Page 26 of One Rule

“You have ten seconds to give me a name. Lie to me, and you’ll make it home in a body bag.”

“It’s not as easy. They’ll come after my family—”

“Five, four…” I hold a hand out, and Isaac places a Glock in it “…three, two—”

“Rodolfo Diaz.”

“See? That wasn’t so hard.” My finger on the trigger twitches and the gun goes off, the bullet grazing Alfred’s thigh. A flesh wound to match the others I’ve already given him, but the way he screams, you’d think I amputated his leg. “Take that as my last warning, Mr. Castillo. Don’t test my patience.”

“Yes, sir.” A whimper. He’s shaking while a piss stain forms on the front of his jeans.

“Now, what do we know about Rodolfo’s whereabouts?”

“Mr. Diaz didn’t act alone.” That piques my interest, and I wave the hand with the gun for him to continue. Swallowing hard, Alfred stumbles a bit as he presses a hand on the wound—it’s bleeding, but not enough for the theatrics. “Can I please sit?”

The next shot marks where I’ll allow him to drop. It’s by his feet and the concrete shatters, shards splintering around him. “Get on the ground.”

“Thank you.” He struggles, shaking, but eventually sits. “I’m not trying to be difficult, Mr. Royce. Just want to protect my children.”

“I won’t ask again, Alfred. Last chance.” Lifting the gun so the aim is at his head, I smile. “What do you know?”

“His son is involved.”

“Hmmm.” Not surprising in the least. Brian Diaz has been after his father’s approval for years and has yet to do more than be his lackey. One never dirties his hands while the other makes deals and promises larger the family bank accounts, but this one crossed the line. I’d never given a shit about them or anyone Royce Sr. has done business with in the past, but this time it’s personal. “That isn’t enough and you know it. Don’t make me hurt you again.”

Subconsciously, Alfred touches the scars on his face; they’re red and angry. The jagged lines on his cheek look a little infected and he flinches, shaking the same way he did the night I gifted him this token of appreciation. No one tries to steal from me or mine and walks away empty handed.

Swallowing hard, Alfred looks down at my shoes. Focuses on them. “It goes beyond a working relationship, though, Mr. Royce. I got my hands on the emails between him and Herbert. They're in my car.”

“How beyond?”

“Intimately."

“Then you should’ve led with that.” Looking back at my guards, I nod at the one standing just behind Isaac. “Ligo, take him to retrieve whatever files he has and bring back my mother-in-law’s safe. I do imagine you were smart enough to bring it with you, Alfred?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Good. Make it quick.” Struggling, Alfred gets up and walks away with my security while Isaac steps up beside me facing the water. For a few moments we don’t talk, but I can sense there’s something on his mind. “Speak up.”

“Do you trust this asshole?”

“Not in the least.” My eyes are fixed on the horizon as I tuck the gun into the back of my pants. Miami is a beautiful city, but the water calls to me. There’s a sense of sereneness—pull—to the ocean that’s deceptive. What’s calm can turn turbulent in the blink of an eye. From innocent prey to vicious hunters, the sea is a map of traps with plenty of warnings, and it all depends on whose area you play in to know how fatal the bite will be.

I understand that. Respect it. Yet like the darkest blue, a true monster hides within me, and he’s close to the surface right now. Angry. Full of the need to spill blood.

The Diaz men have made a grave mistake. One I will take more than my pound of flesh for.

“Then why not—”

“Because I’m not leaving his children fatherless.” I may not have plans to kill Alfred Castillo at the moment, but he will atone for his sins. Moreover, I’ve done my research on the man, have people watching his family, and he is a doting father. Dumb as shit, but good to them, and I’ll make sure he never puts anyone he loves in danger again. It’s what my rebel would want me to do. “But if he steps a single foot out of line…”

“Understood, boss. We’ll treat him right.”

“Good.” From behind us, I hear the scuffing of shoes on the pavement and the whimpers of pain coming from the informant. They’re close, but before they reach us, I turn and look at Isaac. “I want Ligo moved to Liliana’s protection effective immediately. Two more will work under him, but make sure he’s aware that if a single hair on her head is harmed, I’ll personally strap him to the bottom of one of my ships and drag his corpse through the Caribbean while letting predators feed on his remains as we travel from port to port.”

* * *

“You’re a dead man, Royce,”she growls and I swear, it’s like a kitten's grumbly purr. Soft and sweet with just the right touch ofpet me pleasein her tone, Liliana whirls around to face me. Her eyes flashed with ire, her lips parted with a sharp retort sitting on that pink tongue, but then her entire being simmers into a different kind of heat as she gets a good look at what I’m wearing:

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