Page 17 of Hunted By the Cartel

Marcus's eyes widened, his hands coming up to claw at Diego's wrists. "Get him off me!" He shouted, his voice strained. He wanted to look tough, but in the end, there was a reason why he was below Diego in the cartel. He couldn't hold a candle to him.

Cartel members rushed in, pulling Diego away from Marcus, who straightened his clothes, a smug smile on his lips. "You always were a hothead, Diego," he said, his eyes glittering with satisfaction. "But it seems your little omega has you well-behaved. That's a good thing. At least one good thing has to come out of your relationship with him."

Diego glared at him, his eyes burning with hatred. "You touch him, and I'll kill you," he repeated, his voice cold and deadly. "You won't live to enjoy your victory."

Marcus laughed, his eyes flicking to me. I took a step back. I didn't want him to even remember I existed, but it appeared I was his new obsession.

"Oh, I think I'll enjoy it just fine," he said. "You're even prettier up close, omega. I'm going to enjoy my time with you."

I took a step back, my heart pounding in my chest as I felt his hot breath on my skin. "Stay away from me," I said, my voice shaking. And yet, I knew he wasn't going to do it. He had the upper hand at the moment and was making the most of it.

Marcus smirked, his eyes glittering with desire. "Oh, I don't think so," he said, his hand reaching for me.

Diego, his eyes blazing with fury, lunged again, but this time, cartel members held him back, their grip like iron. There were so many of them just to hold him back. That was how strong he was.

"Let me go!" He roared, his voice echoing in the room. "I'll kill him!"

Marcus laughed, his eyes shining with malicious glee. I hated that he thought he was winning. We had to do something. Just the fact he thought he could do anything made my blood boil.

"You can't protect him forever, Diego," he said, pointing his finger at him. "And when you're gone, I'll have my way with him. Just you wait."

I felt a rush of fear mixed with relief. Diego's feelings for me were genuine, I realized, and even though we were locked up, even though our future was uncertain, I knew that he would protect me as long as he could.

The problem was, I was beginning to wonder if that was going to be enough. It had to be, right?

Chapter 10

Diego

I paced the confines of our sparse room, my eyes never leaving Rowan's huddled form in the corner. I felt so sorry for him. It shouldn't be happening this way. Had I known, I wouldn't have come here.

He had been crying, his shoulders shaking as he tried to muffle his sobs. It was tough. It was the first time he was dealing with so much and he didn't know how to handle it. He needed me now more than ever before.

I felt a surge of protectiveness toward him, a need to shield him from the cruelty of Marcus and the harsh reality of our situation. I had once thought he was my protégé, someone who looked up to me, and even though he might have been like that one time, he wasn't anymore. He was as cruel as any other cartel member.

Marcus, the bastard, had taken great pleasure in taunting Rowan, his jabs laced with malicious intent. I had threatened him, warned him to stay away, but it only seemed to fuel his desire to hurt Rowan, to see him break.

And because there were other members in here, I couldn't do anything without risking myself too much and leaving Rowan to fend for himself. If he was alone, he wouldn't make it. He needed me so much.

"You'll never break him, Marcus," I growled, my eyes flashing with warning. "And if you try, you won't live to see another day. That much I promise."

Marcus smirked, his eyes glittering with amusement. "Oh, Diego," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. The bastard was enjoying this so much. He had no idea how much I wanted to choke him until he was dead. "You always were a hothead. But it seems your little omega has you well-behaved. That is, I suppose, another good thing from your relationship."

I clenched my fists, my body coiled and ready to strike. "I said stay away from him," I snarled, my voice low and dangerous. "Or haven't you learned your lesson yet? Do you want me to teach it to you one more time?"

Marcus laughed, his eyes shining with malicious glee. "Oh, I think I'll enjoy breaking him just to see the look on your face," he said, his voice dropping to a husky whisper as he took a step toward Rowan.

I had to do something right at that moment and no one could stop me.

I lunged, my hands wrapping around his throat, my eyes flashing with fury. He widened his eyes, obviously showing me he didn't expect I could move that fast.

"You touch him, and I'll rip your heart out," I snarled, my voice cold and deadly. I didn't think I had ever said something truer to what I was thinking. I really wouldn't hesitate before doing what I said I would.

Cartel members rushed in, dragging me away from Marcus, who adjusted his clothes with a smug smile. I had expected this. The instant I did something risky, those men were already on their way to stop me. Marcus had free rein, but I couldn't respond.

"You can't protect him forever, Diego," he said, his voice laced with satisfaction. He was enjoying this so much, which was one of the reasons I wanted to choke him. "And when you're gone, he'll be mine to do with as I please. You know I always do what I say I'll do."

I glared at him, my eyes burning with hatred. "Over my dead body," I growled, my voice echoing in the room. "You won't lay a hand on him."

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