Page 42 of Kiss of Ruin (Brutal Empire)

“Scarlett, it’s brutal out there. I don’t think you should be anywhere near what’s been happening here.”

I gesture toward the chair where he’d been sitting when I arrived. “Why don’t you fill me in?”

“You mean Nico didn’t?” Antonio asks, his suspicion starting to grow. The last thing I need is for him to let Nico what my plans are.

“He did, but I want to hear it from your perspective.”

He shakes his head and slumps down in the chair. “Doesn’t matter how well we hide our supplies and product, the DeLuca’s are always one step ahead of us. Every time, the stashes are stolen, and the guards murdered. But they’re not only shooting them, but they’re also torturing them before they die.”

“She’s a sick, twisted bitch.”

“She? Don’t you mean he?”

“Yes, sorry. He’s taken too many people from us.”

Antonio lifts a brow. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

“I promise, I’m fine. It just kills me that our people have been tortured at the hands of the DeLuca family.”

He picks up his mug again. “We’ve had our fair share of wins. Not as many as we need though.”

“Maybe, I can help turn the tide. What happened to those rings I ordered before I left?”

“They’re locked in the safe of the store. With all the death surrounding us, We’ve spent very little time at the store.”

“I want to change that. If there’s anything I learned in Miami, it’s that you don’t let them scare you away from your business. You stand your ground and stay open.”

“Scarlett?”

“Antonio, today I want the store open until normal closing business hours. Then can you meet me at Obsidian tonight with the rings. I’d love to see them, but I have a meeting I can’t miss.”

“Um…Are you sure that’s what you want?”

“Trust me. I know exactly what I’m doing.” At least I really hope that I do. If not, it could be all of our lives on the line.

“As you wish.” Antonio stands and leaves the room, most likely to get ready to get the store open today.

One more sign that I’m home and not afraid of her. I refuse to let her scare me from my home again.

With one step of my plan in place, I open up my computer and wait for Carlos and Andreas to arrive. The last thing they said before leaving would that they would be back today to review my plan in detail.

“Not working in the office?” Carlos asks coming into the room.

“Have you been in there recently, there’s no room to work.”

“Considering everything we’ve lost in the last two months; I don’t think cleaning up after himself was high on his priority list.”

I set my laptop on the table. “Considering what Antonio just told me, that doesn’t surprise me at all.”

Andreas looks around. “Where is Antonio?”

“If he’s following my orders, he’s currently getting ready to go open the jewelry store for the day.”

“And you think that’s wise after everything he’s told you? Maybe you need to see some of the pictures of what’s left in the warehouses when the DeLuca’s are done with them.”

“His description was enough. Opening the jewelry store will push Elena’s buttons. The only one who cares about that store is me.”

“You have a point. Now what is the rest of your plan?”

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