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“Four hours.” Roman takes a few steps but stops when he reaches the middle of the room. “Felix called me the moment you started trashing stuff, but when I arrived, you were already done with this floor.”
“Shit.” I shake my head. “How does the downstairs look?”
Roman scans the room around him and shrugs. “Pretty much the same. Good thing Felix thought to lock the armory before you reached it.”
Thank God for that. I don’t remember anything after reading Angelina’s note. Closing my eyes, I take a deep breath. I need to get out of here.
“Albert, where are the keys to my bike?” I ask as I get up from the bed.
“You’re staying put,” Roman snaps and points his cane at me. “Sit back down.”
“Roman, don’t,” Felix mumbles from behind him.
“I’m not letting him go anywhere in this state. He’ll either crash or kill someone.”
I tilt my head and look at my brother. We’re pretty evenly matched when it comes to strength, and I would love nothing more than to work off some of the frustration and rage that’s boiling inside of me with a good fight. But Roman can’t take me on, not anymore at least, his knee is too fucked up. And if I lose it during the fight, I may go for a kill. I don’t want to annihilate my brother, no matter how annoying he might be.
“Back off, Roman.” I head for the door, but as I pass him, his hand shoots out and wraps around my neck.
“She isn’t worth it, Sergei.”
I grab his shirt and lean forward, staring him down. “Don’t you dare say a word about her,” I bite out. I won’t let anyone talk badly about Angelina. Even though it kills me to admit it, she made the right decision to save herself. No one should be burdened with someone as fucked up as me. “Not a word. You hear me, Roman?”
We stare at each other for a few moments, then Roman shakes his head and removes his hand from my neck. “Please, don’t get yourself killed.”
I let go of his shirt and walk to the doorway, but then stop. “You promised Angelina you would ask about her nana. Do you have any intel?”
“Not yet. My contact in Mexico called this morning and said he’ll be able to check the Sandoval compound this weekend. It sounded like Diego is throwing a party.”
“Good. Let me know the moment he calls.”
“Why?”
“I plan on getting Angelina’s nana out of there if she’s alive.”
“Damn it, Sergei! You’re not going to Mexico!”
I ignore his yelling and step out of the room. “You may want to call Mendoza and see if he can double the quantity next month,” I throw over my shoulder. “Or find another supplier because I’ll be killing Diego while I’m down there.”
Chapter 20
The big iron gate slowly swings to the side, its hinges squeaking in the process. Every time I came home, I told my dad the damn thing needed to be replaced. He always said he was going to do it, assuring me that when I returned the next time, a new gate would be waiting for me. Now, it just reminds me of my father and how Diego slaughtered him.
I squeeze my hands into fists and regard the surroundings as the car heads toward the massive one-story mansion at the end of the road. Every second that passes, dread keeps building in my stomach. I thought I would never again see this place, or at least I hoped I wouldn’t. It’s strange. I never thought I could both love and hate a place as I do my childhood home.
The driver parks the car beside the wide, stone steps leading to the ornate front door. Two men, rifles strapped over their backs, stand guard on either side of it. Nothing has changed. Taking my backpack, I exit the car and climb up the steps, trying my best to keep my face expressionless.
I don’t plan on advertising how utterly terrified I am. People say that fear of the unknown is the strongest. Well, they don’t know shit, because I know exactly what’s waiting for me here, and I would trade anything for ignorance. Just before I reach the threshold, the door opens. Nana Guadalupe rushes out and sweeps me into her arms.
“Mi niña.” She sniffs. “Why the hell did you come back here? When Diego told me, I didn’t believe him.”
“Long story, Nana,” I whisper into her hair and squeeze her frail body to mine. Seeing her safe and well makes this all a little bit easier. “I was so afraid that Diego hurt you.”
She leans back and takes my face into her palms. “What were you thinking Angelina?” She shakes her head. “You should have stayed in the US.”
I open my mouth to reply but a burst of male laughter that comes from the other side of the hall makes me falter.
“Well, if it isn’t our little runaway?” Diego shouts, and my heartbeat quickens. I look up to see him wobbling toward us. He is even more disgusting than I remembered—oily hair, and a stained T-shirt stretched over his enormous belly.
