Page 46 of Kiss of Ruin (Brutal Empire)

The car I ordered my men to have waiting is idling in front of the exit to the airport. I throw myself into the back.

“Get me to the goddamn house. Now!” I shout at the driver.

He takes off from the curb, horns blaring in his wake. I can’t stop my leg from bouncing as we barrel down the highway. An eternity seems to pass before I’m throwing open the front door.

“Scarlett? Where the fuck are you?” I yell, storming through the house.

“She’s not here.” I whirl around and see Andreas standing in the doorway to the office.

“Where is she?”

“That is one place she has an advantage over you. She uses social media to her advantage.” I yank my phone out of my pocket, but before I can get to Scarlett’s Facebook page, Andreas answers my question. “She’s at Obsidian.”

“And she posted where she’s going on Facebook? Jesus Christ.”

“She’s smart enough to know that Elena will come after her.”

“And probably kill Scarlett in the process. I told you my plan would work.”

His eyes narrow. “And it might, but this war needs to end and I don’t give a shit how that happens. If Scarlett can take out Elena, its one less DeLuca for me to worry about.”

“I won’t let Elena touch her.” I sprint back down the hall, ignoring Andreas’s shouts behind me. “We’re leaving.”

I glance at my watch and hope I can get to her before anything goes wrong.

* * *

Scarlett

The crowd is thick with people. I squeeze through a sea of gyrating bodies to reach the door that will lead to the alleyway. Elena doesn’t want anyone to know that she’s alive, which means she’ll stick to the shadows. Too bad the entire Romero family knows she faked her death.

I shove the door open and step into the cool night. The muted lights in the club help my eyes adjust quickly to the dark night sky above. The bright lights of the main streets don’t reach back into the alleys.

The hairs on the back of my neck stand at attention. I whirl around and search for her. That’s when I see someone step out from one of the other back doorways on the street.

“Hello again, Scarlett. I didn’t think you would be stupid enough to let me get another chance at you.”

I take a step forward. “Another chance. Seems we’re equally matched out on the street. The only reason you beat me last was the advantage of having me locked in a glass box.”

“And without Nico, you never would have survived. Where is your little protector tonight? I’m sure he’s been right by your side where he’s always wanted to be.”

I want to wrap my hands around her throat and watch the light leave her eyes. “Nico is in Miami. It’s just me and you tonight.”

Even in the dark night, I can see the smirk lift the corner of her lip. “Or is it?” More of her men pile out into the alley. “Did you really think I would let you face me one on one?”

“It’s too bad you listened to Luis all those years. You’ve underestimated me every step of the way.” I reach into my bag and pull out the gun. A shot rings out into the night, the man next to her falling to the ground. Blood pools around his head.

Fighting breaks out all around us. The men I brought with me have surrounded the DeLuca men from behind. Shouting and screams ring out into the night. Out of the corner of my eyes, I see bodies dropping all around me, but I don’t let my eyes leave Elena, holding the gun, pointed straight at her chest.

The smell of blood fills the air. “You’ve taken the last thing you ever will from me.”

I expect her to react, to at least seem nervous that I was more prepared than her. She doesn’t. She simply stands there like she’s waiting for the right time.

I take another step forward. “Are you sure about that?” I see someone step out from behind one of the dumpsters and walk behind Elena.

It takes me a split second to realize that it’s not just someone, but a child.

Frankie.

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