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The second he got in, the car took off in the opposite direction, taking us away from the battle that raged where we’d sat just moments ago.
As if nothing had happened at all, Cato looked out the window. He didn’t scream or yell. He didn’t pound his fist into my face. He was unnaturally still and quiet, and that made him far more terrifying.
“Cato, it’s not how it looks—”
With lightning speed, he struck me across the face and made my head smack into the window. “Be silent, bitch.” His arctic gaze burned into mine, and now he was the asshole I’d met a month ago—only worse. Now he was a monster, a demon. He was the Cato Marino everyone warned me about.
“Please listen to me.”
He moved to hit me again.
I blocked his hit and pushed back. “I changed my mind. I turned around. I couldn’t go through with it.”
He got his fingers around my neck and squeezed me so hard I couldn’t breathe. “I don’t give a shit if you changed your mind. When we arrive at my estate, I will put you on your knees and execute you like the traitors before you. Your blood will seep into the soil and bring new life to my garden. Your body will be dumped in the landfill where I put my enemies—and you will rot like the trash that you are.”
I tried to push his hand away, but the lack of oxygen made me weak. I couldn’t put up a fight to match him—even if I were fully prepared for it.
Just when I was about to pass out, he released me.
“I did it to save my father. And if I refused, they were going to rape and kill me.”
He faced forward, indifferent to my statements. “Your father is already dead. Perhaps if you were smarter, you would have figured that out.”
“What…?”
He didn’t look at the emotion on my face. He didn’t care about me at all anymore. “They killed him the second they had him. You did all of this for nothing. You could have asked for my help at any time. Instead, you conspired against me and actually believed you had a chance to accomplish the impossible.”
“I wanted to ask for help, but I was afraid you would kill me.”
He looked out the window, his hands resting on his thighs.
“You would have killed me, Cato. I had no other option. I had to save my father…but in the end, I changed my mind. I couldn’t do that to you. You didn’t deserve it…and I couldn’t go through with it.”
“Maybe you turned around because you knew I was on to you.”
“I didn’t.”
“We’ll never know,” he said coldly. “And I don’t care either way. You made your choice, and I’ve made mine. Enjoy your last few minutes of life—just don’t shit in my car.”
The car pulled up to the roundabout where the fountain stood, the exact place where he had executed a Russian traitor just weeks ago. His men stood there with their guns on their hips, and Bates was in the center, looking even more pissed than Cato. With his arms across his chest, he stared at my window like he could see me through the tint.
I knew Cato didn’t unleash empty threats. He would drag me out of that car and force me to my knees like a prisoner of war. I’d done this to save my father, but now I realized, no matter what decision I’d made, I was destined to wind up dead anyway.
When Cato stepped out of the car, the men opened my door and yanked me out.
Bates was on me fast. “What did I say?” He grabbed me by the neck and punched me hard in the face.
I dropped to the ground instantly. I’d never been hit like that in my life. My lip bled and vertigo started. The pain didn’t knock me off my feet right away. It was the momentum packed into the punch.
Cato did nothing.
“I told you not to fuck with my brother.” He yanked my hand off my face then punched me again. “You fucking whore.”
My head snapped back at the impact of his fist. Now the pain kicked in—and it was excruciating.
Cato grabbed a pistol from one of his men. “Stop.”
Bates punched me again, making my nose bleed.
“Enough.” This time, Cato grabbed him by the arm and pulled him off.
“You should be the one doing this.” Bates yanked his arm free. “Make that bitch suffer.”
“Not interested. Not worth my time.” He cocked the gun and walked toward me, the weapon hanging at his side. There was no pity in his eyes for the way his brother had beat me. The second Cato’s eyes settled on me, that same rage took over. He raised the gun and pointed it at me, aiming for my skull.
