My comment earns a throaty grunt. “I thinkyou’vegot the wrong man, sweetheart.”
More men dressed in black military-style uniforms barge into the bedroom and surround us. “We’ve searched the upper floor. They aren’t here,” someone says.
“Take her downstairs.” The guy in charge shoves me backward, my ass butting into the body behind me. Hands clamp my wrists and yank them behind me. “I can’t wait to see this bitch’s face when she figures it out.”
“Figures out what?” I thrash and force my weight into the guy holding me hostage.
“Does he need her to be conscious?” the voice next to my face asks, wrestling with me. “I could easily knock her the fuck out.”
I freeze, knowing I need my wits about me and my senses on high alert. “Fine. Take me to see Blanco. Let’s end this shit once and for all.”
They laugh at me, clearly amused that I could try to kill a second time. I could and I would. I’m frog-marched out of the bedroom, having successfully distracted them from Leo’s sneeze.
“She’s hung up on that guy Carlos Blanco for some reason,” the henchman beside me mutters.
A shiver rattles my bones.
What are they talking about?
“They really have no idea, do they?”
30
INDIA
I’m penned in a tight circle by six armed men who force me to descend the staircase with them.
My eyes scan the shadows, feeling them move around us, wondering if Giovanni is here somewhere. I could take a chance and pop off a few rounds if it weren’t for the constant threat of steel still rammed into my ribs.
One wrong move and they’d shoot me dead. While my brother taught me how to defend myself, he also coached me on the importance of reading my enemy and figuring out an alternative plan.
We push past a bunch of soldiers lining the hallways and I take a mental count. There are far too many for me to take on by myself.
Frustrated tears burn at the back of my eyes, but I blink them away. This isn’t the time to show weakness. For the next few minutes, I have to stay quiet, watch everyone, and bide my time.
I shake my head, holding my clenched fists by my thighs, ready to meet the bastard who rallied an army to come after us.
Voices mutter from the library as I'm herded into it. Immediately my gaze searches the dark corners, taking in books, more dark figures, guns, and part of the blanket fort I’d made for Leo earlier.
“India Hardy!” I freeze, hearing my name drop from the tongue of a familiar man. “Or is it India Souza? I’m not quite so sure.”
Fabian strolls toward me, exuding confidence in every stride. Broad shoulders are pulled back behind a tactical vest that bulks out his lean physique and his moonless eyes pin me to the spot.
But it’s the cocky grin tugging at the corners of his mouth that sets fire to my anger. Behind him, someone tosses a pile of books into the fireplace, smashes a bottle of liquor over the top of them and sets fire to it.
Flames shoot up the chimney, the shadows the fire creates dancing over Fabian's handsome face.
My body shakes with horror, confusion pumping through me. “What the hell are you doing here?”
His sinister chuckle makes my stomach burn. “I did a little research after the night yourbodyguardboyfriend showed up at Ana’s place. It was the red stone on his finger that caught my eye… well that, and the way he kissed you like you were his whole fucking world. Turns out your bodyguard is the infamous Giovanni Souza. The son of a bitch every guy on the planet wants to be, and the same guy we all want to get rid of.”
“Why the hell would you care?” I demand. “They’re the cartel, and you’re still at school?”
He folds his arms over his chest. “Do you know how hard it is to pin those Souza fuckers down? Virtually impossible––until you came along, that is. But I guess the old guys were gonna trip up eventually, especially when one of them fell for a cute thing who wanted him to take her to prom,” he says, looking smug.
It was him.
“Christ,” I mutter under my breath, scowling at him. “You’re working for Blanco, aren’t you?”
