AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“You want somebody punched, you tell me—or Prince, and we’ll do it for you. Got it?”
That’s the problem? That I did the punching myself? It’s almost enough to make me laugh, but the pain in my fist won’t allow for that. “Got it,” I grit out, shaking my hand. I won’t bother arguing since I doubt he’d understand, but there’s something about doing a job like that yourself. What’s between Elena and me is personal. It wouldn’t be nearly as satisfying to watch one of the men punch her for me, even if it meant sparing my fist.
Still, knowing I have backup is nice.
28
ENZO
The hair on the back of my neck rises at the sight of approaching headlights. Prince left our car’s headlights on, and they are the only thing currently illuminating this spot where we stand waiting. Though we’re standing outside, it feels like all the air has been sucked away. This is it. Everything hinges on this.
“If you know what’s good for you, you’ll keep your mouth shut,” I warn Elena. “Unless you would rather be gagged.” She gives me a dirty look but doesn’t protest. Maybe a few brain cells are rattling around in that head.
Alicia stands behind the open driver’s side door, which I hope shields her if things get out of hand. I’m going to do my best to see to it that isn’t the case, but I can’t speak for Alvarez and his crew. “If anything happens,” I murmur, “I want you to get behind the wheel, and I want you to leave. Do not hesitate. Don’t worry about me. You are to leave immediately. Do you understand?”
In the light from the car’s interior, I see her frown and can almost hear the arguments she wants to make. Yet instead of voicing her complaints, she merely nods. Once again, I have to admire the way she’s bearing up under this. I had not intended to put her through this sort of strain, especially in her condition and especially so early in our union. The wife of a cartel boss has to be prepared for anything, but normally we can shield our women from the worst of it. She’s been granted no such protection thus far, yet it seems she has a backbone of steel. I can’t help but wonder if fate knew what it was doing when it stepped in and placed her in my path.
Now’s not the time for fantasies. I step away from her, and Prince takes his place by her side. I have no doubt he will guard her with his life—and if he doesn’t, he’ll lose his life anyway because I will gladly kill him.
“Come on,” I murmur, taking Elena by the arm. “Behave yourself, and this will all be over soon.”
“Go to hell,” she mutters.
“Have you already forgotten that I promised to gag you? It doesn’t have to be as simple as that. Don’t make me hurt you.” She glares at me, eyes blazing, but holds her tongue. With my hand around her arm, she won’t be able to get away. And even if she tries, I would be a fool to open fire on her—that would only give Alvarez an excuse to do the same.
Several cars approach, rolling past us in a wide arc before swinging around and coming to a stop in front of where I stand with Elena. I raise a hand to shield my eyes from the glare of the headlights, and two of the cars flip them off, making it easier to see. A handful of men emerge, guards by the looks at them, surveying the area before giving the signal for their boss to emerge.
Then he does, followed by a man who looks a lot like him. A man who makes a move as if to lunge for Elena before Josef thrusts out an arm, barring the way. Elena whimpers, and I know that must be her father, Josef’s brother.
“Nice to see you again,” Josef calls out. “And where is that lovely wife of yours? My daughter for a day.” The man drips sarcasm when I would much rather he drip blood.
I thrust a thumb behind me. “She’s there. Just as you requested.”
“You would be wise to remember her presence.”
“You would be wise to remember you’re in no position to tell me what to think or do, you son of a bitch. You put my grandfather in the ground.”
“I’m telling you I didn’t.”
“Then give me the man who did!” I scream. His head snaps back, eyes widening. “Because even if you didn’t, you fucking benefited from it, you bastard. And that cowardly murderer defected to your side, so tell me again how you had nothing to do with it.”
“Cowardly murderer? I take it you’re referring to Frankie Morris.”
“No, I only wanted you to bring him here because I miss seeing his face.”
“I didn’t summon him. He came to me of his own free will, knowing he would need protection from you.”
“And like the piece of shit you are, you took him in rather than hand him back to me. The way you should have, the way anyone with a grain of character would have done. Accepting him into the fold is tantamount to an act of war. Has no one ever told you that? By sheltering him, you’ve made a move against my family.”
He touches a hand to his chest. “Sheltering him? Is that what I’ve been doing?”
“I’ve had eyes on you. I know that’s what you’ve done.”
“So typical of you, believing what your eyes tell you.”
“And what is that supposed to mean?”
“See for yourself.” He waves a hand, and one of the car doors opens. I watch as a guard reaches in and pulls something out—no, someone. Someone who I can’t quite make out in the darkness.
