to bully Gideon for your wife leaving your sorry ass?”
He slammed the decanter down, his cheeks reddened. “She was taken! Forced to lie.”
“Spare me, Benny. We all know you have a temper and couldn’t hold back. Tell me something, does beating up women and slapping kids around make you feel manly?”
He stormed over to me. I made sure the twins were securely behind me, and with my hands occupied, I couldn’t block the punch to my nose.
Blood flowed out of my nose, but other than the fact that it was annoying, I was fine.
“Penny!” Owen shouted.
“I’m fine, little man. I’ve had wind hit me harder than that.”
“You leave Penny alone,” Olivia yelled.
“I will. If he tells me where my family is.”
I spit a wad of blood onto his shoe. “They’re in Fucklandia, where fucks go to die.”
Smack. “You want to have Owen and Olivia watch me beat the shit out of you?”
“Is that what you’re doing?” My brows hit my hairline.
Smack. “I can do this all day.”
“I have a feeling your hand will hurt way before my face.”
“Is that so?” He grinned. “Well, maybe we don’t use my hands.” He motioned to someone behind me. “Take Penn downstairs. Maybe see if you can get him to talk.” He glanced at the twins. “Kids stay here.”
“Like hell they do!”
Just then they were torn from my grasp by two men. My hands free, I wrapped them around Benito’s throat. “Let them go, you son of a bitch, or I’ll choke you out right here.” I didn’t let up, enjoying how his face turned purple.
Someone pounded on my back, but I was laser focused.
Benito waved his hands and Olivia and Owen ran to me, his arms circling my waist. I let Benito go and lifted them into myarms. Not easy, since they were seven and not as light as they used to be.
“Touch them again, and I won’t stop until I pop your head off your shoulders.”
Benito was coughing. One of the guys brought him water. It was a pathetic sight but then again, he was a pathetic man.
“Fine.” He tried clearing his throat. “You want to have them watch as my guys tenderize your face, have at it.”
“Your guys?” I released a laugh. “They aren’t yours. They’re Bratva. I’m guessing you lost your men once they realized what a piece of shit you were and as soon as their pakhan calls them back, you won’t have these guys either.”
“Take them downstairs!” Benito hollered as he stormed out of the office like a child who didn’t get his way.
“Penny, I’m scared,” Olivia whispered in my ear as we were led to the basement.
“It’s gonna be okay. Daddy will find us, and I won’t let anyone hurt you.”
