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My knees immediately went weak, and the emotion jumped into my throat. I went wild, turning erratic, irrational, broken. “Father…” Tears immediately burned in the corners of my eyes, fueled by self-loathing, hatred, and every emotion in this life. My gaze turned back to Heath. “Touch him, and I swear to fucking god…” I rushed him, ready to break that hard face and tarnish those blue eyes.
His men were prepared for it, so they grabbed me by both arms and shoved me back until I hit the ground.
I couldn’t even get close.
I jumped back to my feet again. “Don’t do this. He has nothing to do with this. I’m the one you want.” I slammed my hand into my chest, already knowing I wouldn’t be able to change his mind. I’d never been a crier, but I could feel the burn deep in my throat, feel the moisture flood my eyes. “That’s the kind of man you want to be? Going after an elderly man?” I couldn’t let this happen, couldn’t let that innocent man pay for my stupidity. “Look, I’ll pay you. I’ll give you every euro. I’ll pay your back taxes. Whatever you want, alright?” I clenched my jaw to steady myself, to stop the tears from breaking into my voice.
He smiled. “I appreciate your cooperation, Damien.” He didn’t hang up or ask the guy to release my father. “But I warned you many times…and you need to learn your lesson.”
God. “Heath, come on…”
His smile faded, and he shook his head slightly.
“Kill me and take all my shit. Take my house, my car, take my cash. I’m worth way more than he is.”
“Just the opposite.”
My father’s voice came over the line. “Damien, it’s okay… It’s okay.”
I fell to my knees, desperate. “Heath…please. I’m begging.”
He watched me, merciless. “Shoot him.”
“No!” I got to my feet again. “Don’t.”
A loud blow hit the double doors, the sound so deafening it seemed like an explosion.
Heath clearly had no idea what it was, because his eyes flicked to the door in panic. “Hold on.”
Both doors flew open and off their hinges, forcing the two men standing in front to fall to the ground. Then Balto stepped through, wearing a long-sleeved olive-green shirt with a couple men behind him. They pulled the pulse device from the door, what they’d used to get inside. He came forward—to honor his debt.
But it meant nothing to me. I wasn’t the one who needed to be saved. Now I couldn’t do anything to stop this.
Heath stared at his brother then motioned for his men to lower their weapons. He was visibly annoyed, his face hard and his eyes vicious.
Balto placed his body in front of me. “Back off, Heath.”
Heath continued to hold the phone. “You can have him. I got what I want.” He spoke into the speaker. “Kill him.”
A gunshot erupted over the speakers, so loud it hurt my eyes even over the speakerphone.
And I fell…my knees screaming when I hit the hardwood floor. My hands steadied my fall, but the rest of my body gave out. Tears fell from my eyes straight to the floor, the drops in my line of sight. “God…” I listened to my father’s death and wished it were me. Instead of feeling vengeance, I felt pain…pain I’d never felt before in all my life. This was all my fault…all my fucking fault. “Father…”
Balto took the phone from his brother’s hand. “Hades?”
My body went rigid when I heard the question.
A deep voice sounded over the phone, easily recognizable because I’d heard it every day for a decade. “I’ve got him.”
Heath hung up the phone and stared at his brother for a long time, his rage flashing with just a simple look. He shoved the phone into his pocket then crossed his arms over his chest. “You don’t belong here, Balto.”
“I know.” He stared at his twin with the same intensity. “But that was the last time.”
Heath continued to stand there in their silent face-off before he stepped away. He motioned for his men to follow him, and they left the bar peacefully.
I still breathed hard because so much shit had just happened. I got to my feet and stared at Balto’s massive back. My fingers ran through my hair, picking up all the sweat I’d just excreted. “Thank you…”
He slowly turned around and faced me, and I could see my gratitude meant nothing to him. “We’re even, Damien. You’re on your own from now on.”
I nodded in understanding.
“Hades…how did that happen?”
His blue eyes were so bright, they seemed fake. It was the softest feature he possessed, and they relayed his thoughts better than his words ever could. “I took your call and listened. It only took me a few seconds to figure out what was happening. The Skull Kings are still loyal to me, and after a quick phone call, I learned everything. But your father was being held on the opposite side of the city, and I couldn’t get there in time. So I called Hades.”
